Saint George Greek Orthodox Church
70 West Street, P.O. Box 392, Keene, NH 03431-0392
Church: 603-352-6424
Website: www.stgeorgekeene.nh.goarch.org
Rev. Fr. Leo Schefe, Pastor
Fr. Leo’s e-mail: [email protected]
Fr. Leo’s cell phone: (617) 435-3057
May 2013
Services Every Sunday / Kυρική
Matins (Oρθρος) 9:00 -10:00 a.m.
Divine Liturgy (Θεία Λειτουργία)
10:00-11:30 a.m.
Worship Services in May
Note that the complete Holy Week schedule was mailed to
homes and is available at church.
Wednesday, May 1, Great and Holy Wednesday,
Mεγάλη Tετάρτη, 7:00-8:30 p.m. Sacrament of Holy Oil
Thursday, May 2, Great and Holy Thursday, Mεγάλη
Πέμπτη, 7:00-9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy, Θεία Λειτουργία
Thursday, May 2, Great and Holy Thursday, Mεγάλη
Πέμπτη, Service of the Sacred Passion, 7:00-9:45 p.m.
Friday, May 3: Good Friday (Mεγάλη Παρασκενή)
Service of the Royal Hours, 8:30-10:30 a.m.
In This Issue
Worship Services ........................................................ 1
Prosforo (πρόσφορο) Bakers ...................................... 1
Calendar at a Glance (non-liturgical) ........................... 1
Encyclical: Holy Pascha - The Feast of Feasts .......... 2
On Repentance and Holy Confession - Part II ............ 3
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Save the Date – Sunday, June 16 ............................. 4
Bulletin Editorial Board ................................................. 4
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Annual Resurrection Social – May 5 .......................... 4
Prayer List – Members of Our Community................... 4
What is Christian Stewardship? ................................... 5
2013 Stewards of St. George ...................................... 5
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General Assembly – May 19 ..................................... 6
Obituary - Catherine Makon ........................................ 6
Sunday of Orthodoxy ................................................... 6
Greek Independence Day Photos ................................ 7
Words of Gratitude from Father Ted ............................ 8
Keene Community Kitchen Needs Our Help ............... 8
Ladies and Gents Luncheon ........................................ 9
St. George Day ............................................................ 9
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Reminder: General Assembly – May 19 ................. 10
In Memory of Fr. Bacopulos and Christo Bacopulos . 10
Friday, May 3: Good Friday (Mεγάλη Παρασκενή)
Service of Apokathelosis/Aπoκαθήλωσις, 3:30-5:00 p.m.
Friday, May 3: Good Friday (Mεγάλη Παρασκενή)
Service of the Lamentations, 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Επιταφιος Θρήνος τα Εγκώμια
Saturday, May 4, Great and Holy Saturday, Mεγάλo
Σάββατο, 8:30-10:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy, Θεία Λειτουργία
Saturday, May 4: Great and Holy Saturday, Mεγάλo
Σάββατο, 11:15 p.m. - 12:20 a.m., Resurrection Service
Sunday, May 5, Great and Holy Pascha, To Aγιον Πάσχα
Paschal Divine Liturgy, 12:20-1:30 a.m.
Sunday, May 5, Agape Vespers, Eσπερινός Αγάπης,
11:00 a.m.-12:00 noon
Prosforo (Πρόσφορο) Bakers
May 5: Vasiliki Moore
May 19: Janet Harrison
Calendar at a Glance (non-liturgical)
Resurrection Social, Sunday, May 5 (1:30 a.m.)
Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 12
General Assembly, Sunday, May 19
Monday, May 6, St. George Day (observed)
9:00 a.m. Matins; 10:00 a.m. Liturgy
Ladies and Gents Luncheon, Thursday, June 6
Sunday, May 12, Thomas Sunday
Annual Church Picnic, Sunday, June 16
Sunday, May 19, Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women
At Keene State College Camp (Swanzey), after the Liturgy
Sunday, May 26, Sunday of the Paralytic
Father’s Day, Sunday, June 16
At Papagallo’s, 1:00 p.m.
He has now fulfilled His promise to redeem what He
created, and all people are asked to open their
spiritual eyes to the ultimate power of the Cross and
Resurrection.
Encyclical
Holy Pascha - The Feast of Feasts
Now all things
are filled with light;
Heaven and earth, and
the nethermost regions
of the earth.
Let all creation,
therefore, celebrate
the arising of Christ,
whereby it is established.
(Hymn of the Canon of Pascha)
On this blessed of days, we can clearly see and know
the impact of the Resurrection and the Feast of Holy
Pascha on our lives. Through our celebration and our
faith in the Risen Lord, we are filled with His divine
light, and we see the truth concerning our need for
redemption and salvation. The sweet fragrance of the
Gospel fills us with hope and offers healing. In the
completed and perfected victory of our Lord, we see
God’s promises fulfilled. Every part of our being, every
aspect of our lives, every relationship, every thought
and word encounters the Risen Lord.
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
As we joyfully celebrate this Feast, may we embrace
the Risen Lord and bathe in the light of the
Resurrection.
May we see that the power of the Resurrection has a
tremendous impact on the universe, on our world,
and on our lives; and may we receive the grace and
life offered by Christ so that we are led out of sin and
death into blessed and eternal life in His glorious
presence. I wish you, your community, and your
families a wonderful and beautiful Feast filled with
the light and joy of Pascha.
Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
On this glorious Feast of Feasts filled with the brilliant
light and exhilarating joy we find in the presence of our
Risen Lord, I proclaim with you, Christos Anesti! Christ
is Risen!
As we gather to worship and give thanks to God for
His abundant grace and the manifestation of His
power in conquering death and restoring us to life, we
affirm in hymn and words the universal impact of the
Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
With paternal love in the Risen Lord,
†DEMETRIOS Archbishop of America
From the Orthodox Observer, April 2013, Vol. 78
From the Canon of this Holy Feast and the services of
the Paschal period, we proclaim, “Now all things are
filled with light;” “Christ the Savior of the world…has
filled all things with fragrance;” and “All things have
been enlightened by His Resurrection.”
Through the power of our Lord’s Resurrection and the
revelation of Him as the Source of true and eternal
life, all of creation has been filled with the presence of
God’s grace. The light of the Resurrection infuses all
things, and no darkness remains. Nothing remains
hidden—the consequences of sin are exposed, and
the victory of the Cross is revealed.
The entire universe is also presented with the sweet
fragrance of the Gospel through Jesus’ Resurrection.
It is a fragrance of life. It is fresh and new, permeating
creation with hope. It is a balm that turns despair into
anticipation, offers peace in the midst of great turmoil
and tragedy, and promises renewed strength and
salvation both now and for eternity.
In the light and fragrance of the Resurrection of Christ,
all things are enlightened. Truth is revealed. The way to
life is shown. The Resurrection calls all people to see
the power of Christ over death and to receive in faith the
grace of God.
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miracle overnight, but efforts made consistently
toward a certain goal are known to bring about real
change - more long-lasting change at that. Suffice to
say, confession is not a once in a lifetime
experience, it is a regular part of the Christian life,
the struggle for virtue and purification of our hearts.
On Repentance and Holy Confession - Part II
By Fr. Leo Schefe
Repentance and confession are the two necessary
parts that comprise the overall Mystery or sacrament
of Reconciliation.
To properly renew our communion with God, we
follow up repentance with confession. And, at the
heart of it, what is confession? In short, to agree
with, to say the same thing as God does concerning
our sin. Confession - Ομολογία, (Homo - Logia):
homo meaning "same," logia meaning "rational
expression - word." Thus, we say the same thing
about our sin, our state, as God does. In short, we
agree with Him. We submit to Him. If we don't agree
with Him or if we don't submit to Him, we are not in
communion with Him. In John 14:15, our Lord
Jesus said, "If you love Me, you will keep My
commandments." And what shall we reply to Him?
"Blessed are You O Lord, teach me Your
commandments."
How do we become reconciled with God? We do
this by first recognizing that we all, to various
degrees, live in a state of rebellion against God and
break our communion with Him routinely. As we
persist in the sins that distance us from God, we can
find remedy by taking the necessary step of
repentance, that is to say, the coming to one's
senses concerning the condition of rebellion and the
resultant sin. The meaning of the word repentance
in Greek (metanoia) is literally the changing of one's
mind and actions pertaining to the sins that distance
us from God and break communion with Him.
After one comes to repentance, the next step is to
follow the Church's admonition to confess our sins
before Christ through one of His servants, a
presbyter of the Church, because through this act
we show submission to Christ and His Church,
thereby receiving remission of sins. The Mystery of
Reconciliation gives us personal assurance that our
sins that have broken our communion with the Lord
are fully forgiven.
Let's keep in mind that our Lord Jesus gave His
apostles the authority to forgive sin as is written in
John 20:23. Today that authority rests in our
bishops. Presbyters are the hands and feet of our
bishops when they cannot be present among us at
all times. Thus, our bishops have given their
presbyters (priests) the authority to forgive sins on
their behalf, which is on behalf of Christ. When we
come to the Church and make our confession, the
priest lays his stole, representing the flow of the
grace of God, on our bowed head, and proclaims
that our 'sins are forgiven, have no further anxiety
for them,' by the authority of Christ's bishop, who
receives his authority by the authority of the
apostles, which was given by the authority of Christ
our God. This is known as "apostolic succession."
Thus, through this direct link to Christ, we receive
restoration when the presbyter reads the prayers
over us and thus we are so reconciled to God.
Let's take a step back for a minute. Are all people
sinners? The Scripture tells us in Romans 3:23, "... for
all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..."
And in I John 1:8 we read, "If we say that we have no
sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in
us." So, the fact that we are sinners and sin should not
surprise us. God is not surprised for He has witnessed
this truth in His word. But in His mercy, He has
provided a way for us to cleanse our hearts and
receive the unburdening of conscience which is
something everyone needs in order to be a rational
sheep in God's pasture - one that abides under the
Good Shepherd's care and thrives among His flock.
The Church bears witness through the centuries
that via the Mystery of Reconciliation, our sins and
the anxiety, pain, guilt or shame they have caused
us, are relieved. They are washed "white as wool."
And in the New Testament we have this assurance
from I John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse
us from all unrighteousness." The many sins that
distanced us from close fellowship with God are no
longer an issue. We can again bask in God's love
and not feel the condemnation of our conscience
over our failings and overt acts of rebellion, i.e., sin,
Following the vision of the sheep in the pasture, what
does God tell us in Isaiah 1:18? "Come now, let us
reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are
like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though
they are red like crimson, they shall become like
wool." God wants to reason with His "rational sheep."
If we are wise i.e., rational, the only logical thing to do
when we come to our senses regarding our sins, is to
change our mind and thus our action and or being in
relation to those sins. The steps we take toward
making lasting changes will not work a
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against Him. This is a great mercy - this is the love
of God that cares for our well-being throughout our
lives and saves us from the snares of the evil one
who would rejoice in our despair over our sins and
failings. The Mystery of Reconciliation is not a
punishment - it is a mercy, it is a balm for the soul.
It is a strengthening for the continual trials and
temptations of our lives. It the encouragement to
continue on the narrow path - it is the evidence of
God's sincere love for each one of us.
ANNUAL RESURRECTION
SOCIAL
After the Resurrection service and Divine Liturgy
on Great and Holy Pascha/ Πάσχα (Easter),
everyone is invited to Hellenic Hall to break the
fast together as one Christian family.
Kindly bring a dish to share.
I hope you will be able to think about the Mystery of
Reconciliation in a more positive way than you may
have in the past. Let's us ponder God's great love
which provides everything we need in this life for
our Salvation journey.
God grant us all strength and courage to unburden
our hearts and minds this season, by His grace.
SAVE THE DATE…
Χριστός Ανέστη
Sunday, June 16, 2013
(also Father’s Day)
Church Picnic
Rain or Shine
Keene State College Camp, Swanzey
Following the Liturgy, which will be conducted
at St. George Church this year.
Please use this list to pray for members of our
community who are sick or in need of God’s care.
Bulletin Editorial Staff
Executive Director: Susan Karalekas, Editor-in-Chief
Desktop Publishing: Susan Karalekas
Photography: Kevin Warren
Copy Editors: Irene Cheek and Elaine Ellis
Sponsorship: Merope (Popey) Pitsas
Distribution:
Margaret Ioannou
Danielle Cuthberta Piper
Parish Council Liaisons:
Susan Karalekas
Vasiliki Moore
 Hristianna Lanoue
 Donald Doubleday
 John Bardis
 Mark Raheb, for healing
 Constantine (Dean) Eleftheriou
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Bulletin submissions and questions can be sent to
church, attention: Susan Karalekas; e-mailed to
[email protected]; or call Susan at (603) 358-6958
From time to time, we may remove names
that have been on the list for a while. If you
feel a name should remain on the list, or if
you would like a new name placed on the list,
please contact Fr. Leo.
Sponsorship submissions and questions can be sent to
church, attention: Popey Pitsas; e-mailed to
[email protected]; or call Popey at (603) 827-3775
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What is Christian Stewardship?
Christian Stewardship is…
… learning how to be a responsible and concerned caretaker of Christ’s Church; it is learning how to enjoy
Church life and be happy in Church work, for in Her dwells the fullness of the Spirit of God.
… our active commitment to use all our time, talent and treasure for the benefit of humankind in grateful
acknowledgment of Christ’s redeeming love.
… caring for the needs of others.
… offering one’s self to God as He offered Himself to us.
… what a person does after saying “I believe…” as proof of that belief.
… devotion and service to God and His Church as persons, as families, as diocese/metropolis, as national
Church and as Church universal.
We are Called to Bear Fruit
At the Last Supper, as we read in Chapter 15 of the Gospel of John, Jesus instructed His disciples, “I Am the
Vine; you are the branches.” He was telling us that the purpose of our abiding in Him is that we may bear fruit
for God in the world. “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit…” (John 15:8).
Just as the vine bears fruit only through its branches, so Jesus has chosen to work in the world through us.
We are the members of His body – the branches through which the Vine must bear fruit. We bear fruit when
we serve and support God and His Church.
From the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America website:
http://www.goarch.org/archdiocese/departments/stewardship/resources_2013/bulletin_inserts_2013

2013 Stewards of St. George Greek Orthodox Church
Listed below are the parishioners who made a commitment as of March 6, 2013*
* No stewardship update is available this month – we apologize if you have made a commitment but
do not see your name listed below. We currently have no stewardship chairperson. In the interim,
please contact Joe Truman, Treasurer with any stewardship questions.
THANK YOU (ευχαριστώ) for your stewardship!
Peter Antonopoulos & Ellen Spielberg
Presbytera Evelyn Bacopulos
Bob & Vicki Balkanikos
John D. Bardis
Edward & Tina Beloyianis
Mike & Carolyn Blastos
Chris Booras
Julia Booras
Mary Booras
Heather Eleni Bosworth
Peter & Maria Bradshaw
Sarah Bradshaw
Wayne & Jennie Canwell
John and Rita Chakalos
Don & Irene Cheek
Ernie & Rachel Conides
Heather Eakin
Bill & Elaine Ellis
Dean Eliopoulos
Peter Espiefs
Louis & Lisa Giannakakos
Charles Glimenakis
Christopher & Fotini Glimenakis
Sue Davis-Glimenakis
Michael & Stephanie Guitard
Peter Gundelfinger & Suzanne Smiley
Janet Harrison
George & Maria Ioannou
Margaret Ioannou
George & Sigrid Karabakakis
Stella Kiritsy
Alexandra Kolivas
Anastasia Kolivas
Louis & Sue-Ellan Kolivas
Nicholas Kolivas
Marya Koskoris
Paul & Barbara Koutras
Mark & Apostolia Lanoue
Evangelia Leristis
Spyridon & Ekaterini Leristis
Christene Libbares
Claudio Lopez & Elizabeth Schuster
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Nickolas Lupinin & Susan Karalekas
David Maydwell
Susan Maydwell
George & Mary Michaelides
Peter & Estelle Merzi
Kevin Miller & Christina Eliopoulos
Bill & Flo Nestor
Paul & Kathy Nikiforakis
Alexandra Papadimitriou
Lena Pappas
Maria Pappas
Roger & Connie Phelps
Mitch & Danielle Piper
Diane Golfin Raheb
Alan & Heather Riley
George & Youla Skipitaris
John and Roe-Ann Tasoulas
Joseph & Elizabeth Truman
Douglas Walker & Andrea Polizos
Kevin & Lisa Warren
Lazarus & Ryanne Xanthopoulos
General Assembly – Sunday, May 19
In Hellenic Hall, after the Liturgy
Your voice is important in helping to manage
the Parish’s resources and in guiding the
Council’s decisions for the future of our
church community.
During this time of transition, your attendance
is particularly important.
AGENDA
1. Opening Prayer and Comments
2. Election of a Moderator
3. Secretary’s Report
4. Treasurer’s Report
5. Future of St. George
6. New Business
A. Church School Report
B. Stewardship Report
Obituary - Catherine Makon
Catherine Makon, 90, of Keene died April 11, 2013, at
Genesis Keene Center on Court Street after a period of
failing health.
She was born in New York City on September 24,
1922, daughter of James and Olympia (Tolonzio)
Pappachristou. She returned to her parents' homeland
in Kastoria, Greece, at a young age and spent much of
her childhood there, helping her mother raise her two
younger siblings while her father and two older brothers
returned to New York City to develop their furrier
business.
Soon after she and her mother and siblings reunited with
her father and brothers in New York, she met and
married Cosmos Makon in June 1944. They were
married for 63 years, until his death in 2008.
Survivors include a son, Thomas Makon, and his wife,
Lisa Langone, of Richmond; a sister, Helen Bohan, of
New York City; a brother, Paul Pappachristou, of
Deerfield Beach, Fla.; and eight nephews and nieces.
Her two older brothers, Peter Pappachristou and John
Pappachristou, died earlier.
D. Facility / Maintenance
A funeral service was held on April 15th at St. George
followed by burial in Monadnock View Cemetery in
Keene.
E. Other
From The Keene Sentinel, Friday, April 12, 2013
C. Activities Report
Sunday of Orthodoxy (ἡ Κυριακὴ τῆς Ὀρθοδοξίας):
Procession of the Icons – March 24, 2013
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Greek Independence Day Observance – March 24, 2013
We thank George Karabakakis for his inspiring and thoughtful words
on Greek Independence Day and how it has impacted democracy.
We are also grateful for Maria Bradshaw’s words of wisdom as well
as the poems memorized in Greek by the children.
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Words of Gratitude from Father Ted
Dear Parishioners of St. George:
Grace and peace in our Lord and Savior!
I was delighted to receive the Album “Celebrating 34
Years” as a beautiful record of our many years together
worshiping and serving the Triune God--Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit. It is said that a picture is worth one thousand
words. This Album filled with pictures in brilliant color is
worth one thousand volumes!
I gaze at an amazing stream of heart-warming shots—
baptisms and weddings, the Epitaphios and Holy Week, the
children’s Christmas pageant and later their 25th of March costumes, countless dinners and celebrations in the
old and new hall, happy families, loving couples, also many precious faces sadly no longer with us--and my
spirit is filled with joy and thanksgiving. Joy because our ministry together has been not only faithful and
earnest but also harmonious and fruitful. Thanksgiving because we have so much to thank God about as we
have seen our children and grandchildren being raised up in the Church, families and individuals growing in
faith and spiritual life, new faces joining the parish family, old faces of faithful members passing on to the Lord
“worthy of blessedness and eternal life.”
Thank you that so many of you included short greetings or full letters, sometimes in personal hand writing,
stirring up memories and impressions of our times together. One of the greeting cards reads: “Because you
have done so much in His Name--may you always know many blessings in His love.” I believe that this saying
applies to all of us together as we have striven to be a Christ-centered parish, and with His help to offer an
authentic witness according to the best traditions of our Greek Orthodox faith.
In a way, having grown old together, we recognize and rest at peace that the time had come for a change
and a new start. At the center of all our efforts, old and new, is Almighty God and His kingdom, the foundation
and inspiration of the parish. Our common goal is to love and serve God, and by doing so, to love and to serve
each other, transcending personal idiosyncrasies and thus being able, united, to live worthily of our Orthodox
faith and to serve others who need help and who hunger for the grace and truth of God. Embrace the new,
support Fr. Leo and his ministry, and commit to new visions and new chapters in the history of St. George’s
parish. In the words of St. Paul, be caring and “watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let
all that you do be done in love” (1 Corinthians 16:13-14).
With Love in Christ,
Father Ted

The Community Kitchen Needs Our Help
We continue to collect non-perishable food to help the Community Kitchen provide nutritious
meals to hungry people in the Monadnock Region. Some suggestions…
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

hot and cold cereals
breakfast bars and granola bars
canned tuna and meats
dry and canned soups
tomato products (e.g., sauce, stewed)
boxed and canned dinners


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


Look for the donation box in Hellenic Hall
canned fruits
pasta
canned beans
rice
packaged (dry) stuffing mix
juice boxes

The Community Kitchen is in desperate need of volunteers every Sunday 11:30-2:00 P.M. from May through
September. High school students or college students home for the summer are welcome to inquire.
For additional information, please call Margaret at (603) 352-3200, Mondays through Fridays 8:30 A.M.-5:00 P.M.
or at (603) 355-4471 evenings or weekends. Or e-mail Margaret at [email protected].
Thank You!
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Ladies and Gents Luncheon at Papagallos Restaurant
Thursday, June 6, 2013
1:00 p.m.
Menu Selections
Chicken Olympia
Fried or Broiled Haddock with Cole Slaw & French Fries
Calamari with French Fries
Chicken Florentine Sandwich with Roasted Potatoes
Mediterranean Spinach Salad
Gyro Sandwich with Greek Salad
Grilled chicken, red onions, bacon, olives,
carrots, feta cheese on top of spinach.
Served with balsamic dressing on the side
Includes: Coffee or Tea and Dessert
Our June Luncheon is set for Thursday, June 6th. I sincerely hope that you will mark your calendar so
that you will be able to attend this wonderful function.
Southwestern Community Services was hoping that our gifts at this year’s June luncheon would be
back-to-school clothing for young children.
 Shorts, long pants, short sleeve shirts, and long sleeve shirts - sizes 3 to 6
 Sneakers - sizes 4 to 10
These items will be distributed to the Head Start Program serving six towns in Southwestern New
Hampshire. We welcome donations to the Head Start Program from those who are unable to attend the
luncheon but would like to donate. If you have any questions, please feel free to give me a call.
I hope that you will be able to come. Please let me know by May 30th if you will be attending.
My number is (603) 827-3775.
Many thanks,
Popey Pitsas
St. George Day
will be observed on May 6
Matins (Oρθρος): 9:00 am  Divine Liturgy (Θεία Λειτουργία): 10:00
th
The morning liturgy on May 6 will be in lieu of our traditional St. George dinner this year.
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Saint George Greek Orthodox Church
70 West Street, PO Box 392
Keene, NH 03431-0392
Nonprofit Org.
U.S. Postage
Paid
Keene, NH 03431
Permit No. 149
General Assembly
Sunday, May 19, 2012
Return Service Requested
In Hellenic Hall after the Liturgy.
Your voice is important!
See page 6 for details
In Loving Memory of
Father George J. Bacopulos
Beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather, and Great Grandfather
Christo Bacopulos
Beloved Son, Brother, Father, and Uncle
Always in our hearts
May their memory be eternal!
May 2013 Bulletin – St. George Greek Orthodox Church
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