FEBRUARY – MARCH 2015 • Vol. 80 • No. 1303
www.observer.goarch.org • e-mail: [email protected]
$1.00
In THIS ISSUE
Santiago Calatrava design
National Shrine
Full–page coverage for St. Nicholas National
Shrine progress.
• P. 5
Ministry Videos
The Archdiocese presents an online series of
various ministries of the Church.
• P. 2
‘Rust Belt’ Parishes Support Shrine
Four parishes in Ohio, W. Va., Pa., raise funds
for St. Nicholas National Shrine.
• P. 5
March for Life
Orthodox Christians participate in the March
for Life in Washington.
Malnutrition in Greece
• P. 6
Jaharis Foundation aids IOCC efforts to help
Greece.
Youth Camps
• P. 8
A guide to summer camps throughout the
Archdiocese.
Middle East Crisis
• P. 11
Encyclical
Therefore bear fruits
worthy of repentance
Matthew 3:8
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
Holy and Great Lent
Beloved Brothers
and Sisters in Christ,
In the hymns and services of the Triodion period and at the entrance of this
holy season of Great Lent, we are called
to repentance. We are invited to come
before God in the humility of the Publican. We are beckoned to return to His
dwelling and His compassionate embrace
as the Prodigal Son. We are confronted
with the causes of our separation from
God and our need for His great mercy.
It is truly a time of repentance as we prepare to commemorate and contemplate
all that has been done for us through
Christ our Lord.
This solemn and reflective journey
is not one of despair. This is not a time
of inconsolable grief or of deep anguish
and anxiety. Holy and Great Lent is a time
of spiritual renewal in which repentance
finds forgiveness and grace, engenders
hope, strengthens our faith and leads us
to abundant and eternal life.
First, we know through the Gospel
that genuine repentance receives forgive-
u
u to page 3
Christians in mortal danger throughout the
region.
Greek Letters Events
• P. 12
Fifty students honored at Three Hierarchs
Celebration.
Remembering Selma
• P. 14–17
The 50th anniversary of the march on Selma,
Ala. with Archbishop Iakovos.
Illinois School
• P. 18
Early Childhood Education at Niles parish.
FDF Dance Festival
• P. 23
Metropolis of San Francisco holds annual
Folk Dance Festival.
• P. 13, 15, 28
Tryptich (iconographer/date unknown) depicting from left, the Trial of Jesus, The Crucifixion and the Appearance of the Angel to the Myrrh-bearers after the Resurrection.
A RCHDIOCESE N E WS
2
FEBRUARY – MARCH 2015
Trakatellis Fellowship
Applications Available
To contact
National Ministries
Archives
212.570.3517
[email protected]
Communications
212.774.0244
[email protected]
Greek Education
212.774.0233
[email protected]
O.O. photos
Internet Ministries
646.519.6690
[email protected]
Archdiocese Chancellor Bishop Andonios of Phasiane, shown with GOTelecom Managing Director Marissa
Costidis and Senior Producer Director Nick Furris, gave the presentation about his office and St. Michael’s
Home, where he serves as the director.
Inter–Orthodox, Ecumenical
and Interfaith Relations
212.570.3593
[email protected]
Ionian Village
212.570.3538
[email protected]
Marriage & Family
845.424.8175
[email protected]
Archdiocese Creates Online Ministry Video Series
NEW YORK – The Archdiocese Department of Administration, in cooperation
with GOTelecom, has produced a series
of videos highlighting the work of several
ministries and departments. The series has
been made possible by a grant from
the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100
Endowment Fund. The 2–to 3–minute
videos feature presentations by directors
of each ministry describing the projects,
resources and work of the Archdiocese
departments,Administration, including
Orthodox Observer, Communications,
GOTelecom, Finance, Greek Education,
News and Information, the Chancellery,
St. Michael’s Home, Registry, Science and
Technology, Internet Ministries and Youth
and Young Adult Ministry.
The videos are available to all viewers,
Orthodox Christians and those from other
faiths. To view the series, visit: http://ministryupdates.goarch.org
Parish Development
847.825.1432
[email protected]
2015–16 Scholarship
Applications Available
Philanthropy
212.774.0283
[email protected]
Public Affairs
212.774.0400
[email protected]
Registry
212.570.3558
[email protected]
Religious Education
646.519.6300
[email protected]
Stewardship, Outreach & Evangelism
646.519.6160
[email protected]
Youth and Young Adult Ministries
646.519.6180
[email protected]
NEXT DEADLINE
Deadline for submitting information,
articles and photos for consideration
in the April (Easter) 2015 issue: Friday, March 13 Photos should be sent as a
large format .jpg attachment (300 dpi min.).
E-mail to: [email protected]
Regular mail: Editor, Orthodox Observer,
8 E. 79th St., New York, NY 10075.
During the video shoot, Nick Furris and Jimmy Imperiadis go over the script about the Finance
Department with Director George Papadakos.
How to Contact Archdiocesan Institutions,
Metropolises and Related Agencies and Organizations
Direct Archdiocesan District
212.570.3500; www.goarch.org
Metropolis of Chicago
312.337.4130; www.chicago.goarch.org
Metropolis of Boston
617.277.4742; www.boston.goarch.org
Metropolis of Denver
303.333.7794; www.denver.goarch.org
Metropolis of Atlanta
404.634.9345; www.atlmetropolis.org
Metropolis of Detroit
248.823.2400; www.detroit.goarch.org
Metropolis of Pittsburgh
412.621.5529; www.pitssburgh.goarch.org
Metropolis of San Francisco
415.753.3075; www.sanfran.goarch.org
Metropolis of New Jersey
908.301.0500; www.nj.goarch.org
Archdiocesan Institutions
Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity
EDITOR IN CHIEF Jim Golding (Chryssoulis)
GREEK SECTION EDITOR
Eleftherios Pissalidis
USPS 412340
ISSN 0731–2547
In 2015, published monthly
except February–March and July–August
by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
Editorial and Business Office:
8 East 79th Street, New York, NY 10075
TEL.: (212) 570–3555
FAX (212) 774–0239
The Archdiocese Chancellor’s Office
has announced that applications are available for a fellowship from The Christos and
Georgia Trakatellis Fellowship Fund for
the 2015-16 academic year. This Fund was
established in 2011 by Archbishop Demetrios and his brother, Professor Antonios
Trakatellis, in memory of their parents,
Christos and Georgia.
The Fund offers assistance to Holy
Cross School of Theology graduates to
study Greek language, Hellenic culture and
liturgical practice. These studies can take
place in the United States or, preferably, in
Greece or at the Ecumenical Patriarchate of
Constantinople. The study could be part of
an established academic program (doctoral
or masters levels) or part of a free program
which should be well structured and clearly
defined in view of the above stated purpose
of the Fund. Candidates are chosen based
on merit and need.
The amount of the Fellowship is $3,000
per semester for up to two semesters. One
or more full or partial fellowships will be
awarded annually.
Instructions and applications are available on the Archdiocese website (www.
goarch.org).
Candidates can request more information via e-mail ([email protected])
or phone (212-774-0283). Completed applications must be sent to the Chancellor’s
Office by the April 27 deadline.
PRODUCTION & ADVERTISING
Eleftherios Pissalidis
GRAPHIC ARTIST
Abel Montoya
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Soula Podaras
BUSINESS MANAGER
Marissa P. Costidis
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS:
Dimitrios Panagos • Nicholas Manginas
Tel. 212.288.3215; www.thecathedralnyc.org
Hellenic College Holy Cross School of Theology
617.731.3500; www.hchc.edu
Saint Basil Academy
845.424.3500; www.stbasil.goarch.org
St. Michael’s Home
914.476.3374; www.stmichaelshome.org
St. Photios National Shrine
904.829.8205; www.stphotios.com
Other key organizations and services
National Philoptochos
212.977.7770; www.philoptochos.org
Internet Ministries: www.internet.goarch.org
• Orthodox Jobs: www.orthodoxjobs.com
• Orthodox Marketplace: www.orthodoxmaketplace.com
• Online Store for Parishes: www.goarch.org/
freebookstore
• Orthodox Children’s Bible Reader Online:
cbr.goarch.org
Periodicals’ postage paid at New York, NY 10001 and at additional mailing offices. The Orthodox Observer is produced entirely in–house. Past issues can be found on the Internet at:
www.observer.goarch.org • e–mail: [email protected]
Articles and advertising do not necessarily reflect the views and
opinions of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America which are
expressed in official statements so labeled.
Subscription rates are $12 per year. Canada $25.
Overseas Air Mail, $55 per year. $1.50 per copy.
Subscriptions for the membership of the Greek Orthodox Church
in America are paid through their contribution to the Archdiocese.
Of this contribution, $5 is forwarded to the Orthodox Observer.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: ORTHODOX OBSERVER,
8 East 79th Street, New York, NY 10075
Applications and instructions for
three scholarships administered by the
Office of the Chancellor are available on
the Archdiocese website for the 2015–16
academic year.
Two of these scholarships are for
undergraduate studies: the George &
Naouma (Gioule) Gioles Scholarship and
the Katina John Malta Scholarship. The
third is the Paleologos Graduate Scholarship, which is awarded for graduate work
in non-theological majors. Each of these
scholarships was established through
generous gifts from dedicated Greek
Orthodox Christians to provide financial
assistance towards the education of young
people from the Orthodox community.
Deadline for applying for all three is
April 27. Further details, including complete instructions and applications can
be downloaded from the website of the
Archdiocese at www.goarch.org. Applications may also be requested by e-mailing:
[email protected], or by written
request to: Scholarship Committee, Greek
Orthodox Archdiocese of America, 8-10
East 79th St., New York, NY, 10075.
Change of Address
To submit a change of address:
Contact Soula Podaras
at 212.774.0235
e-mail: [email protected]
fax: 212.774.0239.
Or regular mail to:
Orthodox Observer,
8 E. 79th St., New York, NY 10075-0192
Be sure to include old address,
new address and name of parish.
Questions about submitting
news and photos:
Jim Golding (212) 570.3557;
[email protected]
For advertising or the Greek section:
Lefteris Pissalidis, (212) 570. 3555;
[email protected]
3
A RCHDIOCESE N E WS
FEBRUARY – MARCH 2015
Encyclical
Feast of Saint Photios
National Shrine Day
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
Beloved Brothers
and Sisters in Christ,
On this blessed Feast of St. Photios,
we offer our gratitude and support for
our beloved St. Photios Greek Orthodox
National Shrine in St. Augustine, Fla. For
almost four decades, our National Shrine as
been a place that honors the earliest roots
of our Greek American experience, affirms
the value of this experience and the role of
our Hellenic heritage in this country, and
offers a beautiful witness of the power and
grace of our Orthodox faith.
The St. Photios Shrine is located in
the Avero House, a building that served as
a place of worship and refuge for Greek
immigrants who came to this country in
the 1770s as indentured servants. These forbears made this arduous journey hoping for
opportunity and freedom. However, they
arrived to the harsh and deadly conditions
of the settlement of New Smyrna and the
suffering and torture of servitude.
In 1777, 300 survivors fled and settled
in St. Augustine. In preserving this history
and sharing this story, the Shrine carries the
memory of our brave ancestors and honors
their sacrifice and hopes.
The Shrine is also a vital place among
many institutions and programs that highlight the significant place and contribution
of Greeks in the history of this country as
well as the uniqueness of the Greek American experience. This has been an important
part of the annual program of the Shrine,
from the experience offered to visitors to
the community, regional, and national
events in which the Shrine directors and
staff participate.
For example in 2014, the Shrine was
invited to participate in the installation
of the Middle Passage Marker, one of 24
places on the Eastern seaboard designated
by UNESCO’s Slave Route Project for remembrance of those who arrived and died
during the slave trade.
In addition, the Shrine was represented
in the events marking the fiftieth anniversary
of the signing of the Civil Rights Act and the
influence the march and violent events of
June 9, 1964 in St. Augustine had on the
passage of the legislation.
From its founding under the leadership
of Archbishop Iakovos and with the support
of many faithful of our Church in America,
the St. Photios National Shrine has offered
a witness of our Orthodox faith.
Thousands of visitors have seen the
beauty of the chapel and have offered
prayers and lit candles. Regular educational
programs have brought children and youth
to this very sacred place. Also, the ongoing
programs, church supply service, and bookstore offer support to the ministries of our
parishes and a faithful testimony of our rich
spiritual heritage and our mission to share
the Gospel. In addition, the Shrine helps to
preserve and share the legacy of our Greek
Orthodox Church in America.

 to page 4
Archbishop Offers Condolences
for Coptic Orthodox Slayings in Libya
NEW YORK – After learning of the recent brutal slaying of 21 Coptic Orthodox
Christians from Egypt by the members of
ISIS, Archbishop Demetrios, on behalf
of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox
Bishops of the USA, issued letters of
condolences to the Coptic Orthodox
bishops in the United States. The Coptic
Orthodox Christians were kidnapped in
December and January from Libya and
were held captive until their massacre.
In his letters to the hierarchs, Archbishop Demetrios states:”…With a heavy
heart and deep sadness, I convey my sincere condolences for the unjust slaying of
twenty-one Coptic Orthodox Christians
in Libya. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America stands in solidarity with
our Coptic Orthodox brothers and sisters, and we prayerfully beseech our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ to grant eternal
rest to the souls of those who lost their
lives…During this time of mourning,
please accept the prayers and fraternal
love of the hierarchs of the Assembly of
Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA.”
As a sign of solidarity in word, action, and in prayer between the Greek
Orthodox Archdiocese of America and the
Coptic Orthodox Church of America, His
Grace Bishop Sevastianos of Zela, Chief
Secretary of the Holy Eparchial Synod,
will represent Archbishop Demetrios of
America at a special prayer service at the
Holy Archangel Michael and Saint Mena
Coptic Orthodox Church in Staten Island,
N.Y. The service is being held to honor the
lives of the 21 innocent victims who lost
their lives at the hands of ISIS militants in
Libya. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese
of America encourages the faithful to
advance the effort to express solidarity in
word, deed, and prayer with our Coptic
Orthodox Christian brethren. The faithful
are asked to help raise awareness among
fellow citizens and elected officials of the
plight of Christians and other vulnerable
communities in the Middle East, and to
offer prayers for those enduring such
horrible acts of violence and persecution.
The two special prayer services offered by the Coptic Orthodox Church
took place Feb. 19 at Archangel Michael
and St. Mena Coptic Orthodox Church at
St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Church in East
Brunswick, N.J.
Dimitrios Panagos photos
Award of Excellence – (above) With Archbishop Demetrios and Leadership 100 Chairman George
Tsandikos are award recipients Drs. Eleni and Panagiota Andreopoulou, Constantine Triantafilou
and Michael Psaros.
Leadership 100 Meets in Orlando
ORLANDO – The 24th annual Leadership 100 Conference on Feb.12-15 featured
a tribute to academician, artist and designer,
Ilias I. Lalaounis, who died in December
2013. His widow, Lila, accepted the posthumous Leadership 100 Award for Excellence.
Archbishop Demetrios offered the
traditional Bible study and lecture and
Constantine M. Triantafilou executive director and CEO of International Orthodox
Christian Charities (IOCC), presented the
opening forum. He described the IOCC’s
work in America and around the world.
Three additional forums featured
Leadership 100 members Michael Psaros,
co-founder and co-managing partner of
KPS Capital Partners, LP, and Drs. Eleni
Andreopoulou and Panagiota Andreopoulou of Weill Cornell Medical College/New
York-Presbyterian Hospital. The program
also included a presentation on St. Nicholas
National Shrine at the World Trade Center
by Jerry Dimitriou, executive director of
administration for the Archdiocese.
A “Symphony at Sunset” with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted
by Maestro Peter Tiboris, also a member of
Leadership 100, featured his wife, Eilana
Lappalainen. Drs. Andreopoulou, Michael
Psaros, Peter Tiboris and Eliana Lappalainen, and IOCC each received the Award for
Excellence. Chairman George S. Tsandikos
noted that some 350 members and guests
and families, attended the conference.
The Leadership 100 Executive Committee approved new grants of $1,250,243 to
the Archdiocese and $495,556 to affiliated
organizations.
Additional grant proposals are still
under review.
The Archdiocese grants include
$300,000 over three years for the Advisory
Committee on Science and Technology
“Addressing Modern Challenges Initiative”;
$270,000 for the Camping Ministry Program; $133,200 to the National Finance
Committee Orthodox Software Initiative,
$200,000 over two years for the Office of
Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical and ChurchWorld Affairs Faith-Based Diplomacy and
Advocacy Initiative; $125,000 for the third
year of the GOA Strategic Plan Project,
$75,000 for the GOA Faith and Safety Project; $65,000 for the Department of Stewardship, Outreach & Evangelism Baseline
Project; $52,043 for the second year of the
Department of Administration Ministry Updates Project,. and $30,000 to Ionian Village
for the “IV On-the-Go” retreat program.
The new affiliated organization grants
include $100,000 for the second year of the
Metropolis of Atlanta Family Life Ministry;
$125,000 over two years for Orthodox
Christian Network to enhance the Multimedia offerings and marketing effectiveness of
key GOA departments, $118,621 over two
years to International Orthodox Christian
Charities for the Serv-X-Treme! National
Youth Service Leadership Development
Initiative; $88,200 to Orthodox Christian
Ministry for proper training for ministering to prisoners and educational outreach
through training and inspirational videos;
and $63,735 to Project Mexico-St. Innocent
Orphanage for an intern development
program.
Encyclical
Holy and Great Lent

 from page 1
ness and grace. The sincerity of the Publican expressed in his cry, God, be merciful
to me a sinner, was recognized by God,
and his sins were forgiven (Luke 18:13).
John the Baptist preached, “Repent,
for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,”
calling people to prepare to receive the
One who was coming in grace and truth
(Matthew 3:2).
The Cross of our Lord is before us,
offering by the grace of God a way to
salvation through repentance.
Second, repentance nurtures hope.
As the power of God’s grace transforms
us, as we see the blessedness of life
restored to communion with Him, we
experience the joy of hope.
For the Prodigal Son it was the journey to return to the house of his father,
hoping that something better awaited.
At the beginning of this holy season our
repentance leads us on the path of hope,
knowing that hope does not disappoint,
because the love of God has been poured
out in our hearts (Romans 5:5).
Third, as through repentance we
receive forgiveness and grace and our
hearts are filled with hope, our faith is
strengthened.
As we prepare to celebrate the fulfillment of God’s promise to defeat death,
restore us to life, and lead us to the Resurrection, our faith in Him grows.
Finally, in this sacred time of prayer
and reflection, our repentance leads us
to salvation.
Through repentance our eyes are
opened, we turn from darkness to light
so that we may receive forgiveness of sins
and an inheritance among those who are
sanctified by faith in Christ (Acts 26:18).
Through the revelation of the absolute truth by Christ and His Cross and
Resurrection, we know where our repentance leads, and we know that ultimately
we enter the ineffable realm of a saved life
with the perspective of eternity.
At the beginning of the Great Fast
and Holy Lent, let us contemplate the
power of repentance and take this opportunity to examine our hearts and minds.
Let us pray in humility seeking the
forgiveness and grace of God, returning
to communion with Him.
Let us find renewed hope in the light,
peace, and joy that comes from our Crucified and Risen Lord.
With paternal love in Christ,
Dimitrios Panagos photos
† DEMETRIOS, Archbishop of America
To donate
to the St. Nicholas
National Shrine,
make checks payable to:
Greek Orthodox
Archdiocese
Mailing Address:
Greek Orthodox
Archdiocese of America,
8 E a s t 7 9 th S t . ,
New York, NY 10075
www.stnicholaswtc.org
4
A RCHDIOCESE N E WS
FEBRUARY – MARCH 2015
Encyclical

 from page 3
On this weekend of the annual pilgrimage, two new exhibits will open. Sponsored
by Leadership 100, the exhibit “Pioneering
Priests of America” will focus on the presence of Orthodoxy in America prior to 1922.
As an addition to the permanent icon exhibit at the Shrine, eleven new icons will be
added to an existing gift from Alfred Funai.
These events and programs of our beloved St. Photios National Shrine represent
the many facets of the ongoing work and
witness of dedicated staff, directors, and
benefactors.
This ministry on behalf of all Greek
Orthodox Christians in this country needs
your prayers and support. On this Feast and
the weekend of the Shrine’s annual pilgrimage, I ask that you express your support for
this historic place and vital institution of our
Holy Archdiocese. We must also follow the
example of our Shrine by remembering
our past and our unique experience in this
country, sharing it with our children, youth
and others, and offering a powerful and
loving witness of the faith and life we have
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Dimitrios Panagos photos
Vasilopita cutting
Archbishop Demetrios invited the members of the Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir for a meal and vasilopita cutting at Archdiocese headquarters on Jan.
12 to honor them for their participation in the Nov. 30 concert in the Ancient Church of Agia Irini on the occasion of the first meeting of Pope Francis
and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Constantinople.
With paternal love in Christ,
† DEMETRIOS, Archbishop of America
Visit to monastery
Gerondissa Photini, abbess of All Saints Monaster in Calverton, Long Island (left), welcomes
Archbishop Demetrios on Feb 1 as he arrives for
a pastoral visit. The visit was on the occasion of
the installation of a new icon screen. The Archbishoo, assisted by Archdeacon Panteleimon and
Deacon Panagioti (far left), blessed the sisters,
Photeini and Theonymphi, and the monastery
and presented them with a relic of St. Photini of
Cyprus whose origin is from the occupied area
in the northern part of the island.
Encyclical
Feast of the Annunciation and Day of Greek Independence
My soul magnifies the Lord…
For He Who is mighty has done
great things for me,
and holy is His name.
(Luke 1:46-49)
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
Beloved Brothers
and Sisters in Christ,
The Feast of the Annunciation of the
Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos and Ever
Virgin Mary, is a day when we celebrate a
truly amazing and miraculous revelation.
At the event of the Annunciation, the messenger of God appeared before Mary and
announced the divine plan for our salvation
through the birth of Christ. The words of
the Archangel Gabriel revealed how God’s
promises would be fulfilled and the ancient
prophesies affirmed. As he spoke and as
the Virgin Mary believed and expressed
her willingness to serve God, the Holy
Spirit came upon her, and she exclaimed:
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit
rejoices in God my Savior. For He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden.
For behold, all generations henceforth will
call me blessed. For He Who is mighty has
done great things for me, and holy is His
name (Luke 1:46-49).
This revelation to the Theotokos was
and continues to be a revelation of truth
and of God’s unfathomable wisdom.
Through the Incarnation of Christ came
the fulfillment of His promises to Adam
and Eve and to all humanity. The time for
restoration had come.
In the entrance of God into our human reality and His incarnation, that is by
assuming the flesh and blood He had created, His plan of redemption was accomplished. The purpose and meaning of our
creation, the priority of liberation from sin
and evil, of communion with God, and the
manner of the life of holiness were now
revealed in the event of the Annunciation.
The Annunciation also revealed the
tremendous and immeasurable power of
God. His power over creation was shown
in the miraculous event of our Lord’s
incarnation. Through the Annunciation it
was revealed that the temporal darkness
of sin and the despair of death would be
vanquished through the invincible power
of God, causing the Theotokos to sing, My
spirit rejoices in God my Savior…. For He
who is mighty has done great things for me
(Luke 1:47-49).
In this holy and divine revelation, we
also see God’s infinite grace. The Annunciation was filled with God’s love, and this was
shown through the Incarnation as Christ
became man for us and for our salvation.
The event revealed God’s power to give,
sustain and restore life.
His revelation for our sake was given to
the Theotokos, not to kings and rulers, affirming that salvation comes through grace,
humility, and faith, not through mundane
power, status, or force.
The Feast of the Annunciation and
the truth, power, and grace of God’s revelation were the inspiration for our Greek
forbearers who began the struggle for
independence on this day in 1821. Affirming the truth of life and liberty as inherent
to human existence, these valiant people
overcame a greater force and centuries of
Ottoman oppression. Through their love of
God and freedom, of their Hellenic heritage
and Orthodox faith, they were able to offer
generations to come, a free nation and society where self-determination, liberty, and
faith would be cherished. As we celebrate
this Feast and Greek Independence Day,
we honor the memory of our ancestors,
and we seek the inspiration and courage
to uphold and preserve all that they fought
and died to achieve.
Today, we join together in this remembrance and commemoration, as we also
express through our worship the truth,
power and love of God’s revelation in the
Annunciation to the Theotokos.
As Orthodox Christians we know and
affirm that ultimate victory over death, oppression, hatred, and violence is won in
this same manner. His truth will endure
all things.
His power will give life and salvation.
His love will bring hope and assurance.
On this day of celebration may we offer a
powerful witness of God’s truth and love,
revealing to others, as He has to us, the
way to abundant and true life.
With paternal love in Christ,
† DEMETRIOS, Archbishop of America
5
FEBRUARY – MARCH 2015
San Francisco Metropolis FDF
Presents $10,000 for St. Nicholas
ANAHEIM – Passing the tray at the
Divine Liturgy of the Metropolis of San
Francisco Folk Dance Festival on Oct.
15, officiated by Archbishop Demetrios,
garnered $10,000 for the St. Nicholas
National Shrine Church.
“We passed a tray during liturgy after
we made a specific plea to people to be
as generous as they could and they came
through with flying colors,” said Fr. Gary
Kyriacou, chairman of the Metropolis Folk
Dance Festival. “They were very generous,
especially in response to the establishment of the St. Nicholas shrine.”
The presentation was made later that
evening at a Metropolis Archons–sponsored dinner in honor of the Archbishop.
Metropolitan Gerasimos commented,
“Joy can be expressed in many ways.
Dance is a primary form of that expres-
sion. On 9/11 an attempt was made
to extinguish hope and replace it with
fear. We will not allow the enemy to be
victorious. Just as we Greeks dance arm
in arm, the participants of the FDF stand
side by side with the entire Archdiocese
to help St. Nicholas rise from the ashes
as a symbol of hope and Christ’s love. I
am very proud that the participants of the
2015 Folk Dance Festival heard the call
to action and showed their support by
expressing their love for the Faith through
their generosity.”
Fr. Gary Kyriacou presents Archbishop Demetrios with the donation of $10,000 for the St.
Nicholas National Shrine Church. Also shown,
from left: FDF Vice President Spiro Beckas, FDF
Director of Finance Michael Syrengelas and
Metropolitan Gerasimos.
(Joanna Duterte photo)
Pittsburgh Metropolis Basketball Tournament
Raises Funds for National Shrine Church
WEIRTON, W.Va. – STEUBENVILLE,
Ohio - Goyans in four parishes in Ohio,
Pennsylvania and West Virginia recently
teamed up to hold a basketball tournament that had the St. Nicholas National
Shrine Church as its beneficiary.
The four small parishes, located
in the part of the country that is called
“the Rust Belt” (formerly the major
steel-producing and manufacturing
region in prosperous times) consisted
of Holy Trinity Church in Steubenville,
Ohio; Holy Trinity in Ambridge, Pa.,
and All Saints in Weirton and St. John
the Divine in Wheeling, W.Va., which
together comprise the “Holy Saints”
basketball team.
Initiated by these communities’
parish leaders, chaired by Nick Tranto
of Weirton, they brought together
about 20 kids from the churches to
form a girls’ team and a boys’ team to
compete against the larger parishes in
the Pittsburgh Metropolis
Through the tournament, held
over the Jan. 16-18 weekend, they
raised $700 for St. Nicholas National
Shrine, and the passing of the tray at
the Divine Liturgy brought the total to
$1,200.
Rikki Kamarados, youth advisor
and parish treasurer at Holy Trinity,
said this was a first-time fundraiser for
the St. Nicholas Shrine Church.
The local AHEPA chapter raised
$200 for the shrine at a December
breakfast.
About 400 Goyans and 100 adults
took part in the tournament.
For the winners, in lieu of trophies,
certificates were given to the second
and third-place finishers and an icon
of St. Nicholas was presented to the
winner of the Sportsmanship Award.
Fr. Nick Halkias, pastor of Holy
Trinity, explained that the practice of
Holy Trinity Church photo
giving out trophies was replaced with
icons several years ago.
“Trophies? What is the need? Trophies gather dust and create a false
sense of pride,” he said. “Besides, they
look like little idols.”
He explained that, in 2008, in support of the S.A.M.P. (Support A Mission
Priest) program of OCMC, the parishes
of Sts. Constantine & Helen in Reading,
Pa and Ypapanti in East Pittsburgh, Pa.,
started passing out certificates in lieu
of trophies at their GOYA basketball
tournaments.
With the money they would have
spent on trophies, they made a donation to the S.A.M.P. program, naming
a missionary priest that would be
supported for a year because of their
generosity.
For the sportsmanship trophy, the
winning parish would receive an icon
as well as the certificate, signifying the
importance of Christian sportsmanship
as well as letting them feel a part of that
mission priest named in the certificate.
This year, the “Holy Saints” hosted
the Metropolis basketball tournament.
“Using this generous attitude of
icons and certificates in lieu of tro-
phies, the GOYA decided that the beneficiary of this tournament’s proceeds
should be the St. Nicholas Shrine at
Ground Zero,” Fr. Halkias said.
The Steubenville church hosted the
Liturgy on Sunday for the tournament,
which was attended by Metropolitan Savas of Pittsburgh and Archdeacon Ryan
Gzikowski, Dr. Jim Kyros (Metropolis
Athletic Committee chairman), Fr.
Frank Milanese of All Saints in Weirton,
and about 400 players, coaches, advisors and chaperones.
The Divine Liturgy ended with a
presentation of the Sportsmanship
Award and the explanation of why the
St. Nicholas Shrine is such a worthy
recipient of the tournament’s donation.
The parish of All Saints in Canonsburg,
Pa, represented by GOYAN Joe Karras,
received the Sportsmanship Icon of St.
Nicholas (with a certificate on the back,
with information about the St. Nicholas
Shrine Project).
After Metropolitan Savas explained
the significance of the Shrine, a check
of $500 was presented to him by Holy
Saints’ GOYA Advisor, Rikki Kamarados,
and two senior GOYANS (James Demitras of Holy Trinity in Steubenville, and
Angelena Kayafas of St. John the Divine
in Wheeling).
Following the presentation, an
additional tray was passed for the St.
Nicholas Shrine.
“It is amazing what can be done
out of obedience to Christ. Offering
donations and icons in lieu of trophies
further exemplifies St. Paul’s desire to
receive the ‘imperishable crown’ that
he speaks of in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27.
May the Lord, through His dedicated
people of all ages, continue to bless
the St. Nicholas Shrine project to its
completion and to the ultimate glory
of His name,” said Fr. Halkias.
Major Contributors
as of February
• AHEPA – $1 million
•Allwin, Maria – $1 million
• Anonymous – $5 million
• Bouras, Nicholas J. and Anna
Foundation – $1 million
• Calamos, Mae and John P.
– $1 million
• Coumantaros, Sophia and George
– $1 million
• Doucas, Elizabeth and William
– $1 million
• FAITH: An Endowment
for Orthodoxy & Hellenism
– $1 million
• Georges, Dathel and John
– $1 million
• Greek Orthodox Ladies
Philoptochos Society Inc.
– $2 million
• Leadership 100
Endowment Fund – $1 million
• Marcus, Judy and George
– $1 million
• Metropoulos, Marianne and Dean
– $1 million
• Niarchos Foundation – $5 million
• Pappajohn, Mary and John
– $1 million
• Pappas Sr., Peter J. and Cathy
– $1.3 million
• Psaros, Robin and Michael
– $1 million
•Spanos Family,
Faye and Alexander
– $1 million
• Tsakalos, Nick and Jeanne
– $1 million
• The Order of St. Andrew
the Apostle Archons
– $1 million
6
FEBRUARY – MARCH 2015
March For Life
by Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos
On January 22 I had the honor of attending and marching with hundreds of
thousands of citizens from across our nation
at the annual “March for Life” in Washington. This annual event, virtually ignored by
the major broadcast media and most news
media apart from Fox News, is one of the
largest, if not the largest annual protest
march in our nation’s capital, and highlights
the opposition to so-called abortion rights
as well as, and more importantly, a right to
life of the pre-born.
This is the fifth time I have participated
in this event. Last year, representing the
Chair of the Assembly of Bishops, Archbishop Demetrios of America, I was privileged to
offer the invocation at the pre-march rally,
accompanied by numerous fellow hierarchs
of our Orthodox Tradition, not to mention
hundreds of Orthodox Christian marchers.
While this year’s invocation was offered by
the Roman Catholic tradition, I was struck
by the camaraderie among Christian leaders in general, and their recollection of and
appreciation for the Orthodox participants.
Reflections on “The March for Life”
Photos courtesy of Bishop Demetrios
Dozens of Orthodox Christians were among hundreds of thousands who participated in the march,
including Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos (below).
Regardless of distinctions in opinions
regarding legal or constitutional questions,
or even the theological basis for an opposition to abortion on demand and the sanctity
of human life, the common agreement on
the conclusions regarding what remains a
polarizing moral question of our American
society is noteworthy.
Our common witness to the sacredness
of life is not only an important aspect of our
Orthodox presence in this nation, but also
a basic area of agreement in our ecumenical environment and one where we have
gained some small victory.
This victory is the obvious increasing
presence of young people at the March
for Life itself. If we may observe a general
increase in the “protest” movements of
college-age young adults generally, it can
be admitted that such protests often seem
to be amorphous, less focused and more
popular social activities than the youth
movements of the Vietnam War era.
At such publicized protests many participants have no clear goal. Such is not the
case with the March for Life with an increasing number of young people who are clear
in their opposition to abortion on demand.
One might even note that this does
not necessarily indicate a simple rise in the
political conservatism of young adults, for
the same demographic remains concerned
about many causes and issues that cross
the political division of left and right: from
civil rights and social tolerance, to the
protection of the environment. Obviously,
for Orthodox Christians, the right to life is
not simply a political or legal issue. It is a
moral issue. Indeed, my own concern is not
simply about what is legal or illegal in the
juridical framework of our nation. While
this may be important, more important is
the moral force of our Christian faith and
our Orthodox witness to our neighbors in
our American society and culture.
We not only stand, and march, with
those with whom we agree, but affirm the
principle of our faith as witnesses to the
truth before those with whom we disagree.
Of course, in our day, we also stand and
affirm a principle to our own Orthodox
sisters and brothers: that such a witness is
a necessary aspect of “doing the truth” in
our present context.
So I am heartened by the regular and
even growing presence of Orthodox Christians at the March for Life: from hierarchs,
to parish clergy, monastic’s, seminarians
and laypersons of all ages, showing that
not only do we pray that all human life be
blessed and held sacred, in the womb, in
our homes, in the streets and in our prisons,
but that our prayer moves us to confess the
gift of life granted by our Lord by all those
who would spurn that gift through the actions of abusing or removing life, or by ambivalence to the spurning of that sacred gift
in our homes, on our streets, in our prisons
and even, sadly, in our institutions of healing. May our Lord grant us the strength to
continue this witness so that we may bring
righteousness to our land.
Bishop Demetrios is chancellor of the
Metropolis of Chicago and represented the
Archdiocese at the event.
FEBRUARY – MARCH 2015
by Christine Karavites
7
The Voice of Philoptochos
National Board Convenes Winter Meeting
ATLANTA - The two–day National
Board meeting hosted by the hospitable
Metropolis of Atlanta Philoptochos under
the spiritual leadership of Metropolitan
Alexios, featured interactive forums and
important discussions. Bishop Sevastianos
of Zela opened the meeting with an inspiring reflection that guided the members on
a thoughtful journey through the Triodion
period in preparation for Great Lent.
National President Maria Logus set
forth a vision and goals for chapters and
members nationwide. She charged us to
engage all members of our community
in our work so that Philoptochos is fully
integrated into the Church’s life. To encourage families, youth and our children
to participate she presented the following
goals:
First, to promote more hands on
philanthropy we will work together for a
national goal to serve 250,000 meals in the
coming 18 months until the convention.
With 441 active chapters this means each
chapter needs to serve 31 meals a month.
Second, we will enhance communications and promote programs to reach our
chapters, our clergy and our communities
and especially our younger members.
Third, we will adopt a resolution to
increase the Philoptochos membership by 5
percent. President Logus shared her vision
for a Leadership Institute to engage members from each Metropolis in Leadership
skill building and to partner with Orthodox
Christian Fellowship to establish Philoptochos on our higher education campuses.
St. Nicholas National Shrine Philoptochos Committee Chairmen Jennifer
Constantin, Arlene Siavelis Kehl and Anne
Michals updated members on each Metropolis’s activities supporting the Shrine
Campaign. The goal is that each chapter
and each member demonstrates support
for this important effort. A sample chapter
presentation was offered by Anita Kartalopoulos.
Each metropolis president led an interactive session on increasing membership
organized by Chairmen Alexis Limberakis
and Maria Tamvakologos. A membership
trend analysis of the past six years was
offered by Assistant Treasurer Georgia
Vlitas. An important Leadership forum
presentation on better understanding our
role as servant leaders and board members
was presented by President Logus and
Metropolis Presidents Jeannie Ranglas and
Irene Arsoniadis.
Treasurer Martha Stefanidakis noted
the disbursements since October 2014 that
included: The APC NSP Benevolent Fund
– $15,000; Retired Clergy Fund – $40,000;
Ecumenical Patriarchate Fund – $50,000;
Aid to the People of Greece and Cyprus
– $50,000 distributed as follows: $15,000
to Apostoli Food Program, $15,000 to
Moschato After School Program, $20,000
for the Archdiocese of Cyprus and, for the
HCHC Scholarship Fund, $36,400 with 26
students receiving $1,400 each.
Frances Levas, Metropolis of Boston
Philoptochos president invited everyone
to Boston for the Children’s Medical Fund
Luncheon on Saturday, Oct. 31 at the
Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel.
On Sunday, Nov. 1, Archbishop Demetrios and Metropolitan Methodios will
celebrate the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy
at Annunciation Cathedral in Boston in
honor of Sts. Cosmas and Damianos, the
Philoptochos patron saints. The CMF cochairmen are Christine Karavites, Elaine
Kevgas and Georgia Lagadinos.
At the Saturday meeting Bishop
Sevastianos was joined by area clergy: Fr.
Spiros Bobotas, Aristidis Arizi, Romanos
Galben and Christopher Metropulos for
Altchech
the Vasilopita Allen
cutting.
Also Photography
present were
the chapter presidents and members from
the area parishes.
NW Regional Conference Deals with Family Issues
SEATTLE – More than 100 women from
Philoptochos chapters in Washington and
Oregon attended the Northwest Regional
Conference at St. Demetrios Church on Jan.
31., Metropolis of San Francisco Philoptochos President Jeannie Ranglas along with
other board members came from California
to participate in the day-long sessions with
the theme “Building Stronger Families in
Today’s World.”
Mrs. Ranglas gave the attendees a
comprehensive overview of the work and
ministries of the Metropolis Philoptochos
including the Bishop Anthony Student
Aid Endowment Fund which provides
scholarships to seminarians and students
from the Metropolis studying at Hellenic
College Holy Cross School of Theology and
a companion “Adopt-A-Student” program
for chapters to connect with individual students throughout the year; Kids’n’Cancer/
Camp Agape, a program that offers a week
of summer camp at one of five facilities
located in Washington, Oregon, California
Vasilopita Celebrations
Help Saint Basil Academy
Westfield, N.J. Philoptochos members filled the Bouras Center for the 49th
year as the Holy Trinity community, led by
Fr. Peter Delvizis, held its Vasilopita event.
Chapter President Peggy Pefanis and event
Chairmen Helen Constantinides Bruno
and Janet Zervakos O’Sullivan greeted
special guests that included the Saint Basil Academy children, National President
Maria Logus and New Jersey Metropolis
Philoptochos President Anastasia Michals.
Deep appreciation was extended to
parishioners whose generosity enables
Philoptochos to fulfill its Christ-centered
mission helping those in need.
Agapios Kyritsis, Saint Basil Academy
secretary and Apostolos Apostolou were
recognized for their continued service to
the Academy and the Vasilopita celebration.
Ellen Manos Athenson, Stewardship
and Amelia Pritz served as co–chairmen.
Their committee offered brunch to more
than 200 parishioners. They spoke of
Philoptochos’ focus and invited chapter
board members to offer their 2015 stewardship as an example and encouragement for others.
Annunciation Cathedral, Houston
chapter President Maria Halvatzis reported
that the parish raised $30,806. Fr. Michael
Lambakis opened the celebration and emphasized the Academy’s importance and
praised Philoptochos for its work.
Funds are raised in various ways.
Chairman Eleni Kyriazis and her committee offer the Vasilopita breads for the
coffee hour where there is a donation
basket. Additional members make beautifully wrapped breads to purchase at a $50
minimum. Each organization receiving
the Vasilopita that Fr. Lambakis offers donates. An auction of 20 Vasilopita breads
concludes the successful event.
St. Catherine, Greenwood Colo.
chapter invited Alex, a Saint Basil resident
to tell her heartwarming story about her
life before and after being admitted to the
Academy.
Chapter President Pam Weinroth
and event Chairman Elaine Cladis noted
that 45 Vasilopita breads were baked and
offered at the lavish coffee hour for the
parishioners whose generosity raised close
to $6,300. The successful Vasilopita event
embraced the fellowship, philanthropy
and Philoptochos traditions.
Holy Trinity, Dallas chapter President Marilyn Martin acknowledged special
guests Fr. Costas Sitaras, Saint Basil Academy director and an Academy resident,
Katherine, who offered an emotional
speech about her life journey and the loving security found at the Academy. whose
benefactor donated two cars for use by the
students with off-campus part-time jobs.
The Holy Trinity community raised
$20,590 from the Vasilopita auction.
An anonymous donor’s gift of $10,000
made the total $30,590. Frs. Constantine
Constantinidis and Peter Kostakis offered
the Vasilopita to parishioners and guests.
Three former Saint Basil Academy
students: Joanne Canellos, Billy Karant
and Presbytera Alexandra Poulos were
recognized.
and Arizona, to children with cancer and
their entire families; Pennies and Prayers,
a collection during Great Lent to assist
the establishment and nurturing of small
Mission parishes; St. Nicholas Ranch and
Retreat Center in Dunlap, Calif., where
Philoptochos has a lodge named in its
honor; Women’s Health and Wellness
programs; an Emergency Relief Fund; and
most recently support of the rebuilding of
St. Nicholas Church and National Shrine at
Ground Zero in New York, destroyed on
9/11. She also highlighted goals for 2015
with emphasis on growth and communications.
“The Metropolis of San Francisco
Philoptochos is a dynamic movement which
includes seven Western states, 58 chapters,
and over 4,000 faithful, strong and bold
women who are committed to helping
others through kindness, compassion, and
care,” Mrs. Ranglas noted.
The main focus of the conference
had its genesis from a presentation at the
National Philoptochos Convention last summer in Philadelphia. St. Demetrios chapter
President Susan Reichmann heard the discussion by Rachel Lloyd, Founder and CEO
of GEMS (Girls Educational and Mentoring
Services) on the tragic and widespread
problem of human trafficking, especially of
young girls. Although Ms. Lloyd was unable
to come to Seattle, Ms. Reichmann pulled
together speakers from several local social
service providers who assist victims of trafficking, homelessness, domestic violence,
and related issues. National Philoptochos
is now undertaking a new initiative with
the U.S. Fund for UNICEF End Trafficking
Program.
A most poignant speech which kept
the entire audience silent and attentive
came from an 18–year–old woman, Ivy
Jacobsen, who had been molested by her
father starting in 6th grade. Finally in her
sophomore year in high school, Ms. Jacobsen told a friend who reported the abuse
to authorities. They arrested the father, and
then Ms. Jacobsen took the courageous step
of testifying against him in court, not once
but in three separate trials. He was finally
convicted and is serving 16 years in prison.
She was selected to speak at her high
school graduated where she told her painful
story to over 6,000 people attending, and
has since been interviewed by NPR and
other media.
Clifford T. Argue photo
Chapter president Reichmann with Fr. Photios
Dumont of St. Demetrios Church, Seattle.
Jubilee Women’s Center , “rebuilding
lives, one extraordinary woman at a time,”
is a ministry already supported by the St.
Demetrios chapter. It provides safe and
affordable community housing, clothing,
holistic care management, and community
meals for more than 60 women each year.
The director of Jubilee, Cheryl Sesnon,
commented that the residents “really look
forward to the delicious meals prepared
and served by the St. Demetrios ladies.”
Also making presentations were representatives from New Horizons Ministries, a
Christian organization, which partners with
youth to exit life on the streets on their
journey to a sustainable future, and New
Beginnings which empowers survivors and
mobilizes community awareness and action
to end domestic violence.
A notebook with additional resource
documents was provided the attendees
including from each of the speakers, from
UNICEF on human trafficking, and a paper
by Paulette Geanacopoulos, a licensed
social worker in the National Philoptochos
office in New York, on “Identifying and
Responding to Domestic Violence in the
Greek Orthodox Community.”
“We wanted to make the binder comprehensive to be used as a tool to start conversations in the attendees’ parishes giving
awareness of Philoptochos’ works outside
the usual community,” Ms. Reichmann said.
In his message to the conference
through a letter, Metropolitan Gerasimos
of San Francisco stated, “By working together as a church and a community, we
can positively impact the lives of people
who deserve a chance at happiness, peace
and success, all while sharing the Gospel
of Jesus Christ.”
8
FEBRUARY – MARCH 2015
IOCC
Jaharis Foundation Helps IOCC
Address Malnutrition in Greece
Specialists in Travel to Greece, Croatia, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Canary Islands, Turkey, Israel, Egypt, Cyprus & Jordan
• Tailor made itineraries to any of our unique destinations.
• European Honeymoon & Wedding specialists.
• European Family Vacations.
• Customized European Group Travel.
• Specialists in Greek Orthodox groups to the Holy Land,
St. Catherine’s Monastery, Constantinople & Greece.
JOIN US ON OUR SPECIAL
GREEK ORTHODOX PILGRIMAGES TO:
*GREECE *ITALY *TURKEY
*ISRAEL *CYPRUS
Call for departure dates and information
Visit us at:
www.GreekOrthodoxPilgrimages.com
31 09 Newtown Ave. Long Island City, NY 11102
Tel.: (718) 721-3808
Fax: (718) 795-4356
Toll Free: 1-800-223-7880
E-mail: [email protected]
www.cloudtours.com
BALTIMORE – With the blessings of
Archbishop Demetrios and the support
from The Jaharis Family Foundation Inc.,
International Orthodox Christian Charities
(IOCC) has announced a new program to
assist the growing number of Greek families in search of work and opportunities
in agriculture-related businesses.
As many as 25 agriculture cooperatives in Greece will receive support in food
production, standardization of farming
practices, warehousing facilities, sales and
member training.
In return for their participation,
farmers will commit a portion of the food
they produce to people in need in their
communities, especially children facing
malnutrition as a result of the prolonged
economic crisis.
More than 300,000 children in Greece
now live in families that cannot afford
to provide a healthy diet including meat
or fish, according to data from UNICEF.
One in four children in Greece lives in
poverty, and one third are at risk of living
in poverty.
“The numbers are shocking and the
impact on hard–working people faced
with such prolonged unemployment is
having deeply felt social, economic and
psychological effects on families,” said
Constantine Triantafilou, IOCC executive
director.
For the past three years, Triantafilou
has been coordinating relief efforts with
Apostoli, the social service agency of the
Church of Greece.
IOCC has been addressing the growing needs of Greece’s most vulnerable
families, with support from the Jaharis
Foundation and private donors in the
U.S. Over the last year alone, more than
$9 million in food, medical assistance and
heating fuel have been provided through
the “Give for Greece” program.
“The extraordinary circumstances
in Greece continue to have devastating
effects on families,” said Mary Jaharis.
“This is not simply an ‘economic crisis’
for Greece, but a personal disaster being
played out for hundreds of thousands of
families.
We remain concerned for the well–
being of the people of Greece and have
committed an additional $1 million in
support for these efforts, especially for
the children.”
The commitment by the Jaharis
Foundation is offered as a challenge grant,
with every dollar contributed by donors
to be matched dollar-for-dollar by the
foundation.
“Many families whom we meet have
been stripped of nearly everything – their
jobs, their savings, and their plans for the
future,” observed Triantafilou.
“We are trying to provide assistance
in ways that make an impact, especially
for the children, but do so in a way that
doesn’t also take away their dignity.”
IOCC, working with a grocery store
chain in Greece, has provided more than
1,000 pre–qualified families with grocery
store cards that allow them to purchase
fresh fruits, vegetables and milk.
Participants in the program are able
to shop alongside their neighbors and
purchase items suitable for their dietary
needs, rather than collect aid at distribution centers.
The agricultural products are all
sourced in Greece to support local farmers
and milk producers.
“By sourcing food from farmers in
Greece, we are looking for ways to help
address the underlying need for economic
development while also providing essential support for families facing very difficult
circumstances,” explained Triantafilou.
In addition to the assistance to farmers and the grocery card program, IOCC
will continue to provide food aid through
Apostoli and the Church of Greece, heating fuel to institutions serving the elderly,
children and people with disabilities in
northern Greece, and support to public
hospitals to address huge shortages due
to budget cuts in the public health sector.
More than 700,000 Greeks are expected to benefit from medical supplies
planned for delivery to Greece this year.
The need for assistance continues to
grow as an increasing number of Greece’s
people find themselves without income
and access to social services.
Many of the unemployed have exhausted their benefits with just 15 percent
of those people who have registered for
unemployment now eligible to receive
government assistance.
Yet, for every available job in Greece,
there are 19 unemployed people, according to the European Commission.
In addition to the support from the
Jaharis Foundation, IOCC’s efforts to assist families in Greece this was also made
possible with funding from the Hellenic
community including the John G. Rangos
Sr. Family Foundation, the Styliades Hellenic Orthodox Foundation, the John C.
Kulis Charitable Foundation, the Greek
Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society,
The Hellenic Initiative (THI), the American
Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), the Pancretan Association of
America, the Kallinikeion Foundation, the
Gerondelis Foundation, the Chios Society
and thousands of individual donors.
CLERGY UPDATE
Ordinations to the Diaconate
Offikia
Lundberg, Paul – Metropolitan
Alexios of Atlanta, Annunciation Cathedral, Atlanta, 12/27/14
Ehmer, Theodore – Metropolitan
Alexios of Atlanta, Transfiguration
Church, Marietta, Ga. 01/17/15
Fr. J. Michael Diavatis – Office of
Economos, bestowed by Metropolitan
Alexios of Atlanta 10/05/14
Assignments
Fr. Soterios Rousakis – Office of
Protopresbyter, bestowed by Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta 01/04/15
Fr. Daniel Payne – Assumption Church,
Bayard, Neb.
Fr. Peter J. Spiro – Office of Protopresbyter, bestowed by Metropolitan
Iakovos of Chicago 01/18/15
9
FEBRUARY – MARCH 2015
Metropolis News
S. Florida Church Hosting
Religious Freedom Symposium
NAPLES, Fla. – St. Katherine Church
and the Archons of South Florida will
sponsor a religious freedom symposium,
“The Plight of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Christianity Under Attack,” March 14.
Dr. Anthony Limberakis, national
commander of the Order of St. Andrew
the Apostle, Archons of the Ecumenical
Patriarchate will give this presentation.
Fr. Fouad Saba, dean of St. George
Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral in Coral
Gables, Fla., will present “Promise, Law
and Freedom: Living the Word of God,”
in which he will relate his personal experiences concerning the plight of Christians
in the Middle East.
John Scurtis is the Archons regional
commander is South Florida.
Admission is free but registration is
required. To register, contact St. Katherine Church in Naples (239.591.3430) or:
Carol Dimopoulos, Carol10.4@comcast.
net, (484.241.1577), or Kathy Manousos,
[email protected], (239.353.7787).
East Pittsburgh Church
Making Plans for Centennial
Photo credit Arthur Smith Jr.
Metropolitan Gerasimos with Archbishop Cordileone at the Vespers service in observance of International Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholics
Hold Ecumenical Service in Calif.
BELMONT, Calif. – Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco and Archbishop
Salvatore Cordileone of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco joined
together in prayer at a Vespers service on
Sunday, Jan. 18.
The two hierarchs came together for
this service for the beginning of the international Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
but especially for persecuted Christians in
the Middle East and Africa who are suffering and dying for their faith.
The service took place at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Roman Catholic Church
in Belmont.
In attendance were members of the
neighboring Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church in Belmont, led by Fr. Peter
Salmas.
Archbishop Cordileone invited Metropolitan Gerasimos to deliver the homily at the evening vespers. Metropolitan
Gerasimos called upon “Orthodox and
Catholic brothers and sisters to bear wit-
ness to our common faith in Jesus Christ,
and to raise our voices, our shared voices,
to our most high God” when referring to
the injustice against the Christians in the
Middle East and Africa. He also stated that
“We have made it kind of regular to meet
this way, and I hope and pray we will not
stop meeting this way.”
Archbishop Cordileone thanked
Metropolitan Gerasimos for “a powerful
reminder of the serious situation Christians are facing around the world.”
More than 300 Greek Orthodox and
Roman Catholic faithful, including clergy
from both churches, came together in
prayer recognizing the need for prayer for
Christian Unity.
Faithful of Holy Cross Church, along
with faithful of their neighboring parish
of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Roman
Catholic Church have gathered in prayer
annually since Holy Cross Church obtained a blessed relic of the Holy Cross
in 2007.
HUC Offers Undergraduate
Scholarships for 2015
The Hellenic University Club of New
York offers its annual undergraduate
scholarships of $2,000 each for qualified
high school seniors.
This award is offered to students
of Hellenic ancestry, who are citizens,
or permanent legal residents of the tristate New York area. Candidates must
demonstrate scholastic achievement
and aptitude as indicated by excellent
grades, SAT scores, an active involvement
in extracurricular activities, with an appreciation of their Hellenic heritage and
their commitment to the Greek-American
community and there must be a clear
financial need. Applications and all supporting documents must be submitted to
the Scholarship Committee on, or before,
April 30.
Additional information may be
obtained from: The Hellenic University
Club of New York Inc., Scholarship Committee – Undergraduate Division, P.O.
Box 6882, F.D.R. Station, New York, NY,
10150–6882. The updated applications
may be downloaded directly from our
website (or by submitting your request
to the Scholarship Committee at the address above): www.HUCNY.com; e-mail:
[email protected]
by Mary Doreza
EAST PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Presentation of Christ (Ypapanti) Church of East
Pittsburgh is among the many churches that
are celebrating their centennial in the early
part of the 21st century.
A distinguishing characteristic of “Ypapanti” is that it is the only parish in the Archdiocese that bears the name of Ypapanti
and celebrates its Feast Day on Feb. 2. As
each Orthodox Christian mother enters the
church with her new born infant 40 days
after giving birth, to receive the blessing of
the Lord and return to the communion of
the Church, she commemorates this holy
day. There is another unique feature of
the small parish of Ypapanti that was built
in 1915 in the town where the original
George Westinghouse plant was established. Among the parishes in the greater
Pittsburgh region, it is the only one that
was built as a Greek Orthodox Church on
the same site on Electric Avenue, where it
has continued to serve its community for all
of the 100 years. It has been a beacon of
Christian light and life to the area. Wanting
to share the joy of the Centennial, the community has planned a three day weekend on
Oct. 23–25 to which everyone is invited. On
Friday night, former members and guests
from near and far will enjoy the fun and
friends at a Welcome Night in the Olympia
Hall. On Saturday, Metropolitan Savas of
Pittsburgh will celebrate Great Vespers with
Pittsburgh area and former Ypapanti clergy.
Vespers will be followed by a Centennial
dinner–dance where the Ypapanti Grecian
Odyssey Dancers will perform.
The current Ypapanti congregation is
looking forward to welcoming former parishioners and guests to celebrate this “once
in a lifetime” milestone, either by attending
the weekend event, or by contributing to
the Commemorative Album that will be distributed in October. For more information
contact the Presentation of Christ in East
Pittsburgh (412.824.9188) or ypapanti@
papanti.org
Ms. Doreza is the Ypapanti Church
Centennial chairman.
San Francisco Presbyteres Sisterhood Retreat
by Presbytera Annie Swelha
DUNLAP, Calif. – The Metropolis of San
Francisco Sisterhood of Presvyteres has had
an annual weekend retreat since 1980. Up
to 40 presbyteres attend this delightful and
edifying weekend held at the end of January
at St. Nicholas Ranch and Retreat Center.
Below is a reflection on this year’s retreat
offered by I have visited St. Nicholas Ranch
many times, but this was my first trip to the
retreat center as a Presbytera. As someone
who is new to this role, I was eager to connect
with the wise women of the San Francisco
Metropolis at the annual Presbyteres Retreat.
At the retreat, 24 presbyteres from across the
West Coast gathered together at St. Nicholas
Ranch for fellowship and constructive discussions. Fr. John Mefrige, of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese was the retreat speaker.
Fr. John was warmly received by the
group. We appreciated his workshops on
conflict management and practicing forgiveness. When we weren’t attending the workshops, our group enjoyed fabulous meals,
prayed the Paraklesis and Vespers services
together, and attended Liturgy at the Monastery of the Theotokos, the Life–Giving Spring.
GREEK ORTHODOX MISSION OF HAITI
MISSION TRIP JUNE 4–9, 2015 • JOIN FR. BARNABAS AND COSTA MAVRAGANIS ON A MISSION OF LOVE AND ADVENTURE
TO VISIT OUR GREEK ORTHODOX COMMUNITY & ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN HAITI
S E AT S A R E L I M I T E D • F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N : W W W. O M H A I T I . O R G O R 1 - 9 7 3 4 6 2 - 0 7 0 2
10
FEBRUARY – MARCH 2015
11
FEBRUARY – MARCH 2015
Youth Camps
Archdiocese Summer Camps
Summer camping season is three months
away and the Archdiocese offers a selection
of several facilities located in each metropolis, the Direct Archdiocesan District and
Greece. The camps are under the guidance
of the Office of Camping Ministries of the
Archdiocese Youth and Young Adult Ministries and the individual metropolises. At
the direction of the Holy Eparchial Synod,
each camp is mandated to use the policies and procedures outlined in the Youth
Protection Manual that guide clergy and lay
persons charged with selecting, training and
supervising those who work with young
people at camps and retreats. The Office
of Camping Ministries creates, coordinates
and distributes standardized resources and
training sessions for camp directors and staff,
and sets standards for camp operation. The
guide on this page provides information for
potential campers considering attending
Ionian Village or the metropolis camps this
summer. In cases where information is NA
(not available) or TBA (to be announced),
contact the metropolis, the camp director or
contact person listed. Numbers next to each
camp listed correspond to their location on
the map(s). This guide does not include listings for local parish camps.
number: George Tomczewski (youth director), Metropolis Youth Office, 908.301.0500.
e-mail: [email protected]
Open to: Children ages 8-18
Registration: Begins Feb. 1
Ionian Village
Location: Bartholomio, Peloponnesus,
Greece
Dates: Session One, June 23-July 12; Session
Two (July 20-Aug.8); Spiritual Odyssey Pilgrimage to Cyprus and Crete, May 30-June 9.
Age ranges: Open to campers who have
completed grades 8-12.
Cost per camper: $4,250 (all inclusive);
camp only (excludes airfare)
Director or contact person and phone
number: Fr. Evagoras Constantinides,
212.570.3536.
e-mail address: [email protected]
Open to: Any young person from the Greek
Orthodox Archdiocese of America, which
includes all metropolises and the Direct
Archdiocesan District.
Registration period: Early-bird registration
opens Feb. 1-15; regular registration follows
until April 30.
Spiritual Odyssey Pilgrimage Program:
Offers young adults, ages 19-28, the opportunity to encounter Greek Orthodox culture
and faith through focused pilgrimages.
Spiritual Odyssey Cyprus-June 1-11.
METROPOLIS OF ATLANTA
St. Stephen’s Camp
Location: Diakonia Retreat Center, Salem,
S.C.
Dates: Senior Camp, June 29-July 5; 6th
grade through high school senior (four sessions) Week 1-June 28-July 4, Week 2-July
5-11, Week 3-July 12-18, Week 4-July 19-July
25, Week 5-July 26-Aug. 1.
Cost per camper: $400, with $25 sibling
discounts
Open to: 6th grade through senior year
Director or contact person and phone
number: Julie Moricz, 404.634.9345
e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
Registration: begins April 15-May 31
METROPOLIS OF BOSTON
St. Methodios Camp
Location: St. Methodios Faith & Heritage
Center Contocook, N.H.
Dates: Week 1, July 2-6; Summer Family
Camp (Week 1 only, all ages as family), Week
2, July 7-13; Week 3, July 14-20; Week 4,
July 21-27; Week 5; July 28-Aug. 3; Week 6,
Aug. 4-10.
Cost per camper: $575 per camper; (for
Family Camp, $575 for first three persons,
$50 each additional).
Director or contact person and phone
number: Michael Sintros (director),
603.746.4400.
e-mail: [email protected]
website: mbcamp.org
Open to: (ages 8-18, and families)
Registration: Begins March 1
METROPOLIS OF NEW JERSEY
Camp Good Shepherd
Location: Camp Linwood MacDonald
YMCA-Branchville, N.J.
Dates: JOY – July 13-19; GOYA #1 – July
20-26 and GOYA #2 July 27-Aug. 2
Cost per camper: TBA
Director or contact person and phone
METROPOLIS OF PITTSBURGH
Camp Nazareth
Location: Mercer, Pa. (One hour north of
Pittsburgh. This camp is owned by the
Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese, presided by Bishop Gregory of Nyssa).
Dates: Four one-week Sessions:
Session 1: JOY (grades 3-7) June 16–22;
Session 2: JOY June 28-July 4; Session 3:
GOYA (grades 8-12) July 5-11; Session 4:
GOYA July 12-18
Cost per camper: Early Bird: $500; Regular:
$525 (Financial-need Scholarship available
through grant from Leadership 100.)
Director or contact person and phone
number: Ted Cherpas, camp ministries
coordinator 412.621.5529
e-mail: [email protected]
Open to: all metropolises, jurisdictions and
Christian faiths.
Registration: “Early Bird” registration begins March 16. “Regular” registration begins
May 15.
METROPOLIS OF CHICAGO
Camp Fanari
Location: St. Iakovos Retreat Center, Brighton, WI
Dates: June 15-21 - 6-11th graders
June 22-28 - 10th and 11th graders only
July 6-12 6th - 11th graders
July 13-19 – 6th - 11th graders
Cost per camper: $475 (Subject to change)
Director or contact person and phone number: Dn. Chris Avramopoulos, 312.337.4130
Website: www.fanari.org
Open to: all Orthodox Christian youth
Registration: April 1 until each week is full,
first come first serve basis
Fanari Camp will be taking place at the NEW
St. Iakovos Retreat Center, Brighton, Wis.,
for the first time.
Dates: June 15-21, 2015 6th - 11th Graders
June 22-28, 2015 10th and 11th Graders only
July 6-12, 2015 6th - 11th graders
July 13-19, 2015 6th - 11th graders
First come first serve basis.
METROPOLIS OF DENVER
Camp Emmanuel
Location: Manzano Mountain Retreat,
Torreon, N.M. (southeast of Albuquerque)
Dates: Junior Session (June 9-15) ages 1114; Senior Session (June 1 6-22) ages 15-18.
Cost per camper: TBA
Director or contact person and phone
number: Deacon Paul Zaharas (camp director); Fr. Evan Armatas (program director),
u
u to page 24
RIZOS JEWELRY
Please visit our website
www.rizosjewelry.com
and check our
wonderful collection
36-05 162 Street
Flushing, NY 11358
tel.: 718.445.7272
fax: 718.445.5133
Chris Rizos
the one and only jewelry store in the USA
that designs and manufactures christening crosses.
ΕΜΠΝΕΥΣΗ • ΤΕΧΝΗ • ΠΡΩΤΟΤΥΠΙΑ
WE ARE PROUD TO SERVE THE GREEK AMERICAN
COMMUNITY ALL OVER THE COUNTRY SINCE 1972
GREECE
CULTURE – RELAXATION – EXCITEMENT
FROM
$
865 AEGEAN DELIGHT
7 DAYS - Athens & Greek Island cruise
CLASSICAL & BYZANTINE FROM
GREECE - 7 DAYS
$
Athens, Mycenae, Olympia,
Delphi & Meteora
$
FROM
1,260
1,199
CLASSIC DELIGHT
9 DAYS - Athens, Classical tour
to Mycenae, Olympia, Delphi
& Greek Island Cruise
CONSTANTINOPLE FROM
& ATHENS - 9 DAYS $
WITH GREEK ISLAND CRUISE
1,320
FROM
$
1,499
GREEK ISLAND HOPPING
10 DAYS - Athens, Mykonos, Santorini
* Shown prices are per person, double occupancy and include city sightseeing tours, guide service, transfers,
some meals - all meals during cruising.Greek Island cruise port-of-calls: Mykonos, Kusadasi/Ephesus,
Patmos, Crete, Santorini. Port tax & ship gratuities are additional $141.
WE OFFER COMPETITIVE AIRFARES TO GREECE FROM MOST USA CITIES
NUMBER ONE TO GREECE
For a FREE brochure call your
Travel Agent or Toll-Free:
1-800-223-5570
55 East 59th Street, New York, NY 10022 • Tel.: 212-753-1100
e-mail: [email protected] • www.HomericTours.com
12
FEBRUARY – MARCH 2015
Middle East Crisis
Christians Face Mortal Danger
throughout Mideast, N. Africa
Archives tour
O.O. photo
A group of 12th graders from St. Demetrios High School in Astoria received an orientation to the
Archives of the Archdiocese from Director Nikie Calles (at left)on Feb. 12 as part of their studies.
They were accompanied by teachers (at right) Chris Tripolas and Andreas Karras.
To donate
to the St. Nicholas
National Shrine,
make checks payable to:
Greek Orthodox
Archdiocese
Mailing Address:
Greek Orthodox
Archdiocese of America,
8 E a s t 7 9 th S t . ,
New York, NY 10075
www.stnicholaswtc.org
SAVE THE DATE
National Philoptochos
Children’s Medical Fund Luncheon
Hosted by the Metropolis of Boston
October 31, 2015
Editor’s note: The following article
was provided by the Order of St. AndrewArchons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. It
is a condensed version of a series of reports
from the Gatestone Institute on the Christmas slaughter of Christians in the Middle
East and Africa, produced by Raymond Ibrahim, author of “Crucified Again: Exposing
Islam’s New War on Christians”, published
by Regnery in April 2013. The Gatestone
Institute, a non-partisan, not-for-profit international policy council and think tank based
in New York, is dedicated to educating the
public about what the mainstream media
fails to report on institutions of democracy,
human rights and a host of other issues.
The entire text of the reports can be viewed
on the Gatestone Institute website:www.
gatestoneinstitute.org
“They chopped children in half. They
chopped all heads off. How do you respond to that? That is what we have been
going through. That is what we are going
through.” – the Rev. Canon Andrew White,
an Anglican priest known as the “Vicar of
Baghdad.”
“There are always more and more
frequent cases where the blasphemy law
is used to target religious minorities or to
settle cases of disputes or private rivalries,
or simply as an instrument of blackmail.” –
Shardar Mushtaq Gill, Pakistani Christian
lawyer.
Islamic law holds that new churches
are never to be built in Muslim lands and
existing ones never repaired. Even so,
many of these partially wrecked churches
continue to be used, and are even packed,
during church services.
The Christmas season witnessed
some of the most barbaric attacks on
Christians throughout the Islamic world.
After Rev. White told of how the
Islamic State (IS) “chopped (Christian)
children in half; they chopped their heads
off,” he offered the following anecdote:
IS turned up and they said to the (Christian) children, “You say the words (the
shehada, to convert to Islam), that you
will follow Muhammad.” And four of the
children, all under 15, said, “No, we love
Jesus (Yesua). We have always loved Jesus.
We have always followed Jesus. Jesus has
always been with us.” They (IS) said, “Say
the words!” They (children) said, “No,
we can’t.” (White starts sobbing) They
chopped all their heads off. How do you
respond to that? You just cry. They’re my
children. That is what we have been going through. That is what we are going
through”…
The situation in select countries
Iraq: In mid-December, as people
in the West were doing their last-minute
Christmas shopping, churches under IS
authority were turned into torture chambers for Christians.
According to a witness, “churches
are being used as prisons and for torture.
Three of the Christian prisoners died because they were sick and nobody cared
for them.” The witness, known as Abu
Aasi, said that Christian prisoners in the
churches are being forced to convert and
that IS members have been “breaking all
the crosses and statues of Mary.” Other
reports told of how Christian prisoners –
blindfolded and handcuffed – were held
at an ancient Chaldean Church in eastern
Mosul, and that St. George’s monastery
was now a female prison.
Pakistan: Christian minorities cel-
2 nd Anniversary
of Greek, Armenian
Priests’ Kidnapping
On Feb. 9, exactly two years after
their kidnapping by Islamists patrolling the road from Aleppo to Damascus, Greek Orthodox priest Maher
Mahfouz and Armenian priest Michel
Kayyal are still missing.
The two clergymen were taken
from a public bus while traveling to the
Rûm town of Kafroun. Their fate and
whereabouts, to date, are unknown.
Operation Antioch calls upon the
Orthodox faithful to seek answers.
Operation Antioch asks every Orthodox Christian to speak to their local
priests and ask them to help organize
local parishes to lobby on behalf of
those missing and dying in Syria.
Stay up-to-date with Operation
Antioch at by visiting its Facebook
page at www.facebook.com/operationantioch
ebrated Christmas “with religious fervor by
offering prayers in different churches under tight security,” said one report : “heavy
contingents of police were deployed in
and around the churches and city areas
where movement of other people was
restricted and the citizens were allowed
only after a thorough body search”...
Also in Pakistan, Elisabeth Bibi, a
28–year–old pregnant Christian mother
of four, was “beaten, scorned and humiliated, deprived of her dignity (and) forced
to walk naked through the town” by two
Muslim brothers, the pregnant woman’s
employers, following an argument. In the
ordeal, she lost her baby. Another report
states that she was beaten with “pipes”
and then robbed by the two Muslim
men. Rights activists say the attack “was
motivated because of Bibi’s (Christian)
religious beliefs.”
Bibi herself said that the Muslim family often tried to persuade her to convert
to Islam. Police, as often happens when
Muslims attack Christians, failed to arrest
the two brothers, and Christian activists
received threats to drop the charges…
Egypt: Islamic clerics and websites
warned Muslims to refrain from any form
of participation in Christian celebrations
and condemned Muslims who offered
their best wishes to their Christian neighbors during Christmas.
There were also death threats and
incitement to violence against churches,
with particular reference to Christian communities in the governorates of Minya,
Alexandria and Fayyum, where the Salafis
and Muslim Brotherhood have a strong
presence…
Sudan: Security agents and police
have “broad powers to arrest Christians
and other lowly–regarded people without
cause, for creating a public disturbance.
The Christians were released after paying
a fine of $250 each…
Iran: On Christmas day in Tehran
province, nine Christians were arrested
after a paramilitary force and armed
plainclothes agents raided a house church
where they were celebrating Christmas.

 to page 22
ΦΕΒΡΟΥΑΡΙΟΣ – ΜΑΡΤΙΟΣ 2015
ΕΤΟΣ 80 • ΑΡΙΘΜΟΣ 1303
Ε Γ Κ Υ Κ Λ ΙΟΣ
Ἑορτή τοῦ Εὐαγγελισμοῦ τῆς Θεοτόκου
Ἡμέρα Ἑλληνικῆς Ἀνεξαρτησίας
Μεγαλύνει ἡ ψυχή μου τόν Κύριον...
Ὅτι ἐποίησέν μοι μεγαλεῖα
ὁ Δυνατός, καί ἅγιον τό ὄνομα Αὐτοῦ
(Λουκ. 1-46-49)
Πρός τούς Σεβασμιωτάτους καί Θεοφιλεστάτους Ἀρχιερεῖς, τούς Εὐλαβεστάτους Ἱερεῖς
καί Διακόνους, τούς Μοναχούς καί Μοναχές,
τούς Προέδρους καί Μέλη τῶν Κοινοτικῶν
Συμβουλίων, τούς Ἐντιμοτάτους Ἄρχοντες
τοῦ Οἰκουμενικοῦ Πατριαρχεῖα, τά Ἡμερήσια
καί Ἀπογευματινά Σχολεῖα, τίς Φιλοπτώχους
Ἀδελφότητες, τήν Νεολαία, τίς Ἑλληνορθόδοξες
Ὀργανώσεις καί ὁλόκληρο τό Χριστεπώνυμον
πλήρωμα τῆς Ἱερᾶς Ἀρχιεπισκοπῆς Ἀμερικῆς
Η Σταύρωση, Μονή Αγίας Αικατερίνης Σινά, 12ος αιώνας.
Ἁγία καί Μεγάλη
Τεσσαρακοστή
Ποιήσατε
οὖν καρπόν
ἄξιον τῆς μετανοίας
(Ματθ. 3:8)
Πρός τούς Σεβασμιωτάτους καί
Θεοφιλεστάτους Ἀρχιερεῖς, τούς Εὐλαβεστάτους Ἱερεῖς καί Διακόνους, τούς
Μοναχούς καί Μοναχές, τούς Προέδρους
καί Μέλη τῶν Κοινοτικῶν Συμβουλίων,
τούς Ἐντιμοτάτους Ἄρχοντες τοῦ Οἰκουμενικοῦ Πατριαρχεῖα, τά Ἡμερήσια καί
Ἀπογευματινά Σχολεῖα, τίς Φιλοπτώχους Ἀδελφότητες, τήν Νεολαία, τίς
Ἑλληνορθόδοξες Ὀργανώσεις καί ὁλόκληρο τό Χριστεπώνυμον πλήρωμα τῆς
Ἱερᾶς Ἀρχιεπισκοπῆς Ἀμερικῆς.
Προσφιλεῖς Ἀδελφοί
καί Ἀδελφές ἐν Χριστῷ,
Στούς ὕμνους καί τίς ἀκολουθίες
τῆς περιόδου τοῦ Τριωδίου καί στήν
ἔναρξη αὐτῆς τῆς ἱερᾶς περιόδου τῆς
Μεγάλης Τεσσαρακοστῆς, καλούμεθα
σέ μετάνοια. Καλούμεθα νά σταθοῦμε
ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ μέ τήν ταπείνωση
τοῦ Τελώνου. Καλούμεθα νά ἐπιστρέψουμε στό κατοικητήριό Του καί τήν
εὐσπλαγχνική ἀγκαλιά Του ὅπως ὁ
Ἄσωτος Υἱός. Ἀντιμετωπίζουμε τίς
αἰτίες τῆς ἀπομακρύνσεώς μας ἀπό τόν
Θεό καί τήν ἀνάγκη μας γιά τό μέγα
ἔλεός Του.
Εἶναι πράγματι ἐποχή μετανοίας
καθώς προετοιμαζόμεθα νά ἑορτάσουμε
καί νά ἀναλογισθοῦμε ὅλα ὅσα ἔχουν
γίνει γιά μᾶς διά τοῦ Κυρίου μας, Ἰησοῦ
Χριστοῦ.
Αὐτή ἡ σοβαρή καί στοχαστική
πορεία δέν εἶναι πορεία ἀπελπισίας. Δέν
πρόκειται περί περιόδου ἀπαρηγόρητης
λύπης ἤ βαθειᾶς ὀδύνης καί ἄγχους.
Ἡ Ἁγία καί Μεγάλη Τεσσαρακοστή εἶναι περίοδος ἀνακαινίσεως στήν
ὁποία ἡ μετάνοια συνοδεύεται ἀπό
συγχώρηση καί χάρη, γεννᾶ ἐλπίδα,
ἐνισχύει τήν πίστη μας καί μᾶς ὁδηγεῖ
στήν ἄφθονη καί αἰώνια ζωή.
uΣελίδα 16
Προσφιλεῖς Ἀδελφοί
καί Ἀδελφές ἐν Χριστῷ,
Ἡ Ἑορτή τοῦ Εὐαγγελισμοῦ τῆς Ὑπεραγίας Θεοτόκου καί Ἀειπαρθένου Μαρίας
εἶναι ἡμέρα κατά τήν ὁποία γιορτάζουμε μιά
πραγματικά ἐκπληκτική καί θαυματουργική
ἀποκάλυψη. Στό γεγονός τοῦ Εὐαγγελισμοῦ,
ὁ πρωτοστάτης ἄγγελος τοῦ Θεοῦ παρουσιάσθηκε στήν Παρθένο Μαρία καί ἀνεκοίνωσε τό
θεῖο σχέδιο γιά τήν σωτηρία μας διά τῆς γεννήσεως τοῦ Χριστοῦ. Οἱ λόγοι τοῦ Ἀρχαγγέλου
Γαβριήλ ἀπεκάλυψαν πῶς θά ἐκπληρώνονταν
οἱ ὑποσχέσεις τοῦ Θεοῦ καί πῶς θά πραγματοποιοῦνταν οἱ ἀρχαῖες προφητεῖες. Καθώς ὁ
Ἀρχάγγελος μίλησε καί ἡ Παρθένος Μαρία
πίστευσε στό οὐράνιο ἄγγελμα καί ἐξέφρασε
τήν προθυμία της νά ὑπηρετήσῃ τόν Θεό,
τό Ἅγιο Πνεῦμα τήν ἐπισκέφθηκε καί ἐκείνη
ὕμνησε τόν Θεό μέ τά λόγια: Μεγαλύνει ἡ ψυχή
μου τόν Κύριον, καί ἠγαλλίασέν τό πνεῦμά μου
ἐπί τῷ Θεῷ τῷ σωτῆρί μου, ὅτι ἐπέβλεψεν ἐπί
τήν ταπείνωσιν τής δούλης Αὐτοῦ. Ἰδού γάρ
ἀπό τοῦ νῦν μακαριοῦσίν με πᾶσαι αἱ γενεαί,
ὅτι ἐποίησέν μοι μεγαλεῖα ὁ Δυνατός, καί ἅγιον
τό ὄνομα Αὐτοῦ (Λουκ. 1-46-49).
Αὐτή ἡ ἀποκάλυψη στήν Θεοτόκο ἦταν
καί συνεχίζει νά ἀποτελῇ ἀποκάλυψη τῆς
ἀληθείας καί τῆς ἀπύθμενης σοφίας τοῦ Θεοῦ.
Διά τῆς σαρκώσεως τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐκπληρώθηκαν οἱ ὑποσχέσεις Του στόν Ἀδάμ καί τήν
Εὔα καί σέ ὅλη τήν ἀνθρωπότητα. Ἡ ὥρα τῆς
ἀνακαινίσεως εἶχε ἔλθει. Τό σχέδιο λυτρώσεώς Του ἐπετεύχθη μέ τήν εἴσοδο τοῦ Θεοῦ
στήν ἀνθρώπινη πραγματικότητά μας καί μέ
τό γεγονός τῆς σαρκώσεώς Του, δηλαδή ὅτι
ἔλαβε τό σῶμα καί τό αἷμα τά ὁποῖα ὁ Ἴδιος
εἶχε δημιουργήσει. Ὁ σκοπός καί τό νόημα
τῆς δημιουργίας μας, ἡ προτεραιότητα τῆς
ἀπελευθερώσεώς μας ἀπό τήν ἁμαρτία καί τό
κακό, ἡ κοινωνία μας μέ τόν Θεό, καί ὁ τρόπος
τῆς ζωῆς ἐν ἁγιότητι ἀποκαλύφθηκαν τώρα μέ
τό γεγονός τοῦ Εὐαγγελισμοῦ.
Ὁ Εὐαγγελισμός ἀπεκάλυψε, ἐπίσης τήν
τεράστια καί ἀμέτρητη δύναμη τοῦ Θεοῦ.
Ἡ δύναμή Του ἐπί τῆς κτίσεως φάνηκε στό
θαυματουργικό γεγονός τῆς σαρκώσεως
τοῦ Κυρίου μας. Διά τοῦ Εὐαγγελισμοῦ ἀποκαλύφθηκε ὅτι τό πρόσκαιρο σκοτάδι τῆς
ἁμαρτίας καί τῆς ἀπελπισίας τοῦ θανάτου θά
ἐξαλείφετο διά τῆς ἀκατανίκητης δυνάμεως
τοῦ Θεοῦ, γεγονός πού ἔκανε τήν Θεοτόκο
νά ἀναφωνίσῃ, ἠγαλλίασέν τό πνεῦμά μου
ἐπί τῷ Θεῷ τῷ σωτῆρί μου... ὅτι ἐποίησέν μοι
μεγαλεῖα ὁ Δυνατός, καί ἅγιον τό ὄνομα Αὐτοῦ
(Λουκ. 1-47-49).
Σέ αὐτή τήν ἱερή καί θεϊκή ἀποκάλυψη
ἀναγνωρίζουμε ἐπίσης τήν ἄπειρη χάρη τοῦ
Θεοῦ. Ὁ Εὐαγγελισμός ἦτο πλήρης τῆς ἀγάπης
τοῦ Θεοῦ, καί ἀυτό φάνηκε διά τῆς σαρκώσεως, καθώς ὁ Χριστός ἔγινε ἄνθρωπος γιά μᾶς
καί τή σωτηρία μας. Τό γεγονός ἀπεκάλυψε
τήν δύναμη τοῦ Θεοῦ νά δίδῃ, νά διατηρῇ
καί νά ἀνακαινῇ ὅλη τήν ζωή. Ἡ ἀποκάλυψή
Του αὐτή πρός χάριν μας ἔγινε στή Θεοτόκο,
uΣελίδα 15
Πίστη, Παράδοση,
Χορός κι Ελληνική Ψυχή
του Σταύρου Η. Παπαγερμανού
ANAHEIM, Καλιφόρνια – «Μήλο μου
κόκκινο, ρόϊδο βαμμένο...», τον παραδοσιακό
σκοπό της Μακεδονίας τραγουδούσαν και
χόρευαν τα ελληνόπουλα της Ελληνορθοδόξου
Ομογενείας της Αμερικής επί σκηνής κατά την
τετραήμερη πανδαισία παραδοσιακής Ελληνικής μουσικής και χορού, με σκοπούς, τραγούδια
και χορούς από όλα τα μέρη της Ελλάδος, από
τον Πόντο μέχρι την Κρήτη, από τα Επτάνησα
και ως τα Δωδεκάνησα. Το 39ο Φεστιβάλ Ελληνικών Παραδοσιακών Χορών και Χορωδιακής
Μουσικής, γνωστό ως FDF (Folk Dance and
Choral Festival) πραγματοποιήθηκε με τεράστια
επιτυχία μεταξύ 12-15 Φεβρουαρίου 2015 στο
Anaheim της Καλιφόρνια, στις παρυφές του
Los Angeles και στο κέντρο της φημισμένης
Disneyland.
Εκεί στη δυτική ακτή των Η.Π.Α., αυτές
τις τέσσερις ημέρες, κτύπησε δυνατά η καρδιά
του Ελληνισμού και της Ορθοδοξίας. Ήταν η
μεγαλύτερη συγκέντρωση Ελληνορθοδόξου
uΣελίδα 15
ΠΑΤΡΙΑΡΧΙΚΗ
ΕΓΚΥΚΛΙΟΣ
ΛΟΓΟΣ
ΚΑΤΗΧΗΤΗΡΙΟΣ
ΕΠΙ ΤH ΕΝΑΡΞΕΙ
ΤΗΣ ΑΓΙΑΣ
ΚΑΙ ΜΕΓΑΛΗΣ
ΤΕΣΣΑΡΑΚΟΣΤΗΣ
«Τὸ στάδιον τῶν ἀρετῶν
ἠνέῳκται· οἱ βουλόµενοι
ἀθλῆσαι εἰσέλθετε»
(στιχηρὸν ἰδιόµελον
τοῦ Τριῳδίου,
Κυριακὴ τῆς Τυρινῆς)
Ἀδελφοὶ καὶ Τέκνα
ἐν Κυρίῳ ἀγαπητά,
Ὁ Κύριος ἡµῶν Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς
ἐγκεντρίζει ἡµᾶς εἰς τὸ σῶµα Του
καὶ µᾶς καλεῖ νὰ γίνωµεν ἅγιοι «ὅτι
ἐγώ», λέγει, «ἅγιός εἰµι» (Α΄ Πέτρ.
α΄, 16). Ἐπιθυµεῖ ὁ Πλάστης µας
νὰ ἔχωµεν κοινωνίαν µαζί Του καὶ
νὰ γευθῶµεν τῆς χάριτός Του, νὰ
µετάσχωµεν δηλαδὴ τῆς ἁγιότητός
Του. Ἡ κοινωνία µὲ τὸν Θεὸν εἶναι
ζωὴ µετανοίας καὶ ἁγιότητος, ἡ δὲ
ἀποµάκρυνσις ἐξ Αὐτοῦ, ἡ ἁµαρτία, ταυτίζεται ἀπὸ τοὺς Πατέρας
τῆς Ἐκκλησίας µὲ τὴν «κακίαν τῆς
καρδίας».
Ἡ «ἁµαρτία οὐκ ἔστι τῆς φύσεως, ἀλλὰ τῆς κακῆς προαιρέσεως» (Θεοδωρήτου Κύρου, Διάλογος
Α΄- Immutabilis, P.G. 83, 40D) ἢ τοῦ
κακοῦ πνεύµατος καὶ «οὐδεὶς πίστιν
ἐπαγγελλόµενος ἁµαρτάνει», κατὰ
τὸν Θεοφόρον Ἰγνάτιον.
Ἡ ἁγιότης εἶναι ἰδιότης τοῦ Κυρίου, ὁ Ὁποῖος εἶναι ὁ «προσφέρων καὶ
προσφερόµενος καὶ προσδεχόµενος
καὶ διαδιδόµενος».
Ὁ κατὰ χάριν ἱερουργὸς τοῦ
Μυστηρίου τῆς Θείας Εὐχαριστίας
προσφέρει εἰς τοὺς πιστοὺς «τὰ ἅγια
τοῖς ἁγίοις», Σῶµα καὶ Αἷµα Χριστοῦ,
καὶ λαµβάνει ἀµέσως παρὰ τοῦ πληρώµατος τῶν Ὀρθοδόξων τὴν ἀπόκρισιν εἰς τὴν προσφορὰν ὅτι: «εἷς
ἅγιος, εἷς Κύριος, Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, εἰς
δόξαν Θεοῦ Πατρός», ὁ «ἐσθιόµενος
καὶ µηδέποτε δαπανώµενος, ἀλλὰ
τοὺς µετέχοντας ἁγιάζων».
Εἰς τὸν ἀγῶνα τοῦ ἀνθρώπου νὰ
ἐπιτύχῃ τὸ «καθ᾿ ὁµοίωσιν» µὲ τὸν
Θεόν, διὰ τὸ ὁποῖον ἐδηµιουργήθη,
τὴν ἁγιότητα δηλαδή, ἡ ἀποβλέπουσα ἀποκλειστικῶς καὶ µόνον εἰς
τὴν σωτηρίαν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου Μία,
Ἁγία, Καθολικὴ καὶ Ἀποστολικὴ
Ὀρθόδοξος Ἐκκλησία «θεοπρεπῶς
ἐδογµάτισε» µίαν περίοδον τοῦ ἔτους
ὡς περίοδον ἰδιαιτέρας προσευχῆς
καὶ δεήσεως πρὸς κατευνασµὸν τῶν
παθῶν τῆς ψυχῆς καὶ τοῦ σώµατος.
uΣελίδα 16
14
ΟΡΘΟ∆ΟΞΟΣ ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΤΗΣ
Εληξαν οι εργασίες της Διορθοδόξου Ειδικής Επιτροπής
Ε Γ Κ Υ Κ Λ ΙΟΣ
Φωτογραφία: Ο.Ο.
Ἐθνική Ἡμέρα τοῦ Προσκυνήματος
τοῦ Ἁγίου Φωτίου
Πρός τούς Σεβασμιωτάτους καί Θεοφιλεστάτους Ἀρχιερεῖς, τούς Εὐλαβεστάτους Ἱερεῖς
καί Διακόνους, τούς Μοναχούς καί Μοναχές,
τούς Προέδρους καί Μέλη τῶν Κοινοτικῶν
Συμβουλίων, τά Ἡμερήσια καί Ἀπογευματινά
Σχολεῖα, τίς Φιλοπτώχους Ἀδελφότητες, τήν
Νεολαία, τίς Ἑλληνορθόδοξες Ὀργανώσεις καί
ὁλόκληρο τό Χριστεπώνυμον πλήρωμα τῆς
Ἱερᾶς Ἀρχιεπισκοπῆς Ἀμερικῆς.
Προσφιλεῖς Ἀδελφοί
καί Ἀδελφές ἐν Χριστῷ,
Στήν εὐλογημένη αὐτή Ἑορτή τοῦ Ἁγίου Φωτίου, ἐκφράζουμε τήν εὐγνωμοσύνη
μας καί προσφέρουμε τή στήριξή μας στό
προσφιλές μας Ἐθνικό Ἑλληνορθόδοξο
Προσκύνημα τοῦ Ἁγίου Φωτίου στήν
πόλη Ἁγίου Αὐγουστίνου, Φλώριδας. Ἐπί
τέσσερις σχεδόν δεκαετίες, τό Ἐθνικό
Προσκύνημά μας ἔχει ὑπάρξει ἕνας τόπος
ὁ ὁποῖος τιμᾶ τίς πρῶτες ρίζες τῆς Ἑλληνοαμερικανικῆς ἐμπειρίας μας, ἐπιβεβαιώνει
τήν ἀξία αὐτῆς τῆς ἐμπειρίας καί τόν ρόλο
τῆς Ἑλληνικῆς κληρονομιᾶς μας σ’ αὐτή
τήν χώρα, καί προσφέρει ὡραία μαρτυρία
τῆς δυνάμεως καί τῆς χάριτος τῆς Ὀρθοδόξου πίστεώς μας.
Τό Προσκύνημα τοῦ Ἁγίου Φωτίου
ἑδρεύει στό ἱστορικό κτίριο Avero House.
Πρόκειται περί ἑνός κτιρίου τό ὁποῖο χρησίμευσε ὡς τόπος λατρείας καί καταφυγίου
γιά τούς Ἕλληνες μετανᾶστες οἱ ὁποῖοι
ἦλθαν σέ αὐτή τήν χώρα τήν δεκαετία τοῦ
1770 ὡς μισθωμένοι ὑπηρέτες .
Οἱ πρόγονοί μας αὐτοί ἔκαναν τό ἐπίπονο ταξίδι ἐλπίζοντας νά ἀνακαλύψουν
ἕναν τόπο δυνατοτήτων καί εὐκαιριῶν.
Ὅμως, ἔφθασαν στίς σκληρές καί ἄκρως
ἐπικίνδυνες συνθῆκες τοῦ ἀποικισμοῦ τῆς
πόλεως Νέας Σμύρνης τῆς Φλώριδας καί
τῶν βασάνων καί μαρτυρίων τῆς δουλείας.
Τό ἔτος 1777, τριακόσιοι ἐπιζῶντες δραπέτευσαν καί ἐγκαταστάθηκαν στήν πόλη τοῦ
Ἁγίου Αὐγουστίνου.
Διατηρῶντας αὐτή τήν ἱστορική συνέχεια καί διαδίδοντας τήν ἱστορική πορεία
του, τό Προσκύνημα τοῦ Ἁγίου Φωτίου
διατηρεῖ τή μνήμη τῶν γενναίων προγόνων
μας καί τιμᾶ τήν θυσία καί τίς ἐλπίδες των.
Τό Προσκύνημα ἀποτελεῖ ἐπίσης
ζωτικό τόπο ἀνάμεσα σέ πολλά ἱδρύματα
καί προγράμματα τῆς Ἐκκλησίας μας, καί
ὑπογραμμίζει τή σημαντική θέση καί συνεισφορά τῶν Ἑλλήνων στήν ἱστορία αὐτῆς
τῆς χώρας καθώς καί τή μοναδικότητα
τῆς Ἑλληνοαμερικανικῆς ἐμπειρίας. Αὐτό
ἔχει καταστῇ σημαντικό τμῆμα τοῦ ἐτησίου προγράμματος τοῦ Προσκυνήματος,
ἀπό τήν ἐμπειρία ἡ ὁποία προσφέρεται
στούς ἐπισκέπτες ἐκ τῶν ἐνοριῶν μας καί
τίς τοπικές καί ἐθνικές ἐκδηλώσεις στίς
ὁποῖες οἱ διευθυντές καί τό προσωπικό τοῦ
Προσκυνήματος συμμετέχουν.
Γιά παράδειγμα, τό 2014 τό Προσκύνημα προσκλήθηκε νά συμμετάσχῃ στήν
ἐγκατάσταση τοῦ Σηματοδότου Μέσης
Διαβάσεως, ἕνα ἐκ τῶν εἰκοσιτεσσάρων
σημείων τῆς Ἀνατολικῆς ἀκτογραμμῆς
τά ὁποῖα ἔχουν ἐπιλεγῇ ἀπό τό «Ἔργο
Διαδρομῆς Σκλάβων» τῆς UNESCO γιά
τή μνημόνευση ἐκείνων οἱ ὁποῖοι ἔφθασαν καί πέθαναν κατά τή διάρκεια τῶν
ΦΕΒΡΟΥΑΡΙΟΣ – ΜΑΡΤΙΟΣ 2015
σκλαβοπάζαρων. Ἐπίσης, τό Προσκύνημα
ἐκπροσωπήθηκε στίς ἐκδηλώσεις γιά τόν
ἑορτασμό τῆς πεντηκοστῆς ἐπετείου ἀπό
τήν ὑπογραφή τοῦ Νόμου περί Πολιτικῶν
Δικαιωμάτων καί τήν ἐπίδραση τῆς πορείας
καί τῶν βιαίων γεγονότων τῆς 9ης Ἰουνίου
1964 στόν Ἅγιο Αὐγουστῖνο λόγῳ τῆς ψηφίσεώς του ὡς νόμου.
Ἀπό τήν ἵδρυσή του, ὑπό τήν ἡγεσία
τοῦ Ἀρχιεπισκόπου Ἰακώβου καί μέ τήν
ὑποστήριξη πολλῶν πιστῶν τῆς Ἐκκλησίας
μας στήν Ἀμερική, τό Ἐθνικό Προσκύνημα
τοῦ Ἁγίου Φωτίου ἔχει προσφέρῃ μαρτυρία
τῆς Ὀρθοδόξου πίστεως.
Χιλιάδες ἐπισκεπτῶν ἔχουν θαυμάσῃ
τό ὑπέροχο παρεκκλήσιο καί προσευχήθηκαν και ἄναψαν κεριά. Συχνά, ἐκπαιδευτικά
προγράμματα ἔχουν φέρει παιδιά καί νέους
σ’αὐτόν τόν ἱερό τόπο.
Ἐπίσης, τά συνεχιζόμενα προγράμματα, ἡ ὑπηρεσία ἐκκλησιαστικῶν προμηθειῶν καί τό βιβλιοπωλεῖο προσφέρουν
στήριξη στίς διακονίες τῶν ἐνοριῶν μας καί
πιστή μαρτυρία τῆς πλουσίας πνευματικῆς
κληρονομιᾶς μας καί διακονίας μας γιά τή
διάδοση τοῦ Εὐαγγελίου.
Ἐπιπροσθέτως, τό Προσκύνημα βοηθᾶ
στή διατήρηση καί διαιώνιση τῆς κληρονομιᾶς τῆς Ἑλληνορθοδόξου Ἐκκλησίας μας
στήν Ἀμερική.
Ἐντός τοῦ Σαββατοκύριακου τοῦ
Ἐτησίου Προσκυνηματικοῦ Ταξιδίου, θά
ἐγκαινιασθῇ μία νέα ἔκθεση. Χρηματοδοτούμενη ὑπό τῆς «Ἡγεσίας τῶν 100», ἡ
ἔκθεση «Πρωτοπόροι Ἱερεῖς τῆς Ἀμερικῆς»
θά ἑστιάσῃ τήν προσοχή στήν παρουσία
τῆς Ὀρθοδοξίας στήν Ἀμερική πρό τοῦ
1922. Ἐπί πλέον, στήν μόνιμη ἔκθεση εἰκόνων στό Προσκύνημα, ἕνδεκα νέες εἰκόνες
θά πλουτίσουν τήν ἐνυπάρχουσα συλλογή,
δωρεά τοῦ κ. Alfred Funai.
Αὐτές οἱ ἐκδηλώσεις καί τά προγράμματα τοῦ προσφιλοῦς μας Ἐθνικοῦ
Προσκυνήματος τοῦ Ἁγίου Φωτίου ἐκπροσωποῦν τίς πολλές πτυχές τοῦ διαρκοῦς
ἔργου καί τῆς μαρτυρίας τοῦ ἀφοσιωμένου
προσωπικοῦ, διευθυντῶν καί δωρητῶν.
Αὐτή ἡ διακονία ἐκ μέρους ὅλων τῶν Ἑλληνορθοδόξων Χριστιανῶν σέ αὐτή τήν χώρα
χρειάζεται τίς προσευχές καί τή στήριξή
σας. Στήν Ἑορτή αὐτή καί κατά τό Σαββατοκύριακο τοῦ Ἐτησίου Προσκυνηματικοῦ
Ταξιδίου τοῦ Προσκυνήματος, σᾶς καλῶ
νά ἐκφράσετε τή στήριξή σας πρός αὐτό
τόν ἱστορικό τόπο καί σημαντικό ἵδρυμα
τῆς Ἱερᾶς Ἀρχιεπισκοπῆς μας. Ὀφείλουμε
νά ἀκολουθήσουμε τό παράδειγμα τοῦ
Προσκυνήματός μας μνημονεύοντας τό
παρελθόν καί τή μοναδική ἐμπειρία μας
σέ αὐτή τήν χώρα, μοιραζόμενοι αὐτήν
μέ τά παιδιά μας, τή νεολαία μας καί τούς
ἄλλους, καί προσφέροντας δυναμική καί
στοργική μαρτυρία τῆς ἀγάπης καί τῆς
ζωῆς τήν ὁποία ἔχουμε διά τοῦ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, τοῦ Κυρίου μας.
Μετά πατρικῆς ἐν Χριστῷ ἀγάπης,
† ὁ Ἀρχιεπίσκοπος Ἀμερικῆς Δημήτριος
ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΟΥΠΟΛΗ.– Στην δεύτερη συνεδρία της που πραγματοποιήθηκε
και πάλιν στο Ορθόδοξο Κέντρο του Οικουμενικού Πατριαρχείο στην Γενεύη, υπό
την Προεδρία του Μητροπολίτου Γέροντος
Περγάμου Ιωάννου (15-21 Φεβρουαρίου
2015), η Επιτροπή ασχολήθηκε με το θέμα
«Η συμβολή της Ορθοδόξου Εκκλησἰας εις
την προώθησιν της Ειρήνης, της Δικαιοσύνης, της Ελευθερίας, της Αδελφοσύνης και
Αγάπης μεταξύ των λαών και την εξαφάνισιν
των φυλετικών και άλλων διακρίσεων», στο
οποίο έγιναν οι απαιτούμενες αλλαγἐς.
Η Σύναξις των Ορθοδόξων Προκαθημένων που συνήλθε στην Κωνσταντινούπολη τον Μάρτιο του 2014, είχε αποφασίσει
την σύσταση μιας Διορθοδόξου Ειδικής
Επιτροπής, με σκοπό την αναθεώρηση των
κειμένων τα οποία είχαν εκπονηθεί από την
Γ΄ Πανορθὀδοξη Προσυνοδική Διάσκεψη το
1986, και που συμπεριλαμβάνονται στο θεματολόγιο της Αγίας και Μεγάλης Συνόδου.
Σε μιά πρώτη φάση, τον Νοέμβριο του
2014, η Επιτροπή ασχολήθηκε με το θέμα των
Διαχριστιανικὠν Διαλόγων και της Οικουμενικής Κινήσεως γενικά.
Στην επόμενη συνεδρία της, η Ειδική
Επιτροπή θα ασχοληθεί με την επιμέλεια των
κειμένων που αφορούν στα εξής θέματα της
Ημερησίας Διατάξεως της Αγἰας και Μεγάλης
Συνόδου: «Το ζήτημα του Κοινού Ημερολογίου», «Κωλύματα γάμου», και «Η σπουδαιότης
της νηστείας και η τήρησις αυτής σήμερον».
Το έργο της Επιτροπής προβλέπεται
να ολοκληρωθεί προ του Πάσχα 2015. Τα
αναθεωρηθέντα από αυτήν κείμενα θα παραπεμφθούν στην επόμενη Προσυνοδική
Πανορθόδοξη Διάσκεψη, που προγραμματίστηκε για τα μέσα του τρέχοντο;ς έτους.
Στις εργασίες της Ειδικής Επιτροπής
συμμετείχαν ὀλες οι κατά τόπους Ορθόδοξες Εκκλησίες, με Αντιπροσωπείες που
περιελάμβαναν Αρχιερείς, Πρεσβυτέρους και
Πανεπιστημιακούς διδασκάλους.
Εορτή των Τριών Ιεραρχών και Ελληνικών
Γραμμάτων του Τμήματος της Ελληνικής
Παιδείας της Αρχιεπισκοπής Αμερικής
ΝΕΑ ΥΟΡΚΗ.– Η φετινή εορτή των Τριών
Ιεραρχών και των Ελληνικών Γραμμάτων υπό
την αιγίδα του Σεβασμιωτάτου Αρχιεπισκόπου
Αμερικής κ. Δημητρίου, πραγματοποιήθηκε στον
Καθεδρικό Ναό της Αγίας Τριάδας στη Νέα
Υόρκη το βράδυ της Παρασκευής 30 Ιανουαρίου.
Κύριος ομιλητής ήταν ο Αρχιμανδρίτης Γέροντας π. Βασίλειος Γοντικάκης, Προηγούμενος
της Ιεράς Μονής Ιβήρων του Αγίου Όρους με
θέμα: «Η θεία λειτουργία ως Τριαδική Θεοφάνεια. Το Οικουμενικό Μήνυμα της Θεολογίας
των Τριών Ιεραρχών».
Στην εορτή παραβρέθηκαν ο Σεβασμιώτατος Αρχιεπίσκοπος Αμερικής κ. Δημήτριος, ο
Θεοφιλέστατος Ζήλων κ. Σεβαστιανός, Αρχιγραμματέας της Ιεράς Επαρχιακής Συνόδου, ο
Αρχιμανδρίτης π. Ιερόθεος Ζαχαρής, Ηγούμενος
της Μονής Χρυσοβαλάντου, ο Γενικός Πρόξενος της Ελλάδος, πρέσβης κ. Γεώργιος Ηλιόπουλος, ο Γενικός Πρόξενος της Κύπρου πρέσβης
Βασίλειος Φιλίππου, ο Πρόξενος της Ελλάδας κ.
Μάνος Κουμπαράκης, ο Διευθυντής και εκδότης
της ημερήσιας εφημερίδας «Εθνικός Κήρυξ» κ.
Αντώνης Η. Διαματάρης μετά της συζύγου του,
η Πρόεδρος της Ομοσπονδίας Εκπαιδευτικών
Αμερικής κ. Στέλλα Κοκόλη, ο Δρ. Γεώργιος
Τσιούλιας και άλλοι επίσημοι. Τους παρεβρισκόμενους καλωσόρισε ο π. Ιωάννης Βλάχος,
Ιερατικώς προϊστάμενος του Καθεδρικού Ναού,
ενώ τμήμα της Αρχιεπισκοπικής Βυζαντινής
χορωδίας έψαλε κατανυκτικούς ψαλμούς ως και
το Απολυτίκιο των Τριών Ιεραρχών. Η εκδήλωση
ολοκληρώθηκε με αντιφώνηση του Σεβασμιωτάτου Αρχιεπισκόπου Αμερικής κ. Δημητρίου.
Τον Γέροντα π. Βασίλειο Προηγούμενο
της Ιεράς Μονής Ιβήρων καλωσόρισε και παρουσίασε ο Διευθυντής Ελληνικής Παιδείας Δρ.
Ιωάννης Ευθυμιόπουλος, ο οποίος αναφέρθηκε
στο κοινωνικό έργο των Τριών Ιεραρχών ως και
την προσφορά των Μοναχών της Μοναστικής
Αθωνικής πολιτείας.
Μεταξύ άλλων είπε: «Αισθάνομαι ιδιαίτερη τιμή και διακατέχομαι από συγκίνηση, γιατί
μου δόθηκε αυτή η δυνατότητα από τον Σεβασμιώτατο Αρχιεπίσκοπο Αμερικής κ. Δημήτριο
να πω λίγα λόγια σκιαγραφώντας την πνευματικότητα και την πολυδιάστατη οικουμενικότητα
των Τριών Ιεραρχών.
«Από την άλλη πλευρά, με προσήκοντα
σεβασμό και ταπεινότητα με την ευκαιρία της
θεόδοτης αυτής συντυχίας να εξάρω την παρουσία ανάμεσά μας ενός τόσο γνωστού από τις
πλέον λόγιες μορφές του σημερινού μοναχισμού
τον φωτισμένον αγιορείτη Γέροντα, π. Βασίλειο,
Προηγούμενον, Ιβηρίτη (Γοντικάκη) από την
μοναστική Αθωνική πολιτεία.
«Με την ευλογία σας, ας μου επιτραπεί να
αρκεστώ με λίγα λόγια στη σημερινή μέρα για
να πω μερικές σκέψεις μου, γιατί σήμερα συνεταιριάζεται ο Ελληνισμός με την Εκκλησία, με
την Ορθοδοξία και η Εκκλησία παντρεύεται τον
ορθόν λόγο και την Ελληνική παιδεία.
«Η ένωση αυτή είναι προϊόν μιας βαθύτερης, ειλικρινούς και βιωματικής κατάφασης
προς τον Θεό, προς τον άνθρωπο, το τέλειο
δημιούργημα του Θεού και προς το πνεύμα,
που κατ’ εξοχή συνδέει τον άνθρωπο με το
Δημιούργημά του.
«Από πατερικά κείμενα και μελέτες που
έχουν έλθει στο φως, διαπιστώνεται ότι οι Τρεις
Ιεράρχες είχαν στραμμένη την προσοχή τους
στις ηθικές επιπτώσεις, και ενεργούσαν ως
πνευματικοί ποιμένες.
«Οι πράξεις τους και όλη η σκέψη τους
διακατέχονταν από ένα κοινωνικό ιδεώδες και
κοινωνικό όραμα.
Το ιδεώδες μιας τέτοιας κοινωνίας, οι Τρεις
Ιεράρχες το είδαν μέσα από τρία αλληλοσυμπληρώμενα επιμέρους ιδεώδη που είναι:
• Το ιδεώδες του τέλειου ανθρώπου.
• Το ιδεώδες της Άσκησης των Αγίων.
• Το ιδεώδες της παιδείας.
«Η παιδεία γι’ αυτούς είναι ένα είδος
ποιμαντικής αγωγής και όχι μια στείρα πολυμάθεια, αφού ως Άνθρωποι με ανοιχτούς
πνευματικούς ορίζοντες, στήριξαν την αρχαία
ελληνική παιδεία.
«Αντέδρασαν στις απόψεις κάποιων ακραίων και φοβικών χριστιανών, αποκαλώντας τους
«αγροίκους και αγράμματους», γιατί αρνιόταν τη
μελέτη της κλασσικής παιδείας.
«Ενθάρρυναν και στήριξαν τους νέους για
να έχουν ευρύτητα γνώσεων, να συμμετέχουν
στα διάφορα κοινωνικά ρεύματα και να έχουν
κριτική σκέψη.
«Υπήρξαν ασκητές, αλλά η άσκησή τους
δεν υπήρξε ποτέ άρνηση της ζωής και του κόσμου, γιατί η άσκηση αυτή είχε διαποτίσει τη ζωή
τους και τους χάριζε ηρεμία και ελευθερία ψυχής.
• Ήταν ελεύθεροι άνθρωποι οι Τρεις
Ιεράρχες και είχαν ανοιχτά μυαλά. Γι΄αυτό και
τα κηρύγματά τους είναι πρωτοποριακά και
έξω από σκοπιμότητες. Τους ήταν αδιάφορο αν
αυτό άρεσε στο κατεστημένο της εποχής ή τα
κηρύγματά τους τάραζαν τα νερά. Τα κοινωνικά
προβλήματα και η αδικία, τους απασχόλησαν όχι
μόνο θεωρητικά αλλά και πρακτικά.
• Τα λόγια τους ξεκάθαρα και αληθινά ήταν
σε πλήρη συμφωνία με τις πράξεις τους, και γι’
αυτά που υπερασπίζονταν.
• Παραμένουν πιστοί σε θέματα αρχών και
ασυμβίβαστοι με την αδικία.
• Θα μπορούσαν να χαρακτηρισθούν σαν
κοινωνικοί εργάτες, σαν άνθρωποι αγάπης, σαν
αγωνιστές της αλήθειας και της δικαιοσύνης,
σαν ποιητές και συγγραφείς, σαν ασκητές, σαν
λειτουργοί και ιεράρχες, σαν Άνθρωποι, ακέραιοι, σεμνοί, πρότυπα πνευματικού κάλλους,
Άνθρωποι Άγιοι.
• Μελετώντας το έργο τους, βλέπουμε ότι
uΣελίδα 16
15
ΟΡΘΟ∆ΟΞΟΣ
ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΤΗΣ
ORTHODOX
OBSERVER
ΦΕΒΡΟΥΑΡΙΟΣ – ΜΑΡΤΙΟΣ 2015
FDF 2015: 39ο Φεστιβάλ Ελληνικών Παραδοσιακών Χορών
uΣελίδα 13
νεολαίας στην Αμερική και το μεγαλύτερο
φεστιβάλ Ελληνικών Παραδοσιακών χορών
στον κόσμο. Η συμμετοχή των χορευτών,
μουσικών, τραγουδιστών και χοροδιδασκάλων
έφτασε τις 2.500 νέους, αγόρια και κορίτσια,
και ο συνολικός αριθμός των εγγεγραμμένων
συμπεριλαμβανομένων των γονέων, συνοδών
και φίλων ξεπέρασε τις 3.500 άτομα.
Το Φεστιβάλ Ελληνικών Παραδοσιακών
Χορών (FDF) αποτελεί ένα βαθιά ριζωμένο θεσμό και μια μακρά παράδοση στην Μητρόπολη
του Αγίου Φραγκίσκου της Ιεράς Αρχιεπισκοπής
Αμερικής. Ξεκίνησε από τον Μητροπολίτη Αγίου
Φραγκίσκου κυρό Αντώνιο (Γεωργιαννάκη
-1935-2004) πριν από 39 χρόνια. Το εφετινό
φεστιβάλ ήταν αφιερωμένο στην μνήμη του
αείμνηστου αρχιερέως και στο όραμά του για
την διατήρηση και καλλιέργεια της Ελληνορθόδοξου κληρονομιάς στις Η.Π.Α. Το «όραμα»
του αποτέλεσε τη θεματική αναφορά του
εορταστικού φεστιβάλ. Το φεστιβάλ FDF, αναγεννήθηκε και συνεχίζει με μεγάλη επιτυχία από
το 2005, υπό την αιγίδα του Σεβ. Μητροπολίτη
Αγίου Φραγκίσκου κ. Γερασίμου και με βάση
το τρίπτυχο πίστη, χορός και συντροφικότητα.
Οι χώροι του ξενοδοχείου Marriott έσφυζαν από τις δραστηριότητες των χορευτικών
συγκροτημάτων. Τα νταούλια, οι τσαμπούνες,
η λύρα, το λαγούτο, ο ζουρνάς, ηχούσαν παντού, στους διαδρόμους, στο συνεδριακό χώρο
του ξενοδοχείου, στις αίθουσες πρακτικής και
διαγωνισμού, στον εξωτερικό αύλειο χώρο,
μέχρι και στο απέναντι ξενοδοχείο Hilton που
εξυπηρετούσε όσους δεν χωρούσαν στο πρώτο.
Οι πρόβες και η επιμελής προετοιμασία ήταν
από μόνα τους ένα μεγάλο ελληνικό πανηγύρι
και γιορτή.
Οι ημιτελικοί διαγωνισμοί πραγματοποιήθηκαν την Παρασκευή 13 Φεβρουαρίου και οι
περισσότεροι τελικοί το Σάββατο 14 Φεβρουαρίου. Οι πολυμελείς κριτικές επιτροπές ακούραστες στις δυο μεγάλες αίθουσες διαγωνισμού
βαθμολογούσαν με προσοχή τις χορευτικές
ικανότητες, την ακρίβεια της εκτελέσεως, τη
μουσική και το τραγούδι, τη πρωτοτυπία αλλά
και την πιστότητα της χορογραφίας και τα
κοστούμια.
Τα περισσότερα χορευτικά συγκροτήματα
παρουσίασαν ένα πρόγραμμα ενότητα δύο ή
Πίστη, Παράδοση, Χορός κι Ελληνική Ψυχή
τριών χορών από συγκεκριμένη περιοχή ή ακόμη
και συγκεκριμένο χωριό της Ελλάδος βασισμένο
πάνω σ’ ένα θέμα όπως ό γάμος ή άλλη γιορτή. Ο
διαγωνισμός πραγματοποιείται σε διαφορετικά
επίπεδα και κατηγορίες με βάση την ηλικία και
την χορευτική δεινότητα των διαγωνιζομένων.
Η μεγάλη πλειοψηφία των συμμετοχών είχαν το
δικό τους παραδοσιακό μουσικό συγκρότημα
ενώ οι ίδιοι χορευτές τραγουδούσαν το τραγούδι που χόρευαν. Είναι αδύνατο να περιγραφεί η
προσήλωση, η ενέργεια, ο ενθουσιασμός και η
ψυχή των κοριτσιών και αγοριών που συμμετείχαν και εκπροσώπησαν τις ενορίες και κοινότητές τους. Το μέγεθος και η πολυπλοκότητα του
φεστιβάλ και του διαγωνιστικού μέρους είναι
τέτοιο που απαιτεί άριστη οργάνωση και άψογο
συντονισμό. Ήταν όλα άριστα διοργανωμένα και
απόλυτα συγχρονισμένα υπό την άγρυπνη ματιά
του Μητροπολίτου Αγίου Φραγκίσκου κ. Γερασίμου. Στο πλευρό του βρίσκονταν επιβλέπων, ο
νεοεκλεγής Επίσκοπος Μηδείας κ. Απόστολος,
πρωτοσυγκελλεύων της Μητροπόλεως.
Την άμεση ευθύνη της διοργανώσεως είχε
διοργανωτική επιτροπή υπό τον π. Κυριάκο
(Γκάρυ) Κυριάκου, ο οποίος είναι και πρόεδρος
του διοικητικού συμβουλίου του FDF.
Ο Σεβασμιώτατος Αρχιεπίσκοπος Αμερικής κ. Δημήτριος ταξίδεψε αργά το βράδυ του
Σαββάτου από το Orlando της Φλόριδα όπου
πραγματοποιείτο το συνέδριο της «Ηγεσίας
των 100», στο Anaheim για να παραστεί στο
Φεστιβάλ Ελληνικών Παραδοσιακών Χορών
(FDF) έστω και την τελευταία ημέρα.
Περίπου τρεις χιλιάδες πιστοί παρακολούθησαν τη Θεία Λειτουργία που πραγματοποιήθηκε σε μεγάλη αίθουσα του συνεδριακού
κέντρου του ξενοδοχείου το πρωί της Κυριακής,
προεξάρχοντος του Αρχιεπισκόπου Δημητρίου
και συλλειτουργούντων 25 κληρικών της Ι.
Μητροπόλεως Αγίου Φραγκίσκου. Ο Μητροπολίτης Γεράσιμος και ο Επίσκοπος Απόστολος
παρέστησαν συμπροσευχόμενοι στο ιερό.
«Η Εκκλησία είναι το μέλλον της νεολαίας», είπε ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος στο εκκλησίασμα,
αντιστρέφοντας το κοινότοπο λεγόμενο ότι η
νεολαία είναι το μέλλον της Εκκλησίας.
Τόνισε επίσης ότι και μόνο ο αριθμός των
συμμετεχόντων στο φεστιβάλ FDF αποτελεί ένα
θαυμάσιο, μοναδικό και ανεπανάληπτο γεγονός
που φανερώνει την αγάπη του Θεού στην οποία
αναβαπτιζόμεθα διά μέσου της χαράς του Ευαγγελίου Του, αλλά και διά μέσου της χαράς των
χορών και της συντροφικότητας του φεστιβάλ.
«Υπό την σκέπη και φροντίδα του Θεού της δικαιοσύνης, της ειρήνης, της ωραιότητος και της
αγάπης είμεθα σήμερα οι πιο ευλογημένοι και
ευτυχείς άνθρωποι στο Λος Άντζελες», κατέληξε
ο Σεβασμιώτατος.
Ο π. Κυριάκου έκανε έκκληση στο εκκλησίασμα να στηρίξει με τον οβολό του την
ανοικοδόμηση του κατεστραφέντος την 11η
Σεπτεμβρίου ναού του Αγίου Νικολάου στο
Παγκόσμιο Εμπορικό Κέντρο της Νέας Υόρκης.
Ο δίσκος που περιήλθε συνέλεξε σχεδόν 10
χιλιάδες δολάρια. Ακολούθησε επιμνημόσυνη
δέηση για τον αείμνηστο Μητροπολίτη Αντώνιο.
Το απόγευμα της Κυριακής και για τέσσερις
ώρες πραγματοποιήθηκε ο τελικός διαγωνισμός
των χορευτικών συγκροτημάτων ανώτατου
επιπέδου. Στη σκηνή εναλλάχθηκαν οκτώ συγκροτήματα παρουσιάζοντας θεαματικές στιγμές και έντονες συγκινήσεις και αποσπώντας το
χειροκρότημα και τον ενθουσιασμό του κοινού.
Τέλος, η ημέρα ολοκληρώθηκε με την επίσημη τελετή απονομής των βραβείων και μεταλλίων σε όλες της κατηγορίες του διαγωνισμού.
Στην κατηγορία του ανώτατου επιπέδου την
πρώτη θέση κατέλαβε το συγκρότημα Olympian
Dancers από την κοινότητα Κοιμήσεως της
Θεοτόκου, Long Beach, Calif., τη δεύτερη θέση
το συγκρότημα Παλιό Σχολειό, Αγίας Τριάδος
του San Francisco, την τρίτη θέση και το βραβείο
καλύτερων κουστουμιών πήρε το συγκρότημα
Βιονικός της κοινότητος του Αγ. Νικολάου, San
Jose, Calif., τη τέταρτη θέση και το βραβείο τραγουδιού της κατηγορίας πήρε το συγκρότημα
Ακρίτες του Αγίου Δημητρίου, Seattle, Wash., και
το ειδικό βραβείο ιδρυτών απονεμήθηκε στο συγκρότημα Θόρυβος της ενορίας της Κοιμήσεως,
Modesto, Calif. Επιπλέον, τα βραβεία καλύτερης
συνολικής παρουσίας δόθηκαν για την Β΄ Κατηγορία (μικρότερες ηλικίες) στο συγκρότημα
Junior Olympians της κοινότητος Κοιμήσεως
της Θεοτόκου, Long Beach, Calif., και για την
Α΄ Κατηγορία στο συγκρότημα Θρύλος από
της κοινότητα της Αγ. Τριάδος, Charlotte της
Β. Καρολίνας.
Ο πλήρης κατάλογος των αποτελεσμάτων δημοσιεύεται στη σελίδα http://www.
yourfdf.org/fdf_2015.html Κατάλογος με
περισσότερες φωτογραφίες υπάρχει στη σελίδα: www.flickr.com/photos/orthodoxnews/
sets/72157650416958728/
Εμμανουήλ Τζανφουρνάρης, Ευαγγελισμός της Θεοτόκου, αρχές 17ου αιώνα.
Εγκύκλιος
uΣελίδα 13
ὄχι σέ βασιλεῖς καί ἡγέτες, ἐπιβεβαιώνοντας
ὅτι ἡ σωτηρία ἔρχεται διά τῆς χάριτος, τῆς
ταπεινώσεως καί τῆς πίστεως καί ὄχι διά τῆς
κοσμικῆς ἐξουσίας, τῆς δυνάμεως, τῆς ὑψηλῆς
θέσεως ἤ τῆς βίας.
Ἡ Ἑορτή τοῦ Εὐαγγελισμοῦ καί ἡ ἀλήθεια, ἡ δύναμη καί ἡ χάρη τῆς ἀποκαλύψεως
τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀπετέλεσε τήν ἔμπνευση γιά τούς
Ἕλληνες προγόνους μας οἱ ὁποῖοι ξεκίνησαν
τή μάχη γιά ἀνεξαρτησία τήν ἡμέρα αὐτή τό
1821.
Ἐπικυρώνοντας τήν ἀλήθεια τῆς ζωῆς
καί τῆς ἐλευθερίας ὡς ἐγγενῆ στοιχεῖα τῆς
ἀνθρώπινης ὑπάρξεως, οἱ ἀνδρεῖοι αὐτοί
ἄνθρωποι νίκησαν μιά μεγαλύτερη δύναμη
καί αἰῶνες Ὀθωμανικῆς κατοχῆς. Διά τῆς
ἀγάπης των πρός τόν Θεό καί τήν ἐλευθερία,
πρός τήν Ἑλληνική κληρονομιά καί τήν Ὀρθόδοξο πίστη των, κατάφεραν νά προσφέρουν
στίς ἐπερχόμενες γενεές ἕνα ἐλεύθερο ἔθνος
καί μία ἐλεύθερη κοινωνία ὅπου τά στοιχεῖα
τῆς αὐτοδιαθέσεως, ἡ ἐλευθερία καί ἡ πίστη
γίνονταν σεβαστά.
Καθώς γιορτάζουμε τήν Ἑορτή αὐτή
καί τήν Ἡμέρα τῆς Ἑλληνικῆς Ἀνεξαρτησίας,
τιμοῦμε τή μνήμη τῶν προγόνων μας καί
ἀναζητοῦμε ἔμπνευση καί θάρρος γιά νά κρατήσουμε καί νά διατηρήσουμε ὅλα αὐτά γιά
τά ὁποῖα ἐκεῖνοι πολέμησαν καί σκοτώθηκαν
γιά νά ἐπιτύχουν.
Σήμερα, συγκεντρωνόμεθα ὅλοι γιά νά
θημηθοῦμε καί νά τιμήσουμε αυτή τήν ἐπέτειο, καθώς ἐκφράζουμε μέσα ἀπό τήν πίστη
μας τήν ἀλήθεια, τή δύναμη καί τήν ἀγάπη τῆς
ἀποκαλύψεως τοῦ Θεοῦ στόν Εὐαγγελισμό
τῆς Θεοτόκου.
Ὡς Ὀρθόδοξοι Χριστιανοί γνωρίζουμε
καί ἐπιβεβαιώνουμε ὅτι ἡ ἀπόλυτη κυριαρχία ἐπί τοῦ θανάτου, τῆς καταπιέσεως, τοῦ
μίσους, καί τῆς βίας κερδίζεται κατ’ αὐτόν
τόν τρόπο.
Ἡ ἀλήθεια Του ἀντέχει σέ ὅλα. Ἡ δύναμή
Του χαρίζει ζωή καί σωτηρία. Ἡ ἀγάπη Του
φέρνει ἐλπίδα καί βεβαιότητα.
Τήν ἡμέρα αὐτή τοῦ πανηγυρισμοῦ ἄς
προσφέρουμε μαρτυρία τῆς ἀληθείας καί
ἀγάπης τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἀποκαλύπτοντας στούς
ἄλλους, ὅπως Ἐκεῖνος σ’ ἐμᾶς, τήν ὁδό πρός
τήν ἄφθονη καί ἀληθινή ζωή.
Μετά πατρικῆς ἐν Χριστῷ ἀγάπης,
† ὁ Ἀρχιεπίσκοπος Ἀμερικῆς Δημήτριος
16
ΟΡΘΟ∆ΟΞΟΣ ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΤΗΣ
Ε Γ Κ Υ Κ Λ ΙΟΣ
Ἁγία καί Μεγάλη
Τεσσαρακοστή
uΣελίδα 13
Πρῶτον, γνωρίζουμε μέσα ἀπό τό
Εὐαγγέλιο ὅτι ἡ εἰλικρινής μετάνοια
λαμβάνει συγχώρηση καί χάρη.
Ἡ εἰλικρίνεια τοῦ Τελώνου ἡ ὁποία
ἐκφράσθηκε στήν κραυγή του, ὁ Θεός,
ἱλάσθητί μοι τῷ ἁμαρτωλῷ (Λουκ.
18:13), ἀναγνωρίσθηκε ἀπό τόν Θεό,
καί οἱ ἁμαρτίες του συγχωρήθηκαν.
Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἰωάννης ὁ Βαπτιστής
ἐκήρυττε, Μετανοεῖτε, ἤγγικεν γάρ ἡ
βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν (Ματθ. 3:2),
καλῶντας τούς ἀνθρώπους νά προετοιμασθοῦν νά ὑποδεχθοῦν τόν Ἕνα
Ἐκεῖνον ὁ Ὁποῖος ἐρχόταν ἐν χάριτι
καί ἀληθείᾳ.
Ὁ Σταυρός τοῦ Κυρίου μας εἶναι
ἐνώπιόν μας, προσφέροντας διά τῆς
χάριτος τοῦ Θεοῦ σωτηρία μέσῳ τῆς
μετανοίας.
Δεύτερον, ἡ μετάνοια καλλιεργεῖ
ἐλπίδα. Ὅπως ἡ δύναμη τῆς χάριτος
τοῦ Θεοῦ μᾶς μεταμορφώνει, καθώς
ἀντιλαμβανόμεθα τήν εὐλογία τῆς
ἀποκαταστάσεως τῆς ζωῆς στήν κοινωνία μαζί Του, νιώθουμε τήν χαρά τῆς
ἐλπίδος. Γιά τόν Ἄσωτο Υἱό, ὑπῆρξε
ἐλπίδα στό ταξίδι τῆς ἐπιστροφῆς στό
σπίτι τοῦ πατέρα του, ἀναμένοντας κάτι
καλύτερο.
Στήν ἔναρξη αὐτῆς τῆς ἱερᾶς περιόδου, ἡ μετάνοια μᾶς ὁδηγεῖ στήν ὁδο
τῆς ἐλπίδος, γνωρίζοντας ὅτι ἡ ἐλπίς οὐ
καταισχύνει, ὅτι ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐκκέχυται ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ἡμῶν (Ρωμ. 5:5).
Τρίτον, ὅπως διά τῆς μετανοίας
λαμβάνουμε σ υγχώρηση καί χάρη
καί οἱ καρδιές μας γεμίζουν ἐλπίδα,
ἡ πίστη μας ἐνδυναμώνεται. Καθώς
προετοιμαζόμεθα νά ἑορτάσουμε τήν
ἐκπλήρωση τῆς ὑποσχέσεως τοῦ Θεοῦ
γιά τήν ὑπερνίκηση τοῦ θανάτου, τήν
ἀποκατάστασή μας στή ζωή, καί τήν
καθοδήγησή μας στήν Ἀνάσταση, ἡ
πίστη μας σέ Ἐκεῖνον αὐξάνει.
Τέλος, σέ αὐτή τήν ἱερά περίοδο
προσευχῆς καί στοχασμοῦ, ἡ μετάνοια
μᾶς ὁδηγεῖ στή σωτηρία. Μέσα ἀπό τη
μετάνοια διανοίγονται οἱ ὀφθαλμοί μας,
στρεφόμαστε ἀπό τό σκοτάδι στό φῶς,
ἔτσι ὥστε ἐπιστρέψαι ἀπό σκότους εἰς
φῶς καί τῆς ἐξουσίας τοῦ σατανᾶ ἐπί τόν
Θεόν, τοῦ λαβεῖν ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν καί
κλῆρον ἐν τοῖς ἡγιασμένοις πίστει τῇ εἰς
Ἐμέ (Πράξ. 26:18).
Μέσα ἀπό τήν ἀποκάλυψη τῆς
ἀπολύτου ἀληθείας διά τοῦ Χριστοῦ καί
τῆς Σταυρώσεως καί Ἀναστάσεώς Του,
γνωρίζουμε ποῦ ὁδηγεῖ ἡ μετάνοιά μας,
καί πώς οὐσιαστικά εἰσερχόμεθα στήν
ἄφατη σφαίρα μιᾶς λυτρωμένης ζωῆς
μέ προοπτική αἰωνιότητος.
Στήν ἔναρξη τῆς Ἁγίας καί Μεγάλης Τεσσαρακοστῆς, ἄς ἀναλογισθοῦμε
τή δύναμη τῆς μετανοίας καί ἄς μή
χάσουμε τήν εὐκαιρία νά ἐξετάσουμε
τήν καρδιά καί τό νοῦ μας.
Ἄς προσευχηθοῦμε μέ ταπεινότητα
ζητῶντας τή συγχώρηση καί χάρη τοῦ
Θεοῦ, ἀποκαθιστῶντας τήν κοινωνία
μαζί Του.
Ἄς ἀνακαλύψουμε τήν ἀνακαινισμένη ἐλπίδα στό φῶς, στήν εἰρήνη
καί στήν χαρά πού προέρχεται ἀπό τόν
Ἐσταυρωμένο καί Ἀναστάντα Κύριό μας.
Μετά πατρικῆς ἐν Χριστῷ ἀγάπης,
† ὁ Ἀρχιεπίσκοπος Ἀμερικῆς Δημήτριος
ΦΕΒΡΟΥΑΡΙΟΣ – ΜΑΡΤΙΟΣ 2015
ΠΑΤΡΙΑΡΧΙΚΗ ΕΓΚΥΚΛΙΟΣ
uΣελίδα 13
Ἡ περίοδος αὕτη εἶναι ἡ ἀρχοµένη
ἀπὸ τῆς αὔριον σωτήριος προετοιµασία
διὰ τὸ «Πάσχα τὸ µέγα καὶ ἱερώτατον
Χριστοῦ». Εἶναι ἡ Ἁγία καὶ Μεγάλη Τεσσαρακοστή, τὴν ὁποίαν πρέπει νὰ βιώσωµεν «δέησιν προσάγοντες καὶ ἄφεσιν
αἰτοῦντες», ὥστε νὰ γευθῶµεν ἀληθῶς
τὸ Πάσχα «µετὰ πάντων τῶν Ἁγίων»,
γινόµενοι «ἅγιοι», διὰ τῆς ὁµολογίας
ἐνώπιον Θεοῦ καὶ ἀνθρώπων ὅτι εἴµεθα
«σκεύη κεραµέως» συνθλιβόµενα ὑπὸ
τοῦ πονηροῦ καθ᾿ ἡµέραν, «πίπτοντες
καὶ ἀνιστάµενοι». Νὰ ὁµολογήσωµεν
δηλαδὴ τὴν ἀνθρωπίνην ἀτέλειαν καὶ
ἀδυναµίαν µας καὶ τὴν ἐνώπιον Θεοῦ
µηδαµινότητά µας, µετανοοῦντες καὶ
ἐπαναλαµβά-νοντες ἐν ἑσπέρᾳ καὶ πρωὶ
καὶ µεσηµβρίᾳ καὶ ἐν παντὶ καιρῷ καὶ
πάσῃ ὥρᾳ, καίτοι «ἅγιοι» διὰ τοῦ βαπτίσµατος, ὅτι «εἷς Ἅγιος, εἷς Κύριος, Ἰησοῦς
Χριστός, εἰς δόξαν Θεοῦ Πατρός».
Καλοῦµεν, λοιπόν, πάντας τοὺς
Ὀρθοδόξους πιστούς, κληρικούς, µοναχοὺς καὶ µοναχάς, ἀδελφοὶ καὶ τέκνα,
νὰ µεταβάλωµεν τὴν ζωήν µας, πάντοτε
µέν, ἰδιαιτέρως δὲ κατὰ τὴν περίοδον
αὐτὴν τῆς Ἁγίας καὶ Μεγάλης Τεσσαρακοστῆς, εἰς ἀγαπητικὴν πρὸς τὸν πλησίον
προσπάθειαν προπαρασκευῆς διὰ τὴν
µετοχὴν ἐκτυπώτερον ἀπὸ τοῦδε εἰς τὴν
ἀνέσπερον Βασιλείαν τοῦ Κυρίου, τὸ
«καινὸν Πάσχα».
Προσκαλοῦµεν τοὺς πάντας εἰς
ζωὴν ἁγιότητος καὶ πνευµατικοῦ ἀγῶνος
διὰ νὰ χαρισθῇ εἰς τὸν κόσµον καὶ εἰς
ἡµᾶς ὡς «δόσις ἀγαθὴ» καὶ ὡς «δώρηµα
τέλειον» ἡ δυνατότης τῆς ὑπερβάσεως
τῆς ἁµαρτίας, διότι «πᾶς ὁ γεγεννηµένος
ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἁµαρτίαν οὐ ποιεῖ [...] καὶ
οὐ δύναται ἁµαρτάνειν, ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ
γεγέννηται» (Α ́ Ἰωάν. γ΄, 9-10). Ἂς εἰσέλθωµεν, λοιπόν, µὲ ὅλην τὴν ψυχήν µας,
µὴ σκυθρωπάζοντες, ἀλλὰ χαίροντες
καὶ ἀγαλλόµενοι, εἰς τὸ πνευµατικὸν
τοῦτο στάδιον τῶν ἀρετῶν καὶ ἂς καθοπλισθῶµεν «ἀγάπης τὴν λαµπρότητα,
προσευχῆς τὴν ἀστραπήν, ἁγνείας τὴν
καθαρότητα, εὐανδρίας τὴν ἰσχύν», καὶ
ἂς συνοδοιπορήσωµεν µὲ τὸν Κύριον,
δεόµενοι Αὐτοῦ νὰ µὴ «παρίδῃ ἡµᾶς
κινδυνεύοντας τὴν ἀπ᾿ Αὐτοῦ διάστασιν»
(Δοξαστικὸν τῆς Σταυροπροσκυνήσεως),
ἀλλὰ νὰ µᾶς ἀξιώσῃ «ὅπως λαµπροφόροι
προφθάσωµεν εἰς τὴν ἁγίαν καὶ τριήµερον Ἀνάστασιν, τὴν καταλάµπουσαν
ἀφθαρσίαν τῷ κόσµῳ» (ποίηµα Θεοδώρου, ἀκολουθία Δευτέρας Α΄ Ἑβδοµάδος
Νηστειῶν).
Ἀδελφοὶ καὶ τέκνα ἐν Χριστῷ,
Ἡ Ἁγία καὶ Μεγάλη Τεσσαρακοστὴ
εἶναι ὡς περίοδος προετοιµασίας καὶ
µετανοίας φωνὴ τῆς συνειδήσεώς µας, ἡ
ὁποία, ἐσωτερικὴ καὶ ἀνέκφραστος, εἶναι
προσωπικὴ κρίσις. Ὅταν µᾶς εὑρίσκῃ
σφάλλοντας διαµαρτύρεται ἐντονώτατα, καθότι «οὐδὲν αὐτῆς βιαιότερον ἐν
κόσµῳ», κατὰ τὸν βιωµατικὸν κήρυκα τῆς
µετανοίας Ἅγιον Ἀνδρέαν Κρήτης. Ὅθεν,
πρέπει νὰ εἰρηνεύῃ µὲ τὴν συνείδησίν του
ἕκαστος, διὰ τῆς µετανοίας, ὥστε «ἐν τῷ
πυρὶ τῆς συνειδήσεως νὰ προσφέρωµεν
µυστικὴν ὁλοκάρπωσιν», θυσιάζοντες τὰ
πάθη µας καὶ προσφέροντες αὐτὰ θυσίαν
ἀγάπης πρὸς τὸν συνάνθρωπον, ὅπως
ὁ Κύριος ἑαυτὸν ὑπὲρ «τῆς τοῦ κόσµου
ζωῆς καὶ σωτηρίας».
Τότε µόνον θὰ ἀνατείλῃ καὶ δι᾿ ἡµᾶς
ἐκ τοῦ τάφου ἡ συγγνώµη καὶ θὰ ζήσωµεν ὡς ἀνθρωπότης ἐν ἀλληλοσεβασµῷ
καὶ ἀγάπῃ µακρὰν τῶν ὅσων βλέποµεν
κατὰ τὰς ἡµέρας ταύτας φρικτῶν ἐγκληµάτων νὰ πλήττουν τὴν οἰκουµένην
ἅπασαν. Εἰς τὸν ἀγῶνα τοῦτον ἔχοµεν
συµµάχους καὶ πρεσβευτὰς πάντας τούς
Ἁγίους καὶ µάλιστα τὴν Παναγίαν Μητέρα τοῦ Κυρίου µας, τὴν διὰ τῶν ἱκεσιῶν
της ὡς ἄλλος λουτὴρ «ἐκπλύνουσαν
συνείδησιν».
Ὅθεν, προτρεπόµεθα καὶ παρακαλοῦµεν, ὡς πνευµατικὸς Πατὴρ τῶν ἀνὰ
τὴν οἰκουµένην Ὀρθοδόξων πιστῶν µας,
ἑαυτοὺς καὶ ἀλλήλους, νὰ δράµωµεν
µετὰ σπουδῆς εἰς τὸ ἀπὸ τῆς αὔριον ἀρχόµενον στάδιον τῶν ἀρετῶν, «µὴ ἄτοπα
λογιζόµενοι, µὴ παράνοµα πράττοντες»,
ἀλλὰ πορευόµενοι ἐν Χάριτι νὰ ἐκπλύνωµεν τὰς συνειδήσεις «γνώµῃ ἀγαθῇ» διὰ
τῆς µετανοίας, ἔχοντες τὴν βεβαιότητα
ὅτι οἱ οὐρανοὶ καὶ ἡ γῆ καὶ πάντα «τὰ
ὁρατὰ καὶ ἀόρατα» θὰ καταυγασθοῦν
ἐν τέλει ὑπὸ τοῦ φωτὸς τῆς Ἀναστάσεως
τοῦ Κυρίου.
Ἡµεῖς δέ, «πρὸ τῶν θυρῶν τοῦ Ναοῦ
τοῦ Κυρίου» ἱστάµενοι, ἐὰν ἀξίως πολιτευθῶµεν, θὰ περιβληθῶµεν χιτῶνα
φωτεινὸν µιµήσεως τοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ θὰ
ἀξιωθῶµεν τοῦ «καινοῦ πόµατος» ἐκ
τῆς Πηγῆς τῆς ἀφθαρσίας, γευόµενοι
τῆς χαρᾶς τοῦ ὀλβίου τάφου τοῦ Κυρίου
καὶ συνωθούµενοι ἐν τῇ Ἐκκλησίᾳ «ἕως
τῶν κεράτων τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου», ἐν
τόπῳ ὅπου «τὰ φοβερὰ τελεσιουργεῖται».
Γένοιτο.
Ἁγία καὶ Μεγάλη Τεσσαρακοστὴ, βιε´
† Ὁ Κωνσταντινουπόλεως
ΒΑΡΘΟΛΟΜΑΙΟΣ
διάπυρος πρὸς Θεὸν
εὐχέτης πάντων ὑµῶν
Εορτή των Τριών Ιεραρχών και των Ελληνικών Γραμμάτων
του Τμήματος της Ελληνικής Παιδείας της Αρχιεπισκοπής Αμερικής
uΣελίδα 14
αυτό έχει ξεχωριστό ενδιαφέρον. Η αναγωγή
στο σήμερα μας οδηγεί στη διαπίστωση ότι οι
Τρεις Ιεράρχες μπορούν να λειτουργήσουν ως
πρότυπα για όλους μας σ’ αυτή την πολυεπίπεδη κρίση που διέρχεται σήμερα ο κόσμος μας.
Βλέπουμε ότι έχουμε πολλά κοινά. Οικονομικά
προβλήματα. Κοινωνικές διακρίσεις, καταπάτηση ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων, απαγωγές,
πόλεμοι, θρησκευτικές συγκρούσεις, πολιτιστική
πενία, ηθική καταρράκωση, κοινωνικά αδιέξοδα.
Για όλα αυτά οι Άγιοι Πατέρες έδωσαν άμεσες
λύσεις και όπου χρειάστηκε, συγκρούσθηκαν με
το κατεστημένο.
«Οι κοινωνικές θέσεις τους είναι σύγχρονες και ριζοσπαστικές. Θα λέγαμε ότι θυμίζουν,
περιόδους κοινωνικών επαναστάσεων και
συγκρούσεων και όπως αναφέρει ο Μακαριώτατος Αρχιεπίσκοπος Αλβανίας κ. Αναστάσιος
«Η γλώσσα τους αποκτά μια μοναδική οξύτητα
όταν κηρύσσουν την ισότητα και την αδελφοσύνη όλων των ανθρώπων». Συγκρούστηκαν και
υπερασπίστηκαν τη δικαιοσύνη και την ορθή
έκφραση της ορθόδοξης πίστης, γεγονός που
τους οδήγησε σε διωγμούς και εξορίες.
«Οι Τρεις Πατέρες πιστεύουν ξεκάθαρα ότι
τα συμφέροντα των ισχυρών και η μανία για την
απόκτηση πλούτου είναι αυτά που μας οδηγούν
και ευθύνονται για την κατάντια των κοινωνιών, για τους πολέμους, για την εξαθλίωση των
κοινωνιών. «Οι πόλεμοι, γράφει ο Ιωάννης
ο Χρυσόστομος, γίνονται από έρωτα για τα
χρήματα», ενώ ο Μέγας Βασίλειος γράφει: «Ως
πότε θα κυβερνά ο πλούτος που είναι η αιτία
πολέμου;». «Οι εξοπλισμοί λέγει, γίνονται για
την απόκτηση πλούτου». Συνεχίζει ο Ιωάννης
ο Χρυσόστομος: «όπου γαρ το εμόν και το σόν
εκεί πάσα μάχη ιδέα και φιλονικία υπόθεσις».
«Η θάλασσα», έλεγε ο Μέγας Βασίλειος
μιλώντας για τον πλεονέκτη, «γνωρίζει τα όριά
της». Η νύχτα δεν υπερβαίνει τις οροθεσίες που
καθόρισε ο Δημιουργός. Ο πλούσιος όμως δεν
χορταίνει. Ο πόθος του να αυξήσει τα πλούτη
του μοιάζει με ασταμάτητη πυρκαγιά».
« Έχεις «τόσα και τόσα αγαθά», ρωτά, «τι
θα τα κάνεις τελικά; Τρεις πήχες γης δεν περιμένουν και σένα – όλοι και όλοι – όταν πεθάνεις;
Ποιος θα σε υπερασπιστεί την ώρα της κρίσεως;
Όπου και αν στρέψεις το βλέμμα σου θα βλέπεις
τις όψεις εκείνων που δεν έδειξες ευσπλαχνία.
«Αν αναλογιστούμε το βίο, τις θυσίες
και την προσφορά των Τριών Ιεραρχών, τις
συγκρούσεις τα κοινωνικά φαινόμενα και την
αγάπη για τον άνθρωπο, θα αντλήσουμε ένα
διαχρονικό μήνυμα.
«Ότι μπορούμε να επιβιώσουμε, αν μιμηθούμε το ήθος, τη συμπεριφορά και την αγωνιστικότητά τους.
«Ότι η κοινωνική ευαισθησία αγγίζει τα
όρια της θυσίας και δεν έχει όρια θρησκευτικά,
πολιτικά, κοινωνικά, ή φυλετικά. Προσπαθεί να
πλάσει ανθρώπους με ήθος.
«Η σύνδεσή μας με την παράδοση των Τριών Ιεραρχών και των άλλων Πατέρων αποτελεί
για όλους μας ίσως την ελπίδα για τη διατήρηση
της ταυτότητάς μας, του δικού μας ήθους και
συμπεριφοράς για να βρούμε το δικό μας εαυτό
μέσα σε μια παγκοσμιοποιημένη κοινωνία.
«Σήμερα, η παρουσία ενός τόσου γνωστού
και φωτισμένου Αγιορείτη Γέροντα ανάμεσά
μας, σε μια εποχή που η μοναστική πολιτεία
του Αγίου Όρους γιορτάζει νέους πνευματικούς
θριάμβους, αποτελεί για όλους μας ξεχωριστή
ευλογία, αφού πριν λίγες ημέρες η Μεγάλη του
Χριστού Εκκλησία κατέταξε και επίσημα στο
Αγιολόγιο τον Γέροντα Παΐσιο τον Αγιορίτη.
«Γιατί το Άγιο Όρος παραμένει ζωτικό και
σημαντικό στη ζωή μας σήμερα και μας διδάσκει
μέσα από τη ζωή, τη δράση και τα βιώματα των
Αγίων, και των Γερόντων του, που αποτελούν τη
συνέχεια των Πατέρων της Εκκλησίας και την
προσωποποίηση της διδασκαλίας τους.
«Εκεί στη μοναστική πολιτεία του Άθωνα,
όπου ζει και βασιλεύει ο μοναχικός βίος και
ασκείται η ισοπολιτεία, αγγελόμορφοι πολίτεςοπλίτες μάχονται με την καθοδήγηση και την
προστασία της Υπερμάχου Στρατηγού. Σπέρνουν την σωτηρία και μπολιάζουν τις ψυχές μας
με το κλήμα απ’ το «περιβόλι της Παναγιάς», που
τους χαρίζει το γλυκύτατο κρασί της αληθινής
ελευθερίας και οδηγεί στη «νηφάλιο μέθη».
«Αντιμέτωποι με τις πολλαπλές προκλήσεις μιας ξέφρενα παγκοσμιοποιημένης εποχής
όπου ο φανατισμός και η υλιστική αθεΐα μας
απειλούν, στρέφουμε το βλέμμα της καρδιάς και
του νου μας στο Άγιον Όρος, όπου οι διδασκαλίες των Τριών Ιεραρχών και των Αγίων Πατέρων που τους ακολούθησαν, περί αρετής, περί
αγγελικής πολιτείας, περί ελευθερίας μένουν
ακέραιες και ασύντριπτες απ’ την αλλοτρίωση.
Έτσι η παράδοση και οι προσευχές των μοναχών
αποτελούν «ύδωρ αλλόμενον» που ποτίζει την
εριβώλακα γη της ρωμέικης ψυχής μας, ώστε
να δρέψουμε τους καρπούς της σωτηρίας», είπε
ο Δρ. Ιωάννης Ευθυμιόπουλος και συνέχισε:
«καλωσορίζοντας λοιπόν τον σεβαστό Γέροντα
π. Βασίλειο, Προηγούμενο της Ιεράς Μονής Ιβήρων του Αγίου Όρους, είμαστε βέβαιοι ότι θα μας
μεταδώσει λίγο από αυτό το «αλλόμενο ύδωρ»
για να ποτίσει τις καρδιές μας με τα νάματα των
Τριών Ιεραρχών.
«Να μας βοηθήσει να κατανοήσουμε
καλύτερα τη φράση του «Η μεγαλωσύνη του
Θεού φανερώνεται στη θυσία της αγάπης και
στην κένωση της προσφοράς».
«Αλλά και να ευφρανθούμε από την
καλλιέπεια, τη γλυκύτητα, τον πεποικελμένο
Αγιορίτικο (αλλιώτικο) λόγο του και την επιστημονική του δεξιότητα με την ανάπτυξη της
σημερινής ομιλίας του. «Η θεία λειτουργία ως
Τριαδική Θεοφάνεια και το οικουμενικό μήνυμα
της Θεολογίας των Τριών Ιεραρχών», κατέληξε.
FEBRUARY – MARCH 2015
17
Greek Letters Celebration
Greek Letters
Event Honors
50 Students
NEW YORK – Fifty students from
Greek day and afternoon schools from Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey and New York
were recognized in an awards ceremony
Jan. 31 at Holy Trinity Cathedral.
The program included a keynote address by Madeline Singas, the acting district attorney of Nassau County, New York,
who was raised in Astoria and graduated
from St. Demetrios School Bronx High
School of Science, Columbia University
and Fordham University Law School. Her
presentation was “Living our Greek Orthodox Heritage.”
Students receiving the Three Hierarchs Award of Excellence were as follows:
VIRGINIA
St. Katherine Church, Falls Church: Panagiotis Alexopoulos, Sophia Pelekasis and
Iliana Tzafolias.
MARYLAND
St. Nicholas Baltimore: Aikaterini Ieromonahos, Marina Protopapas and Geneviene
Stakias.
NEW JERSEY
St. George, Piscataway: Ourania Gargalidis
St. George, Clifton: Elena Soumilas
St. Demetrios, Union: Kyriaki Desipris
Ascension, Fairview: Martha Christina Karaiakofoglou
NEW YORK
Day Schools
St. Demetrios School, Astoria: Alexandros
Dimitrios Panagos photos
Students honored at the Greek Letters even held at Holy Trinity Archdiocesan Cathedral on Jan. 31.
Avramides, Artemios Diamantis, George
Kastanas, Eleni Katounis, Sofia Maria
Krampis, Vasiliki Mitsaki, Cleopatra Papadopoulos, Christina Papageorgiou, Anna
Psaradakis, Pantelis Sgouros, Despina
Skartados, Dimitris Souropanis, Evangelia
Tsagaris, Alkiviadis Tzortzoglou, Kristi
Vongli and Zapantis Argyri.
William Spyropoulos School, Flushing:
Phylissa Dionysiou, Anna Olivia Georgoulas,
Theodoros Karanikolas, Diamantis Kassimis, Irene Masoutis, Samantha Savvides
and Steven Shinas.
Greek American Institute, Bronx: Alexandra
Rachiele
Greek Afternoon Schools
St. Demetrios, Astoria: Anna Markouizos
and Christos Tsevis
Holy Cross, Brooklyn: Panagiotis Papamichalakis
Holy Cross, Whitestone: Dionysia Amorgianos
St. Peter, Bronx: Heleni Trihas
Holy Trinity, New Rochelle: Paulina Fafalios,
Joanna Georgiou and George Kalyvas
Assumption, Port Jefferson, Nicolletta
Gasparis.
Holy Trinity, Hicksville: Argiroula Kefalas,St
Vicky Marinakos and Dimetra Sarris.
St. Markella, Wantagh: George Milonas
Kimisis tis Theotkou, Poughkeepsie: Alexandra Abouezzi and Theodore Kapogiannis
St. Sophia, Albany: Athanasia Efstathiadis,
Vicky Kalpaxis and Joanna Rassias
Annuniciation, Buffalo: Marilena Papavassiliou
St. Irene Chrysovalantou, Astoria: Anna
Maria Chasoura
St. Nectarios, Brooklyn: Ellie Livadiotakis
Plato, Brooklyn: Marina Eliopoulos
Independent Students
Lisandros Hadjigeorghi, Anna Kasamias,
Amalia Moula, Maria Pondikos, Alexandros
Rellos and Stavroula Tomboris
Christ is Risen!
The Resurrection Service & Divine Liturgy of Pascha
Shown with Maria Makedon, director of the Direct Archdiocesan District Office of Education (left), Eleni
Alexopoulos, director of St. Catherine’s Hellenic School in Falls Church, Va., and Archbishop Demetrios,
are students from the Falls Church school, Sophia Pelekasis and Iliana Tzafolias, Panagiotis Alexopoulos,
and his father, Fr. Stefanos Alexopoulos, Ph.D., and Consul General of Greece in New York , Ambassador
George Eliopoulos. (below) His Eminence praises the Holy Trinity Cathedral youth choir for its performance
of Greek songs.
Witness the moving service of the Resurrection
of Christ in what is known as the largest Greek
Orthodox parish in America, St. Nicholas Shrine
Church, Flushing, NY.
Thousands gather inside and outside the church
to hear Archbishop Demetrios of America read the
Gospel and proclaim, “Christos Anesti - Christ is
Risen!” The faithful raise their lighted candles,
joyfully singing together.
Christ is risen from the dead; by death, He has
trampled death, and to those in the tombs He has
granted life. (Paschal Troparion).
This video presentation, “Christ is Risen! The
Resurrection Service & Divine Liturgy of Pascha,”
was broadcast LIVE around the world in 2011.
The narration was added and editing occurred in
order for the program to air nationally on NBC
during the Paschal season in 2012.
To purchase your DVD copy of this
program ($20 per DVD + $6 S&H)
please call 212-774-0244, or email
[email protected], or comple the order
form below and mail it to: GOTelecom,
8E. 79th Street, New York, NY 10075.
Yes, I want to order _____ DVD copies
Name: _________________________________________
Enclosed is my check for: $________________ or
Address: _______________________________________
I authorize GOTelecom to charge my:
Exp. date: _____
Card No.: _____________________________________
Name on Card: ________________________________
City: _________________State:_____ Zip: _________
Phone: ________________________________________
Email: _________________________________________
Produced by
The program has been made possible
with a grant by Christos Spyropoulos
and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
18
Church History
FEBRUARY – MARCH 2015
Remembering Selma 50 Years Later: Archbishop Iakovos and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King
by William H. Samonides, Ph.D.
Fifty years ago, on March 15, 1965,
Archbishop Iakovos, Primate of the Greek
Orthodox Church of North and South
America, went to Selma, Alabama and
marched beside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
A moment of that day was captured on film
and became the cover photograph of the
March 26, 1965 issue of Life magazine. It is
a compelling image. Dr. King is in the center of the photo, holding a large memorial
wreath for the Rev. James Reeb, a Unitarian
Universalist minister and civil rights activist
from Boston.
The Rev. Reeb had died four days earlier after a group of white men beat him for
daring to march in a black demonstration.
Although Dr. King is at the center, it is
Archbishop Iakovos, solemnly gazing into
the camera, that rivets our attention. The
bearded Archbishop, in robes unfamiliar
then to most of the American public, created a bit of a sensation in this setting. The
caption, “Historic Turning Point for the
Negro’s Cause,” was no doubt due to the
presence of white men such as Archbishop
Iakovos and Walter Reuther, president of
the United Auto Workers, who was standing
behind the Archbishop.
It was also a historic event for the Greek
Orthodox Church in America. Archbishop
Iakovos, during his 37 years (1959–96) as
head of the Church in America, was photographed thousands of times with world
leaders and American presidents, but it was
the Life cover that became an iconic image.
Archbishop Iakovos knew discrimination first hand.
He was born Demetrios Koukouzis in
1911, during the final years of the Ottoman
Empire, on Imvros, an island at the mouth
of the Dardanelles. Ecumenical Patriarch
Bartholomew was also born there in 1940.
Until the middle of the 20th century, this
island was the home of a large, thriving
Greek Orthodox community.
The First Balkan War erupted the
year after his birth, heralding a decadelong series of wars that forever altered his
home and region. The young Demetrios
Koukouzis experienced the first years of
the fledgling Republic of Turkey as a child
selling dry goods and icons in his parents’
general store, as a student at the Patriarchal Theological School of Halki where he
graduated in 1934, and as a deacon of the
Church from 1934 to 1939. It was a time
of great political turmoil and social ferment. He understood what it meant to be
a second–class citizen in the land of one’s
birth. Orthodox Christians were allowed to
practice their faith, but only with significant
economic, social, and political restrictions.
In theory, the rights of this young man and
other Orthodox Christians were protected
by law and international treaty. The reality
of their daily life was very different.
In May 1939, when Deacon Iakovos
arrived in America to become Archdeacon
to Archbishop Athenagoras, he was admitted to this country as a 27-year-old ethnic
Greek clergyman with Turkish citizenship.
A series of laws enacted by Congress in the
1920’s had drastically reduced immigration
of Greeks and other so-called “new immigrants” from southern and eastern Europe.
The Greeks, Italians, and Jews were considered undesirable, less likely to learn English
and assimilate into American democracy
and culture. This legislation was the culmination of decades of anti-Greek sentiment
in America. The Immigration Act of 1924
set a draconian quota for ethnic Greeks to
100 immigrants per year. As a clergyman,
The iconic Life magazine cover of Archbishop Iakovos standing with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. The picture was taken by Peter Christopoulos,
then a photographer for the magazine, who persuaded the editors to use this photo on the cover. Now and Archon, he lives in New Jersey where he is
a member of St. Demetrios Church in Perth Amboy (Observer archives)
however, Deacon Iakovos qualified as a
non-quota Greek. Otherwise, immigration
restriction would probably have prevented
or at least delayed for many years his entry
into the United States.
With his personal experience of discrimination and as a Christian, it is therefore
not surprising that 50 years ago Archbishop
Iakovos chose to answer the call, to go to
Selma and stand with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr. It is also not surprising that he was
an outspoken supporter of the Civil Rights
Act of 1964. From 1865 to 1870, the 13th,
14th, and 15th Amendments were added to
the Constitution to ensure equality to all
citizens, but they were not enough. Archbishop Iakovos understood from his experience in Turkey that laws offer the promise
of equality and change, but an enforcement
mechanism is also required.
Selma initially became a focal point in
the Civil Rights Movement because of the
great difficulties in registering black voters.
Not long after the ratification of the 15th
Amendment granting black men the right
to vote, opponents chipped away at its
provisions, starting with the 1876 Supreme
Court decision in United States v. Reese.
Many black Americans, especially those living in the South, were denied access to the
polls. As a result, in 1964 only 23 percent
of black adults in Alabama were registered
to vote. The situation was perhaps worst in
Selma, where 51 percent of the city’s residents were black, but only 2 percent (335
of 15,115 black residents) were registered
to vote. This was not because of apathy.
Blacks were threatened with losing their
jobs and otherwise intimidated from voting. To qualify to vote they also had to pass

 to next page
FEBRUARY – MARCH 2015
19
Parish Profile
Texas Church Part of the ‘Body of Christ’ in the City with the Same Name
P A R I S H
profile
Name: St. Nicholas
Greek Orthodox Church
Location: Corpus Christi, Texas
Metropolis of Denver
Founded: 1948
Clergy: Fr. John Haby (Holy Cross ‘11)
Size: about 130 families
E–mail: [email protected]
Web: www.saint–nicholas.org
Noteworthy: The priest from San Antonio
created the iconography in 1950.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – No one
knows when the first Greek Orthodox
Christians may have come to this city in
South Texas, even for a short while.
Perhaps there were Greek sailors
on the crew of Spanish explorer Alonso
Alvarez de Pineda in 1519 when he discovered the bay and settlement on Roman
Catholic feast day of Corpus Christi (Body
of Christ).
Or perhaps seafaring Greeks were
drawn to this port city in the 19th or early
20th century that ranks as the fifth largest port in the United States (in terms of
tonnage).
Whenever it was, by May 1936 there
were enough Greek Orthodox people
present to form a temporary committee
to look into organizing a parish under the
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, according
to a parish history.
The committee changed its name to
the Delphi Social and Educational Club
and started fund–raising for a Greek af-
St. Nicholas church photo
ST. NICHOLAS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH
ternoon school. On April 14, 1944, the
organization purchased property near
downtown and eventually built the church
that continues to serve the community.
Meanwhile, the community met at a
local Episcopal church with visiting priests
officiating the services.
The parish was incorporated in 1948
with George H. Plomarity as the president.
He was the father of Archon Harry Plomarity, retired director of the Port of Corpus
Christi who also served as parish council
president and has been a long-time member of the Archdiocesan Council and St.
Photios National Shrine board.
The Plomarity family has been actively
involved in the parish to the present day.
The church received its charter from
the Archdiocese in 1950.
Construction of the house of worship
began in 1950 and Fr. John Zografos of
St. Sophia Church in San Antonio, also a
noted iconographer, was commissioned in
April to create the icons. Fr. Zografos also
officiated at the laying of the cornerstone
ceremony later that month. In December
of that year, Fr. Emmanuel Panos of St.
George Church in Shreveport, La., was
assigned as the first parish priest.
In December 1971, Bishop John of
Thermon consecrated the church, assisted
by the Very Rev. Ambrose Giannoukos, the
parish priest and the longest-serving pastor; Fr. Nicholas Triantafilou, then-dean
of Annunciation Cathedral in Houston,
Deacon John Stehling and Peter C. Anton
Jr. (the present Metropolitan Tarasios of
Buenos Aires), both from San Antonio.
Changing demographics
Because of immigration in recent
decades from Eastern Europe, parish
membership now includes those of Russian, Ukrainian, Romanian and Bulgarian
Orthodox background. Some members
are of Hispanic heritage. However, there
are many descendants of the founding
families, and also recent immigrants
from the island of Karpathos, with a large
number from the village of Spoa on the
island. Several are Greek restaurant owners in the city.
The city has a large U.S. Navy presence, with the Corpus Christi Naval Air
Station located a few miles outside the city
and naval ships based at Ingleside.
A navy chaplain from one of the ships,
Fr. David Pratt, served as the visiting priest
in 1999.
Fr. John Hayden (Haby), the current
pastor, has ministered to the parish since
2013, having previously been the assistant
priest at Assumption Church in Springfield, Ohio.
A Texas native, he grew up in Rock
Springs, near San Antonio and had graduated from Texas Tech University in Lubbock. For several years he worked as a
nuclear engineer at the Commanche Peak
Nuclear Power Plant in Granbury, about
35 miles southwest of Fort Worth.
Coming from a Protestant background, he converted to Orthodoxy in
the late 1990s, following the death of his
6-year-old daughter in a car accident.
He describes his ministry at St.
Nicholas as “to maximize the Liturgical
Life of the church, love all the parishioners especially in their time of need and
maximize the Stewardship along with the
growth of the parish.”
One of his major tasks is to organize
activities for the young people of the community. There is a Sunday school with
about 15 students in four grades.
The parish is on the stewardship program, but its main source of revenue is the
annual Greek festival the first weekend in
November.
St. Nicholas is the only Orthodox
Christian parish in Corpus Christi, a city of
about 300,000, which is the gateway to Padre Island National Seashore, sometimes
referred to as the “Texas Riviera.”
— Compiled by Jim Golding
Remembering Selma 50 Years Later: Archbishop Iakovos and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King

 from previous page
literacy tests similar to the discriminatory
literacy tests that were an obstacle to Greek
immigrants after Congress passed the Immigration Act of 1917.
The fight to register Selma’s black voters had begun in 1962 but had made little
progress. Dr. King knew Alabama well.
His wife, Coretta Scott King, was born and
raised just 35 miles from Selma. He was also
a pastor in the state capital at Montgomery
from 1954 to 1960. His direct involvement
at Selma began on Jan. 2, 1965. The following month, less than 60 days after he
had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in
Oslo, he found himself arrested for marching without a proper parade permit and
incarcerated. While in jail he quipped that
there were more blacks in jail in Selma than
there were registered to vote.
On Sunday, March 7, the first of three
marches from Selma to Montgomery to
take complaints directly to Gov. George
Wallace began at the Brown Chapel African
Methodist Episcopal Church. There were
about 600 marchers, but they did not get
far. On the outskirts of Selma at the Edmund
Pettus Bridge, they were attacked by billyclub-wielding state troopers amid clouds of
tear gas. Viewers from around the nation
were horrified when they saw the graphic
television footage. The second march was
planned for two days later, but the 2,000
marchers went no further than the bridge.
They feared being attacked by local law
enforcement. This was the night that Rev.
Reeb was beaten to death.
Archbishop Iakovos went to Selma for
the memorial service for the Rev. Reeb and
others in response to a telegram from the
Rev. Dr. Robert W. Spike, executive director
of the Commission on Religion and Race of
the National Council of Churches, in which
Archbishop Iakovos was active.
He was part of a delegation of 22 clergymen representing different denominations. Selma was dangerous, and advisors
opposed his participation.
Dr. King had been assaulted there
on Jan.18. Whites publicly supporting the
blacks became targets, and the murder of
Rev. Reeb made it clear that clergymen were
no exception.
In Selma, Archbishop Iakovos attended
the memorial service in Brown Chapel and
then, together with almost 4,000 mourners, marched eight blocks to the county
courthouse.
He left Selma that night when, in
Washington, President Lyndon B. Johnson
addressed Congress and announced his intention to send them legislation “designed
to eliminate illegal barriers to the right to
vote.” This became the Voting Rights Act of
1965, which was signed into law on Aug.
6, 1965. Just as events in Birmingham are
credited with the passage of the Civil Rights
Act of 1964, those in Selma, which culminated in the third march to Montgomery on
March 25 with 25,000 standing before the
Alabama state Capitol, are said to be responsible for the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It was
a time of groundbreaking legislation. Later
that year, the Immigration and Nationality
Act of 1965 was signed into law on Oct. 3,
finally ending the 40-year restrictive quota
on Greek immigration.
Archbishop Iakovos’ outspoken support of Dr. King and the civil rights movement was not popular at the time.
Earlier in the century, the participation of a Greek immigrant in this kind of
public demonstration would probably have
resulted in deportation. Today we can look
back and marvel at how much has changed
in a half century and, after a cursory glance
at a newspaper, lament how much remains
the same. The image of Archbishop Iakovos,
a man of courage and convictions, endures.
The author grew up in the American
South. Twice, in 1965 and in 1970, the
schools he attended were desegregated.
He was a high school freshman in Memphis
when Dr. King was assassinated there on
April 4, 1968. See “His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos and The Civil Rights Movement:
Selma, 1965” by Fr. Michael N. Varlamos
at www.goarch.org for a complementary
account.
Archdiocese to Co-Sponsor UN
Event Commemorating March
The Archdiocese, along with the
Permanent Mission of the United States
to the UN and the Permanent Observer
Mission of the European Union, will
sponsor a panel discussion March 26
to commemorate the 50th anniversary
of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s
1965 march in Selma. Guest speakers,
including Archbishop Demetrios, will
focus on the march’s significance. His
Eminence will reflect upon Archbishop
Iakovos’ role in the march. For more
information and to register to attend,
visit: http://bit.ly/1AHs8Kl.
20
Obituaries
Bob Simon
Bob Simon, the veteran CBS “60
Minutes” correspondent who brought the
plight of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to
the world’s attention in 2009, died Feb.
11 in a car crash on Manhattan’s West Side
Highway. He was 73.
It was during his interview with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew that His
All Holiness commented he felt “crucified”
in his existence in the hostile environment
Christianity faces in Turkey.
In 2011, Simon pursued other stories
relating to Orthodox Christianity with presentations including St. Katherine’s Monastery on Mount Sinai and Mount Athos.
In 2013, Simon accepted the Athenagoras Human Rights Award on behalf of “60
Minutes” from the Order of St. Andrew–Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
As a war correspondent since the
1960s, Simon covered 35 wars throughout
the world.
In January 1991, during the start of the
Gulf War, Simon and other members of the
CBS News coverage team were captured by
Iraqi forces near the Saudi–Kuwaiti border.
They spent 40 days in Iraqi prisons and he
was severely beaten during his incarceration.
According to news reports, a bureaucratic mistake on Simons International Red
Cross ID card helped convince his captors
that he was a Protestant, though he was
Jewish, which saved his life.
Upon learning of the death of Bob
Simon, Archons National Commander Dr.
Anthony J. Limberakis issued the following
statement.
“It is with a very heavy heart that we
mourn the untimely and tragic death today
of Bob Simon, renown CBS 60 Minutes
journalist. Mr. Simon’s extraordinary
interview of His All-Holiness Ecumenical
Patriarch Bartholomew, titled The Patriarch
which aired on December 17, 2009 was a
game–changer in the struggle for religious
freedom.
The international community had not
known of the repressive religious freedom
deficit in Turkey until Mr. Simon asked His
All-Holiness the question heard around
the world, “Do you feel sometimes crucified in your own country,” “Yes I do feel
crucified...”responded the spiritual leader
of 300 million Orthodox Christians.
“Bob Simon, along with CBS News
President Jeff Fager, Producer Harry Radliffe
II and the 60 Minutes team received the
2013 Athenagoras Human Rights Award for
their perilous work to expose the Turkish
government’s negative treatment of minority religions. Bob Simon and his 60 Minutes
colleagues went on to produce significant
journalistic segments on world Orthodoxy
including the Monks of Mount Athos (April
2011), the program exposing the Exodus of
Christians from the Holy Land (April 2012)
and the persecution of Egyptian Copts
(December 2013).
“The Archons and all freedom loving
citizens of the world will always be grateful to this brilliant, intrepid and seminal
journalist who exposed injustice and inhumanity wherever it existed and championed
religious freedom for the Holy and Great
Mother Church of Constantinople.
“The Order of St. Andrew expresses
our profound condolences to Francoise,
the beloved wife of Bob, their daughter and
the entire “60 Minutes” team at CBS News.
May his memory be eternal,”
Presbytera Anna
Gerotheou Gallos
Presbytera Anna Gerotheou Gallos,
95, daughter of Fr. John Gerotheou, and
Presbytera Evangeline, died Feb. 4.
Presbytera Anna was a pioneer and
a visionary in the music ministry of the
Archdiocese. She was instrumental in the
formation of the National Forum of Greek
Orthodox Church Musicians, and a founder
of several church music federations.
She was born in Philadelphia in 1920,
the eldest of four girls. A dedicated and
accomplished musician, Anna enjoyed a career that spanned more than eight decades.
Competent in the vocal arts, piano,
and organ, Anna was a music educator,
choral director and prolific composer of
church music.
She directed her first church choir at
age 15, studied music in high school and
earned a bachelor’s degree in theory and
voice and a master’s in church music, composing and conducting from the Eastman
School of Music in Rochester, N.Y.
Anna married Fr. George P. Gallos and,
in their 53 years together, they organized
and spearheaded two choir federations, retreats, choir schools and workshops to help
improve the spiritual and musical standards
of church music and church choirs.
They both played a very important part
in the formation of the National Forum of
Greek Orthodox Church Musicians, with
the charter being presented by Anna to
the Clergy-Laity Congress in 1976 in Philadelphia.
STERLING TRAVEL
20 LAUREN LANE, PHILLIPSBURG, N.J. 08865
www.hellastickets.com • [email protected]
20 Lauren Lane, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865
s,
et
ck ce
i
T ri
p
ea at P
h
C re
G
TICKETS 2 GREECE ON SALE
ΝΕΑ ΥΟΡΚΗ – ΑΘΗΝΑ – ΘΕΣΣΑΛΟΝΙΚΗ
από
$
299
Με επιστροφή
+ FUEL FEES + TAXES EXTRA • Περιορισμένος αριθμός θέσεων • Restrictions Apply
Χαμηλές τιμές για ΑΠΛΗ ΜΕΤΑΒΑΣΗ • ΕΙΔΙΚΕΣ ΠΡΟΣΦΟΡΕΣ ΚΙ ΑΠΟ ΑΛΛΕΣ ΠΟΛΕΙΣ
Τηλεφωνείστε δωρεάν (Call Toll Free): 1.800.GREECE-8 (1.800.473.3238) 1.908.213.1251 • 1.908. 213.6826
ΙΔΙΟΚΤΗΤΕΣ: ΒΑΣΙΛΗΣ & ΜΙΝΑ ΑΓΓΕΛΗ
The Galloses spent three years (19861989) at the American Farm School in
Thessaloniki, Greece where Fr. Gallos was
chaplain and Presbytera was director of
musical activities.
There she extended her Byzantine
expertise by studying with the renowned
psalti and teacher, Eleftherios Georgiades,
an Archon Lambadarios of the Ecumenical
Patriarchate in Constantinople.
Anna served as choir director with
her husband in the following parishes: St.
George, New Britain, Conn., Annunciation,
Rochester, N.Y.; Annunciation, Baltimore
(where she also taught music at City College and, later, Forest Park High School);
St. Demetrios, Weston, Mass.; St. Nicholas,
Spartanburg, S.C.; St. Constantine and
Helen, Annapolis, Md.; and Holy Trinity,
St. Augustine, Fla. Anna was also a teacher
and consultant at Hellenic College and Holy
Cross School of Theology.
After the death of Fr. Gallos in 1995,
Anna relocated to Timonium, Md., from
their parish in St. Augustine, Fla., and accepted the position of director of music at
St. Demetrios Church in Towson, where
she served from 1996 through 2004. Anna
continued to write music and consult and
mentor choir directors until her final days.
Anna was awarded the St. Romanos the
Melodist Medallion for Exemplary Archdiocesan Service, the highest national honor
given to a church musician by the National
Forum of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians. She also received the St. Paul Medal,
the Archdiocese’s highest honor for a lay
person, from Archbishop Iakovos on her
50th year of serving as a choir director.
One of the most prolific composers
of Greek Orthodox Church music in the
United States, Anna’s works include seven
divine liturgies, numerous holy day service
hymns, concert music, and special music
for the organ.
Anna founded the Evangeline Music
Press which showcases her music and accomplishments at www.geotronics.net/
services.htm.
Anna is survived by her two sons,
Stephen, and his wife Joanne, and John, as
well as her sister, Marie Gram, sister-in-law,
Penelope Poulos, and numerous beloved
nieces and nephews.
Donations may be given with checks
to EFGOCM (Eastern Federation Greek
Orthodox Church Musicians) Anna Gallos
Scholarship Fund, and mailed to Maria
Keritsis, Scholarship Chair, 9030 Kings
Crown Road, North Chesterfield, VA 23236.
The funeral was held Feb. 10 at the
Annunciation Cathedral in Baltimore, preceded by the choral singing of Anna’s music.
Presbytera
Maryann Wingenbach
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Presbytera Maryann
(Pearce) Wingenbach, 75, wife of retired
Greek Orthodox priest Fr. Gregory Wingenbach, died Jan. 14 after a lengthy illness.
A direct descendant of Revolutionary War Gen. Jonathan Clark, she and Fr.
Gregory were married 53 years. She had
been a homemaker and a librarian, helping to organize and help staff long inactive
school libraries in the northeastern U.S.
She held a master’s degree from the
University of Pittsburgh (was Phi Beta
Kappa) a bachelor’s degree from Spalding
University, graduating summa cum laude,
and an associate degree from Bellarmine
College.
In addition to Fr. Gregory survivors
include children, Mary-Adele Allison of
Fisherville, Ky.; John W. Wingenbach of
Wake Forest, N.C.; Evgenia Ryan, numer-
FEBRUARY – MARCH 2015
ous grandchildren; siblings William Pearce
of Elizabethtown, Ky., Susannah Patton of
Walton, Key, and Sally Jessel of Louisville;
and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services took place at St. Michael’s Orthodox Church in Louisville.
Archon
George A. Zazanis
George A. Zazanis, M.D, pioneer of
neurosurgery and former chief of neurosurgery at the University of Medicine and
Dentistry of New Jersey, died of cancer
on Feb. 4, in Vero Beach, Fla. He was 84.
Born in Youngstown, Ohio, to parents who emigrated from Greece, Dr.
Zazanis graduated from the University of
Michigan. He earned both M.D. and M.S.
degrees from Temple University School
of Medicine and, while enlisted as a U.S.
Army captain in Newfoundland, Canada,
he was awarded a commendation medal
in 1959. He completed his residency at
Temple University, where he met Marina
Pappas Zazanis, his adoring wife of 52
years. Following his residency, he joined
the practice of his late partner Henry
Liss. In 1965, they performed the first
stereotactic neurosurgical operation in
the state of New Jersey.
He served as chief of neurosurgery
at Morristown Memorial Hospital until
1987, when he was appointed to chair
the department at UMDNJ. Dr. Zazanis’
neurosurgical procedures and clinical
research were widely presented and
published, and he sponsored numerous
postgraduate candidates and postdoctoral fellows. Dr. Zazanis was honored
with the title of Archon for his outstanding leadership and service to the Greek
Orthodox Church and to the community
at large. In addition to his devoted wife
Marina, he is survived by his daughter,
Elena and her husband, Paul Fish, and
two sisters, Alpena Zazanis and Bess
Nicholas.
Gifts “In Memory of George A. Zazanis” may be made to Orthodox Christian
Mission Center, 220 Mason Manatee
Way, St. Augustine, Fla., 32086, or to
Temple University School of Medicine,
Office of Institutional Advancement,
3500 North Broad St., Suite 1101, Philadelphia, PA 19140.
Fr. Thomas Heath
CHICOPEE, Mass. – Fr. Thomas
Heath, 68, a former priest of St. Luke’s
Church in East Longmeadow, died Dec.
9 at his home.
He was born July 21, 1946 in Salisbury, Md., to the late Irving and Eleanor
(Svatek) Heath. He completed public
school in Salisbury, attended Towson
State College in Towson, Md., where he
graduated in elementary education, Holy
Cross School of Theology, earning at
M.Div., and Loyola College in Baltimore
for two years.
He was ordained a deacon by Metropolitan Silas of New Jersey in December
1981, and as a priest in June 1982.
He also served parishes in Burlington,
Vt., and Bangor, Maine.
Survivors include his wife, Christine
Heath of Enfield, Conn.; a son, Eric Heath;
two daughters, Laine Pelletier and Demitra
Walsh; eight grandchildren and a sister,
Anne Heath.
Memorial donations may be made to
St. Luke’s Greek Orthodox Church, 400
Prospect St., East Longmeadow, Mass.
01208.
FEBRUARY – MARCH 2015
21
OCMC
IS youR PARISh...
Missionary Efforts in Alaska
by Fr. Martin Ritsi
Soaring peaks, vast tundra, untouched
wilderness, America’s last great frontier,
Alaska! It has been a destination for tourists and adventurers, but it is also home to
Native American people, many of whom
identify themselves as Orthodox Christian,
but whose Orthodox heritage is now under
threat.
The tides of history and the influences
of western civilization have impacted the
Alaskan Church greatly. With the blessing of
the newly-enthroned Bishop David, however, the Orthodox Christian Mission Center
has been invited to revitalize, rebuild, and
grow the Church in Alaska. Please support
missions in Alaska with a gift to the OCMC.
With the blessing of Bishop David, two
missionary families are involved in major
mission ministries in Alaska. The Ruckers
are teaching at St. Herman’s Seminary in
Kodiak, training future Alaskan clergy and
church leaders to share the Faith and minister to the needs of the Alaskan people.
The DiLullos are working to restore
and repair church buildings throughout
the diocese so that they may be a shining
light and a witness to God’s glory among
the communities that they serve.
Additionally, three short–term mission
teams will minister to youth by teaching
about the Faith in Alaska in 2015 as well.
Prayers and financial gifts are needed to
make this work possible.
Donations of $75, $100, or more to
the OCMC will help support initiatives like
those being undertaken in Alaska.
Through the prayers of St. Innocent
and St. Herman, may the Church continue
to be a source of strength and the center of
village life in Alaska.
Thank you for your support of Orthodoxy in Alaska and worldwide.
Fr. Ritsi is OCMC executive director.
Team Forming for Northern Kenya
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – The deserts of
northern Kenya, often seen as barren and
desolate, are bringing forth life. Scores
of the Turkana people that call this place
home have accepted Christ and have been
baptized into the Orthodox Faith. The message of the Gospel has been preached by a
handful of Turkana priests who have been
assisted by teams of Orthodox Christians
from the United States. In the places they
have witnessed, rivers that were once dry
have begun to flow, hundreds have been
baptized in these waters, and churches are
being planted.
Of these mission team experiences,
Mat. Suzanne Aleandro reflects, “I have
made five mission trips to Turkana. Each
time I learn a little more, what it means to
live in the present moment. How blessed to
be with people who really understand Life.”
This year, another OCMC short-term
mission team will work alongside the Turkana brethren of St. Peter Orthodox Church
in the remote village of Loupwala to help
build a school. This is an opportunity to
answer a call to make disciples of all nations.
These efforts will not only see that
children get access to education, but will
also serve as a continued witness of Christ’s
unfailing love.
For more information or to apply
to participate in the team from May 28
to June 12, visit www.ocmc.org/about/
view_team, call the Teams Department at
1.877.463.6784 ext. 140, or e-mail teams@
ocmc.org.
Letter to the Editor
Lessons from MLK
Editor,
Thank you Andrew Estocin for “Lessons from Martin Luther King Jr.,” in the
January 2015 edition.
Mr. Estocin’s thoughtful explanation
of Dr. King’s legacy is a road map for
Orthodox Christian activism. I treasure
a framed cover of Life magazine (March
26, 1965) showing Archbishop Iakovos in
Selma with Dr. King; Ralph Abernathy, a
founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference; and Walter Reuther,
leader of the United Auto Workers. If
we were to superficially judge the men
pictured according to their appearance,
we would notice significant differences.
King and Abernathy are dark skinned. The
two white men on the Life cover, union
leader Reuther and Archbishop Iakovos,
are serious and dressed very differently.
The archbishop wears his black cassock,
hat and veil, an engolpion and carries the
bishop’s crozier.
Why are these men together? Andrew
Estocin answers that question by referring
to their shared pursuit of love and truth,
following the example of Dr. King and
countless others in history who chose civil
disobedience in the face of oppressive
politics and principles.
I’m reminded of the teachings of
Archbishop Kallistos (Timothy Ware) who
wrote about “creative fidelity” to tradition as a tenet of Orthodox Christianity.
We honor the traditions while we also
anticipate an evolving need for collective
wisdom and interpretation.
As Mr. Estocin wrote: “…the Orthodox faith is not a museum of history but
a way of living in the world that must be
carefully cultivated and acted upon.”
For centuries truth and justice were
obscured within and without the Church.
The courage of people like Dr. King and
millions of others shed light on dark and
oppressive places in humanity. We may
argue about tactics and strategies, but
Orthodox Christians are the heirs to civil
disobedience of the type practiced by Jesus and countless saints and sages whom
we venerate yet may misunderstand.
In the U.S. we’ve only begun to
transform the mores of society regarding
civil rights.
Other huge and troubling issues
remain before us, like the waging of wars
and abatement of climate change. Our
examples include the people on that Life
magazine cover from 1965 who chose civil
disobedience against injustice, rather than
submission and silence.
David Giffey
Arena, Wis.
Ready to expand parish participation?
Seeking funds for a building project?
Wishing to promote Planned Giving?
Assistance is Available!
The office of Parish Development offers
guidance to parishes through:
Strategic Planning
Workshops: For greater
involvement in your parish
Capital Campaign
Planning Studies: Assessing
your project’s fundraising potential
Capital Campaign
Management: Planning and
coaching from beginning to end
Stewardship Assistance:
Inspiring greater giving
in your parish
Parish Planned Giving
Programs: Guidance in
cultivating planned gifts
Grant Proposal Research
& Writing: Help throughout
the grant proposal process
Want More Information?
Contact us to discuss your Goals & Needs and allow us
to explain how we might be of help.
Greek orthodox Archdiocese of America
office of Parish Development
3 South Prospect Avenue, Ste. II
Park Ridge, IL 60068
Phone: (847) 825-1432
Email: [email protected]
– I ALWAYS WANTED TO STUDY ORTHODOX THEOLOGY!
– WELL, NOW YOU CAN!
AND WITH SOME OF THE LEADING
ORTHODOX THEOLOGIANS OF OUR AGE.
ST. STEPHEN’S COURSE OF STUDIES
IN ORTHODOX THEOLOGY IS YOUR ANSWER
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.
For information and catalogue, contact:
ST. STEPHEN’S COURSE OF STUDIES
385 IVY LANE, BERGENFIELD, NJ 07621
E-mail: THEOEDU1@AOL. COM • Tel: 201.569.0095
_______________________________________________
Please send me further information and application forms for:
St. Stephen’s Course of Studies in Orthodox Theology
Name:________________________________________________________
Please print
Address:______________________________________________________
City:_________________________________State:______Zip:___________
E-mail:________________________________Tel:_____________________
22
FEBRUARY – MARCH 2015
Map of Syria showing the conflict involving the various factions: ISIS (IS), the Loyalists, Rebels and
Kurds. Note, the proximity of Cyprus at left (west).
Middle East Crisis
FARES BEGIN AT...
299
$
ONE WAY
480
$

 from page 12
plus
tax
plus
tax
ROUND TRIP
£∂§∂∆∂
or Thessaloniki
º£∏¡∞ To Athens
from New York
∂π™π∆∏ƒπ∞ RESTRICTIONS DO APPLY • SPACE IS LIMITED • CALL TODAY
LOWEST HOTEL & CAR FARES AVAILABLE
∂¶π∫√π¡ø¡∏™∆∂ ª∞∑π ª∞™ ™∆√ π¡∆∂ƒ¡∂∆
Contact: Eleni & Ari Poulos
WEB: www.eleni.com • E-mail: [email protected]
Επίσης αναλαμβάνουμε
Διαβατήρια και Συμβολαιογραφικά
(Πληρεξούσια, Μεταφράσεις,
Πιστοποιητικά, κ.λ.π.)
1-800-989-4733
Call Now and Begin Saving Money with Eleni Tours, Inc.
LOWES
PRICES T
THE MAR IN
KET
NON STOP FLIGHT US AIR FROM
PHILA TO ATHENS
AND CONTINUE TO THESSALONIKI
5 Bayberry Drive, Broomall, PA 19008
610-355-7730 • Fax: 610-355-0823
SPECIAL DISCOUNTS
Offered to Communities,
Organizations, Church festivals
and all other functions.
Kontos Foods famous for its POCKET-LESS PITA,
is proud to present its original products once again.
Fillo
Kataifi
Delicious, traditional products made
Spanakopita
Tyropita
with the highest quality ingredients
Courteous Service • WE SHIP EVERYWHERE in the US & CANADA
Exclusive Distributor for USA & CANADA of TRIKOMITES HALOUMI
KONTOS FOODS, INC • EVRIPIDES KONTOS, President
BOX 628, PATERSON, NJ 07544
(973) 278-2800 • Fax: (973) 278-7943
The Christians were transferred to an
unknown location.
At dawn on Christmas Day, the barbaric regime of Iran hanged seven people
in mass execution in Shiraz…
Nigeria: Maiduguri, capital city of
Borno state in Muslim-majority northern
Nigeria, experienced another tense Christmas. The city had been besieged by the
Islamic organization Boko Haram, and
streets were left vehicle–free on Dec. 25
to avoid suicide attacks. Most of the 5,000
displaced persons welcomed in Maiduguri
are in fact refugees from other regions that
have fallen to Boko Haram.
In Taraba state, over 100 Muslim Fulani herdsmen slaughtered 16 Christians,
including a one-year-old infant and his
mother, and torched several churches
and Christians’ homes in two separate
village attacks…
The rest of December’s roundup of
Muslim persecution of Christians around
the world includes (but is not limited to)
the following accounts.
Jihadi Slaughter of Christians
Kenya: Gunmen from the Islamic organization Al Shabaab launched an earlymorning raid on quarry workers while
they slept in their worksite tents near the
city of Mandera, along the Somali border.
Christians and Muslims were separated
before the Christians, 36 of them, were
beheaded or shot dead...
Libya: Unidentified men broke into
a Christian household the middle of the
night.
They handcuffed and killed the father,
according to his brother-in-law during
an interview. Then they entered the children’s bedroom.
The mother was there, cried out, tried
to fight back, and was killed. They took
the oldest daughter, Katherine, and fled
with her. The girl’s body was later found
in the desert, shot three times.
The other two younger daughters
were left for two-and-a-half hours in their
bedroom with the body of their slain
mother.
In the early morning, they fled the
house and ran toward their school where
they were intercepted by the principal
who asked them, “Why are you coming to
school alone today? Where’s your father?”
They answered, “Daddy is in heaven.”
Ansar al-Sharia (“Supporters of Islamic
Law”), an Islamist organization that rose
to power during Libya’s “Arab Spring,” is
believed to be responsible for the targeting
of this, and other Christian families.
Turkey: Approximately 10,000 New
Testaments and other Christian books
were destroyed during a fire that was
started by a suspected arson attack at
the offices of the Bible Correspondence
Course in Turkey (BCC–Turkey), located
in a multi–story building, which also
houses a church, in the Kadikoy neighborhood of Istanbul. There were no injuries
or structural damage.
Concerning the identity of the
arsonist(s), David Byle, co-founder of BBCTurkey, said “Our hunch is it is people who
don’t like people who do the activities we
do here -- mainly giving out free New Testaments and explaining the Christian faith
to people.” Concerning police response,
Byle said, “We were disappointed by how
little interest it seemed was shown by the
authorities investigating this. If a depot in
Germany or England located right above
a mosque, in the same building full of
thousands of Korans, had a fire start
right exactly where in April 2007 several
terrorists attacked a publishing house in
Malatya, Turkey, for distributing Bibles.
They bound, tortured and slaughtered
three Christian employees. One suspect
later said: “We didn’t do this for ourselves,
but for our religion (Islam)... Let this be a
lesson to enemies of our religion.”)
A Postscript
Editor’s Note: Since the above-mentioned incidents, subsequent reports by
various news organizations include the
following:
• The beheading by ISIS of 21 Coptic Orthodox Christians in Libya. Egypt
promptly launched an air attack on positions of the terrorist organizations.
• The burning to death of 45 Christians in Iraq.
• The burning of 45 churches and
deaths of 10 persons in those attacks in
Niger.
23
FEBRUARY – MARCH 2015
Day Schools
Early Childhood Education a Hallmark of Illinois School
NILES, Ill. -- Aristotle Day School is part
of the Holy Taxiarhai and St. Haralambos
Church, under the spiritual guidance of Fr.
Constantine P. Botsis and George Lamberis.
Aristotle opened its doors in 1992 serving families who wanted their children’s
first school experience to be at their church
to help foster Greek Orthodox Christian
values, the Greek language and heritage.
Over the years, nearly 1,000 students
have participated in this program. Aristotle’s goal is to provide the finest program in
early childhood education and to promote
a holistic approach in all areas of growth
–social, emotional, intellectual, spiritual,
and physical.
The school’s bilingual (Greek/English)
program is open to all children from ages
three to six. Aristotle aligns its program with
the Illinois Common Core State Standards
and also teaches young students to value
and appreciate their Greek Orthodox faith
and culture. The design of the curriculum
is carefully planned. Each student’s emotional and learning needs are uniquely
intertwined and rely heavily on the school’s
environment to test and learn from his or
her experiences. Class meetings, working
in interest-themed learning centers, attending Divine Liturgy, eating meals together,
sensory exploration, field trips, are all
important facets of Aristotle’s curriculum.
Each day begins with reciting the
Lord’s Prayer in Greek and in English,
the Apolytikion to St. Haralambos and
the Pledge of Allegiance. On the first day
of school a church service is held with
an Agiasmos service. Some of the school
programs include an OXI Day Parade, a
Christmas Program, Three Hierarchs and
Hellenic Letters celebration, a March 25th
Greek Independence Day Celebration and
Annunciation Program, just to name a few.
The students also take part in the Chicago
Greek Heritage Parade where they take
pride in marching in traditional Greek costumes, together with other Greek schools
and organizations in the community.
At the conclusion of the school year,
the students look forward to celebrating a
miniature (and age-appropriate) version of
the ancient Olympics. The popular “MiniOlympics” features both an opening and
closing ceremony with students parading
in their personalized team jerseys and carrying a child-friendly version of the Olympic
Torch. For a very special day, they are Olympic athletes playing various field games.
Aristotle’s dedicated staff brings a
wide range of experience teaching young
children and working together with their
families. Through academic, professional
and continuing education work, all staff
members are highly qualified educators
committed to providing guidance and
learning opportunities to all the children
at St. Haralambos. Throughout the school
year, all staff actively participate in additional training to further their professional
knowledge and expertise in the field of
education.
A vital part of Aristotle Day School
includes the dedicated members of the
PTA who are committed to meeting the
educational, religious, and cultural needs
of their children. First and foremost, their
goal is to see that the students become
good and faithful Greek Orthodox Christians. The PTA also focuses on ensuring that
their children have the right environment
to enhance their learning. As such, the PTA
has raised funds for desks, tables, school
supplies, books and iPads. The active PTA
members have baked, held candy drives,
clipped coupons and sought donations
from individuals and business to build
up the education programs of the parish.
Today, the Aristotle PTA is an advocate for
religious and cultural education in the parish of St Haralambos.
Rita Petratos, Aristotle Day School’s director, believes in “growing hearts, minds,
and souls” of every student at the school.
“The strong bond the students have with
their teachers is evident every day,” Mrs.
Petratos observes. Not only are teacher to
student connections strong, she hopes that
each child will form long-lasting friendships
with their peers. As each child grows and
develops they continue with
the Afternoon Aristotle Greek
School or Aristotle Saturday
Greek School program at St.
Haralambos. Operating two
days a week mid-September
to mid-June, the Aristotle Afternoon Greek School offers
Greek language classes for
grade levels pre-kindergarten
through junior high School.
Greek dance classes for Grades
3 and up are also offered two
days a week. The Aristotle
Greek Saturday School operates on Saturdays. Each school
promotes Greek language, history, culture and religion. The
students also have the opportunity to learn traditional Greek
dances and sing Greek songs.
“We strive to make each
learning activity at Aristotle fun
and exciting. Helping children
develop socially and intellectually is a passion of each
teacher here at our school,”
commented Rita Petratos. “As a
parent myself, whose children
have continued into one of the
Greek language programs offered, I take pride in watching
our students graduate out of
the Day School and continue
onto another Aristotle Greek
School program.”
Aristotle Day School photos
24
FEBRUARY – MARCH 2015
Youth Camps

 from page 11
(303) 333-7794
e-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.youth.denver.goarch.org/
ministries/campemmanuel
Open to: Limited to Denver Metropolis
youth.
Registration: TBA
METROPOLIS OF SAN FRANCISCO
Metropolis of San Francisco Summer
Camp at St. Nicholas Ranch
Location: St. Nicholas Ranch and Retreat
Center, Dunlap (Squaw Valley), Calif.
Dates: Counselor Training, June 30-July 5;
Session 1, July 5-11; Session 2, July 12-18;
Session 3, July 19-25
Cost per camper: $500; $25 discount for
each additional child
Director or contact person and phone
number: Johanna Duterte, director of Youth
and Young Adult Ministries, 415.814.1187
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.sanfran.goarch.org
Open to: Mainly Greek Orthodox but PanOrthodox Christians from age 8 years (or
entering the third grade in September 2013)
to 17 years old (or a high school graduate
in spring 2013), as well as friends and relatives of those campers.
Registration: now until June 30
Metropolis Greek Village “Elliniko Horio”
Camp at St. Nicholas Ranch
(This is a Greek immersion and cultural summer camp program held at the Metropolis St.
Nicholas Ranch and Retreat Center).
Dates: June 20-27
Cost: $500
Program Coordinators: Michael Pappas
and Katerina Iconomou
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www. ourgreekvillage.org
Open to: Mainly Greek Orthodox children
ages 7-14 interested in learning more about
Greek language and culture in a summer
camp environment
.
Registration: now until May 30
Oriental carpet & area rugs
Ceramic tile & grout cleaning
Upholstery & fine fabrics
Headboards & bed frames
Drapery & shades
Fabric walls
Marble & stone cleaning
Leather furniture
Serving the Tri-State Area
212.777.4040 fabracleen.com fabracleenstoneandtilecare.com
All Saints Camp
Location: Gig Harbor, Wash.
Dates: Counselor Training, July 3-6; High
School Camp, July 5-11; Middle School
Camp, July 12-18; Elementary Camp, July
5-11.
Cost per camper: $330. for high school
campers, $300 for all others, $30 discount
for each additional child.
Director or contact person and phone
number: Lefteris Sitaras, Youth Ministry director, St. Demetrios, Seattle, (206) 631-2504
E-mail: [email protected]: www.allsaintscamp.com
Open to: Any youth ages 8 to 17, or a high
school graduate. This camp is co-owned by
the communities of St. Demetrios and Assumption but has campers attending, from
over 10 Orthodox Churches in Washington
and Oregon. There is usually a few out of
state campers and non-Orthodox campers
each year.
Registration:
Camp Angelos
Location: Corbett, Oregon, in the Sandy
River valley property of Camp Angelos,
which is operated under the guidance of
the AHEC (American-Hellenic Educational
Center) board established by the PortlandMetropolitan Greek Orthodox Community.
Dates: Counselor training – Aug. 15; Camper
Session, Aug. 16-21.
Cost per camper: $280
Director or contact person and phone
number: Christine Whitton, Holy Trinity
Cathedral youth director.
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.goholytrinity.org
Open to: Youth from ages 9-16, from any Orthodox Christian communities, as well as the
friends and relatives of those campers.
Registration: TBA
Ascension Summer Camp
Location: YMCA Camp Ravencliff, Redway, Calif.
Dates: June 13-21
Cost per camper: $550 for one camper
(pledged member); $675 per camper (nonpledged member); sibling discounts available
Director or contact person and phone number: Yanni Limnios
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.groca.org/summercamp
Open to: Youth ages 8-16 from any Orthodox
Christian communities; and friends and relatives
of those campers
Registration: TBA
Saint Sophia Camp
Location: Camp Seeley, 250 N. Highway 138,
Crestline, Calif. 92325
Dates: Session 1-July 26-Aug. 1; Session 2-Aug.
2-8
Cost per camper: TBA
Director or contact person: Fr. Alan Boyd, assistant priest, St. Sophia Cathedral, Los Angeles
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.saintsophiacamp.org/home.shtml
Open to: Youth ages 8-18 from any Orthodox
Christian community; and friends and relatives
of those campers.
Registration: TBA
All Saints Camp-Arizona
Location: Pine Summit, 800 E. Wolf Creek Rd.,
Prescott, Ariz.
Dates: June 14-19
Cost per camper: $350
Director or contact person and phone number: Kristen Vasilarakos and Kathy Clarke
E-mail: [email protected] and kathyclarke@
cox.net
Website: ww.allsaintscampaz.org
Open to: Youth from ages 8-18, from any Orthodox Christian communities, as well as the
friends and relatives of those campers.
Registration: March-May 1
METROPOLIS OF DETROIT
MDSC (Metropolis of Detroit Summer Camp)
Location: Rose City, Mich.
Dates: Week 0: June 21 - June 27; Week 1, June
28 - July 4; Week 2, July 5-July 11; Week 3, July
12-July 18; Week 4, July 19-July 25; Week 5, July
26-Aug. 1.
Cost per camper: Before May 1 $310 per
camper/ After May 1 $350 (subject to change)
Director or contact person and phone number: Geoffrey Lowes - 248.909.MDSC (6372)
e-mail: [email protected]
Open to: All Orthodox Christian Youth ages 7-15
Registration: February-March
St. Nicholas Camp
Location: NaCoMe Conference Center - Pleasantville, Tenn.
Dates: July 5-11
Cost per camper: $325 Early Bird Registration/$350/$375 (subject to change)
Director or contact person and phone number: Eva Konstantakos - 248.823.2411
e-mail: [email protected]
Open to: All Orthodox Christian Youth ages 8-18
Registration: February-March
St. Timothy’s Camp
Location : Oswegatchie Educational Center Croghan, NY
Dates: August 8-14
Cost per camper: $325 per camper (subject
to change)
Director or contact person and phone number: Fr. David Smith, 315.446.5222
e-mail: [email protected]
Open to: All Orthodox Christian Youth ages 8-18
Registration: May
25
FEBRUARY – MARCH 2015
Family Connections
Building a Strong Family by Serving Others
by Nicholas Chakos
The tech giant Google recently reported that 93 million “selfies” are taken
each and every single day. On many days,
I think that my 15-year-old daughter is
single-handedly responsible for a sizeable
percentage of that number. From the time
that the first Kodak camera was sold in 1888
through 1950, it’s estimated that a few billion photographs were taken worldwide.
That’s seemingly less than what my
other kids, ages 11, 9 and 7, snap, tweet,
post and vine in one week. It’s easy to
think that young people these days are so
hooked on technology, so absorbed in selfpromotion through their social networks,
that they can’t see past their device’s screens
and don’t care for anyone other than themselves, their “friends” and “followers.”
But to dismiss our young people’s
social networks as frivolous or downright
bad is to ignore the trend of how young
people are using their phones, computers
and virtual networks to inspire action and
activity in the real world. While we do need
to be protective of what our young people
are viewing and sharing across cyberspace,
we also must understand that our children
value these networks and connections immensely and that they are not going away
any time soon.
Throughout history, there have always
been many demands, distractions and societal problems pulling at families. I doubt
that an Orthodox Christian family, at any
point in time, would say that raising a family
“in the Church” was easy. Yet, we must deal
with where we are today, live within the society which we currently have and struggle
towards salvation in this world as it is.
The challenge for families today is to
allow our children to leverage the strengths
of technology while teaching them that our
faith places a high value on external and
personal relationships. Christ’s commandments, to love God completely and to love
and serve our neighbors, were given to all
of us and include every age group. Fulfilling
these two great commandments typically
takes personal interaction. At some point,
if we are going to live up to Christ’s commandments and stand on His right side
at Judgment, we must teach our children
to put the tech down, go out and meet
people where they are. But who has the
time to go out and help others? Life is busy,
plain and simple. I’m the first to admit that
my wife and I struggle to keep a balance
among Church, work, school, Greek school,
baseball, Greek dance, modern dance, Girl
Scouts, family vacations, gymnastics, swim
What Can Your Family
Do to Serve Others?
Photo courtesy of Nicholas Chakos
team, soccer, house chores, and homework.
Even though we claim an importance on
raising kind and helpful children and a desire to have our kids stay faithful members
of the Church into adulthood, our actions
often do not follow our aspirations.
Many of us suffer from the fleeting
desire to give our children material wealth
and prosperity while we fail to give them
the peace, calmness of home and dedicated
time that is necessary to grow together as
a family and to work together, family-aschurch, towards our salvation.
“We need to keep our kids in the
church!” This is a plea that I hear often. I
think that a better approach would be to
say that “we need to keep the Church in
our kids”. Keeping the Church in our kids
starts with the family. As faithful parents
a we must root our Faith deep into our
homes and then take that faith back out into
the world, building it into the routines and
habits of our children.
This needs to be done through actions,
not words. Parents need to lead by example,
allowing our children to see us actively praying, fasting, attending church regularly and
participating in acts of service to others.
Working together on outreach projects
as a family not only allows us to follow
Christ’s teachings, but it strengthens family togetherness, helps children learn, and
empowers them to understand that they
can help others. Serving others benefits a
child’s psychological, social and intellectual development. It increases self-esteem,
responsibility and helps children develop
new social skills. The time that you spend
together as a family helping others will
be rewarding and more memorable than
almost any other family activity this year.
Christmas is hardly two months past
and my children have already forgotten
what they received as presents. My children
don’t remember where they celebrated
their last birthday party (was it at home or
did we go bowling?). My kids do remember
with perfect clarity the days that we spent
in Fairfax County, Va., just outside of Washington, as a family helping children in need
through FOCUS North America.
Each year, the Fellowship of Orthodox
Christians United to Serve (FOCUS) assists
thousands of homeless and disadvantaged
children get ready to go back to school.
FOCUS’ program Operation Lace Up helps
families in need get ready to go back-toschool by providing children with medical
and dental check-ups, school supplies, new
backpacks and new athletic shoes so that
they can attend school ready to learn and
succeed. Over the past five years, FOCUS
has been a significant partner with 250
school districts in 30 cities throughout
the country, providing more than 252,000
disadvantaged children with educational
support services while moving their parents
from dependency to self-sufficiency through
vocational training, job placement, and
securing permanent housing.
Once these children are in school,
FOCUS provides many of them with nutritious meals to ensure they stay properly
fed, especially during targeted times of the
week and month when family cupboards
may be bare. FOCUS provides more than
20,000 meals each month to children who
are hungry through no fault of their own.
My kids will never forget sitting and
talking with children from area homeless
shelters, walking hand in hand with them
and helping them size a new winter coat
and a new pair of shoes. They remember
those children’s names and they cherish the
photos that they have. At first my kids were
shy and uncomfortable, being surrounded
by children who they didn’t completely
understand. But once my kids got past that
discomfort, they realized that these children
had the same hopes and fears, likes and
dislikes as any other child.
And, in the end, when the children in
need reached out and hugged my kids, my
kids realized that they had the power to
help others, to make people happy and in a
very small way to bring positive change into
the world. Working together as a family in
service to others is a wonderful way to instill
the teachings of Christ into our children. In
addition to teaching our children to pray,
participating in the sacraments and attend
services regularly, family outreach activities
are excellent ways to look outward from
ourselves and invigorate parish life.
When your family serves alongside other families from your parish, the network of
community-family is extended. You become
better friends, all families are strengthened
and we often learn more about ourselves
than any selfie could ever show.
Nicholas Chakos is the executive director of FOCUS North America and holds an
academic appointment at the University
of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School for Public
and International Affairs, where his teaching
centers on developing and implementing
human assistance programs.
• START at home watch Be the Bee
(youth.goarch.org) each week, and have
a conversation with your kids about the
topic covered. Teaching your children
to focus on others and be aware of
people’s needs is an important step in
raising compassionate children.
• SPONSOR a food drive at your parish
or youth group and let your children
be involved. Let your younger children
color a poster or flyer advertising the
drive. Bring your older children to the
food bank or shelter when you drop off
the collected items. Local food banks are
incredibly strained this year and there
is always a need for non-perishable
grocery items.
• CREATE greeting cards for children
or adults who are hospitalized with
chronic illnesses.
• VISIT the elderly and shut-ins—especially around Christmas time, visit
parishioners in their assisted living facilities and sing them Christmas carols.
Bring them a small gift—a flower, plant,
small icon, greeting card.
• INVITE FOCUS to your parish or
youth group for a “family day” of service.
FOCUS will lead a day-long outreach
into your community to help people in
need while helping you learn and experience the root causes of poverty and
understanding what you can do to help.
• LISTEN to your kids, ask them for
ideas of how you can help someone
in need.
• LEAD by example. It won’t do to tell
your kids, “go rake Mrs. Pappas’ leaves!”
But if you get a few rakes, put them in
the hands of your kids and lead them
over to her house, you will find that it
is wonderful to work together.
• HELP FOCUS cook and serve meals
to hungry children during the summer
months when they don’t have access to
free/reduced meals at school.
• MAKE outreach a habit. It will take
time for your children to be comfortable
at a nursing home or serving meals at
a soup kitchen. Don’t expect them to
feel comfortable on their first volunteer
experience. But know that with each
time they volunteer, they are building
an inner strength that will help them
throughout their lives. For more information on FOCUS North America and
how you can get involved visit www.
focusnorthamerica.org.
26
FEBRUARY – MARCH 2015
OBSERVER’S CLASSIFIEDS
REAL ESTATE
NAPLES FLORIDA REAL ESTATE
Vicky Lewis
Realtor
ΠΟΡΤΟ ΧΕΛΙ–ΑΓΙΟΣ ΑΙΜΙΛΙΑΝΟΣ
Μονοκατοικία 6 στρεμμάτων με θέα τη θάλασσα 700 μ. αππό την παραλία, τα
λιμανάκια. 10’ από τις Σπέτσες. Η οικία παρέχει γεώτρηση με υπέροχους χώρους
αρχιτεκτονικής κήπου με τροπικά φυτά. Πρώτος όροφος 100 τ.μ. και υπόγειο ατελές
για ξενώνα άλλα 100 τ.μ. και γκαράζ. επίσης χορηγείται άδεια για καινούργια οικία.
Πληροφορίες: 718.746.0542
239.777.4904
[email protected]
www.VickyLewisNaples.com
Μ ΙΛ Ω Ε Λ Λ Η Ν Ι Κ Α
D O W N I N G - F RY E R E A LT Y, I N C .
BOOKS
Do you have aging
parents back home?
“Until now we use to say
that the Greeks fight like heroes.
Now we shall say that heroes fight like Greeks.”
WINSTON CHURCHILL
“An Inspiring Story of Courage Over Adversity”
Available for $16.95 on Amazon.com or
via e-mail to: [email protected]
May 14 to May 28 , 2015
For information please contact Theofilos Russos
at (714) 535-0975 • www.mtathospilgrimage.com
Exclusively for Men
BOSTON MASS BAND
Kostas Taslis
PILGRIMAGE TO M. ATHOS
with Bouzouki • Klarino
MOUNT ATHOS PILGRIMAGE
Senior Care of Greece
Providing orivate nursing services
IN YOUR PARENT’S HOME
Monthly, daily, hourly, respite, or as needed.
Affordable and flexible
Nurses experienced in Alzheimer’s Care
assist with dressing, bathing, cooking, housekeeping,
safety management, medication assistance,
groceries, doctors visits, and all care as needed.
• USA Standard of Service •
Now you can set up care from the USA
for your parents in Greece
with one local contact.
Contact:
George Polymeropoulos
Tel: (636) 939-4000
Member: Assumption Greek Orthodox Church; St. Louis, Missouri
Website: www.seniorcareofgreece.com
E-mail: [email protected]
Male & Female Vocals
Λαϊκά•Δημοτικά•Ηπειρώτικα•Νησιώτικα
Μουσική για όλα τα γούστα
Call Kosta: 978.374.1946 • 781.223.6804
E-mail: [email protected]
JOURNAL DESIGN
T YPIST & PRINTING SERVICES
Αναλαμβάνουμε τη δακτυλογράφιση κειμένων,
το σχεδιασμό και τη σελιδοποίηση
Λευκωμάτων και Εγκυκλίων.
Artwork • Journals • Newsletters
In Greek and English • Call: (914) 602-8380
E-mail: [email protected]
TRANSLATION SERVICES
BOOKS
The Odyssey OF an ImmIgranT
A
n informative, educational and
historical book, that will touch
your hearth, and exceed your
expectations.
For those with Hellenic ancestry,
you will be proud of the history and
heroism of your ancestors and swollen
with pride.
Available at:
For more information, pleas visit our web site:
theodysseyofanimmigrant.com
FEBRUARY – MARCH 2015
27
28
FEBRUARY – MARCH 2015
SF Metropolis Folk Dance Festival
Largest Gathering of Greek Orthodox Youth in the U.S.
by Stavros Papagermanos
ANAHEIM, Calif. – The 2015 Greek
Orthodox Folk Dance and Choral Festival
(FDF2015) completed another very successful year with its four-day weekend celebration of Faith, Dance and Fellowship, Feb.
12-15. FDF is the largest gathering of GreekOrthodox young people in the United States
and arguably the largest youth festival of
traditional Greek dancing in the world.
Approximately 2,500 young people took
part as dancers, musicians and singers, and
more than 3,500 people attended in total,
including parents, grandparents and friends.
FDF is an institution and long-established tradition in the Greek Orthodox
Metropolis of San Francisco, started 39 years
ago by Metropolitan Anthony (1935-2004)
of blessed memory. This year’s festival was
dedicated to his memory and vision. “Vision”
became the theme word of the four-day
celebration.
The semi-final competitions in the two
divisions and the various category levels
were held on Friday and most final performances took place on Saturday. No words
can describe the dedication, the energy and
the enthusiasm of all the groups representing the various parishes and communities
of the Metropolis of San Francisco. The inspiration for all was the love and care of His
Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San
Francisco guiding the management team
responsible for the flawless organization
of the event. He was assisted by His Grace
Bishop Apostolos of Medeia, the Chancellor
of the Metropolis; and the tireless chairman
of FDF, Fr. Gary Kyriacou.
Sunday, Feb. 15 was the last day of an
amazing youth gathering and His Eminence
Archbishop Demetrios was determined not
to miss it. He flew in across the country late
Saturday night from the “Leadership 100”
Conference in Orlando Fla.
Early the next morning, the Archbishop
presided at the Divine Liturgy held in the
Pleased with performance
Metropolitan Gerasimos, Archbishop Demetrios
and Bishop Apostolos of Medeia show their approval of one of the dance groups’ performance.
(below) The Metropolitan does some dance steps.
hotel with 25 presbyters concelebrating and
about 3,000 people in attendance. Metropolitan Gerasimos and Bishop Apostolos
were prayerfully attending in the altar.
“The Church is the future of our
youth,” said the Archbishop to the faithful
and pointed out that the mere number
of participants in FDF is unique and even
miraculous. He said that we are immersed
in the joy of the Gospel through dance and
immersed in the love of God, the God of
justice, peace, beauty and love and therefore
we are the most blessed people in Los Angeles. Fr. Kyriacou asked the congregation
to support the rebuilding efforts for Saint
Nicholas Church destroyed on 9/11 and the
tray passed, collected almost ten thousand
dollars. A memorial service for Metropolitan
Anthony of blessed memory was held at the
conclusion of the service.
The Advanced Senior Competition
began at 1:00 p.m. and run through to
4:45 p.m. It featured stellar performances
by eight dance groups performing suites
of dances around a theme, or a particular
geographic region or village of Greece. The
performances are judged on execution,
authenticity, costumes, choral and musical
standards. All the groups and dancers are
also singing as they dance.
Finally the day concluded with the
much-anticipated formal Awards Ceremony
at which the winners in the various categories in dance, music and choral singing were
announced.
In the Advanced Senior Category, first
place was awarded to Olympian Dancers of
the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
Long Beach, Calif., second place to Palio
Skolio of Holy Trinity, San Francisco, third
place and Costume Award to Vionikos of St.
Nicholas, San Jose, Calif., fourth place and
the choral award in this category to Akrites of
St. Demetrios, Seattle, Wash., and Founders
Special Achievement Award to Thorivos of
Annunciation, Modesto, Calif. The Sweepstakes award (best overall) for Division II
dance was awarded to Junior Olympians of
the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
Long Beach, Calif., and for Division I dance
to Thrylos of Holy Trinity, Charlotte, NC
A complete listing of the winners
is posted on the FDF website: www.
yourfdf.org. A gallery of photos from FDF
2015 can be viewed at the following link:
www.flickr.com/photos/orthodoxnews/
sets/72157650416958728/
Metropolitan Gerasimos stands amid dozens of young dancers fill the stage at the Metropolis of
San Francisco Folk Dance Festival. (below) A small sampling of the hundreds of dance groups that
performed during the three-day event.
(Stavros Papagermanos/GOA photos)

(45) και γαρ ο υιος του ανθρωπου ουκ ηλθεν διακονηθηναι αλλα

Πρόγραμμα συνεδρίου

Μπροσούρα - L`eros nest

orpheus tripolis

Basic CMYK

John Jay College of Criminal Justice City

Choir Of Tripolis

Μ2 - Linguaglobe

St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church Bulletin february 2013 Issue 48

“OMORFI KAI PARAKSENI PATRIDA”