OO-1302-JANUARY 2015-GRK1.indd

JANUARY 2015 • Vol. 80 • No. 1302
$1.00
www.observer.goarch.org • e-mail: observer@goarch.org
In THIS ISSUE
E n c yc l i c a l s
Feast of St. Basil
and the New Year
Let the children come to me,
and do not hinder them;
for to such belongs
the kingdom of heaven.
(Matthew 19:14)
The Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the Jordan River
National Shrine pledge
California church pledges percentage of
festival proceeds toward St. Nicholas National Shrine.
Three Hierarchs and Greek Letters Day
L-100 Conference
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
• P. 9
A highlight of the Leadership 100 Conference
in February will be a concert by Peter Tiboris.
CrossRoad program
• P. 5
Details about this summer’s activities.
MLK legacy
• P. 11
Four lessons from Martin Luther King legacy.
Day School
• P. 20
Brooklyn school fosters spirit of Hellenism
• P. 23
Epiphany
Dimitris Panagos photos
Theodora Lialios of St. Nicholas Cathedral
in Tarpon Springs, Fla., prepares to release
the dove during the Blessing of the Waters
service on Jan. 6 moments before Archbishop
Demetrios tosses the cross into the water.
More coverage on page 28.
Beloved Brothers
and Sisters in Christ,
On this blessed Feast of the Three
Hierarchs, we give thanks to God for the
beautiful and faithful witness of Saints
Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian,
and John Chrysostom. Venerated on this
day as great Teachers and Theologians, we
also recognize them as representatives of
many great Saints of the Church who have
conveyed truth, communicated divine
wisdom, and offered an inspiring witness
of the Gospel of love. For the depth of
their teaching and their ardent defense
of the faith our hymns call all people to
a universal celebration on this day. For
their lives of healing in the name of Christ
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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 Saint Basil and
the beginning of the New Year, our honored
tradition is to offer prayers and support
for the sacred ministry of our beloved
Saint Basil Academy. For seventy years this
institution of our Holy Archdiocese has offered the love of Christ, the comfort of His
presence, and the healing power of faith
to children, youth, and families in need.
Serving Orthodox children from throughout the United States, Saint Basil Academy
continues to provide a caring and spiritual
environment where they are able to grow,
learn, and achieve.
This vital mission of Saint Basil Academy, carried out by the directors, staff,
trustees and benefactors, is in keeping with
our Lord’s command to “let the children
come to me.” This is accomplished through
this ministry by bringing the love of Christ
to those in need. Everything that is offered
for the children and youth at Saint Basil’s is
offered in the name and presence of Christ.
In daily care, in counseling and teaching,
in recreation, and in worship, the students
encounter Christ and His abundant and
comforting love.
int Basil Academy is also a place where
the lives of the children and youth are
guided in Christ. On the beautiful campus,
in a nurturing environment of prayer and
grace, they are led in the path of truth and
love. They are shown the blessings of the
life in Christ, how to follow His will and to
find strength and assurance in His promises.
They see the hope, joy, and power in a life
of faith and a lifelong relationship with Him.
This sacred work was also the focus of
the patron saint of the Academy, Saint Basil.
For the sick, orphans, travelers, and many
others in need, he offered an encounter
with Christ by taking His love to them. For
others he guided them in truth and love
through teaching and preaching, as a faith-
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A RCHDIOCESE N E WS
2
JANUARY 2015
To contact
National Ministries
Archives
212.570.3517
ncalles@goarch.org
Communications
212.774.0244
communications@goarch.org
Greek Education
212.774.0233
greekeducation@goarch.org
Internet Ministries
646.519.6690
internet@goarch.org
Dimitrios Panagos photos
Inter–Orthodox, Ecumenical
and Interfaith Relations
212.570.3593
ecumenical@goarch.org
Ionian Village
212.570.3538
ionianvillage@goarch.org
Marriage & Family
845.424.8175
familycare@goarch.org
O.O. photo
New Academy Trustees
New trustees of Saint Basil Academy installed by Archbishop Demetrios on January 15. Along with His Eminence and Fr. Constantine Sitaras, director
of the Academy are (in random order, including some who were absent) Evelyn Tsiadis, board president; Lea Zervoulias, Elaine Cladis, Fr. Constantine
Moralis, Christine Karavites, Steven Gounardes, Georgia Kaloidis, Spyridon Mitches, Maria Panayotou, Evangeline Mekras-Scurtis, Peter Kakoyiannis,
Christos Karamanos, Agapios Kyritsis, Panicos Papanicolaou, Maria Logus, Joanne Stavrakas, Fr. John Theodosian, Kalliope Tsitsipas, Maria Stavropoulos and Georgia Vlitas.
Parish Development
847.825.1432
jminetos@goarch.org
Philanthropy
212.774.0283
bishopandonios@goarch.org
Public Affairs
212.774.0400
fralex@goarch.org
Registry
212.570.3558
frmichael@goarch.org
Religious Education
646.519.6300
religioused@goarch.org
Stewardship, Outreach & Evangelism
646.519.6160
stewardship@goarch.org
Youth and Young Adult Ministries
646.519.6180
youthoffice@goarch.org
NEXT DEADLINE
Deadline for submitting information,
articles and photos for consideration
in the Feb. – March 2015 issue:
Friday, Feb. 6 Photos should be sent as a
large format .jpg attachment (300 dpi min.).
E-mail to: jim@goarch.org
Regular mail: Editor, Orthodox Observer,
8 E. 79th St., New York, NY 10075.
Dimitrios Panagos photo
Children at Saint Basil’s perform their annual Christmas play before a large audience.
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
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
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Articles and advertising do not necessarily reflect the views and
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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: ORTHODOX OBSERVER,
8 East 79th Street, New York, NY 10075
Young donor
O.O. photo
Among those attending the Saint Basil Academy
Christmas Program was 10-year-old Lauren
Maoury of Ashburn, Va., who traveled to Garrison
with her mother, Julie (right) and grandmother,
Angelike. Lauren raised $4,200 for the Academy
over a two-month period through various fundraising activities with some friends. She and her
family are members of the Greek Orthodox parish
of Loudon County, in Dulles, Va.
Change of Address
To submit a change of address:
Contact Soula Podaras
at 212.774.0235
e-mail: spodaras@goarch.org
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;
jim@goarch.org
For advertising or the Greek section:
Lefteris Pissalidis, (212) 570. 3555;
lefteris@goarch.org
JANUARY 2015
3
A RCHDIOCESE N E WS
E n c yc l i c a l
Feast of St. Basil and the New Year
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Dimitrios Panagos photos
Bishop Apostolos Ordained
NEW YORK – The Very
Rev. Apostolos Koufallakis,
chancellor of the Metropolis of
San Francisco, was ordained as
a bishop Dec. 10 at Holy Trinity Archdiocesan Cathedral in
New York with many clergy
participating.
A large contingent of faithful from the San Francisco
metropolis, including Philoptochos President Jeannie Ranglas,
attended the ordination and
subsequent luncheon at Terrace on the Park in Flushing
Meadows.
His Grace was elected by
the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate on Nov. 28 as
Bishop Apostolos of Medeia.
After officiating the hierarchal Divine Liturgy Dec. 11 at
St. Demetrios Cathedral in Astoria, where he served as dean
from 2004 until November
2011 when he was appointed
as the San Francisco metropolis
chancellor. He has returned
to the metropolis as auxiliary
bishop and acting chancellor.
The ordination service
was conducted by Archbishop
Demetrios, with the participation of the following clergy:
Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago, Metropolitan Methodios
of Boston, Metropolitan Savas
of Pittsburgh, Metropolitan
Gerasimos of San Francisco,
Metropolitan Evangelos of New
Jersey, Bishop Andonios of
Phasiane, Bishop Anthimos of
Olympou, Bishop Sevastianos
of Zela, Bishop Demetrios of
Mokissos, the Very Revs. Anthimos Palioglov and Maximos
Panagiotou from a monastery
in Rhodes, the bishop’s native
island; the Very Rev. Nathanael
Symeonides, Frs. John Bakas,
dean of St. Sophias Cathedral in Los Angeles; Stylianos
Kyriakou, dean of Annunciation Cathedral–San Francisco;
Constantinos Pappademos,
Metropolis Clergy Syndesmos president; John Vlahos,
Holy Trinity Cathedral dean;
Demetrios Cantos, St. Demetrios Church, Tucson, Ariz.;
and Archdeacon Pandeleimon
Papadopoulos, Dns. Eleftherios Constantine, Philotheos
Tomczewski, and Constantine
Ursache.
The new bishop studied
at the Ecclesiastical School of
Patmos where he majored in
Orthodox Byzantine music and
ful and caring pastor, to their Savior and
Redeemer. This is also our calling today.
In our support for Saint Basil Academy, we
are led by our Ladies Philoptochos Society
and our local Philoptochos chapters in collecting an offering and in the celebration of
the cutting of the Vasilopeta. We are also led
by Christ and by the example of Saint Basil
to fulfill the command of our Lord and let
the children come to me. In your ministry
in the parish and in your daily life in Christ,
you are called to offer Him and guide others
to an encounter with the Lord that will lead
to abundant and eternal life.
On this day may we offer our prayers
and generous support for Saint Basil Academy. May we strengthen this vital work to
children and youth in fulfilling the request
of our Lord and in honoring the legacy of
all who have established and supported this
ministry in the past seventy years. May you
also receive the abundant and rich blessings
of our Lord at the beginning of this new
year as we offer Him glory and honor unto
the ages of ages!
With paternal love in Christ,
Dimitrios Panagos photos
† DEMETRIOS, Archbishop of America
Three Hierarchs and Greek Letters Day
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as “living streams of the Spirit,” we give
them praise. For their constant intercessions for us before the Holy Trinity, we
are immensely thankful these “preachers
of grace and guides to paradise.” (Hymns
of Vespers)
Our commemoration of these great
Champions of our Faith is connected to the
recognition of another significant event, the
celebration of Greek Letters Day. On this
day we affirm as Greek Orthodox Christians
our spiritual heritage in connection with a
rich heritage of learning, thought, language,
and some of the greatest expressions and
discoveries in human existence. We do this
on the Feast of the Three Hierarchs because
these Holy Fathers of the Church are paragons in understanding and communicating
the highest abilities and potential of our humanity in relation to our identity as persons
created in the image and likeness of God.
In their teaching, preaching, and ministries, Saints Basil the Great, Gregory the
Theologian, and John Chrysostom offered
the proper relationship of faith and reason,
affirming that the pursuit of knowledge is
inherent to our being. Following divine
revelation with awareness of the great
philosophical traditions, they recognized
that inner reflection combined with our
ability to think and believe provided the
foundation for a proper manner of life in
relationship with God, others, and all of
the created order. For the Three Hierarchs,
this represented a true philosophy, a living
wisdom, and the life for which we have
been created.
In understanding the relationship of
faith and reason, these men of great learning affirmed in the words of Saint Basil, “the
mind is good, and in it we have that which
is according to the image of the Creator”
(Epistle 233). This honor accorded to each
person as a rational being is a recognition
of the ability to use the mind to acquire
and use knowledge, especially in relation
to faith. Chrysostom stated that the mind
and our human abilities help us appreciate
“the wisdom of God and the honor He has
bestowed upon us” (Homily 11, On the Statutes). Saint Basil recognized that our ability
to reason and gain knowledge leads us to
embrace the idea of God, to perceive “His
wisdom, His goodness,” thus a “knowledge
followed by faith, and this faith by worship”
(Letter 235).
Our celebration on this day, centered
on the theme of the relationship between
faith and reason engenders gratitude to
the Three Hierarchs because of their wisdom and faith. The very same celebration
also shows the relationship between our
Orthodox faith and our Hellenic heritage,
emphasizing our unique witness and vital
offering to the world. This theme also
affirms in addition, the importance of related programs in our communities, programs that guide the acquaintance of our
youth with the resources of our faith and
our Hellenic legacy and identity, teaching
that helps us examine and explore our
abilities and potential for a life of virtue,
wisdom, and grace.
As we celebrate this blessed Feast
and honor our heritage of Greek Letters, may we give thanks to God for His
abundant gifts that lead us to Him and to
the purpose of our creation. May we also
praise Him in word and song chanting
the hymn of the Three Hierarchs’ Vespers,
“You have given Your people these three
great luminaries to enlighten us with the
knowledge of You, making them radiant
with the splendor of Your salvation and
Your holy will.”
With paternal love in Christ,
Dimitrios Panagos photos
† DEMETRIOS, Archbishop of America
Archdiocesan Yearbook Now Available
hymnology. He received his theological and pastoral
education at the University of Thessaloniki, earning a
Masters of Divinity degree. He then was named dean
of Annunciation Cathedral in Rhodes. He came to the
United States in 2002 and entered Boston University
School of Theology, receiving a Master of Sacred Theology degree.
He served the Massachusetts parishes of Annunciation, Brockton; St. George, Southbridge; and Sts.
Anargyroi in Marlboro before his assignment to Astoria.
NEW YORK – The 2015 Yearbook of the
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is
now available online at www.goarch.org/
archdiocese/yearbook. The Yearbook can
also be downloaded from the website as a
pdf and used as a digital book on tablets,
smart phones and other digital reading
devices.
Hard copies of the 2015 Yearbook will
be available by mail by end of January. Every
parish of the Archdiocese will receive
two complimentary copies.
The Yearbook is designed as an easy-toread, accurate, reference handbook of the
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
The 284–page, new edition includes updated directories of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Archdiocesan departments and
institutions, Metropolises, parishes, clergy,
religious and secular media resources plus
additional information.
The significance of this resource is
highlighted in the letter by Archbishop
Demetrios in which he states: “As we begin
this new year of 2015 and are presented
with the new edition of the Yearbook of
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A RCHDIOCESE N E WS
JANUARY 2015
Parochial School Students
Compete in Annual Spelling Bee
Dimitrios Panagos photos
Spelling Bee winner Panagiotis Persianis with Archbishop Demetrios, Maria Makedon, director of the
Archdiocese Office of Education, Cathedral School Principal Ted Kusulas, teacher Juliane Fazzone
and his mother Theano. (bottom) Spelling Bee participants with their parents and teachers along
with the pronouncers Helen Zapantis, teacher, and John Atanas, English language teacher at the
Greek American Institute in the Bronx.
The 42nd annual Direct Archdiocesan District Spelling Bee Finals for
students of the district’s parochial day
schools took place Jan. 8 at Archdiocese headquarters with seven students
participating.
Panagiotis Persianis, an 8 th-grade
student of the Holy Trinity Cathedral
School (319 East 74 Street, NYC) was
the finalist, while Anastasia Michialis, a
6th grader at the Greek American Institute
(3573 Bruckner Blvd., Bronx) was the
runner–up.
The winning word was “patriarch.”
The other contestants, their grade
level, and schools were: Hannah Erickson, 5th grade, St. Spyridon School,
Manhattan; James Ballas, 7 th grade,
D.G.K. School of Holy Cross, Brooklyn;
Theodora Athanitis, 8th grade, “A. Fantis”
School, Brooklyn; Steve Koullias, 8th
grade, “W. Spyropoulos” School, Flushing, and Nicoletta Baltzis, 5th grade, St.
Demetrios School, Astoria.
Following the competition, Archbishop Demetrios presented each student with a certificate of award and a
silver cross.
Nick Katsoris, president of The Hellenic Times Scholarship Fund (HTSF)
that sponsors the Archdiocesan competition, and author the Loukoumi book
series for young children, offered each
school bee one copy of the latest Loukoumi publication and $100 and $500 to
the finalist.
In addition to Mr. Katsoris’ gifts, the
students received American Express gift
cards on behalf of the Direct Archdiocesan District as follows: $100 to each
participant and $200 for the winner.
Students also received gift cards from
AMAZON on behalf of the District Office of Education as follows: $75 to each
student and $100 for the winner.
Archbishop Demetrios presented
Archdiocesan Yearbook Liturgical Guidebook Now Available
The 2015 Liturgical Guidebook of the The cost of the Guidebook is still $30.00 a
National Federation of Greek Orthodox copy. Payment can be made with a credit
Now Online
Church Musicians is now available for or- card. Standard delivery is included. Faster
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our Holy Archdiocese, we are strengthened
for our sacred calling to offer compassionate and faithful ministry to families. In the
pages that follow we see the growth of our
witness and resources. We find new opportunities for offering through the Parishes,
Metropolises, and Archdiocese. We are
encouraged to know that we have a strong
foundation, built over many generations in
local communities, in efforts coordinated
in every region of this country by Hierarchs, Clergy and Laity, and in our national
and global witness as a vibrant Church in
America.” Limited prepaid copies may be
obtained by calling (212) 774–0244 or by
sending a check/money order or credit card
information for $18 (plus $6.00 s&h for a
total of $24) payable to the Greek Orthodox
Archdiocese of America, Attn: Yearbook – 8
East 79th Street, New York, NY 10075.
dering. (2014 Guidebook listings are good
till the end of February 2015.) The Guidebook is no longer shipped automatically.
Distribution of the Guidebook is now being
handled by the Orthodox Marketplace. The
preferred and quickest way of ordering
the 2015 Liturgical Guidebook is to order
it online. Order Online at www.orthodoxmarketplace.com
On the website, the Guidebook is
shown at the top of the home page. Guidebooks will be sent out the same day orders
are received by the Orthodox Marketplace.
delivery options are available for an additional cost at checkout. For anyone without
Internet access, the attached “MAIL-IN ORDER FORM” can be used though delivery
may be slower. Follow the instructions, fill
out the form, and mail it to Orthodox Marketplace with a check payment. Standard
delivery is included.
Anyone with questions or needing
assistance in ordering may contact the
Guidebook editor: Peter N. Vatsures, Editor,
Liturgical Guidebook, vatspnv@hotmail.
com, 614-263-1343
SAVE THE DATE
The Archons of South Florida & St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church, invite you to a Religious
Freedom Conference “Uplifting Christ, Witnessing for Our Faith in the Face of Radical Extremism”
on Saturday March 14, from 2 p.m.–6 p.m. at the Cultural Hall of St. Katherine Greek Orthodox
Church. Tel: 239•591•3430, at 7100 Airport Pulling Road North, Naples FL 34119.
Keynote Speakers: Anthony J. Limberakis M.D., National Commander of The Order of Saint
Andrew of The Ecumenical Patriarchate, Rev. Fr. Fouad Saba, Dean of The St. George Antiochian
Cathedral, Coral Gables. Please RSVP to office@stKatherine.net to register.
To donate
to the St. Nicholas National Shrine, make checks payable to:
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese
Mailing Address: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America,
8 East 79 th St., New York, NY 10075 – www.stnicholaswtc.org
them with his book of prayers and a
silver cross.
The Spelling Bee competitions are
sponsored by The E.W. Scripps Company, in conjunction with over 260
newspapers around the world. The
competitions aim at improving spelling,
increase vocabulary, learn concepts, and
develop correct English usage. They are
open to boys and girls, in grades 5-8.
In New York City, competitions are
sponsored by the DAILY NEWS newspaper for the public and nonpublic
schools.
The Office of Education of the Direct
Archdiocesan District coordinates the
competitions among the New York City
parochial Greek-American day schools.
The winner and the runner-up Anastasia
Michialis will move on to the New York
City Finals that will take place sometime
in March.
Panagiotis Persianis with Nick Katsoris.
Assembly of Bishops
Delegation Participates
in March for Life
The Assembly of Canonical
Orthodox Bishops of the United
States of America sent a delegation to the annual March for Life,
Thursday, Jan. 22 in Washington..
The date marks the 42nd anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision
that legalized abortion.
Metropolitan Methodios led
the delegation. He was joined
by Metropolitan Tikhon, Bishop
Michael, and Bishop Demetrios
Mokissos.
Metropolitan Tikhon delivered
the invocation at the annual Rose
Dinner at the Renaissance hotel the
evening of the 22nd.
Metropolitan Methodios also
attended the National Prayer Vigil
for Life at The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate
Conception on Jan. 21, the evening
before the march.
The rally began at noon on the
National Mall at 12th Street. Orthodox Christian marchers gathered
under the “Orthodox Christians
for Life” banner and signs.
The march began at 1 p.m.
and proceeded along Constitution
Avenue to the U.S. Supreme Court,
where prayers for the victims of
abortion were offered.
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A RCHDIOCESE N E WS
JANUARY 2015
Leadership 100 Conference
Program Includes Tiboris Concert
by George Schira
John Mindala photo
Peter Nikitas (2nd from left) with Elena Kyrkostas, and George and Kathy Boulukos, stand with the
model of St. Nicholas National Shrine.
Youth, Young Adult Ministry Announces Video Contest
NEW YORK - The Archdiocese Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM) officially launched its new
“Orthodoxy in Motion” video contest on
Jan. 12. Participants in the GOYA Division
(13-17 years old) and the REAL Division
(18-35 years old) were invited to submit
short videos through the lens of the St.
Nicholas National Shrine. Prizes of $2,000;
$1,500; and $1,000 will be awarded in
each division.
The contest was made possible by the
generosity of James W. Nikitas, a lifelong
advocate of using technology to teach
the faith.
He bequeathed funds to St. George
Church of St. Paul, Minn., which offered
the funds to Y2AM for the video contest.
Peter Nikitas presented the Archdiocese with the funds in a ceremony on Oct.
27 and spoke eloquently about his father’s
legacy. He was accompanied by his cousin,
Elena Kyrkostas, and his aunt and uncle,
George and Kathy Boulukos.
As part of the 24th annual Leadership
100 Conference, Feb. 12-15 in Orlando,
Fla., renowned conductor and Leadership
100 member Peter Tiboris will conduct
the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra in
“Symphony at Sunset,” featuring his wife,
dramatic soprano Eilana Lappalainen on
Feb. 12.
Lappalainen, a Finnish-Canadian
performer and one of the most respected
interpreters of Strauss’ Salome, which she
has performed at opera houses throughout the world, has also been acclaimed
for performances in leading other operas.
Besides performances on international stages, she has taken on extensive
responsibilities as general director of the
Greek Opera Studio and Berlin Opera
Studio, artistic director for the Opera
Division of the Young Artists Festival
Bayreuth, associate artistic director of
the International Festival of the Aegean
and artistic administrator for MidAmerica
Productions.
Tiboris, who founded MidAmerica
Productions 31 years ago at Carnegie Hall,
has performed 1,200 concerts worldwide.
The Festival of the Aegean, which he
founded in 2005 on the Greek island of
Syros, marks its 10th anniversary this year.
In 2013, Tiboris founded MidAm
International Inc., a company created to
facilitate MidAmerica’s growing presence
in Europe.
In addition to the 9th Festival of the
Aegean, MidAm International presented
two concerts in Vienna during Easter
Week. Encouraged by the overwhelmingly
positive response to the Vienna concerts,
MidAm International presented its first
performances in June 2014 at the historic
L’Eglise de la Madeleine in Paris.
Tiboris has a special connection to
Leadership 100 and Archbishop Iakovos.
While serving as associate professor of
music at the University of Southwestern
Louisiana in Lafayette in 1983, Tiboris
was asked to organize a concert in New
York to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Archbishop Iakovos as head of the
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North
and South America. The concert, held Jan.
7, 1984, in New York at Alice Tully Hall,
Lincoln Center, brought together soloists,
choruses from Louisiana and New York,
and the American Symphony Orchestra
for a Greek-themed program, marking
the New York conducting debut of Peter
Tiboris and the founding of MidAmerica
Productions.
Since then, he has fashioned two
distinct and highly successful careers,
as a conductor of classical music and as
a classical music entrepreneur. He has
conducted much of the choral repertoire
and numerous symphonic works, operas,
and ballets.
Among his proudest achievements
was conducting the U.S. premiere of Mikis
Theodorakis’ Elektra in Carnegie Hall in
2000. He has gone on to conduct major
orchestras in 20 countries.
Orthodox Observer Supporters
Special Patrons
Dr. Basil Eleftheriou, Bar Harbor, Maine; Mr. and Mrs. Stavros Malesta, Palmetto,
Fla.; Mr. and Mrs. Cliff Argue, Mercer Island, Wash.; Euryoice Petrou, Athens,
Greece; Joanne Stefanatos, D.V.M., Las Vegas, Nevada; Maria Keritsis, N. Chesterfield, Va.; George T. Galanopoulos, Park Ridge, Ill.
Patrons
Steve P. Theodore, Los Angeles
O.O. photo
Pontian dancers
Making their annual visit to Archdiocese headquarters were these Pontian dancers from New York
and Connecticut on Dec. 22. They performed a series of dances and also sang Christmas carols.
CLERGY UPDATE
Ordinations to the Diaconate
Avramopoulos, Christopher – Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago – Sts. Constantine
& Helen Church, Palos Hills, Ill. 11/22/14
Sakellariou, John – Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit – Holy Trinity-St. Nicholas
Church, Cincinnati, 11/16/14
Lundberg, Paul – Metropolitan Alexios
of Atlanta – Annunciation Cathedral,
Atlanta 12/27/14
Ordinations to the Priesthood
Dn. John Sakellariou – Metropolitan
Nicholas of Detroit – Annunciation
Church, Buffalo, NY 11/23/14
Dn. Constantin Ursache – Archbishop
Demetrios of America – Cathedral of St.
Paul, Hempstead, NY 01/25/15
Assignments
Fr. John Sakellariou – Annunciation
Church, Buffalo, NY 11/15/14
Dn. Christopher Xanthos – Annunciation Cathedral, Houston 12/01/14
V. Rev. Fr. Ambrosios Bitziadis – St.
George Cathedral, Philadelphia 01/01/15
Fr. Constantine Christofis – The Holy
Metropolis of New Jersey 01/01/15
Fr. Stamatios Sfikas – Annunciation Cathedral, Chicago 01/01/15
Fr. Matthew Baker – Holy Trinity Church,
Norwich, Conn. 01/15/15
Fr. Jason Houck – St. Mary Church, Minneapolis 01/15/15
Fr. Athanasios Nenes – Taxiarchae
Church, Watertown, Mass. 01/15/15
Dn. Constantin Ursache – Cathedral of
St. Paul, Hempstead, NY 01/15/15
Offikia
Fr. Michael Diavatis – Office of Confessor, bestowed by Metropolitan Alexios
of Atlanta 10/05/14
Retired Clergy
Rev. Fr. Nicholas Pathenos 12/28/14
Fr. Nicholas I. Nikokavouras 01/01/15
Donors
Nikolaos Bairamis, Homer, Alaska; Antonia Megas, Nederland, Texas; Mr. and
Mrs. Milton Siolis, Victoria, Texas; Ms. Evelyn Brosch-Goodwin, Fort Wayne,
Ind; Daniel Hardesty, Colorado Springs, Colo; Lillian Pantos, Houston; Jacob
Antoninis, Bethpage, N.Y.; John Homsy, Austin, Texas; Ioan Negulescu, Baton
Rouge, La; Peter Dinyovszky, Oxford, Conn; Chalres Demos, South Bend, Ind.
National Shrine Essay Contest Winners Announced
by Polly Hillier
ST AUGUSTINE, Fla. On behalf of
the St Photios Greek Orthodox National
Shrine Essay Contest program, Katherine
Bacalis, chairman, has announced the 10th
annual essay contest winners.
Fifteen submissions were received
and vetted; seven essays were judged.
High school students compared the immigrant story of a family member with
the immigrant story of the Greeks who
arrived in America with the Turnbull
expedition in 1768.
Eleni Ouzts, parishioner of St Nektarios Church in Charlotte, N.C., placed first;
Thomas Kouttron of St Paraskevi Church
in Greenlawn, N.Y., placed second; and
Emmanuel Stamatogiannakis of St John
Church in Jacksonville, Fla., placed third.
The St Photios Foundation Board
of Trustees joins the Essay Committee
members in offering congratulations
to the students, their parents and their
parishes. First Vice President Archon Dr.
Manuel N. Tissura added “We are blessed
to witness the dedication to family and
faith expressed by these students.
Congratulations to the students,
their families, and their home parishes
- our hope is that more students take
advantage to witness their heritage in
this manner.”
Mrs. Bacalis noted that Kathie Dakis
Danna provided the prizes for the contest
participants in memory of her husband,
Carmen Danna.
Eleni Ouzts summed up the purpose
of this exercise, “…I would have loved to
have known my great-grandfather; thankfully I have family members to pass his
story along. This essay has helped me to
develop an appreciation for the opportunities I was born with. Many people
in America do not realize how fortunate
we are, and take this precious freedom
for granted. I have also learned the story
of the first Greeks in America and its
similarities to my own family story. The
immigrants of both times endured … I
am blessed to be a Greek descendant in
America…”
6
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The ORTHODOX OBSERVER has been offering Greek
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news from our Archdiocese, our Metropolises and
our parishes for almost 40 years. Originally begun
primarily as a theological magazine by Archbishop
Athenagoras in 1934, the ORTHODOX OBSERVER was
transformed into its present format and role by
Archbishop Iakovos in 1971.
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JANUARY 2015
Archdiocese National Calendar
Editor’s note: Below is the annual Archdiocese-wide calendar of significant events
in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of
America at the Archdiocese and Metropolis
levels and for the Archdiocesan institutions
and organizations published each January.
Parish-level events are not included. It is
not all-inclusive as some organizations
and metropolises may not have finalized
their schedules for the entire year. Events
listed are those received by the Observer in
time for the January press date. Dates and
locations should be reconfirmed with the
particular organization for those planning
to attend as the event approaches. Local
activities and events, such as pastoral visits,
anniversaries, feast day events, etc., also are
not included. If the date and location of an
event is not yet determined, it is indicated as
TBA (to be announced). Youth camp information will be listed in the Feb-March issue.
January
4 Metropolis of New Jersey Vasilopita Cutting for clergy and families, metropolis
Council and Philoptochos
10 Metropolis of New Jersey Epiphany
Celebration, St. George Church, Ocean
City, Md.
10 Metropolis of Atlanta Church Music
Insititue Southwesst Region, Assumption
Church, Scottsdale, Ariz.
11 Metropolis of Chicago Vasilopita Celebration, St. Demetrios, Elmhurst, Ill.
16 Metropolis of San Francisco Young Adult
Winter Retreat, Galilee Camp and Conference Center, Lake Tahoe, Nev.
16-17 Metropolis of Chicago Philoptochos
St. Antonio’s Great Vespers and Feast Day,
Metropolis House
16-18 Metropolis of Pittsburgh GOYA Basketball Tournament (first weekend), Sts.
Constantine and Helen, Cleveland Heights;
Holy Saints in Steubenville, Weirton, Ambridge and Wheeling.
16-18 Metropolis of New Jersey Folk
Dance Festival, Sts. Constantine and Helen
Church, Annapolis, N.J.
16-19 Metropolis of Atlanta Hellenic Dance
Festival, Charlotte, N.C.
22-24 Metropolis of Pittsburgh Camp and
Youth Council Worker Conference, Antiochian Village, Bolivar, Pa.
23-25 Metropolis of San Francisco Presbyteres Retreat, St. Nicholas Ranch and Retreat
Center, Dunlap, Calif.,
24 Metropolis of San Francisco Church Music Institute Bay Area Region, Holy Trinity
Church, San Francisco.
24 Metropolis of Pittsburgh Metropolis
Council meeting, St. Spyridon, Monessen,
Pa.
25 Metropolis of New Jersey Northern
Three Hierarchs-Greek Letters Celebration,
St. George Church, Piscataway, N.J.
30-31 GOYA Metropolis of Pittsburgh Basketball Tournament (second weekend),
Annunciation, Akron, Ohio, St. Haralambos,
Canton, Ohio.
Metropolis of New Jersey Delaware Valley
Three Hierarchs-Greek Letters event, St.
Thomas Church, Cherry Hill, N.J.
February
2-4 Metropolis of New Jersey Clergy Retreat,
Maryland Eastern Shore
5 Metropolis of Pittsburgh St. Photios the
Great Vespers, St. Photios Chapel, Metropolis headquarters.
6 Metropolis of Pittsburgh St. Photios the
Great Liturgy, Dormition, Oakmont, Pa.
7 Metropolis of Pittsburgh Priests, Presidents and Treasurers meeting, Dormition,
Oakmont.
7 Metropolis of Chicago Philoptochos
Chapter Presidents meeting, Annunciation
Cathedral, Chicago
8-10 Metropolis of Atlanta Strategic Plan-
ning meetings, Atlanta
13-15 Metropolis of Atlanta St. Stephens
Counselors Reunion, Diakonia Retreat
Center, Salem, S.C.
17-19 Metropolis of Atlanta Clergy Retreat,
Diakonia Center, Salem.
13-15 Metropolis of Pittsburgh GOYA
Basketball Tournament (third weekend),
Annunciation, Columbus
20-22 Metropolis of Pittsburgh GOYA Basketball Tournament (third weekend), Holy
Cross, Pittsburgh
March
3-5 Metropolis of Pittsburgh Clergy Family
Retreat, Antiochian Village, Bolivar, Pa.
7 Metropolis of Chicago Philoptochos Lenten Retreat, St. George, Schererville, Ind.
6-8 Metropolis of Pittsburgh GOYA Spring
Retreat
6-8 Metropolis of Atlanta GOYA Lenten
Retreat
12-15 Metropolis of Atlanta Council meetings
13 Metropolis of Pittsburgh Philoptochos
Meeting, Oglebay Resort and Conference
Center, Wheeling, W.Va.
14 Metropolis of Pittsburgh Daffodil Luncheon, Oglebay Resort and Conference
Center, Wheeling
19-20 Metropolis of Atlanta Philoptochos
Board meeting, Diakonia Retreat Center,
Salem, S.C.
20-22 Metropolis of Atlanta Philoptochos
Spiritual Retreat, Diakonia Retreat Center,
Salem.
22 Metropolis of New Jersey Greek Independence Day Parade, Philadelphia
27-29 Metropolis of Atlanta OCF WorkDaze,
Diakonia Retreat Center, Salem, S.C.
April
17 Zoodochos Peghe, Metropolis of Chicago Philoptochos St. Iakovos Center,
Brighton, Wis.
18 Metropolitan Awards Banquet, Wyndham Grant Hotel, Pittsburgh
18 Metropolis of Atlanta Pasch Picnic, Diakonia Retreat Center, Salem
25 Metropolis of Pittsburgh, Oratorical
Festival, St. Nicholas Cathedral, Pittsburgh
25-26 Metropolis of Atlanta Oratorical Festival, Birmingham, Ala.
May
9 Metropolis of Pittsburgh Metropolis
Council meeting, Kimisis tis Theotokou,
Aliquippa, Pa.
10-12 Metropolis of New Jersey ClergyLaity Assembly and Philoptochos meeting,
Garfield, N.J.
16 Metropolis of Detroit St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival, location TBA
16 HCHC Graduation, Brookline, Mass.
24-25 Metropolis of New Jersey GOYA
Outdoor Olympics, Monmouth University
in West Long Branch, N.J.
25-26 Metropolis of Atlanta Special Needs
Camp
28-June 3 Metropolis of San Francisco
Camp Agape, Dunlap, Calif.
30 Metropolis of Chicago Philoptochos
Presidents meeting, St. Iakovos Center,
Brighton, Wis.
June
4 Metropolis of Pittsburgh Central Region
Clergy meeting, All Saints, Canonsburg, Pa.
5-7 Archdiocese National Oratorical Festival,
St. Anthony Church, Pasadena, Calif.
6 Third annual Greek Language Competition, St. Nicholas Cathedral, Pittsburgh
14 Metropolis of Boston Annual Ministry
Awards Dinner, Randolph, Mass.21-27 Summer Camp Joy Session I, Camp Nazareth,
Mercer, Pa.
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JANUARY 2015
7
The Voice of Philoptochos
The Year in Review
March 1 – Eighty-three years after Archbishop
Athenagoras established Philoptochos as
the philanthropic ministry of the Church,
Philoptochos joined Archbishop Demetrios
of America and Bishop Sevastianos of Zela
for the Divine Liturgy at the Archdiocesan
Cathedral in New York City followed by
the blessing and ribbon cutting of the new
Philoptochos home, the Center of Philanthropy. Guests entering the building admired
the magnificent Chapter Giving Tree of handcarved cherry wood adorned with a brass leaf
engraved for each chapter nationwide.
The 2014 National Biennial Convention
– Philoptochos enjoyed the warm hospitality
of the Metropolis of New Jersey in Philadelphia, where the highest level of delegate
participation was recorded. Programs and
speakers inspired and enlightened the delegates among which was the memorable
and emotional Tribute to Veterans that reminded us of the importance to remember
those who serve and have served for peace
and freedom. A special highlight was the
breakfast where Archbishop Demetrios along
with each Metropolitan and all the Philoptochos delegates joined together to recognize
outgoing National Philoptochos President
Aphrodite Skeadas for her six years of service
and leadership.
In Memoriam – National Philoptochos was
greatly saddened with the passing of three
past national presidents in 2014.
Evanthea Condakes of the Metropolis of
Boston served as the ninth national Philoptochos president from 1998–02. She helped
establish the “Voice of Philoptochos” page
in the Orthodox Observer and offered dedicated service to Saint Basil Academy and the
mission of IOCC. She brought her business
acumen to the presidency and significantly
increased the membership of the Society.
Dina Skouras Oldknow of the Metropolis of
San Francisco served as the seventh national
president from 1990–94. Her tenure was
marked as a period rich in community service
and outreach, the initiation of the Children’s
Medical Fund and the adoption of IOCC as a
Philoptochos ministry.
Beatrice Marks of the Metropolis of Chicago,
the fifth national president served from 1982–
86 and introduced modern institutional practices. She expanded National Philoptochos’
support for the Archdiocesan institutions and
established higher education scholarships for
Saint Basil Academy students.
New National Philoptochos President
Archbishop Demetrios announced the appointment of Maria Logus of New York
as National Philoptochos president at the
inaugural meeting of the 2014–16 National
Board on Oct. 17.
Ms. Logus has served Philoptochos in numerous leadership capacities as well as serving
on other national boards. Ms. Logus is an
attorney for the New York State Unified
Court System with three decades of legal
experience.
She stated in her acceptance that she looks
forward to working with the dynamic national board members to advance the values
and the mission of the Philoptochos Society
“embracing new members as we continue to
give honor to our founders.”
St. Nicholas Shrine – Philoptochos was
honored to participate in the ground blessing
of the St. Nicholas National Shrine and has
initiated a broad campaign in support of this
important edifice for our faith.
Looking Forward 2015 –National Philoptochos acknowledges the nationwide support
that promotes its philanthropic mission and
encourages Philoptochos to expand its reach
and to participate together to build sustainable leadership for the future.
Christine Karavites, chairman
National Philoptochos
History and Archives – January 2015.
Allen Altchech Photography
Long Beach – Metropolitan Gerasimos and Metropolis Philoptochos President Jeannie Ranglas (left) with members of the Metropolis Philoptochos Board, host
committee, and clergy from throughout Southern California at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church in Long Beach, CA.
‘Light the Path’ Benefits S.F. Metropolis Seminarians
The Metropolis of San Francisco
Philoptochos hosted the Light the Path
luncheons at Assumption Church in Long
Beach and St. Basil in Stockton, Calif.,
with over 500 in attendance, raising over
$100,000 to provide scholarships for the
Metropolis seminarians and students enrolled at Hellenic College Holy Cross.
Metropolitan Gerasimos remarked, “By
investing in our students, we are investing
in our Metropolis, because the future of our
Metropolis will be in their hands. They will
be the ones passing on our faith to future
generations.” Fr. Michael State of St. Nicholas Church in Northridge, Calif., his shared
path to Holy Cross School of Theology and
his desire to serve the Lord through the holy
priesthood and seminarian Nicholas Mueller, from St. Anna Church in Roseville, Calif.,
offered his personal experience and how his
studies at Holy Cross have further inspired
him and enlightened his path toward service in the Church. His family was present
and the support and love of his family and
fellow parishioners was evident through
their enthusiastic presence at the event.
Metropolis Philoptochos President
Jeannie Ranglas spoke about their commitment to many ministries, but especially
to providing substantial support for our
future priests and the perpetuation of our
Orthodox faith. This fund was created by
Metropolitan Anthony of blessed memory
over 25 years ago and has distributed over
$1million in scholarships to students from
the Metropolis studying for the priesthood.
The fund was established to leave the seminarians and students with as little tuition
debt as possible upon graduation.
The Metropolis of San Francisco
Philoptochos awarded more than $150,000
to 22 students in 2014.
Both luncheons offered festive memories. Musical performances included the Citrus College Singers from Glendora, Calif.,
and baritone Constantine Pappas and the
GOYA from Saint Basil Church in Stockton
directed by Presbytera Angie Sotiras.
A Pilgrimage That Was a Homecoming
Leaving behind the comfort and safety
of our homesteads and the security and love
of our families, the Greek Orthodox pilgrims trekked to Constantinople on Thanksgiving Day, giving thanks to the Lord as did
the New England pilgrims in 1621 seeking
to establish a new country free of all persecutions. Under the spiritual leadership
of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios,
the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Philoptochos Society and Ahepa
pilgrims proceeded on the first leg of this
extraordinary journey to the Balikli Monastery which is the location of the gravesite
of Patriarch Athenagoras, who founded
the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos
Society in 1931 as Archbishop of North and
South America. Fr. Steven Vlachos of New
Jersey led us in the Trisagion prayer. The
Philoptochos presence demonstrated unity
in mighty defense of our faith under the
capable and sterling leadership of Archon
Commander Dr. Anthony Limberakis. It
was a blessing and privilege to worship at
the Patriarchal Church of St. George at the
Phanar and witness the historic meeting of
His Holiness Pope Francis and our beloved
worldwide spiritual father His All Holiness
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. The
pilgrims participated in the Doxology Service on the eve of the Feast of St. Andrew
and the following day at the Divine Liturgy.
The visible exchange of mutual respect and
agape by the two renowned Church leaders
displayed an expression of understanding
and communication that was spiriting,
embodying healing and hope.
On the Feast Day of St. Andrew the
Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir offered a
spiritual musical feast in the fourth century
St. Irini Church where the Nicene Creed
was drafted at the Second Ecumenical
Council in 381 AD. That evening, the massive, always empty space was alive and filled
with angelic voices chanting sacred Orthodox hymns. The pilgrimage took us to the
land of our Hellenic ancestry and the city
of Patras where we prayed in the glorious
Cathedral of St. Andrew venerating the relics of the martyred Saint in the presence of
Metropolitan Chrysostomos.
In Athens our group reveled in a pri-
vate and enlightening tour of the Acropolis
Museum and its unequalled artifacts including the elegantly and classically attired five
Caryatids. The pilgrims had opportunity to
visit the Hellenic Parliament in Athens and
attend a private meeting with the Prime
Minister of Greece, Antonis Samaras. The
days in Constantinople, Athens and Patras
left us inspired and enriched with stunning
memories and in immense appreciation of
our cultural and religious heritage.
Our intense Hellenism is admirable
and unrivaled, our illustrious faith blessed.
Aphrodite Skeadas
Mass., Calif., Parishes Honor Veterans
PEABODY, Mass. – St. Vasilios Philoptochos continued its annual tradition of
visiting with parish members in nursing
homes, or those who are homebound to
bring joy during the Christmas season.
They delivered beautiful poinsettia plants
and delicious koulourakia that were greatly
appreciated by the recipients.
The visitations are greatly enjoyed by
both the recipients and the Philoptochos
volunteers who visit with them. Maria Collins is the coordinator of this heartwarming
outreach program.
Participants included Carol Glyptis,
Christine Morfis, Basil, Bunny Yankopoulos, Ruth Morfis, Debbie Pantazelos, Nancy
Pelletier, Maria Collins, Sophia Metropolis,
Kristi Fadel, and Anna Zaimes.
PASADENA,Calif.– St. Anthony Philoptochos delegates returned from the 2014
Philoptochos Convention in Philadelphia
inspired by the Convention’s Veterans Tribute and by the words of Metropolitan Isaiah
who encouraged each chapter to recognize
its veterans.
With the full endorsement of the
members, the chapter planned a luncheon
for Veterans Day, Nov. 9. Presbytera Maria
Mylonas who chaired this beautiful event
reached out to the parish requesting information and stories about the parish’s
Veterans from the families. A detailed
program booklet included the stories and
information for 70 veterans provided by the
families. In addition a video was created
with a beautiful tribute.
8
JANUARY 2015
Atlanta Metropolis Hellenic Dance Festival
Charlotte Hosts Highly Successful Hellenic Dance Festival
by Jim Golding
Top Award – Gerry Clonaris, HDF executive director since its founding 17 years ago, presents the
Brotherly Love Award to Fr. Michael Varvarelis,
dean of Holy Cathedral in Charlotte . The award,
created by Metropolitan Alexios, is given to the
participating community that expresses the true
concept of Orthodoxy and love.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – It wasn’t the “Land
of A Thousand Dances,” the Motown hit
from the 1970s, sung by Wilson Pickett
but, over the Jan. 16-18 weekend, Charlotte
became the “Land of 256 Greek Dances,”
when over a thousand young people and
adults from 16 parishes of the Metropolis
of Atlanta, the Metropolis of Chicago and
Virginia gathered for the annual Hellenic
Dance Festival.
Hosted by Holy Trinity Cathedral, teh
event featured 33 different groups performing dances from regions and islands
and obscure villages throughout Greece,
including Evia, Anatoliki Romilia, Boyaliki,
Florina, Kalymnos, Naxos, Karpathos, Ikaria,
Kos and many more.
Many groups had live musical accompaniment or had recorded music. Several
of the dancers sang the folk songs that went
along with the dance they performed.
Participating communities included
the host parish of Holy Trinity, Charlotte;
St. George, Hollywood, Fla.; Holy Trinity, Orlando; Sts. Constantine and Helen,
Hampton Roads, Va.; St. Nicholas, Wilmington, N.C.; Holy Trinity, Charleston, S.C.;
Holy Trinity, Raleigh, N.C.; Holy Trinity,
Columbia, S.C.; Annunciation, Atlanta; St.
George, Greenville, S.C.; St. Paul, Savannah,
Ga.; dancers from several communities in
the Metropolis of Chicago dancing in two
groups; Holy Transfiguration, Marietta,
Ga.; St. George, Knoxville, Tenn.; Holy
Trinity, Columbia, S.C.; and Annunciation
in Winston-Salem, N.C.
They danced in two major divisions
based on age, with Division One consisting of Primary, Junior and Advanced Junior
levels, and Division Two having Senior,
Advanced Senior and Adult classifications.
Their year-long efforts culminated in
the awards ceremony that recognized their
achievements in the following categories:
Costume, Folk Interpretation, Expression,
Song, Meritorious Performance, Excellent
Performance, Superior Performance, Platinim and Diamond. The Diamond Award
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Opening ceremony. Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta presides at the aghiasmo service on Jan. 16,
assisted by (l. to r.) Fr. Christodoulos Papadeas, Fr. Demetrios Kangelaris of St. Annunciation Church
in Winston–Salem, NC, and Fr. Michael Varvarelis of Holy Trinity Cathedral in Charlotte.
Young adults from St. Nicholas Church of Spartanburg, S.C.
Colorful dancers from Charlotte move effortlessly across the stage.
Some advanced senior boys from St. Nicholas Church in Wilmington, N.C.
Orthodox
Observer
Photos
Junior–level dancers from Sts. Constantine and Helen Church in Hampton Roads, Va.
A typical cafenio scene. This adult group that traveled from the Metropolis of Chicago begin their performance in
a “typical” cafenio, sitting around socializing, then suddenly launch into their series of dances (much to the delight Girls from Holy Trinity Church in Charleston, S.C., perform the Syngathistos dance,
not the Charleston.
of the waiting panel of judges). No where is heard the cry “ARE YOU READY FOR SOME TAVILI?”
9
JANUARY 2015
Metropolis News
Southern California Church Pledges
Donation to St. Nicholas National Shrine
CARDIFF–BY–THE–SEA, Calif. – Sts.
Constantine and Helen Church of North
County San Diego will support building
the St. Nicholas National Shrine at the
World Trade Center through a pledged
donation. The local parish, which hosts the
annual Cardiff Greek Festival, will donate 10
percent of festival profits and stewardship
donations from parishioners in 2015.
The national shrine is being erected
at ground zero, replacing the small Greek
Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas that was
destroyed on Sept. 11, 2001 when the South
Tower fell. While the new church is also
Greek Orthodox, it will welcome people
of all faiths to visit while touring the 9/11
memorial and the Memorial Museum at the
World Trade Center.
“Through an inspired faith and vigilant
prayer, our parishioners chose to honor
those who have lost their lives and those
who protect our freedom by helping to
provide a place of worship and peaceful
reflection for all at the site of the horrific
tragedy that forever changed us all,” said Fr.
Michael Sitaras, pastor at Sts. Constantine
and Helen. Designed by world-renowned
architect Santiago Calatrava, the Shrine
will blend the traditions of Byzantine architecture with the aesthetic of the steel and
glass structures in the surrounding area.
The upper level of the church will include
a non-denominational bereavement space,
also open to all.
Likewise, Sts. Constantine and Helen
welcomes the San Diego community to its
many faith, fellowship and educational programs. The parish also hosts the annual Cardiff Greek Festival the weekend after Labor
Day, inviting the San Diego community to
experience Hellenic cuisine, entertainment
and hospitality.
Additional information on the St.
Nicholas National Shrine is available at
www.stnicholaswtc.org/.
Editor’s note: Parishes, organizations or individuals holding any fundraisers or offering donations in support of St. Nicholas National Shrine
Church are invited to send a brief article, and
picture if available, to the Orthodox Observer as
part of the ongoing rebuilding effort coverage.
Metropolis of Atlanta HDF
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is presented to the community having the
highest combined total number of points
for all groups and dances. In both divisions,
the winner was the host community, Charlotte. A highlight of the weekend was the
Saturday night glendi at the NASCAR Hall
of Fame, a short distance from the Sheraton
hotel, location of the event.
After a long day of competing in the
many Greek dancing events, participants
could enjoy a buffet featuring a large selection of foods, view classic stock cars from
years gone by as well as some contemporary
models, or drive a stock car “simulator” at
speeds above 100 mph and complete the
evening doing what they do best – Greek
dancing.
The 2016 HDF will take place in Orlando over the Martin Luther King weekend.
To view more photos of all participating communities, visit the Metropolis of
Atlanta website:youth@atlmetropolis.org
Young adults from Annunciation Cathedral in Atlanta perform to live music by these musicians.
These dancers are one of four groups sent by Holy Trinity Church in Orlando, Fla., consisting of some
70 dancers from Primary to Adult categories. Orlando will be the host city for next year’s HDF.
Students who received Certificates of “Ellinomatheia” from the Detroit Metropolis. (Metropolis photo)
22 Modern Greek Studies Students
in Michigan Receive Certificates
TROY, Mich. – The Foundation for
Modern Greek Studies of Michigan is very
proud of its on-going collaboration with the
C.P. Cavafy Chair and the Modern Greek
Program at the University of Michigan (one
of the best 16 universities in the world according to the London Times). Every year
this close collaboration bears fruit in many
important areas - teaching of new courses,
scholarships for students, open and free
cultural events, an outreach program, an
ever-expanding web site, and the certification of Greek language proficiency. In
1999, the University of Michigan received
accreditation from the Ministry of Education, European Union and the Center for
the Greek Language as an examination
center for administering the exams for the
Certificate of Attainment in Greek.
The exams, established in 1994, are
conducted in Greek by the Greek Language
Center of the University of Thessaloniki.
They are sanctioned by the Greek Ministry of Education for Certification of Proficiency in Greek. Participants are examined
in all four skills: writing, reading, speaking
and listening. Successful candidates receive
a Certificate of Attainment in Greek or Ellinomatheia Certificate. Students who obtain
certification are recognized worldwide for
their language qualifications, enabling them
to study in universities in Greece and in
Europe or for professional reasons.
The Greek Language and Culture Committee of the Metropolis of Detroit, established in 1999 by Metropolitan Nicholas,
developed a curriculum (K-8) that unifies
the course of instruction taught in the Metropolis afternoon Greek schools. Students
successfully completing the six years of
study and are age 12 or older are prepared
by their teachers to take the A1–level exam.
“We are proud of our Greek Teachers for
the quality of education they are delivering and with many of our third generation
students that prefer to learn Greek instead
of another second language” said George
Regains, chair for Greek Language and Culture Committee of the Metropolis.
This year, Certificates of Ellinomatheia
were awarded to 22 students who passed
the exams for the Certificate of Attainment
in Greek Language at the University of
Michigan last May.
Presentations were made at St. Nicholas Church Greek Cultural Center in Troy
by Metropolitan Nicholas, Professors Vassilios Lambropoulos and Artemis Leontis of
the University of Michigan and Metropolis
Greek school teachers.
Following the presentation an outreach talk was given by Dr. Leontis on
“Greek in America Now,” an illustrated
lecture on the presence of Greek words,
ideas, myths, styles, and things in American culture today. Dr. Leontis took us on
a journey that captivated our enthusiasm
and showed us why knowing Greek is an
advantage in today’s world.
The 22 successful participants in this
years’ examination were:
Matteo Stavros Papadopoulos, Lea
Angelica Tsalis, Marina Gkovatsosm, Donald
Mc Leod Isenhath, Evangelos Kostoulakis,
Georgios Aristidis Thanasas, Maria Thanasas, Katerina Maria Bastounis, Mary Vasilia
Costa, Alexander Georgios Demetriou,
Alyssa Elaine Erickson, Simone Glavas, Elpida Alexandria Katakis, Gregory Kostakis,
Christos Clement Levy, Theodora Zoe Liasi,
John Nicholaos Petousis, Demitra Polyxeni
Loucopoulos, Ria Garifalia Nickollau, Christina Theodoropoulos, Fotini Demetriou
and Michael Demetriou.
10
JANUARY 2015
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BALTIMORE, MD (IOCC) – Freezing
temperatures, heavy snow and chilling
winds sweeping across Syria are putting
thousands of young lives in jeopardy as
displaced mothers struggle helplessly
to keep their small children warm and
sheltered from the harsh winter conditions. Many live in shelled out buildings
with no doors or windows to keep frigid
weather out, or in temporary shelters with
no heat. The need for warm clothing is
great. International Orthodox Christian
Charities (IOCC) is responding with the
distribution of handmade sweater sets
for 600 children crafted last summer by
34 displaced Syrian women taught to
knit through a cash-for-work program.
IOCC and its church partner in Syria, the
Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch
and All the East (GOPA), offered the onemonth training as a way to help Syria’s
most vulnerable families achieve some
financial independence. The new skills
help provide vital income for the women
and their families while displaced Syrian
children benefit by receiving warm clothes
to protect them against bitter cold.
Along with the training, IOCC/GOPA
also provides the wool and needles used
to craft hand-knit sweaters and leggings
for displaced infants and toddlers. Many
of the knitters, unemployed and displaced
widows with no means of financial support, are especially grateful for the new
skills that allow them to work where they
live and remain with their own children.
“Thanks to this program, people who
are able to work and have some experience can earn a living without asking for
help from anyone,” said Shahira, an elderly widow who has spent the past three
years living in a Damascus shelter with her
three children. “With the money we make
we can provide for our personal needs,
from clothing to medicine.”
The cash-for-work program established in 2013 by IOCC/GOPA in cooperation with local community leaders has
provided an essential source of income
to more than 1,500 jobless Syrians who
have struggled to provide for their families through four years of conflict. The
program teaches displaced Syria women
and men new skills like knitting clothing
or sewing school uniforms, and harnesses
skilled manpower for community projects
like cleaning up and restoring public
spaces.
Beyond the immediate benefits of
providing income and bringing comfort
to Syria’s most vulnerable, the program
also helps empower displaced people by
providing productive activities. For families like Shahira’s whose lives have been
devastated by the civil strife in Syria, the
psychological benefits of the work may be
as beneficial as the economic impacts the
program has. “This program has helped
a lot of women earn the money they
needed,” said Shahira. “It also helps needy
children and displaced families like mine
by providing them with winter clothes
they could not buy themselves. Knowing
that we can help others makes us work
even harder.”
Since 2012, IOCC, an ACT Alliance
member, has been addressing the wellbeing of Syria’s most vulnerable people by
providing urgently needed humanitarian
relief and self-help programs to 2.4 million
people inside Syria affected by the crisis,
In addition to its work inside Syria, IOCC
staff is working regionally to address the
growing needs of refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Armenia as well as people
in need in those host countries.
11
JANUARY 2015
HCHC
DR. ANN BEZZIRIDES
MICHAEL A. TISHEL
BROOKLINE, Mass. – CrossRoad, the
10-day program sponsored by the Office of
Vocation and Ministry (OVM) at Hellenic
College Holy Cross School of Theology,
offers theological and vocational reflection
and worship for high school juniors and seniors. The program is preparing for another
summer of activity as it enters its 12th year.
The program accepts applications from
students throughout the United States. The
Office of Vocation and Ministry director
is Dr. Ann Bezzirides. Michael A. Tishel is
CrossRoad director and assistant director
of the OVM. Below is information to some
commonly asked questions about the program provided by the OVM staff.
What do the students do in a typical day?
What do they learn in the classroom?
Everyday is different at CrossRoad,
but there is a basic daily routine that stays
the same throughout the program. The
students participate in daily chapel services
on campus. They both attend and play
an active role in the service – reading the
epistle, chanting at the readers’ stand, and
serving in the altar. The program follows
three stages which address the foundational
questions: who am I, who is God, and who
is my neighbor. Throughout this experience
they attend classes by seminary-level professors on theology and scripture, participate
in a staff-led session on a variety of engaging
topics (e.g. Pop Culture, Technology, etc.),
and do community outreach projects. Afternoons bring continued unique curriculum
or fun excursions in Boston. The evenings
always conclude with a Vespers service,
either on campus or at a local Orthodox parish. The program concludes with two service activities: in the first, they meet people
without homes face-to-face and get to know
them personally. In the second, they spend
an afternoon visiting with residents at local
nursing homes.
What about accommodations, meals,
etc.
Participants stay on the campus of
Hellenic College Holy Cross. Each student
stays in his/her room in the campus residence hall. Meals are served both on and
off campus, either by the Chartwells, the
school’s professional dining service, or by
local restaurants.
How can students apply and when do
they learn if they are accepted?
Students may apply for CrossRoad
online by visiting the program’s website at
www.crossroadinstitute.org. Application
forms are also available for download at
the website, and can be printed, filled out
by hand, and mailed to our office directly.
The priority deadline for all applications is
March 2. Applicants will be notified of an
admission decision by mid-April.
The program is offered in two sessions;
Session 1: June 20–30; Session 2: July 7–17.
There is a partial tuition fee for the 2015
CrossRoad Summer Institute of $500 for
the 10–day session. The fee represents less
than 25 percent of the $2,300 actual cost to
support each participant. In addition, travel
arrangements to and from Hellenic College
are also the responsibility of the participant.
That stated, it is CrossRoad policy that no
accepted participant requesting financial aid
will be turned away. For this reason, limited
funds are available to assist participants who
are unable to pay the full tuition fee. Applicants must wait for the admissions decision
before sending the tuition fee. Admission is
not automatically granted by applying to the
program. Parishes of accepted CrossRoad
applicants provide full or partial financial
aid. Consider approaching your parish to
see if they would be willing to help provide
support. If you would like help drafting
a request for support from your parish,
please contact us.For accepted applicants,
the tuition is due by June 1.
Are extracurricular activities offered?
In addition to the staff-led sessions and
theology courses, students participate in a
variety of other activities: a ropes course at
Project Adventure in rural Beverly, Mass.,
to facilitate group bonding; visits to local
Orthodox parishes from a variety of ethnic
jurisdictions in order to encounter the
universality of the Church; two trips into
Boston to explore historic Fanueil Hall and
have a picnic on the Boston Common for
parea. At the end of the session, everyone
boards a bus for a day at the beach on the
North Shore of Massachusetts.
How many students are accepted?
We have two sessions of 30 students
each, for a total of 60 participants each
summer. We have found that students thrive
spiritually, intellectually and communally
in a more intimate environment, and the
5–1 staff to participant ratio also allows for
an unparalleled level of safety and security.
What church services will they attend?
Are they all at the chapel, or at other
churches as well?
Participants attend daily Orthros and
Vespers services as well as Divine Liturgy
if the session coincides with a Sunday or
Feast Day. Orthros/Liturgy is celebrated
at Hellenic College Holy Cross. Vespers is
often celebrated at local parishes of various
jurisdictions.
What transportation arrangements are
involved? Can students bring cars? If
they’re flying in from another part of the
country, what’s the best way for them
to get to the campus?
Many participants travel from as far
away as California or Texas and, therefore,
come by plane into Boston’s Logan Airport,
where they are met by CrossRoad staff. Others are driven by family/friends, and picked
up at the end of the program. If participants
drive their own vehicles to campus, students are able to park on campus but must
turn in their keys to CrossRoad staff for the
duration of the program.
About the CrossRoad Program
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12
JANUARY 2015
ΙΑΝΟΥΑΡΙΟΣ 2015
ΕΤΟΣ 80 • ΑΡΙΘΜΟΣ 1302
Ε Γ Κ Υ Κ Λ ΙΟΣ
Φωτογραφίες: ΔΗΜΗΤΡΗΣ ΠΑΝΑΓΟΣ
Ἡμέρα τῶν
Τριῶν Ἱεραρχῶν
καί τῶν Ἑλληνικῶν
Γραμμάτων
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 τῶν
Τριῶν Ἱεραρχῶν, εὐχαριστοῦμε τόν
Θεό γιά τήν ὡραία μαρτυρία πίστεως
τῶν Ἁγίων Βασιλείου τοῦ Μεγάλου,
Γρηγορίου Θεολόγου και Ίωάννου
Χρυσοστόμου. Τιμῶντας τους τήν
ἡμέρα αὐτή ὡς μεγίστους Διδασκάλους
καί Θεολόγους, τούς ἀναγνωρίζουμε
ἐπίσης ὡς ἀντιπροσωπευτικές μορφές πολλῶν Ἁγίων τῆς Ἐκκλησίας οἱ
ὁποῖοι μετέδωσαν ἀλήθεια, μετελαμπάδευσαν θεία σοφία καί προσέφεραν
ἐμπνέουσαν μαρτυρία τῆς ἀγάπης τοῦ
Εὐαγγελίου. Λόγῳ τοῦ πλούτου τῆς
διδασκαλίας των καί τῆς φλογερῆς
ὑποστηρίξεως τῆς πίστεως ἐκ μέρους
των, οἱ ὕμνοι μας καλοῦν ὅλους τούς
ἀνθρώπους σέ παγκόσμιο ἑορτασμό
τῆς ἡμέρας αὐτῆς. Τούς τιμοῦμε διότι
ἡ ζωή των ὑπῆρξε ἱαματική στό ὄνομα
τοῦ Χριστοῦ.
Εἴμεθα βαθύτατα εὐγνώμονες σέ
αὐτούς τούς «ζῶντες ποταμούς Πνεύματος» γιά τίς ἀδιάκοπες πρεσβεῖες
των ὑπέρ ἡμῶν στήν Ἁγία Τριάδα ὡς
«κήρυκας χάριτος καί ὁδηγούς πρός τά
ἄνω τοῦ παραδείσου». (Ὕμνοι Ἑσπερινοῦ τῆς Ἑορτῆς τῶν Τριῶν Ἱεραρχῶν)
Ἡ μνημόνευση ἐκ μέρους μας
αὐτῶν τῶν μεγίστων Πρωταθλητῶν
τῆς Πίστεώς μας συνδέεται μέ τήν ἀναγνώριση ἑνός ἄλλου σημαντικοῦ γεγονότος, δηλαδή μέ τόν ἑορτασμό τῆς
Σελίδα 14
Eορτασμός Θεοφανείων σε Τάρπον Σπρινγκς και Οικουμενικό Πατριαρχείο
ΤΑΡΠΟΝ ΣΠΡΙΝΓΚΣ, Φλόριδα – Το
Τάρπον Σπρινγκς, η πόλη των Θεοφανείων,
όπως έχει γίνει γνωστή σε ολόκληρη την
Αμερική, γιόρτασε για μια ακόμη χρονιά
με λαμπρότητα, κατά την αρμόζουσα
παράδοση και τάξη τη μεγάλη γιορτή της
Ορθοδοξίας.
Ο Σεβασμιώτατος Αρχιεπίσκοπος Αμερικής κ. Δημήτριος, ως είθισται, προεξήρχε
των εορταστικών εκδηλώσεων.
Νωρίτερα, στον ιστορικό Καθεδρικό
Ναό του Αγίου Νικολάου Τάρπον Σπρίνγκς,
ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος συλλειτούργησε με τους Μητροπολίτες Ατλάντας Αλέξιο
και Δαρδανελλίων Νικήτα και τον προϊστάμενο του Καθεδρικού, π. Αναστάσιο
Γούναρη. Η πομπή που σχηματίστηκε έξω
από τον Καθεδρικό Ναό του Αγίου Νικολάου οδήγησε στο μικρό κολπίσκο Σπρινγκ
Μπαγιού, όπου παρουσία χιλιάδων κόσμου
που συρρέουν κάθε χρόνο από κάθε γωνιά
της Αμερικής αλλά και του υπόλοιπου
πλανήτη, πραγματοποιήθηκε η τελετή της
κατάδυσης του Τιμίου Σταυρού.
Ανάμεσα στους 50 βουτηχτές, τυχερός της φετινής χρονιάς αναδείχθηκε ο
18χρονος Κωνσταντίνος Σεφτελής, από το
Τάρπον Σπρινγκς.
Πριν την τελετή, κρατήθηκε ενός λεπτού σιγή στη μνήμη του 45χρονου αστυνομικού, Charles Kondek που δολοφονήθηκε εν ώρα υπηρεσίας στο Τάρπον Σπρινγκς
στις 21 Δεκεμβρίου του περασμένου έτους.
ΣΤΟ ΟΙΚΟΥΜΕΝΙΚΟ ΠΑΤΡΙΑΡΧΕΙΟ
Στ ο Ο ι κ ο υ μ ε ν ι κ ό Πα τρ ι α ρ χ ε ί ο
γιορτάστηκαν και φέτος τα Θεοφάνεια
με Πατριαρχική Θεία Λειτουργία, η οποία
καθιερώθηκε από τον Οικουμενικό Πατριάρχη
Βαρθολομαίο, σε συνδυασμό με την Κατάδυση
του Τιμίου Σταυρού στα νερά του Κεράτιου
Κόλπου, μετά από άδεια των Τουρκικών Αρχών
τα τελευταία χρόνια.
Με τον Πατριάρχη συλλειτούργησαν
το πρωί στον Πατριαρχικό Ναό του Αγίου
Γεωργίου στο Φανάρι οι Μητροπολίτες:
Γέρων Νίκαιας Κωνσταντίνος, Προικοννήσου
Ιωσήφ, Φιλαδελφείας Μελίτων, Σεβαστείας
Δημήτριος, Κυδωνιών Αθηναγόρας, Σηλυβρίας
Μάξιμος και Αδριανουπόλεως Αμφιλόχιος.
Εκκλησιάστηκαν πλήθη προσκυνητών
και επισκεπτών, μεταξύ των οποίων ο
πρόεδρος της Αφρικανικής Δημοκρατίας του
Τόγκο Φορ Νανσιμπέ (Faure Gnassingbé)
και η συνοδεία του, ο Γενικός Πρόξενος της
Ελλάδος στην Πόλη Νικόλαος Ματθιουδάκης,
εκπρόσωποι ξένων κυβερνήσεων και άρχοντες
του Οικουμενικού Πατριαρχείου.
Στο τέλος της Θ. Λειτουργία σχηματίστηκε
Φωτογραφίες: ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΣ ΠΑΝΑΓΟΣ
λιτανευτική πομπή με επικεφαλής τον
Πατριάρχη και κατεύθυνση την αποβάθρα
του Φαναρίου στον Κεράτιο κόλπο, όπου έγινε
η καθιερωμένη πλέον τελετή του καθαγιασμού
των υδάτων. Αξίζει να σημειωθεί πως στην
αποβάθρα του Φαναρίου περίμεναν από νωρίς
πλήθη επισκεπτών και προσκυνητών, πολλοί
από τους οποίους είχαν επιβιβασθεί σε πλωτά
μέσα για να παρακολουθήσουν καλύτερα την
τελετή.
Ο Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης έριξε τον
Σταυρό στα νερά του Κεράτιου και παρά
το διαπεραστικό κρύο περισσότεροι από
20 κολυμβητές, άνδρες και γυναίκες, όχι
μόνον Ορθόδοξοι, ορμώμενοι από τέσσερις
βάρκες, βούτηξαν για να πιάσουν τον Σταυρό.
Τελικά τον Σταυρό ανέσυρε ο Savas Ozbey,
δημοσιογράφος, στον οποίο ο Πατριάρχης
προσέφερε αναμνηστικό μετάλλιο, ενώ
διένειμε σταυρό και στους υπόλοιπους
κολυμβητές, μεταξύ των οποίων ήταν και
πολλοί νέοι Τούρκοι.
Την τελετή αναμετέδωσε δορυφορικά
από τις συχνότητες της η ΝΕΡΙΤ και την
αναπαρήγαγε το διεθνές πρακτορείο Associated Press.
Ακολουθεί το σχετικό δελτίο του
Οικουμενικού Πατριαρχείου.
ΤΑ ΑΓΙΑ ΘΕΟΦΑΝΕΙΑ
ΕΝ ΤΟΙΣ ΠΑΤΡΙΑΡΧΕΙΟΙΣ
Ἡ Α. Θ. Παναγιότης ὁ Πατριάρχης,
παρέστη συμπροσευχόμενος ἀπό τοῦ Ἱ.
Βήματος τοῦ Π. Πατριαρχικοῦ Ναοῦ, κατά τόν
Ἑσπερινόν μετά τῆς Θείας Λειτουργίας τοῦ Μ.
Βασιλείου τήν παραμονήν τῶν Θεοφανείων,
Δευτέραν, 5ην Ἰανουαρίου, ἐνῶ τήν ἑπομένην,
Τρίτην, 6 ην ἰδίου, προέστη τῆς Θείας
Λειτουργίας τῆς Ἑορτῆς, ἐν συλλειτουργίᾳ
μετά τῶν Σεβ. Μητροπολιτῶν Γέροντος
Νικαίας κ. Κωνσταντίνου, Προικοννήσου
κ. Ἰωσήφ, Φιλαδελφείας κ. Μελίτωνος,
Σεβαστείας κ. Δημητρίου, Κυδωνιῶν κ.
Ἀθηναγόρου, Σηλυβρίας κ. Μαξίμου καί
Ἀδριανουπόλεως κ. Ἀμφιλοχίου.
Ἐν τῷ τέλει τῆς Δοξολογίας, ἡ Α. Θ.
Παναγιότης ὁ Πατριάρχης, ἐτέλεσε τόν
Μέγαν Ἁγιασμόν, ἁγιάσας ἐν συνεχείᾳ τούς
συλλειτουργούς Αὐτοῦ ἁγίους Ἀρχιερεῖς,
Σελίδα 16
Φωτογραφία: Νικόλαος Μαγγίνας
14
ΟΡΘΟ∆ΟΞΟΣ ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΤΗΣ
ΙΑΝΟΥΑΡΙΟΣ 2015
Ε Γ Κ Υ Κ Λ ΙΟΣ
Ἑορτή Ἁγίου Βασιλείου καί Νέον Ἔτος
Ἄφετε τά παιδία καί μή κωλύετε αὐτά
ἐλθεῖν πρός μέ∙ τῶν γάρ τοιούτων ἐστίν
ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν.
(Ματθ. 19:14)
Προσφιλεῖς Ἀδελφοί
καί Ἀδελφές ἐν Χριστῷ,
Στήν εὐλογημένη αὐτή Ἑορτή τοῦ Ἀγίου
Βασιλείου καί τῆς ἐνάρξεως τοῦ Νέου Ἔτους,
ἀκολουθοῦμε τήν τιμημένη παράδοσή μας νά
προσφέρουμε τήν προσευχή καί ὑποστήριξή
μας στήν ἱερή διακονία τῆς προσφιλοῦς μας
Ἀκαδημίας τοῦ Ἁγίου Βασιλείου. Ἐπί ἑβδομήντα ἔτη τῆς ζωῆς του, αὐτό τό ἵδρυμα τῆς
Ἱερᾶς Ἀρχιεπισκοπῆς μας ἔχει προσφέρει τήν
ἀγάπη τοῦ Χριστοῦ, τήν παρηγοριά τῆς παρουσίας Του καί τήν θεραπευτκή δύναμη τῆς
πίστεως σέ παιδιά, νέους καί οἰκογένειες πού
ἔχουν ἀνάγκη βοηθείας. Ὑπηρετῶντας Ὀρθόδοξα παιδιά ἀπό ὁλόκληρη τήν ἐπικράτεια τῶν
Ἡνωμένων Πολιτειῶν, ἡ Ἀκαδημία τοῦ Ἁγίου
Βασιλείου συνεχίζει νά τούς προσφέρῃ ἕνα
προστατευτικό καί πνευματικό περιβάλλον
ὅπου ἔχουν τή δυνατότητα νά μεγαλώνουν,
νά μαθαίνουν καί νά προοδεύουν.
Τό σημαντικό αὐτό ἔργο τῆς Ἀκαδημίας
Ἁγίου Βασιλείου, τό ὁποῖο ἐπιτελοῦν οἱ διευθύνοντες, τό προσωπικό, οἱ ἐπίτροποι καί
δωρητές, ἀκολουθεῖ τήν ἐντολή τοῦ Κυρίου
ἄφετε τά παιδία καί μή κωλύετε αὐτά ἐλθεῖν
πρός μέ (Ματθ. 19:14). Αὐτό ἐπιτυγχάνεται
δι’ αὐτῆς τῆς διακονίας ἡ ὁποία κομίζει τήν
ἀγάπη τοῦ Χριστοῦ σ’αὐτούς πού ἔχουν ἀνάγκη. Ὁ,τιδήποτε προσφέρεται γιά τά παιδιά καί
τούς νέους στόν Ἅγιο Βασίλειο προσφέρεται
στό ὄνομα καί ἐν τῇ παρουσίᾳ τοῦ Χριστοῦ.
Στήν καθημερινή φροντίδα, στήν παροχή
συμβουλῶν καί διδασκαλίας, στήν ψυχαγωγία
καί λατρεία, οἱ μαθητές συναντοῦν τόν Χριστό
καί τήν ἄφθονη καί παρηγορητική ἀγάπη Του.
Ἡ Ἀκαδημία τοῦ Ἁγίου Βασιλείου εἶναι
ἐπίσης ἕνας χῶρος ὅπου οἱ ζωές τῶν παιδιῶν καί τῶν νέων καθοδηγοῦνται ἀπό τόν
Χριστό. Σ’αὐτόν τόν ὑπέροχο χῶρο, σέ ἕνα
στοργικό περιβάλλον προσευχῆς καί χάριτος,
ὁδηγοῦνται στήν ὁδό τῆς ἀληθείας καί τῆς
ἀγάπης. Μαθαίνουν τίς εὐλογίες τῆς ἐν Χριστῷ
ζωῆς καί διδάσκονται πῶς νά ἀκολουθοῦν τό
θέλημά Του καί νά ἀνακαλύπτουν τήν δύναμη
καί τήν βεβαιότητα τῶν ὑποσχέσεών Του. Βιώνουν ἐλπίδα, χαρά καί δύναμη στή ζωή πίστεως
καί στήν διά βίου σχέση μαζί Του.
Αὐτό τό ἱερό ἔργο ἦταν έπίσης καί τό
κέντρο προσοχῆς τοῦ προστάτη ἁγίου τῆς
Ἀκαδημίας, τοῦ Ἁγίου Βασιλείου. Γιά τούς
ἀσθενεῖς, τά ὀρφανά, τούς ταξιδιῶτες καί
πολλούς ἄλλους πού εἶχαν ἀνάγκη, προσέφερε τή σύνδεση μέ τόν Χριστό φέρνοντας τήν
ἀγάπη Του σ’ αὐτούς. Ἄλλους τούς ὁδήγησε
μέ ἀλήθεια καί ἀγάπη διά τῆς διδασκαλίας καί
τοῦ κηρύγματός Του, ὡς πιστός καί εὐσπλαγχνικός ἱερέας, στόν Σωτήρα και Λυτρωτή
τους. Αὐτή εἶναι καί ἡ κλήση μας σήμερα. Στήν
ὑποστήριξή μας γιά τήν Ἀκαδημία τοῦ Ἁγίου
Βασιλείου, ὁδηγούμεθα ἀπό τήν Φιλόπτωχο
Ἀδελφότητα Κυριῶν καί τά τοπικά παραρτήματά της συγκεντρώνοντας προσφορές
καί συμμετέχοντας στόν ἑορτασμό τῆς κοπῆς
τῆς Βασιλόπιττας. Ὁδηγούμεθα ἐπίσης ἀπό
τόν Χριστό καί τό παράδειγμα τοῦ Ἁγίου
Βασιλείου νά ἐκπληρώνουμε τήν ἐντολή τοῦ
Κυρίου μας καί νά φέρουμε τά παιδιά κοντά
Του. Στή διακονία σας στήν ἐνορία καί στήν
καθημερινή ἐν Χριστῷ ζωή σας, καλεῖσθε νά
προσφέρετε Ἐκεῖνον καί νά ὁδηγήσετε ἄλλους
σέ συνάντηση μέ τόν Κύριο πού θά ὁδηγήσῃ
σέ περίσσεια καί αἰώνια ζωή.
Τήν ἡμέρα αὐτή, εἴθε νά προσευχηθοῦμε
καί νά προσφέρουμε τή γενναιόδωρη στήριξή
μας γιά τήν Ἀκαδημία τοῦ Ἁγίου Βασιλείου.
Εἴθε νά ἐνισχύσουμε αὐτό τό σημαντικό ἔργο
γιά τά παιδιά καί τούς νέους ἐκπληρώνοντας
τό αἴτημα τοῦ Κυρίου μας καί τιμῶντας τήν
κληρονομιά ὅλων ἐκείνων οἱ ὁποῖοι ἵδρυσαν
καί στήριξαν αὐτή τήν διακονία ἐπί ἑβδομήντα ἔτη. Εἴθε, ἐπίσης, νά λάβετε τίς ἄφθονες
καί πλούσιες εὐλογίες τοῦ Κυρίου μας στόν
καινούργιο χρόνο πού ἀρχίζει καθώς Τοῦ
προσφέρουμε δόξα καί τιμή στούς αἰῶνες
τῶν αἰώνων!
Μετά πατρικῆς ἐν Χριστῷ ἀγάπης,
† ὁ Ἀρχιεπίσκοπος Ἀμερικῆς Δημήτριος
Ε Γ Κ Υ Κ Λ ΙΟΣ
Ἡμέρα τῶν Τριῶν Ἱεραρχῶν
καί τῶν Ἑλληνικῶν Γραμμάτων
Σελίδα 13
Ἡμέρας τῶν Ἑλληνικῶν Γραμμάτων. Τήν
ἡμέρα αὐτή, ἐπιβεβαιώνουμε τήν πνευματική κληρονομιά μας ὡς Ἑλληνορθοδόξων
Χριστιανῶν μαζί μέ μία πλούσια κληρονομιά μορφώσεως, σκέψεως, γλώσσης καί
ὁρισμένες ἐκ τῶν μεγαλυτέρων ἐκφράσεων
καί ἀνακαλύψεων τῆς ἀνθρώπινης ὑπάρξεως. Ἐπιλέγουμε τήν ἡμέρα τῆς Ἑορτῆς τῶν
Τριῶν Ἱεραρχῶν γιά νά τό κάνουμε αὐτό,
διότι οἱ Ἅγιοι αὐτοί Πατέρες τῆς Ἐκκλησίας
ἀποτελοῦν ὑποδείγματα κατανοήσεως καί
ἐπικοινωνίας τῶν ὑψηλοτέρων δεξιοτήτων
καί τοῦ δυναμικοῦ τοῦ ἀνθρωπισμοῦ μας σέ
σχέση μέ τήν ταυτότητά μας ὡς προσώπων
πλασμένων κατ’ εἰκόνα καί καθ’ ὁμοίωσιν
Θεοῦ.
Στήν διδασκαλία, στά κηρύγματα καί
στή διακονία των, ὁ Μέγας Βασίλειος,
ὁ Γρηγόριος Θεολόγος καί ὁ Ἰωάννης
Χρυσόστομος δίδαξαν τήν ὀρθή σχέση
πίστεως καί λογικῆς, ἐπιβεβαιώνοντας ὅτι
ἡ ἀναζήτηση γνώσεως εἶναι συνυφασμένη
μέ τήν ὕπαρξή μας.
Συνδυάζοντας τήν θεία ἀποκάλυψη μέ
τήν γνώση τῶν μεγάλων φιλοσοφικῶν παραδόσεων, ἀνεγνώρισαν ὅτι ὁ ἐσωτερικός
στοχασμός σέ συνδυασμό μέ τήν ἱκανότητά
μας νά σκεπτόμεθα καί νά πιστεύουμε,
δημιούργησαν τήν βάση γιά ἕναν σωστό
τρόπο ζωῆς σέ σχέση μέ τόν Θεό, τούς
συνανθρώπους μας καί ὁλόκληρη τήν
δημιουργία.
Γιά τούς Τρεῖς Ἱεράρχες, αὐτό ἀποτελοῦσε ἀληθινή φιλοσοφία, ζῶσα σοφία καί
ζωή γιά τήν ὁποία πλασθήκαμε.
Κατανοῶντας τήν σχέση πίστεως
καί λογικῆς, αὐτοί οἱ σοφοί Διδάσκαλοι
ἐπιβεβαίωσαν διά τῶν λόγων τοῦ Ἁγίου
Βασιλείου ὅτι: «καλόν μέν ὁ νοῦς καί ἐν
τούτῳ ἔχομεν τό κατ’εἰκόνα τοῦ Κτίσαντος» (Ἐπιστολή 233).
Ἡ τιμή πού ἀποδίδεται σέ κάθε πρόσωπο ὡς λογικό ὄν ἀποτελεῖ ἀναγνώριση
τῆς ἱκανότητος χρήσεως τοῦ νοῦ γιά
τήν ἀπόκτηση καί χρήση τῆς γνώσεως,
ἰδιαιτέρως σέ σχέση μέ τήν πίστη. Ὁ ἱερός Χρυσόστομος εἶπε ὅτι ὁ νοῦς καί οἱ
ἀνθρώπινες ἱκανότητές μας μᾶς βοηθοῦν
νά ἐκτιμήσουμε «τήν σοφίαν τοῦ Θεοῦ καί
τήν τιμήν τήν δοθεῖσαν ἡμῖν» (Ὁμιλία 11,
Περί Ἀδριάντων).
Ὁ Ἅγιος Βασίλειος ἀνεγνώρισε ὅτι ἡ
ἱκανότητά μας νά διαλογιζόμεθα καί νά
ἀποκτοῦμε γνώση μᾶς ὁδηγεῖ νά προσεγγίσουμε τήν ἰδέα τοῦ Θεοῦ, νά ἀντιληφθοῦμε
ὅτι εἶναι σοφός, δυνατός καί ἀγαθός καί
Φωτογραφία: ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΣ ΠΑΝΑΓΟΣ
Επίσκεψη του Πατριάρχου Αντιoχείας Ιωάννου Ι΄
στην Ιερά Αρχιεπισκοπή Αμερικής
του Σταύρου Παπαγερμανού
ΝΕΑ ΥΟΡΚΗ – Ο Μακαριώτατος
Πατριάρχης Αντιoχείας κ. Ιωάννης ο Ι΄,
πραγματοποίησε ποιμαντορική επίσκεψη
στην Αμερική στα πλαίσια της οποίας
επισκέφθηκε στις 9 Δεκεμβρίου 2014 και
την Ελληνική Ορθόδοξο Αρχιεπισκοπή
Αμερικής και συναντήθηκε με τον Αρχιεπίσκοπο Αμερικής κ. Δημήτριο.
Ο Μακαριώτατος μετά την άφιξή του
στην έδρα της Αρχιεπισκοπής Αμερικής
προέστη Δοξολογίας στο παρεκκλήσι του
Αποστόλου Παύλου.
Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Αμερικής Δημήτριος, στην επίσημη προσφώνησή του
καλωσόρισε τον Πατριάρχη και την
ακολουθία του τονίζοντας ιδιαιτέρως
«την μακρά και στενή σχέση ανά τους
αιώνες μεταξύ του Οικουμενικού Πατριαρχείου Κωνσταντινουπόλεως και
του Πατριαρχείου Αντιόχειας» και κατ’
επέκταση «την στενή σχέση μεταξύ της
Ελληνικής Ορθοδόξου Αρχιεπισκοπής
και της Αντιοχειανής Αρχιεπισκοπής
εν Αμερική», η οποία όπως είπε υπήρξε
καρποφόρος και βοήθησε στην προαγωγή του πνεύματος συνεργασίας, αγάπης
και ενότητος μεταξύ των Ορθοδόξων
παρουσιών στην Αμερική.
Καταλήγοντας ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος
Δημήτριος είπε: «Είμεθα βέβαιοι ότι η
παρουσία Σας εδώ θα αυξήσει έτι πλέον
το δεσμό αγάπης μεταξύ όλων των εν
Αμερική Ορθοδόξων ώστε το μήνυμα
της Ορθοδοξίας το οποίο προσφέρομε να
ακουσθεί με εντονώτερο και ωραιότερο
τρόπο στο Δυτικό ημισφαίριο».
ΑΝΤΙΦΩΝΙΣΗ
ΠΑΤΡΙΑΡΧΟΥ ΙΩΑΝΝΗ
Ο Πατριάρχης Αντιόχειας Ιωάννης
ἑπομένως «τῇ γνώσει ἡ πίστις ἀκολουθεῖ
καί τῇ τοιαύτῃ πίστει ἡ προσκύνησις».
(Ἐπιστολή 235)
Ὁ ἑορτασμός μας αὐτή τήν ἡμέρα ὁ
ὁποῖος ἐπικεντρώνεται στό θέμα τῆς σχέσεως μεταξύ πίστεως καί λογικῆς γεννᾶ
εὐγνωμοσύνη γιά τούς Τρεῖς Ἱεράρχες λόγῳ
τῆς σοφίας καί πίστεώς των. Αὐτός καθ’
ἑαυτός ὁ ἑορτασμός δείχνει, ἐπίσης, τήν
σχέση μεταξύ τῆς Ὀρθοδόξου πίστεως καί
τῆς Ἑλληνικῆς κληρονομιᾶς μας, δίδοντας
ἔμφαση στή μοναδική μαρτυρία μας καί
σημαντική προσφορά μας στόν κόσμο.
Τό θέμα αὐτό ἐπιβεβαιώνει ἐπιπροσθέτως τήν σημασία συγγενῶν προγραμμάτων
στίς κοινότητές μας, προγραμμάτων τά
ὁποῖα ὁδηγοῦν τή νεολαία μας νά γνωρίσῃ
τίς πηγές τῆς πίστεώς μας καί τῆς Ἑλληνικῆς κληρονομιᾶς καί ταυτότητός μας, καί
προσφέρουν διδασκαλία ἡ ὁποία μᾶς βοηθᾶ
νά ἐξετάσουμε καί νά ἐξερευνήσουμε τίς
ἱκανότητες καί τό δυναμικό μας γιά μιά
στην αντιφώνησή του στα Ελληνικά
μίλησε για την Ορθόδοξη Εκκλησία ως
τη Μία, Αγία, Καθολική και Αποστολική
Εκκλησία και τόνισε ότι «το Πατριαρχείο
Αντιοχείας πάντοτε θα έχει το ζωντανό
ρόλο μέσα στην Ορθόδοξο Εκκλησία
κοντά στον Οικουμενικό Πατριάρχη για
όλα τα πανορθόδοξα και διορθόδοξα
θέματα και για το καλό της Εκκλησίας».
«Ερχόμαστε εμείς από τη Μέση Ανατολή από μία χώρα βασανισμένη αυτές
τις ημέρες και γνωρίζουμε ότι δεν μας
ξεχνάτε στις ευχές και στις προσευχές
σας και όπως είχαμε λάβει και από τον
Πατριάρχη πολλές φορές και γράμματα
και τηλέφωνα για να μας ενισχύσει και
να μας δείξει την αγάπη του. Σας ευχαριστούμε πάρα πολύ για την αγάπη για
την υποστήριξη για την υποδοχή που
μας επιφυλάξατε. Το ότι βρισκόμαστε
τώρα αυτή την ώρα μαζί σας στην Ιερά
Αρχιεπισκοπή σας αυτό γίνεται μόνο και
μόνο για να δείξουμε από την καρδιά μας
ότι είμαστε μια Εκκλησία, μια οικογένεια
και γι’ αυτό να εύχεστε πάντα και για
μας και για την Εκκλησία της Αντιοχείας
και για την περιοχή μας και το λαό μας
που βασανίζεται. Σεβασμιώτατε ο Θεός
να σας δίνει πάντα υγεία και δύναμη για
το καλό της Ορθοδοξίας. Ευχαριστούμε
πάρα πολύ».
Τον Μακαριώτατο συνόδευαν ο
Μητροπολίτης της Αντιοχειανής Αρχιεπισκοπής εν Αμερική κ. Ιωσήφ, καθώς και
Ιεράρχες και κληρικοί της Αντιοχειανής
Αρχιεπισκοπής.
Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος είχε
ιδιαίτερη συνάντηση με τον Πατριάρχη
Ιωάννη και τον Μητροπολίτη Ιωσήφ
και στη συνέχεια παρέθεσε γεύμα προς
τιμήν του Πατριάρχου παρουσία πολλών
ιεραρχών και κληρικών.
ζωή ἀρετῆς, σοφίας καί χάριτος.
Καθώς ἑορτάζουμε αὐτή τήν εὐλογημένη Ἑορτή καί τιμοῦμε τήν κληρονομιά
μας τῶν Ἑλληνικῶν Γραμμάτων, καλούμεθα
νά εὐχαριστήσουμε τόν Θεό γιά τά ἄφθονα
δῶρα Του τά ὁποῖα μᾶς ὁδηγοῦν σ’ Ἐκεῖνον
καί στόν σκοπό τῆς δημιουργίας μας.
Κα λούμεθα νά τόν δοξάσουμε ἐν
λόγοις καί ὕμνοις ψάλλοντας τόν ὕμνο
τοῦ Ἑσπερινοῦ τῶν Τριῶν Ἱεραρχῶν, «Τριάς Ἁγία καί προσκυνητή, ἐχαρίσω τοῖς
ἀνθρώποις τούς Τρεῖς μεγάλους Φωστῆρας
τῷ φωτί λαμπαδοχοῦντας τῆς σῆς ἐπιγνώσεως».
Μετά πατρικῆς ἐν Χριστῷ ἀγάπης,
† ὁ Ἀρχιεπίσκοπος Ἀμερικῆς Δημήτριος
ΙΑΝΟΥΑΡΙΟΣ 2015
ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΟΣ
ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΤΗΣ
ORTHODOX
OBSERVER
15
Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης Βαρθολομαίος: Απολογισμός της χρονιάς που πέρασε
Ἱερώτατοι ἅγιοι ἀδελφοί,
Ἐντιμότατε κύριε Πρόξενε τῆς Ἑλλάδος,
Ἐντιμολογιώτατοι Ἄρχοντες
τῆς Μητρός Ἐκκλησίας,
Τέκνα ἐν Κυρίῳ ἀγαπητά,
Εἰσελθόντες ἤδη εἰς τόν νέον ἐνιαυτόν τῆς
χρηστότητος Κυρίου, ἐν πρώτοις εὐχαριστοῦμεν
θερμῶς διά τάς ὑποβληθείσας ἡμῖν εὐχάς καί
ἑορτίους προσρήσεις ὑπό τῶν προλαλησάντων
Ἱερωτάτου Μητροπολίτου Νικαίας κυρίου
Κωνσταντίνου καί Ἐντιμολογιωτάτου ὀφφικιαλίου τῆς Μητρός Ἐκκλησίας κυρίου Ἰωάννου
Δεμιρτζόγλου. Ἐν συνεχείᾳ, αἰσθανόμεθα τήν
ἀνάγκην νά ἀπευθύνωμεν ὑμῖν πᾶσιν οὐχί μόνον
τάς συνήθεις εὐχάς δι᾿ ὑγείαν καί εὐημερίαν
καί ἐκπλήρωσιν πάντων τῶν πρός σωτηρίαν
αἰτημάτων ἀλλά κυρίως τόν λόγον καί τήν
μαρτυρίαν τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ,
ἐκφρασθέντα καί τελειωθέντα καί κατά τό
παριππεῦσαν ἔτος ὑπό τῆς Μητρός Ἐκκλησίας
διά τῆς ἡμῶν Μετριότητος, καί συγχρόνως νά
ἀναλυθῶμεν εἰς μελλοντικάς προσδοκίας διά τό
Οἰκουμενικόν Πατριαρχεῖον καί διά τόν λαόν
τοῦ Θεοῦ, γνωστάς μόνον τῷ Κυρίῳ «ὡς μήπω
πεπραγμένας», τῷ καί τελειοῦντι ἤ ματαιοῦντι
διά τῶν παρουσιαζομένων ὑπ᾿ Αὐτοῦ ὁδῶν ἤ
προσκομμάτων τούς ἡμετέρους ἀνθρωπίνους
σχεδιασμούς καί προγραμματισμούς.
Ἄλλωστε, διά τήν Ὀρθόδοξον Ἐκκλησίαν
καί διά τούς πιστούς της, ἐν τῇ πραγματικότητι
δέν ὑπάρχει χρόνος ἀλλά αἰωνιότης. Παρά
ταῦτα ὁ χρόνος εἶναι ἕν δῶρον τοῦ Θεοῦ• εἶναι
ἀκτῖνες αἱ ὁποῖαι ἐκχέονται παρά τοῦ Θεοῦ καί
διασκορπίζονται εἰς τούς ἀνθρώπους. Εἶναι
ἐργαλεῖον τό ὁποῖον παραδίδει ὁ Θεός εἰς τάς
ἀνθρωπίνας χεῖρας, διά νά ἐκδηλῶμεν τά συναισθήματα ἡμῶν ἀλλά καί διά νά καλλιεργῶμεν
καί νά οἰκοδομῶμεν τόν τρόπον τῆς ζωῆς καί τήν
πνευματικότητά μας. Ἐν τελικῇ ἀναλύσει, ὁ ρέων
ἄστατος χρόνος καί ὁ τρόπος μέ τόν ὁποῖον τόν
διαχειριζόμεθα θά κρίνῃ καί τό μέλλον, καί τήν
πορείαν καί τῶν προσώπων τά ὁποῖα βιοῦν τόν
χρόνον καί τῶν θεσμῶν, οἱ ὁποῖοι διακονοῦνται
ἐν χρόνῳ ὑπό προσώπων, ὑπό ἐχόντων τό αὐτεξούσιον ἀνθρώπων. Ἐκ τῆς χρήσεως, λοιπόν, τοῦ
χρόνου καί μόνον, ἀλλά καί ἐκ τῶν ἔργων, κρίνεται ἄν οἱ βιοῦντες τόν χρόνον ἄνθρωποι κα-
θίστανται αἰώνιοι καί καταλείπουν ἴχνη εἰς τούς
διακονουμένους θεσμούς. Ἡ Μήτηρ Ἐκκλησία
καί ἡμεῖς προσωπικῶς οὐδέποτε λησμονοῦμεν
ὅτι: «ἐάν τε ζῶμεν, τῷ Κυρίῳ ζῶμεν• ἐάν τε
ἀποθνήσκωμεν, τῷ Κυρίῳ ἀποθνήσκομεν... εἰς
τοῦτο γάρ Χριστός καί ἀπέθανε καί ἀνέστη καί
ἔζησεν ἵνα καί νεκρῶν καί ζώντων κυριεύσῃ»
(Ρωμ. ιδ΄, 8-10).
Ἔχοντες, λοιπόν, ὑπ᾿ ὄψει, τό Παυλικόν
«οὐδείς γάρ ἡμῶν ἑαυτῷ ζῇ καί οὐδείς ἑαυτῷ
ἀποθνήσκει» (ὅ.π. ιδ΄ 7-8), καλούμεθα ὡς
Οἰκουμενικόν Πατριαρχεῖον ὅπως τόν ἀρξάμενον ἐνιαυτόν καταστήσωμεν ἀκτῖνα τῆς παρουσίας τοῦ Χριστοῦ μέσα εἰς τόν κόσμον, ἔτος
ἀγάπης πρός τόν Θεόν καί πρός τόν ἄνθρωπον,
ἔτος εὐεργεσίας καί φιλανθρωπίας πρός ὅλους.
Καί εἰδικῶς διά τούς Ὀρθοδόξους πιστούς εἶναι
ἀπαραίτητον ἡ Ἐκκλησία νά δύναται νά βλέπῃ
πρός τόν οὐρανόν πρωτίστως καί εἶτα πρός τόν
κόσμον, οὕτως ὥστε νά δίδῃ κατ᾿ αὐτόν τόν
τρόπον φῶς καί ἐλπίδα εἰς κάθε ψυχήν, ἡ ὁποία
προσέρχεται πρός ἡμᾶς τούς κληρικούς. Ἰδού
τό χρέος καί ἡ εὐθύνη τῆς Ἐκκλησίας καί ἡμῶν
τῶν κληρικῶν: νά πλησιάσωμεν διά νά σώσωμεν
τόν ἄνθρωπον, τόν ἐγγύς καί τόν μακράν καί
νά τόν ὁδηγήσωμεν εἰς ἐκκλησιασμόν καί ὄχι
εἰς κοσμικισμόν (Ἅγιος Γρηγόριος ὁ Παλαμᾶς).
Ἐπισκοποῦντες δέ τά γεγονότα τοῦ μόλις
λήξαντος ἔτους, δοξάζομεν τόν Θεόν δι᾿ ὅσα
ἐχαρίσατο εἰς τό Οἰκουμενικόν Πατριαρχεῖον
καί εἰς ἡμᾶς καί δι᾿ ὅλας τάς εὐλογίας τάς
ὁποίας ἐπιδαψιλεύει ἡμῖν εἰς τήν ἀδιάκοπον
νυχθήμερον προσπάθειαν διά τήν ἐκπλήρωσιν
τῆς ἀποστολῆς αὐτοῦ, ἥτις συγκεφαλαιοῦται
εἰς τήν διά τῆς ἀγάπης σωτηρίαν «τῶν μικρῶν
τούτων τῶν ἐλαχίστων».
Ἐπιτραπήτω ἡμῖν σήμερον νά σημειώσωμεν
ἐπιγραμματικῶς ἔνια ἐκ τῶν πολλῶν γεγονότων
τῆς ἱστορικῆς πορείας τῆς Μητρός Ἐκκλησίας
κατά τό παρελθόν ἔτος, τά ὁποῖα ἀπό κοινοῦ,
ἀδελφοί, ἐβιώσαμεν, καί φρονοῦμεν ὅτι καταξιώνουν καί τόν διελθόντα χρόνον ἀλλά καί τά
διαδραματίσαντα ρόλον κατ᾿ αὐτόν πρόσωπα:
Πρωτίστως, κατά τόν μῆνα Μάρτιον τοῦ
2014, ἐπραγματοποιήθη ἐπιτυχῶς, πεποίθαμεν,
ἡ Σύναξις τῶν Προκαθημένων τῶν Ὀρθοδόξων
Ἐκκλησιῶν καί ἐδρομολογήθη ἡ ἀπό μακροῦ
ἀναμενομένη σύγκλησις τῆς Ἁγίας καί Μεγάλης
Συνόδου τῆς Ὀρθοδόξου Ἐκκλησίας, χάρις εἰς
τάς πρωτοβουλίας τῆς ἡμετέρας Μετριότητος ἐν
τῇ ὀφειλετικῇ μερίμνῃ ἡμῶν διά τήν διαφύλαξιν
καί διασφάλισιν τῆς ἑνότητος τῆς Ἐκκλησίας, ἡ
ὁποία ἐπιτυγχάνεται ὄχι μέ προγραμματισμούς
μόνον ἀλλ᾿ «ἐν Πνεύματι Ἁγίῳ».
Ἡ μετάβασις ἡμῶν ἐν μέσῃ Καθαρᾷ Ἑβδομάδι εἰς Οὑγγαρίαν καί ἡ ὑπογραφή συμφωνίας
μεταξύ τοῦ Οἰκουμενικοῦ Πατριαρχείου καί τῆς
Κυβερνήσεως τῆς Χώρας ταύτης, διά τῆς ὁποίας
περιγράφεται σαφῶς ὁ ρόλος τῆς ἐκεῖ ἡμετέρας
Πατριαρχικῆς Ἐξαρχίας ἔναντι τοῦ Κράτους καί
τῶν λοιπῶν Ὀρθοδόξων παρουσιῶν, ὑπῆρξεν
ὄχι μόνον ἁπλοῦς σταθμός διά τήν ὀρθόδοξον
παρουσίαν καί διά τήν ἐνίσχυσιν αὐτῆς εἰς τήν
χώραν ταύτην, ἀλλά γεγονός μέ εὐρυτέρας
προεκτάσεις καί ἐπιπτώσεις καί ἐν τοῖς καθ᾿
ἡμᾶς ἐνταῦθα, ἐκκλησιαστικοῖς πράγμασιν.
Ἡ γενομένη τιμητική ὑποδοχή τῆς ἡμετέρας
Μετριότητος ὑπό τῶν ἀρχῶν τῆς χώρας καί ἡ
εὐγενής αὕτη πρωτοβουλία των διά τήν ἀναγνώρισιν τοῦ Οἰκουμενικοῦ Πατριαρχείου ὡς
θεσμοῦ διεθνοῦς δικαίου καταταδεικνύει τήν
θετικήν στάσιν τοῦ Κράτους τῆς Οὑγγαρίας
ἔναντι τοῦ ἱστορικῶς ἀνεγνωρισμένου θετικοῦ
ρόλου τῆς Ὀρθοδοξίας καί τοῦ Οἰκουμενικοῦ
Πατριαρχείου καί εἰς τήν περιοχήν ταύτην τῆς
Εὐρώπης.
Ἀνάλογοι ἦσαν καί αἱ ἐντυπώσεις τάς ὁποίας ἐκομίσαμεν ἐκ τῶν συναντήσεων ἡμῶν μετά
τῶν ἀρχῶν τῆς Γερμανίας καί τῆς Αὐστρίας, εἰς
τό πλαίσιον τῶν ἐκεῖσε Πατριαρχικῶν καί ἀποστολικῶν ἐπισκέψεων ἡμῶν, ἐπί τῇ συμπληρώσει
ἡμίσεος αἰῶνος ἀπό τῆς ἱδρύσεως τῶν ἐν ταῖς
χώραις ταύταις Ἱερῶν Μητροπόλεών μας, ἀποδειξασῶν τήν ἐκτίμησιν τήν ὁποίαν τρέφουν διά
τό Οἰκουμενικόν Πατριαρχεῖον καί τήν παράδοσιν, τήν ὁποίαν τοῦτο ἐκπροσωπεῖ, παράδοσιν
τήν ὁποίαν καί οἱ λαοί αὐτῶν ἐπί Βυζαντίου εἶχον
προσλάβει, διά τῆς παρουσίας τῆς ἐκ Κωνσταντινουπόλεως Ἁγίας Βασιλίσσης Θεοφανοῦς,
καί διά τοῦτο αἰσθάνονται, τρόπον τινά, ὅτι
εἰς τό πρόσωπον τῆς ἡμετέρας Μετριότητος,
τοῦ Οἰκουμενικοῦ Πατριάρχου, ἀναγνωρίζουν,
τιμοῦν καί ἐνισχύουν τήν παράδοσιν ταύτην.
Μετ᾿ αἰσθημάτων συγκινήσεως ἐνθυμού-
μεθα τάς στιγμάς τάς ὁποίας ἐβιώσαμεν πλησίον
τοῦ πολυαρίθμου ποιμνίου τῆς Ἱερᾶς Μητροπόλεως Γερμανίας καί δόξαν ἀναπέμπομεν εἰς τόν
ἐν Τριάδι Θεόν δι᾿ ὅσα θαυμαστά καί ἐξαίσια
ἐκεῖ χάριτι Αὐτοῦ ἐπετελέσθησαν, διό καί ἐπί τῇ
εὐκαιρίᾳ ταύτῃ ἀποστέλλομεν θερμόν ἑόρτιον
καί συγχαρητήριον χαιρετισμόν εἰς τόν ἀδελφόν
Ἱερώτατον Μητροπολίτην Γερμανίας κύριον
Αὐγουστῖνον.
Ἐκ παραλλήλου, αἱ τρεῖς αὗται ἐπισκέψεις
κατέδειξαν καί τάς θετικάς ἐπιπτώσεις, τάς
ὁποίας ἔχει διά τάς ἐκεῖσε Ἱεράς Μητροπόλεις
καί Ἐξαρχίαν τοῦ Οἰκουμενικοῦ Θρόνου ἡ
συνεργασία μετά τῶν ἑτεροδόξων• σημειοῦμεν
ἰδιαιτέρως τάς παραχωρήσεις Ναῶν καί ἐκτάσεων διά τάς λατρευτικάς ἀνάγκας τῆς Ὀρθοδόξου
Ἐκκλησίας καί ὄχι μόνον. Καί εἰς μέν τήν Ἱεράν
Μητρόπολιν Γερμανίας τό ἔργον εἶναι ἐπιμεμαρτυρημένον καί ἄξιον θαυμασμοῦ -μεγάλου-, διά
δέ τήν Ἱεράν Μητρόπολιν Αὐστρίας ὀφείλομεν
καί πάλιν νά ἐξάρωμεν τάς προσπαθείας τοῦ
Ἱερωτάτου ἀδελφοῦ κυρίου Ἀρσενίου, ὅστις
δυναμικῶς ἐργάζεται διά τήν ὀργάνωσιν τῆς
κατ᾿ αὐτόν Ἐπαρχίας, ἔχων ὡς παράδειγμα τά
ὅσα εἶδε καί ἐβίωσε κατά τήν διακονίαν αὐτοῦ εἰς
τάς Ἱεράς Μητροπόλεις Γερμανίας καί Γαλλίας.
Τήν καλήν αὐτήν συνεργασίαν μετά τῶν
ἑτεροδόξων καί δή τῶν ΡΚαθολικῶν ἐνίσχυσε
καί ἡ ἀδελφική συνάντησις μετά τοῦ Πάπα
Ρώμης Φραγκίσκου εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα, ἐξ ἀφορμῆς
τῆς συμπληρώσεως πεντηκονταετίας ἀπό τῆς
προηγουμένης συναντήσεως εἰς τήν Ἁγίαν Γῆν
τοῦ ἀοιδίμου προκατόχου ἡμῶν Πατριάρχου
Ἀθηναγόρου μετά τοῦ Πάπα Παύλου τοῦ Στ΄,
τήν ὁποίαν ἠκολούθησε, κατόπιν ἐπί τούτῳ
εἰδικῆς τιμητικῆς προσκλήσεως τῆς αὐτοῦ
Ἁγιότητος πρός ἡμᾶς, ἡ μετάβασις ἡμῶν εἰς
Ρώμην πρός ἐνίσχυσιν τῶν προσπαθειῶν ὑπέρ
τῆς εἰρηνεύσεως τῆς Μέσης Ἀνατολῆς, ὁμοῦ
μέ τόν προκαθήμενον τῆς Ρωμαιοκαθολικῆς
Ἐκκλησίας καί τούς Προέδρους τοῦ Ἰσραήλ καί
τῆς Παλαιστινιακῆς Ἀρχῆς.
Ἐν τῷ σημείῳ τούτῳ ἐπιθυμοῦμεν νά
ἐπισημάνωμεν τήν κεντρικήν σημασίαν, τήν
ὁποίαν ἔσχε διά τόν θεσμόν τοῦ Οἰκουμενικοῦ
Σελίδα 16
ΑΓΙΟΚΑΤΑΤΑΞΗ ΤΟΥ ΓΕΡΟΝΤΟΣ ΠΑΪΣΙΟΥ ΑΠΟ ΤΗΝ ΣΥΝΟΔΟ ΤΟΥ ΟΙΚΟΥΜΕΝΙΚΟΥ ΠΑΤΡΙΑΡΧΕΙΟΥ
του Αριστείδη Βικέτου
Η Ιερά Σύνοδος του Οικουμενικού
Πατριαρχείου, που συνήλθε στις 13 Ιανουαρίου τρέχοντος έτους στο Φανάρι υπό την
προεδρία του Οικουμενικού Πατριάρχη Βαρθολομαίου, αποδέχθηκε ομόφωνα εισήγηση
της Κανονικής Επιτροπής και ανέγραψε
στο Αγιολόγιο της Ορθοδόξου Εκκλησίας
τον μοναχό Παΐσιο Αγιορείτη. Σύμφωνα με
πληροφορίες η μνήμη του Αγίου Παϊσίου
θα τιμάται στις 12 Ιουλίου, ημέρα της κοιμήσεως του.
Ο Μητροπολίτης Φιλαδελφείας Μελίτων, μέλος της Κανονικής Επιτροπής του
Οικουμενικού Πατριαρχείου, δήλωσε στον
«Φ» ότι ο Γέροντας Παΐσιος είχε από χρόνια
καθιερωθεί ως Άγιος στην συνείδηση του
πληρώματος της Ορθοδόξου Εκκλησίας.
«Ό,τι και να πεί η μετριότητα μου είναι
πολύ λίγο για ένα Άγιο άνθρωπο , ο οποίος
τίμησε τον Ορθόδοξο μοναχισμό και την
Εκκλησία του Χριστού. Υπήρξε ένας από
τους πιο σημαντικούς αγίους ασκητές του
20ου αιώνα», επεσήμανε ο Μητροπολίτης
Μελίτων. Επίσης, μας ανέφερε συνοπτικά
την δική του εμπειρία για τον Άγιο: «Τον είχα
γνωρίσει προσωπικά το 1992 στο Άγιο Όρος.
Με συμβούλευσε και ξεπέρασα ένα προσωπικό πρόβλημα. Μάλιστα, μου έδωσε τότε για
να με βοηθήσει και ένα έγγραφο, το οποίο
φύλαξα. Πριν περίπου τρία χρόνια πήγα στην
Μονή Αγίου Ιωάννου του Θεολόγου έκανα
τρισάγιο και προσευχήθηκα στον τάφο του.
Το έγγραφο, που μου είχε δώσει, το
παρέδωσα στην Μονή. Εύχομαι ο Άγιος
Πορφύριος και ο Άγιος Παΐσιος, οι οποίοι
συμπορεύτηκαν στον μοναστικό βίο, να
πρεσβεύουν στον Θεό για όλους μας στους
δύσκολους καιρούς που ζούμε», κατέληξε ο
κ. Μελίτων.
Ο Άγιος Παΐσιος εκτιμούσε ιδιαίτερα
τον Οικουμενικό Πατριάρχη Βαρθολομαίο,
για τον οποίο είχε πει ότι είναι ευτύχημα για
την Ορθοδοξία, που έχει τέτοιο Πατριάρχη.
Ο Γέρων Παΐσιος ήταν ένας πολύ απλός
άνθρωπος, ο οποίος πίστευε στο λόγο του
Ευαγγελίου, κάνοντας τρόπο ζωής τον μοναστικό βίο και τις διδαχές της Ορθόδοξης
ασκητικής παράδοσης.
Οι εγκύκλιες γνώσεις του περιορίζονταν στο επίπεδο του δημοτικού. Παρ’ όλα
αυτά ξεχώριζε για την «χαριτωμένη» απλότητά του και την έντονη αγωνία που τον
διακατείχε για την βοήθεια των συνανθρώπων του, που αναζητούσαν ένα πνευματικό
καθοδηγητή.
Ο ΛΟΓΟΣ ΤΟΥ
«Να σκεπτόμαστε θετικά για τον συνάνθρωπο και όχι αρνητικά, γιατί αλλιώς
εισέρχεται η πονηριά στον άνθρωπο και η
ισχυρογνωμοσύνη», έλεγε. Υποδείκνυε πως
«ό,τι προσφέρουμε ή κάνουμε πρέπει να
γίνεται φιλότιμα και όχι αναγκαστικά και
συμφεροντολογικά».
Δυστυχώς, πολλοί καπηλεύτηκαν τις
διδαχές του Αγίου Παϊσίου, αποδίδοντας σε
αυτόν απόψεις και λόγια είτε για δικό τους
όφελος, είτε για εθνικά ζητήματα, που ο ίδιος
ποτέ δεν ανέφερε, κάτι που τον λυπούσε, ενώ
ήταν ήδη στη ζωή. Μετά την κοίμηση του το
φαινόμενο αυτό εντάθηκε.
Συνέγραψε τέσσερα βιβλία, τα οποία
έχουν εκδοθεί από το Ιερόν Ησυχαστήριον
«Ευαγγελιστής Ιωάννης ο Θεολόγος» (Σου-
ρωτή Θεσσαλονίκης). Τα βιβλία αυτά είναι:
Ο Άγιος Αρσένιος ο Καππαδόκης (1991), Ο
Γέρων Χατζη-Γεώργης ο Αθωνίτης, 1809-1886
(1986), Αγιορείται Πατέρες και Αγιορείτικα
(1993), Επιστολές (1994).
Η ΖΩΗ ΤΟΥ
Ο Άγιος Παΐσιος γεννήθηκε στα Φάρασα
της Καππαδοκίας, στη Μικρά Ασία, στις 25
Ιουλίου του 1924. Στις 7 Αυγούστου του 1924,
μια εβδομάδα πριν οι Φαρασιώτες φύγουν
για την Ελλάδα, βαφτίστηκε από τον Άγιο
Αρσένιο τον Καππαδόκη, ο οποίος του έδωσε
το δικό του όνομα.
Λίγο μετά τη βάπτιση του μικρού τότε
Αρσένιου, η οικογένεια του έφτασε στον Πειραιά και από εκεί πήγε στην Κέρκυρα, όπου και
έμεινε ενάμιση χρόνο. Στη συνέχεια κατέληξε
στην Κόνιτσα.
Εισήλθε στο Άγιο Όρος για να μονάσει
το 1949, αμέσως μετά την απόλυσή του από
το στρατό. Το 1956, χειροθετήθηκε μοναχός
και ονομάστηκε «Παΐσιος».
Το 1958 πήγε στο Στόμιο Κονίτσης, όπου
επιτέλεσε σημαντικό έργο και μετά στο Όρος
Σινά στο κελί των Αγίων Γαλακτίωνος και
Επιστήμης.
Εργαζόταν ως ξυλουργός και ό,τι κέρδιζε
το έδινε σε φιλανθρωπίες στους Βεδουίνους.
Το 1964 επέστρεψε στο Άγιο Όρος. Το 1966,
ασθένησε σοβαρά και εισήχθη στο Νοσοκομείο Παπανικολάου.
Υποβλήθηκε σε εγχείρηση, με αποτέλεσμα
μερική αφαίρεση των πνευμόνων. Στο διάστημα μέχρι να αναρρώσει και να επιστρέψει στο
Άγιο Όρος φιλοξενήθηκε στην Μονή Αγίου
Ιωάννη του Θεολόγου, στη Σουρωτή.
Επέστρεψε στο Άγιο Όρος μετά την ανάρ-
ρωσή του και το 1967 και άρχισε να δέχεται
πολλές επισκέψεις.
Ήδη το όνομά του έχει αρχίσει να γίνεται αρκετά γνωστό μακριά από το Όρος και
πολλοί άνθρωποι κατέφευγαν κοντά του για
να τους στηρίξει.
Λίγα χρόνια μετά εγκαταστάθηκε στην
Παναγούδα, μια σκήτη εγκαταλελειμμένη
και εργάστηκε σκληρά για να δημιουργήσει
ένα κελί .
Μετά το 1993 άρχισε να παρουσιάζει
αιμορραγίες, για τις οποίες αρνούνταν να
νοσηλευτεί λέγοντας χαρακτηριστικά ότι «όλα
θα βολευτούν με το χώμα». Τον Νοέμβριο του
ίδιου έτους ο Παΐσιος βγαίνει για τελευταία
φορά από το Όρος και πηγαίνει στη Σουρωτή,
στο Γυναικείο Ησυχαστήριο του Αγίου Ιωάννη
του Θεολόγου για τη γιορτή του Αγίου Αρσενίου (10 Νοεμβρίου).
Εκεί έμεινε λίγες μέρες και ενώ ετοιμαζόταν να φύγει ασθένησε και εισήχθη στο
νοσοκομείο, όπου διαγνώστηκε όγκος στο
παχύ έντερο. Στις 4 Φεβρουαρίου του 1994 χειρουργήθηκε και στο τέλος Ιουνίου οι γιατροί
του ανακοινώνουν ότι τα περιθώρια ζωής του
ήταν δύο με τρεις εβδομάδες το πολύ.
Τη Δευτέρα 11 Ιουλίου κοινώνησε για
τελευταία φορά γονατιστός μπροστά στο
κρεβάτι του.
Τις τελευταίες μέρες της ζωής του αποφάσισε να μην παίρνει φάρμακα ή παυσίπονα,
παρά τους φρικτούς πόνους της ασθένειάς του.
Κοιμήθηκε στις 12 Ιουλίου. Ενταφιάστηκε
στο Ιερό Ησυχαστήριο του Αγίου Ιωάννη του
Θεολόγου στη Σουρωτή Θεσσαλονίκης.
Στο Καθολικό του Ησυχαστηρίου βρίσκονται τα λείψανα του Αγίου Αρσενίου του
Καππαδόκη.
16
ΟΡΘΟ∆ΟΞΟΣ ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΤΗΣ
ΙΑΝΟΥΑΡΙΟΣ 2015
Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης Βαρθολομαίος: Απολογισμός της χρονιάς που πέρασε
Σελίδα 15
Πατριαρχείου ἡ ἐπίσημος ἐπίσκεψις πρός αὐτό,
κατά τήν παρελθοῦσαν Θρονικήν μας Ἑορτήν,
τοῦ Ἁγιωτάτου Πάπα Ρώμης καί αἱ ὀργανωθεῖσαι ἐν τῷ Ἱερῷ ἡμῶν Κέντρῳ ἐπί τῇ εὐκαιρίᾳ
ἐκδηλώσεις.
Σύντρεις αἱ κατά τό λῆξαν ἔτος συναντήσεις
αὗται τῆς ἡμετέρας Μετριότητος μετά τῆς Αὐτοῦ
Ἁγιότητος στόχον καί σκοπόν ἔσχον τήν Χρυσοστομικήν ρῆσιν: «τοῦτο μάλιστά ἐστι χάρις,
τό μή διαιρεῖσθαι, ἀλλ᾿ ἐφ᾿ ἑνί κεῖσθαι θεμελίῳ»
(Εἰς Α΄Κορινθίους, P.G. 61,72), καθότι «εἰς τήν
ἑνότητα ἐκάλεσε τῆς πίστεως, φησίν. Τοὐτέστιν,
ἕως ἄν δειχθῶμεν πάντες μίαν πίστιν ἔχοντες.
Τοῦτο γάρ ἐστιν ἑνότης πίστεως, ὅταν πάντες
ἕν ὦμεν, ὅταν πάντες ὁμοίως τόν σύνδεσμον
ἐπιγινώσκωμεν. Μέχρι τότε ἐργάζεσθαι χρή (ἡ
ὑπογράμμισις ἡμετέρα)... Ὅταν δέ πάντες ὁμοίως
πιστεύωμεν, τότε ἑνότης ἐστίν» (πρβλ. Ἱεροῦ
Χρυσοστόμου, Εἰς Ἐφεσίους ΙΑ΄, P.G. 62,83).
Ἰδιαιτέραν πνευματικήν χαράν καί συγκίνησιν, πρός τούτοις, προσέφερον αἱ ἐπισκέψεις
ἡμῶν τόσον εἰς τήν γενέτειραν ἡμῶν νῆσον
Ἴμβρον, ὅσον καί εἰς τάς τέσσαρας Ἱ. Μητροπόλεις τῆς Θράκης, κληρουχίας καί ταύτης
τιμίας τοῦ Οἰκουμενικοῦ Πατριαρχείου, κατά
τήν ὁποίαν ἐπίσκεψίν μας διεπιστώσαμεν ἰδίοις
ὄμμασι τήν ἀγάπην καί τόν σεβασμόν μέ τά
ὁποῖα ὁ πιστός λαός αὐτῆς περιβάλλει τήν Μητέρα Ἐκκλησίαν, πρός τήν ὁποίαν ἔχει πάντοτε
ἐστραμμένα τά ὄμματα ὡς πρός τήν πηγήν τῆς
ἐκκλησιαστικῆς καί πνευματικῆς ζωῆς αὐτοῦ,
τῆς ὁποίας τό διαυγές πνευματικόν καί ζῶν
ὕδωρ ἐξέρχεται ἀπό τά βάθη τῶν αἰώνων καί
ρέει ποταμηδόν καί σήμερον.
Ὁμοίως, λίαν καρποφόροι ἦσαν καί
αἱ Πατριαρχικαί ἡμῶν ἐπισκέψεις εἰς τήν
ἱστορικήν νῆσον Κέρκυραν προσφάτως, ἐπί
τῇ ἑορτῇ τοῦ μεγάλου καί θαυματουργοῦ
πολιούχου αὐτῆς Ἁγίου Σπυρίδωνος, κατά
Ἰούνιον δέ εἰς Ὕδραν καί εἰς Ἀθήνας, διά τό
ἐκεῖ ὀργανωθέν Οἰκολογικόν Συμπόσιον.
Ἰδιαιτέρως ὑπογραμμίζομεν τήν ἐπίσκεψιν
τῆς ἡμετέρας Μετριότητος καί τήν ὁμοῦ μετ᾿
ἄλλων ἀδελφῶν Προκαθημένων τέλεσιν τῶν
ἐγκαινίων τοῦ μεγαλοπρεποῦς Ἱεροῦ Καθεδρικοῦ Ναοῦ τῆς Ἀναστάσεως τοῦ Κυρίου ἐν
Τιράνοις. Ὑπογραμμίζομεν τό γεγονός διά νά
σημειώσωμεν ἐμφαντικῶς ὅτι τήν Ἁγιωτάτην
Ὀρθόδοξον Ἐκκλησίαν τῆς Ἀλβανίας -ὅπως
καί τήν Αὐτόνομον Ὀρθόδοξον Ἐκκλησίαν
τῆς Ἐσθονίας- ἀνέστησε κυριολεκτικῶς καί
ἄνευ τινός ὑπερβολῆς ἐκ τῆς τέφρας αὐτῶν
ὁ Ἁγιώτατος Ἀποστολικός καί Πατριαρχικός
Οἰκουμενικός Θρόνος, διά τῆς ἐπιλογῆς καί
ἀποστολῆς ἐκεῖσε τῶν πλέον καταλλήλων
Ἱεραρχῶν, συγκεκριμένως δέ τῶν ἀδελφῶν Μακαριωτάτου Ἀρχιεπισκόπου Τιράνων καί πάσης
Ἀλβανίας κυρίου Ἀναστασίου καί Ἱερωτάτου
Μητροπολίτου Ταλλίνης καί πάσης Ἐσθονίας
κυρίου Στεφάνου.
Δέν ἐπαύσαμεν καθ᾿ ὅλον τό παριππεῦσαν
ἔτος -καί ἀσφαλῶς δέν θά παύσωμεν-, νά διαδηλῶμεν εἰς πᾶσαν κατεύθυνσιν τήν θλῖψιν
ἡμῶν διά τάς συνεχιζομένας ἀδίκους διώξεις τῶν
χριστιανῶν, ἰδιαιτέρως εἰς τήν Μέσην Ἀνατολήν,
ἀλλά καί εἰς ἄλλας περιοχάς τοῦ πλανήτου, αἱ
ὁποῖαι ἔχουν ὡς ἀποτέλεσμα τήν δραματικήν
συρρίκνωσιν αὐτῶν εἰς τούς τόπους ἔνθα
ἱδρύθη ἡ Ἐκκλησία τοῦ Κυρίου καί ἐβάδισαν
οἱ Ἀπόστολοι καί οἱ Ἅγιοι καί οἱ ἀσκηταί τῆς
Χριστιανικῆς ἡμῶν πίστεως. Τό μήνυμα τοῦτο,
ἄλλωστε, ἀπηυθύναμεν καί διά τῆς ἐπί τοῖς Χριστουγέννοις Πατριαρχικῆς Ἀποδείξεως ἡμῶν,
καλέσαντες τούς πάντας εἰς κατάπαυσιν τῆς βίας
καί τῆς τρομοκρατίας καί εἰς διάλογον εἰρήνης.
Ἐλπίζομεν καί εὐχόμεθα κατά τό νέον ἔτος νά
ἀνατείλῃ ὁ ἥλιος τῆς εἰρήνης καί τῆς δικαιοσύνης καί εἰς τάς περιοχάς ταύτας, νά παύσουν οἱ
πόλεμοι καί οἱ διωγμοί, νά ἐπιστρέψουν οἱ πρόσφυγες εἰς τάς πατρίδας των καί αἱ διαφοραί νά
λυθοῦν μέ διάλογον καί εἰρηνικά μέσα.
Πάντως, διαπιστοῦμεν καί σήμερον, ὅτι
τό δένδρον τῆς πίστεως συνεχίζει νά ποτίζεται
διά τοῦ αἵματος τῶν πιστῶν χριστιανῶν, ἀναδεικνύονται δέ καθ᾿ ἡμέραν νέοι μάρτυρες τῆς
ἀγάπης τοῦ Κυρίου.
Καί διά τό ἀνατέλλον ἔτος προγραμματίζομεν πολλά μέ κεντρικόν στόχον τήν προετοιμασίαν διά τήν σύγκλησιν κατά τό προσεχές ἔτος
τῆς Ἁγίας καί Μεγάλης Συνόδου τῆς Ὀρθοδόξου
Ἐκκλησίας ἐν τῷ Ναῷ τῆς τοῦ Θεοῦ Εἰρήνης,
ἐν τῷ ὁποίῳ συνῆλθε καί ἡ Β΄ Οἰκουμενική
Σύνοδος ὑπό τήν προεδρείαν τοῦ Κωνσταντινουπόλεως Ἁγίου Γρηγορίου τοῦ Θεολόγου.
Σκεπτόμεθα καί ἑτέρας πολλάς ἐκκλησιαστικάς καί πνευματικάς ἐξορμήσεις πρός τήν
οἰκουμένην. Ἐπιθυμοῦμεν καί δι᾿ αὐτῶν τήν
δόξαν καί μόνον τῆς Ἐκκλησίας καί δι᾿ αὐτήν
ἐργαζόμεθα καί κοπιῶμεν μετά τῶν τιμίων
συνεργατῶν ἡμῶν «μή διδόντες τοῖς κροτάφοις
ἡμῶν ἀνάπαυσιν καί τοῖς βλεφάροις ἡμῶν νυσταγμόν». Ὁ δέ δεσπόζων τῆς Οἰκουμένης Κύριος πεποίθαμεν ὅτι θέλει ἐνεργήσει καί κατά τήν
ἡμετέραν καλήν ταύτην πρόθεσιν, κυρίως ὅμως
κατά τό πολύ ῎Ελεος καί τήν Χάριν Αὐτοῦ ἐπί
τήν Κωνσταντινουπολίτιδα Ἐκκλησίαν. Ὅθεν,
Αὐτῷ καί μόνῳ ἡ Δόξα καί τό Κράτος καί ἡ Τιμή
καί ἡ Προσκύνησις καί ἡ Εὐχαριστία σήμερον καί
πάντοτε καί εἰς τόν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος.
Ἀμήν.
Εορτασμός Θεοφανείων 2015
Σελίδα 13
τούς Κληρικούς τῆς Πατριαρχικῆς Αὐλῆς καί
τόν κ. Γενικόν Πρόξενον τῆς Ἑλλάδος.
Παρέστησαν συμπροσευχόμενοι οἱ
Σεβ. Μητροπολῖται Πέργης κ. Εὐάγγελος,
Θ ε ο δ ω ρ ο υ π ό λ ε ω ς κ . Γερ μ αν ό ς κ α ί
Καλλιουπόλεως καί Μαδύτου κ. Στέφανος,
Πρ ωτο σ υγ κ ε λ λ ε ύ ων, ὁ Ἐν τ ι μ ολ . κ .
Κωνσταντῖνος Δεληκωνσταντῆς, Ἄρχων
Διδάσκαλος τοῦ Γένους, ἐκπροσωπῶν τήν
ἐν Ἀθήναις Ἀδελφότητα τῶν Ὀφφικιαλίων
«Παναγία ἡ Παμμακάριστος», ὁ Ἐξοχ. κ. Faure
Essozimna Gnassingbé, Πρόεδρος τοῦ Τογκό,
συνοδευόμενος ὑπό πολυμελοῦς συνοδείας
Ὑπουργῶν καί συνεργατῶν αὐτοῦ, ὁ Ἐξοχ.
Πρέσβυς κ. Νικόλαος Ματθιουδάκης, Γεν.
Πρόξενος τῆς Ἑλλάδος ἐνταῦθα, πιστοί ἐκ
τῆς Πόλεως καί ὅμιλοι προσκυνητῶν ἐκ τοῦ
ἐξωτερικοῦ. Μετά τό πέρας τῆς Θ. Λειτουργίας,
ὁ Πατριάρχης προέστη τῆς τελετῆς τῆς
Καταδύσεως τοῦ Τιμίου Σταυροῦ εἰς τήν
θάλασσαν, ἐκ τῆς ἀποβάθρας τοῦ Φαναρίου,
μεταβάς εἰς αὐτήν μετά τῶν συλλειτουργῶν
Αὐτοῦ Ἱεραρχῶν, τοῦ λοιποῦ Κλήρου καί τοῦ
λαοῦ ἐν πομπῇ ἐκ τοῦ Π. Πατριαρχικοῦ Ναοῦ,
τῶν κωδώνων αὐτοῦ κρουομένων χαρμοσύνως.
Τόν Τίμιον Σταυρόν ἀνέσυρεν ἐκ
τῆς θαλάσσης ὁ Ἐντιμ. κ. Savaş Özbey,
Δημοσιογράφος, εἰς ὅν ὁ Παναγιώτατος
προσέφερεν ἀναμνηστικόν μετάλλιον καί εἰς
τούς ὑπολοίπους κολυμβητάς σταυρόν.
Τήν μεσημβρίαν παρετέθη ἐπίσημον
ἄριστον εἰς τήν Πατριαρχικήν Τράπεζαν, εἰς ὅ
παρεκάθησεν ὁ Ἐξοχ. κ. Πρόεδρος τοῦ Τογκό
μετά τῆς συνοδείας αὐτοῦ.
17
JANUARY 2015
A Guide to the National Ministries
MINISTRY
WHAT IT DOES
HOW IT AFFECTS YOU
RESOURCES
Archives
Gathers and records materials
relating to the history of the
Greek people, their culture
and religion in the United States.
Provides information
and photographs on request
to scholars, researchers
and authors.
Online, hardcopy data
and photographs.
Communications*
Provides
information
about the Church
through electronic, social
and print media.
Connects parishioners
to the National Church through
print , social and electronic media.
Informs the U.S. and Greek media
and general public about Orthodoxy.
Videos of religious
television productions, Orthodox
Observer, annual yearbook,
ecclesiastical calendar,
website, e–bulletin, listserver.
Greek Education
Provides
for the instruction
of Greek and promotes
Hellenic culture.
Provides textbooks and other
instructional materials for all Greek
afternoon and parochial schools;
teacher training.
Textbooks,
other educational
materials for Greek schools.
Information
Technologies
Responsible for overall
technology vision and direction
of the Archdiocese of America.
Provides direct support and
training to metropolises and
parishes for their technology needs.
Online access the Archdiocese
and to various
Orthodox websites.
Inter-Orthodox
Ecumenical, Interfaith
Promotes relations
with other Orthodox Christian
jurisdictions, other Christian churches
and other faith groups in the U.S.
Through its efforts,
parishes benefit through
more meaningful contacts
with such groups at the local level.
Contacts between
the Archdiocese and other
Christian denominations
and other Faiths.
Marriage & Family
Addresses issues relevant to
marriage and family life through
the Center for Family Care and
Office of Interfaith Marriage.
Brings more aspects of Orthodox faith
into the home and more families to
church. Helps couples, families and
parishes with marriage and family life.
Provides printed , online,
social media resources.
Conducts conferences,
training and retreats.
Metropolis Ministries
Coordinates
the services
of the National Ministries
at the Metropolis level.
Serves as the vital link between each
parish and the National Ministries
program, and provides additional
ministries at the local level.
Administers national ministries
and provides direct assistance
to parishes.
Parish Development
Assists parishes
with fund-raising
guidance
and development.
Helps with strategic planning,
capital improvements, grants,
endowments and expanding
stewardship.
Information for financial assistance
and planning,
guides to each parish.
Philanthropy*
Develops and coordinates
the philanthropic work,
the Archdiocese special funds
and also works with the Philoptochos.
Provides assistance for local
catastrophes such as
Hurricane Katrina, fires in Greece,
aid to families of 9/11 victims.
Provides assistance
for charitable causes
in each Metropolis and worldwide.
Public Affairs
Coordinates Archdiocese
involvement in public and political
issues affecting the Church.
Works with local parishes
in events such
as Patriarchal visits.
Direct contact
with government officials at the local,
state and national levels.
Registry
Maintains records
relating to the life
of the faithful of the Church.
Issues marriage licenses, divorce
decrees, baptismal and chrismation
certificates, replaces lost transcripts.
Provides important documents
for vital statistics
and maintains records.
Religious Education
Develops and provides religious
education materials to advance
the metropolis and parish programs.
Sunday schools use materials
and run programs including the
St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival.
Resources, Sunday School texts
and other materials,
oratorical festival information.
Stewardship, Outreach
and Evangelism
Works with National Stewardship
Ministries Team and Outreach
and Evangelism Advisory Board.
Provides resources for parish ministry,
support for parish leadership
and stewardship activities.
Provides materials and data
to help parishes
in their stewardship efforts.
Youth,
Young Adult Ministries*
Coordinates the national youth and
young adult programs with metropolis
youth directors. Administers campus
and camping ministries.
Provides opportunities
for parish youth
to participate
more fully in the Church.
Online and harcdopy materials to youth
directors, workers; administers youth
camps, including Ionian Village;
maintains listserver and blogs..
*(includes GOTelecom,
Press Office, Internet Ministries,
Orthodox Observer)
*(includes Philoptochos Society,
retired clergy benevolence fund,
other humanitarian assistance)
*(includes camping ministries
and Ionian Village)
18
Church History
JANUARY 2015
1904: A Notable Year for Holy Trinity Archdiocesan Cathedral
by William H. Samonides, Ph.D.
1904 was a momentous year. Internationally, the beginning of the RussoJapanese War in the Pacific hastened the
collapse of the Russian empire, imperiling
the lives of tens of millions of Orthodox
Christians. Nationally, the World’s Fair and
the third modern Olympic games in St.
Louis preceded the election of President
Theodore Roosevelt.
In New York, the modern city was taking shape: construction began on Grand
Central Station, and the first underground
stretch of the subway went into operation.
There were also major developments at
Holy Trinity, the first Greek Orthodox
parish established in New York.
In April 1904, the Holy Trinity parishioners purchased their first building, and
later that year a new priest, 40–year-old
Fr. Methodios Kourkoulis (1864-1941),
arrived from Greece.
Both developments brought stability
to a community sorely in need of it. The
fledgling parish, established in 1892, was
not the majestic Archdiocesan Cathedral
of today. During the first dozen years of its
existence, Holy Trinity rented three spaces
and was served by 10 priests.
At the time, establishing a Greek Orthodox parish in America was not easy, but
maintaining one proved an even greater
challenge, even in the city with the largest Greek immigrant population in the
Western Hemisphere.
According to the parish history written by Peter T. Kourides (1910-2010),
longtime general counsel to the Greek
Orthodox Archdiocese, Holy Trinity was
“in total disarray.” Michael Contopoulos
in “The Greek Community of New York
City” claimed “there were few active parishioners. The Church of the Holy Trinity had only 45 enrolled members out of
a possible 6,000 Greeks in New York.”
The primary reason for the membership
dilemma was said to have been dissatisfaction with the priest.
Because of the prohibitive cost of
Manhattan real estate, no parish could afford to build its own church immediately.
Holy Trinity first held services on West 53rd
Street in the basement of a Swedenborgian
church, which it rented for $50 a month.
From there, it moved briefly downtown to 77–79 Greenwich St. and then to
a Midtown site.
For $83.33 a month, the parish rented
premises at 138 East 27th St., previously
occupied by the First Swedish Baptist
Church. Services were held there until
Palm Sunday in 1904.
At that time the parish finally acquired
its own building, a one-story stone church,
of Gothic architecture on East 72nd St.
between Lexington and Third avenues.
Purchased for $65,000, it was much larger
than the previous sites and in a desirable
location.
Originally the St. James Episcopal
Church, the East 72nd St. church was designed by James Renwick, Jr. (1818-1895)
who was also responsible for St. Patrick’s
Cathedral, which was under construction
on Fifth Avenue at the time.
The first services were held at the
new Holy Trinity on Holy Monday, April
3, 1904. The priest was Fr. Zissimos Typaldos, who had arrived in America to take
charge of the parish the previous April. He
was described by The New York Evening
Post as having been “a secular teacher
and theologian in a college in Athens long
before he entered the priesthood.” The
article added that “although he is about 65
years old, this is his first pastoral charge. It
is said that he speaks English well.”
In December he was replaced by
Mytilene-native Fr. Methodios Kourkoulis.
Before leaving for America, Fr. Kourkoulis
had been appointed by the Ecumenical
Patriarch as priest of the St. Nicholas
parish in Pittsburgh. When he arrived in
New York, the board of trustees of Holy
Trinity convinced him, with the consent of
the Pittsburgh church, to remain instead
in New York. Pittsburgh’s loss would be
Holy Trinity’s gain. On Dec. 14, 1904, Fr.
Kourkoulis celebrated his first Liturgy at
Holy Trinity.
According to Peter Kourides, who
knew him well, Fr. Kourkoulis “had an
impressive presence. He had a beautiful
resonant voice, and he officiated with
ceremonial and imposing dignity. He was
most articulate. His sermons were well
prepared and delivered with stentorian
eloquence.… To many Greek immigrants
of 1904, he quickly became the heroic and
majestic figure that they were painfully
seeking in their new world. Immediately,
Rev. Kourkoulis took total and complete
control of the new edifice on East 72nd
Street. He quickly raised the money that
was required to properly and adequately
decorate the interior of the new church.
It was by far the handsomest Greek Orthodox church in the Americas in 1905.”
As beautiful as the church was said to
have been in 1905, Fr. Kourkoulis had the
interior decorations magnificently redone
15 years later.
In the early 1920‘s, shortly after the
establishment of the Archdiocese, Archbishop Alexander designated the church
a cathedral.
It would be the home of the Holy
Trinity parish until January 1927, when it
was destroyed in a spectacular fire.
In 1938, the 72–year–old Fr. Kourkoulis was invested with the title of Grand
Archimandrite of Constantinople, which
gave him privileges at any Greek Orthodox
monastery in the world. The honor was
conferred by Ecumenical Patriarch Benjamin I, through Archbishop Athenagoras,
head of the church in North and South
America. At the time of Fr. Kourkoulis’
death in April 1941, he had served Holy
Trinity for 37 years, uniting parishioners
and contributing significantly to the
growth of the parish.
The author thanks Fr. Anastasios
Gounaris for his assistance. The story of
Fr. Kourkoulis is one of many featured in
“Pioneering Priests: Establishing the Greek
Orthodox Faith in America,” an exhibition
funded by Leadership 100 and now on
display at the St. Photios Greek Orthodox
National Shrine in St. Augustine, Fla.
JANUARY 2015
19
Parish Profile
Church Serves an International Congregation
P A R I S H
profile
Name: Holy Cross – Sts Constantine and
Helen Greek Orthodox Church
Location: Huntsville, Ala.
Metropolis of Atlanta
Founded: 1964
Clergy: Fr. Kevin Milsaps (Holy Cross ‘06,
M. Div. East Tennessee State University
2002, master’s in history)
Size: more than 200 members
E–mail: holycross@gmail.com
Web: www.al.goarch.com.
Noteworthy: Members represent nations
of five continents.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Unlike the
typical Greek Orthodox parish in the
United States that was founded by immigrants, Holy Cross-Sts. Constantine
and Helen Church got its start through
the efforts of Orthodox Christians associated with the military and nation’s
space program.
This city of Huntsville (population
about 200,000), the fourth largest city
in Alabama, is home to the U.S. Army’s
Redstone Arsenal and NASA’s Marshall
Space Flight Center. The impetus for
establishing a parish came in the early
1960s, mostly from military officers and
civilian employees of these institutions
and engineering firms associated with
them, Fr. Millsaps noted. A few families
had been members of Holy Trinity-Holy
Cross parish in Birmingham.
According to a parish history, by
1962 there were enough of the Orthodox faith to warrant monthly services
by the priest from the Nashville parish.
In September 1964 the Huntsville
communicants were organized as an
Orthodox Mission and a permanent
priest was assigned. Two and a half
years later, in early 1967, the commu-
Holy Cross - Sts. Constantine and Helen church photo
HOLY CROSS - STS. CONSTANTINE AND HELEN GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH AND COMMUNITY CENTER
nity received parish status under the
name of Greek Orthodox Church of
Huntsville.
Ground was broken for the church
building on July 11, 1972. The Byzantine-style edifice was officially opened
by Bishop John of Charlotte on Sunday, Feb. 25, 1973, and was named
Holy Cross-Sts Constantine and Helen
Greek Orthodox Church of Huntsville,
Alabama.
The church complex includes the
parish center, a multi-purpose educational and community facility adjacent
to the church, that was dedicated in
1983. A new parking lot recently was
added and a major renovation project
has been under way.
The congregation today is represented by Orthodox Christians from
the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and
Australia, though Greek Americans
comprise nearly 50 percent and members include many Romanians, Arabs
and Georgians.
“We are a very multi-ethnic parish,” said Fr. Kevin, who celebrates
the Divine Liturgy mostly in English,
though the Lord’s Prayer is recited in
Obituary
Deacon Michael Koloniotis
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Deacon Michael I. Koloniotis, beloved husband of
37 years to Diakonissa Karen Koloniotis,
died earlier this month. He was born in
Halkida, Greece where he served in the
Greek navy for two and a half years.
In 1976, he moved to Jacksonville
in order to give his family a better life in
Greece. In 1977, he and his wife were married. Dn. Michael held several jobs over
the years. He studied at Holy Cross School
of Theology from 2010-2012.
After completing his studies, Deacon
Michael was ordained to the diaconate
on Feb. 2, 2013 at Holy Trinity Church in
St. Augustine by Metropolitan Alexios. He
continued to serve at his home parish of
St. John the Divine in Jacksonville. Prior
to his ordination, he was the protopsaltis
at St. John for 15 years, taught Sunday
School, and served on the parish council.
The funeral service was held Jan. 20.
He is also survived by his mother,
Ioulia Koloniotis, Halkida, Greece, his
brother, Costas (Marina), his niece, Ioulia,
and his nephew, Yianni.
The family requests donations to
the Building Fund of St. John the Divine
Church. Sign the Guestbook@Jacksonville.com
See more at: www.legacy.com/obituaries/timesunion/obituary
SAVE THE DATE
Name correction
National Philoptochos
Children’s Medical Fund Luncheon
Hosted by the Metropolis of Boston
October 24, 2015
The correct name of the priest of St.
Nicholas Church in Jamestown, N.Y. in
the information under the picture on
page 12 is Fr. George Zervas.
14 languages.
Fr. Kevin and his presbytera,
Tina, are converts from a Protestant
background and are natives of eastern
Tennessee.
“It’s been a real blessing, Fr. Kevin
said of his transition to Orthodoxy and
serving as a parish priest. “It has challenges like anything, but overall it’s
been a good experience. We try to keep
motivated and push forward.”
The priest came to Orthodoxy as
a result of studying for his Master’s in
history at East Tennessee State University, after taking a course in Byzantine
religious history.
Prior to coming to Huntsville, he
served as assistant priest at St. Nektarios Church in Charlotte, N.C.
He oversees many parish ministries, including the weekly Bible study
and catechumen classes, a prison ministry and youth programs such as the
Sunday School, the very active Philoptochos chapter, choir and chanters.
There is no Greek school.
Fr. Millsaps averages eight to 10
liturgies per month, including weekday
liturgies for major feast days.
A Sunday afternoon liturgy for the
Ethiopian Orthodox in the area also
takes place each week.
One youth activity includes a regular project in which the young people
of the parish help residents in the city,
especially senior citizens, with yardwork and other chores.
Many parish youth attended the
Atlanta Metropolis’ St. Stephen’s Camp.
The church raises funds through
stewardship. There is no Greek festival, the parish takes part in the International Festival at the University of
Alabama-Huntsville campus.
With the presence of the Redstone
Arsenal, which serves as the headquarters for the Army’s Aviation and
Materiel commands, there are about
32,000 people associated the the facility, including Fr. Kevin, who serves as
a chaplain in the Army Reserves and
holds the rank of captain.
The Marshall Space Center, where
many parishioners also are employed,
controls the probes into deep space
and the International Space Station.
— Compiled by Jim Golding
IS youR PARISh...
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
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Inspiring greater giving
in your parish
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cultivating planned gifts
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the grant proposal process
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Phone: (847) 825-1432
Email: jminetos@goarch.org
20
JANUARY 2015
Four Orthodox Christian Lessons from Martin Luther King Jr.
by Andrew Estocin
Every January, Americans pause to
honor the memory of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr. who led a civil rights movement that
called this nation to see every person as created in the image and likeness of God and
worthy of equal treatment under the law.
One of the most beautiful moments in
American Orthodox history was when Archbishop Iakovos of North and South America
chose to march against racial segregation
laws with Rev. King in Selma, Ala.
This event, made famous on the cover
of Life Magazine, serves as a constant reminder that 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. What we believe as Orthodox
Christians is not merely one private opinion
among many but an eternal truth that has
serious implications for every choice we
make. The fact that the most distinguished
bishop in American Orthodoxy chose to
march with Rev. King reminds every Orthodox Christian that we can learn much
from the witness of America’s leading civil
rights leader.
Four Lessons
Here are four Orthodox Christian
lessons that can be learned from Martin
Luther King Jr:
Civil Disobedience Can Serve God’s
Purposes: Since the earliest of biblical
times, God’s people have often been
called upon to say “NO” and “REPENT”
to those in power. Rev. King illustrates
this very clearly: “(Civil disobedience)
was evidenced sublimely in the refusal of
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to obey
the laws of Nebuchadnezzar, on the ground
that a higher moral law was at stake. It was
practiced superbly by the early Christians,
who were willing to face hungry lions and
the excruciating pain of chopping blocks
rather than submit to certain unjust laws
of the Roman Empire.”
Archbishop Iakovos’ words in Selma
echo this view: “We have fought oppressive
and repressive political regimes, based on
Christian principles, for centuries. . . . A
Christian must cry out in indignation against
all persecution.” Patriarch John X of Antioch
could not choose better words when he
reminds us: “To be a messenger of peace
does not mean that one is a messenger of
submission.”
Being Legal Does Not Mean Being
Right: “Never forget that everything Hitler
did in Germany was legal.” This warning
from “Letter from Birmingham Jail” points
to the tradition of natural law. Natural Law
is an integral part of Orthodox Christianity
Selma to Montgomery March: Archbishop Iakovos (left) of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North
and South America with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday, March 15, 1965. (Greek Orthodox
Archdiocese of America archival photo)
and the thought of Martin Luther King.
What is natural law? It is the teaching that
just laws participate in and reflect the law
of God. Man has a natural knowledge of
right and wrong given to him by God. St.
John Chrysostom makes this clear. “When
God formed man, he implanted within him
from the beginning a natural law. . ..And
what then was this natural law? He gave utterance to conscience within us; and made
the knowledge of good things.” Rev. King in
responding to his critics from jail reminds
them of the following: “A just law is a manmade code that squares with the moral law
or the law of God. An unjust law is a code
that is out of harmony with the moral law.
. . .An unjust law is a human law that is not
rooted in eternal law and natural law. Any
law that uplifts human personality is just.
Any law that degrades human personality
is unjust.” Orthodox Christians have a re-
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sponsibility to recognize laws in our society
that agree with the moral laws of God and
call into question and resist those laws that
clearly do not. Consider the many Orthodox
Christians who every year participate in the
March for Life against the Supreme Court’s
unjust Roe v Wade decision.
Be An Extremist For Love and
Truth: Often times Orthodox Christians
are criticized for being extremists if they
take a public stand in support of what the
Church teaches. For example, those who
actively support pro-life or pro-family causes
are often called extremists by their own
brothers and sisters in the faith and even
Orthodox clergy. What is amazing is that
Martin Luther King was treated in exactly
the same manner by his brother clergy,
who shunned him and labeled his actions
“extreme.” Archbishop Iakovos also faced
considerable resistance to his marching
with Rev. King from elements within his
own flock. Rev. King turned the tables on
his critics with the following words: “But
though I was initially disappointed at being
categorized as an extremist, as I continued
to think about the matter I gradually gained
a measure of satisfaction from the label.
Was not Jesus an extremist for love: ‘Love
your enemies, bless them that curse you,
do good to them that hate you, and pray
for them which despitefully use you, and
persecute you.’
Faith Is a Thermostat, Not a Thermometer: In the same way that a thermostat sets the temperature in a given room,
Orthodox Christianity changes our society
and is not a mere indicator (or thermometer) of popular culture. “Letter from
Birmingham Jail” is not just a call for social
action, it is also a critique of Christianity and
that includes our own Orthodox Christian
witness today. Rev. King has some harsh
words for Christians who place more value
on social order and acceptance than on being icons of truth. “Yes, I see the Church as
the body of Christ. But, oh! How we have
blemished and scarred that body through
social neglect and through fear of being
nonconformists. There was a time when
the Church was very powerful–in the time
when the early Christians rejoiced at being deemed worthy to suffer for what they
believed. In those days the church was not
merely a thermometer that recorded the
ideas and principles of popular opinion;
it was a thermostat that transformed the
mores of society. Whenever the early Christians entered a town, the people in power
became disturbed and immediately sought
to convict the Christians for being ‘disturbers of the peace’ and ‘outside agitators.’ But
the Christians pressed on, in the conviction
that they were ‘a colony of heaven,’ called to
obey God rather than man. Small in number, they were big in commitment. When
the faith is lived to its fullest, Orthodoxy has
the ability to transform the world in which
we live. It also brings justice to those who
suffer and gives a voice to those who have
none. The early Apostles were able to alter
the course of the Roman Empire, armed
only with their faith. Likewise, Rev. King
forever changed the United States, armed
only with the same Gospel.
The words of Rev. King and the image
of Archbishop Iakovos marching with him
in Selma, Alabama are not mere nostalgia
from a time gone by. Their witness is not
confined to history books. They represent
an urgent question for every Orthodox
Christian in America.
What type of Church will we be? Orthodox Christians can choose to turn inward,
selfishly focus on themselves alone, and
slowly self-destruct, or we can turn outward
and embrace the gift of the Holy Spirit
that led Archbishop Iakovos to Selma in
1965 and repeat his words time and again:
“The church will not be pessimistic, nor sit
quietly in its handsome houses of worship
while war rages outside its churches for the
bodies, minds and souls of its parishioners.”
Martin Luther King Jr. and Archbishop Iakovos both knew that the human person as
the image and likeness of God was a truth
worth breaking the law, fighting and (in Rev.
King’s case) ultimately dying for. Orthodoxy
in America needs this type of courage today
more than ever.Andrew Estocin is a graduate of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Seminary in
Crestwood, N.Y., and a parishioner of St.
George Church in Albuquerque, N.M.
JANUARY 2015
New Jersey Metropolis Dance Festival
21
Metropolis of NJ photos
Annapolis parish hosts 20th Folk Dance Competition
WESTFIELD, N.J. – On Jan. 16–18
the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New
Jersey held its annual Greek Folk Dance
Festival in Annapolis, Md. The annual
event began Friday evening with registration and a pizza party open to all of this
year’s participants. On Saturday morning
Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey
blessed the festivities, and offered the
keynote address.
In his address to the dancers, dance
directors, parents and observers, His Eminence stressed the beauty of this cultural
event which brings the youth of the Greek
Orthodox Metropolis and the surrounding areas together for an exciting event
which showcases our beautiful and rich
Greek Heritage. Metropolitan Evangelos
expressed his gratitude to all of those that
had traveled from near and far distances
to be part of the annual Greek Folk Dance
Festival.
He thanked the Rev. Protopresbyter
Kosmas Karavellas for his many years of
love and dedication to the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Jersey Greek Folk
Dance Festival and for his unwavering
commitment to the Youth of our Church.
He also thanked Felicia Karavellas Nolan,
Co-Chair of the event, all of the volunteers
and the entire host parish of Sts. Constantine and Helen Church in Annapolis,
as the work of the dedicated volunteers
ensured that this year’s Festival was even
more successful than the previous years.
The Metropolitan also told the audience that in his mind, regardless of
the judges’ decisions, all of the groups
deserved first place for their tremendous
dedication and efforts.
On Saturday and Sunday over 20
dance groups, consisting of more than
300 dancers representing 11 parishes
from throughout the Greek Orthodox
Metropolis of New Jersey, and the New
York performed dances from the various
regions of Greece, Cyprus, and Asia Minor
for the audience of parents, family, friends
and supporters that had filled the Annapolis High School Auditorium to capacity.
All of the dancers did an outstanding job
of demonstrating their love of their rich
Greek Heritage and all of the hard work
they have put in over the past year in order
to prepare for this event. The spectators
eagerly cheered each and every group for
their wonderful performances. In addition for the first time in the history of the
Folk Dance Festival there were two dance
groups performing in the newly created
Young Adult Category and its is the hope
that this new category will continue to
expand granting more of young adults
the opportunity to participate and express
their love for our Greek Culture.
On Saturday evening a dinner dance
was held at the Sts. Constantine and Helen
Community Center.
The true purpose of this event is to
bring together Greek Orthodox Children
from throughout the Holy Metropolis of
New Jersey and New York together for a
weekend of fellowship. This purpose was
achieved on Saturday evening as all of the
youth from all 11 parishes gathered together on the dance floor and danced traditional Greek dances as one large group.
This fellowship continued into Sunday morning when all of the FDF participants came together to participate in the
Hierarchical Divine Liturgy celebrated by
His Eminence at the host parish of SS.
Constantine and Helen in Annapolis.
It is the hope of Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey that the annual Folk
Dance Festival will continue to grow, attracting more and more young people to
participate every year.
Senior dance group from Annunciation Cathedral, Baltimore
St. George, Asbury Park, “Evzones”
Brooklyn, N.Y. Kimisis Church younger group
Youth from the host
parish of Annapolis, Md.
Kimisis Church, Holmdel, N.J. dancers
22
JANUARY 2015
Archdiocese National Calendar
u
u from page 6
20 Saint Basil Academy graduation, Garrison, N.Y.
24 Metropolis of Atlanta Philoptochos Convention, Columbia, S.C.
24-27 Metropolis of Atlanta Clergy-Laity
Conference, Columbia.
28-Aug. 3 Summer Camp Joy Session 2,
Camp Nazareth, Mercer.
July
5-11 Summer Camp GOYA Session I, Camp
Nazareth, Mercer, Pa.
12-18 Summer Camp GOYA Session 2,
Camp Nazareth, Mercer
12-16 Camp Good Shepherd for JOY,
Branchville, N.J.
18-25 Metropolis of San Francisco Camp
Agape NW, Seattle
26-Aug. 1 Camp Good Shepherd for GOYA,
Branchville
August
1-6 Metropolis of San Francisco Camp
Agape, Portland, Oregon
27-30 Metropolis of San Francisco Camp
Agape, Ramona, Calif.
September
Metropolis of San Francisco Fall Spiritual
Conference, TBA
Metropolis of San Francisco Southern California “Light the Path” – TBA
Metropolis of San Francisco Northern California “Light the Path” - TBA
Date TBA Metropolis of Detroit Clergy Laity
Assembly
19 Metropolis of Chicago Philoptochos annual luncheon, Café La Cave, Des Plaines, Ill.
20 Metropolis of New Jersey Holy Cross
Celebration, Asbury Park, N.J.
24-26 Metropolis of Pittsburgh Clergy-Laity
Assembly, location TBA
October
Date TBA Metropolitan Evangelos of New
Jersey Ambassador Awards Banquet
Dat TBA Metropolis of New Jersey fundraiser for St. Nicholas National Shrine
November
5-7 Metropolis of Atlanta Board meeting,
Atlanta Cathedral board room.
10-12 Metropolis of Atlanta Clergy Rereat,
Diakonia Center, Salem, S.C.
20-22 Metropolis of Pittsburgh GOYA Fall
Retreat, Camp Nazareth, Mercer, Pa.
December
5 St. Savas Feast Day and Metropolis Open
House, Metropolis headquarters, Pittsburgh
6 Metropolis of Detroit Philoptochos to
honor Metropolitan Nicholas for his name
day.
11 Metropolis of Detroit Philoptochos reception after St. Spyridon Vesters
12 St. Basil Academy Christmas program,
Garrison, N.Y.
13 Metropolis of New Jersey Christmas Tree
Lighting and Open House, Westfield, N.J.
27-30 Metropolis of Atlanta Winter Youth
Rally in Atlanta.
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Commentary
Youth Sports: Never on Sunday
by Gordon J. Condos
Sunday is the day of the Lord. Ever
since the morning of the glorious Resurrection of Jesus, his ardent followers joyfully
called this day Sunday; to express love and
honor for the Lord. Consequently, Sunday became revered as the Holy Sabbath
by Christians, henceforth, to awesomely
celebrate this first Pascha and greatest of
miracles. Moreover, this day supersedes all
other days to worship the Author of all life,
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
It is a sacred day that we congregate
to the house of God to participate with all
five senses in the Divine Liturgy. We put all
weekday social, work and school activities
plus all worldly cares aside for His special
day. This includes school sports as well,
which are no exception.
School sports offer many benefits and
certainly should be encouraged especially
when children show an interest and exhibit
athletic ability. Our venerable ancestors, the
ancient Hellenes, valued the participation
in athletic competitions as evidenced by the
inception of the Olympic Games during the
Classical Golden Age of Greece. This is especially relevant because our predecessors
placed great importance and emphasis on
a sound mind and body.
While all this is true, how healthy could
the minds and bodies of our youth be if
the condition of their souls is rendered
dormant and thus unsound? Is physical
development worth more than spiritual
development and growth? As Greek Orthodox Christians, I don’t think this question necessitates any deep heavy duty soul
searching to arrive at the correct answer...
sports or any other pastimes do not come
before God. Children must attend Church
on Sunday with their parents to hear the
Good News and hence awaken and stimulate their religious awareness and fortify
their identity as Greek Orthodox Christians.
All the before–mentioned benefits pale
considerably in comparison to the benefits
our faith offers, which are immeasurable
and priceless. How can we give our children
the treasures of Orthodoxy if we are absent
from Church services, which prevents us
from receiving and sharing these precious
gifts with them.
Furthermore, the demands our Faith
places upon us for perpetual love, unending forgiveness, acts of kindness, and high
moral conduct, just to name a few, by far
exceed the rigors inherent to competitive
sports. What are we teaching our youth
when we succumb to the insidious distractions and desires of secular society? Secular
society is not concerned about how holy we
keep the day of the Lord. Secularism would
just as well transform Sunday and minimize
its supremacy to the status of any other
day of the week. The devil would just love
that too, or rather as our highly esteemed
Church Fathers would eloquently rephrase
this idea, the “Evil One” would take pleasure
and delight in the mere thought. We, the
Body of Christ, are ultimately individually
and collectively responsible for keeping
Sunday, the Lord’s day, holy and reverent.
Parents must place the Lord and Sunday Church and Church School attendance
as ranking number one top priority. School
sports or any other social outings cannot be
allowed to run families ragged in its pursuit,
or rob them of valuable uninterrupted quality time to be together with God. Parents
are the strongest influential role models
that possess the most profound impact on
the healthy development of a child. They
are children’s first teachers and the home
their first school. In short, children learn
what they live. If parents are consistent
and persistent, the results and fruits of their
labors and sacrifices will be bountiful. The
children will do so as well. Sunday is that
special sanctified day to be together beginning with the source of all good things, our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
In wake of the recent, horrific, and
unspeakable atrocities beset upon our
beloved “America the Beautiful” we owe it
to ourselves, our children, our country and
most of all to our God, a change of heart and
a repositioning of our priorities. Since the
evil crimes of Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, our
honorable land has been enshrouded with
mourning and lamentation. The future, my
fellow Orthodox Christians, is an uncertain
and precarious one to say the least.
There couldn’t be a more urgent time
to reassess our values, priorities and lives
than now. Socrates said, “A life without
examination is not worth living.”
Let us realize that by letting our children compete and earn trophies during the
time that God has put aside for us to worship Him, we are actually introducing them
to idolatry. Will we as parents encourage
our children to become the team captain or
the team most valuable player or to become
crowned champions of Orthodoxy and be
numbered amongst our saints?
Gordon Condos taught secondary bilingual/
Social Studies and ESL, retiring after 32 years of
service to the state of New Jersey. He has served
the altar, GOYA, Ionian Village, parish council
and St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival.
He is a parishioner of St.George in Clifton, N.J.
23
JANUARY 2015
Day Schools
Brooklyn School Fosters Spirit of Hellenism in Multicultural Setting
The A. Fantis Parochial School of the
Sts. Constantine and Helen Cathedral in
Brooklyn has proudly supported the ideals
of Hellenism by fostering the individual
pursuit of knowledge, an appreciation
of beauty, and a devotion to democratic
civic culture for five decades. A. Fantis is
a Greek Orthodox elementary and middle
school where children from pre-school
through 8th grade are provided with an
education rooted in Hellenic culture and
Christian teachings while receiving the
finest preparation for a seamless transition into high school. The student body
is small, but truly reflective of the diversity
that is New York City.
The spirit of Hellenism (independent
thought, a love for academic achievement)
thrives in this multicultural environment.
The small, student–centered classes are
the focus of a strong academic and cultural
environment. High academic standards
are maintained through a rigorous, wellrounded curriculum. This establishes a
strong foundation for academic achievement and prepares students for acceptance to prestigious high schools. From
the 14 graduates this past June, 2014,
over 95 percent were accepted to the high
school of their choice, while 50 percent
were accepted to Specialized high schools.
The beautiful five story building has bright,
well-ventilated classrooms, and includes a
science laboratory and library. All the classrooms are equipped with smart boards
and students have computer access which
is supervised at all times. Students also
enjoy a spacious gymnasium, along with
a rooftop playground to which students
have daily access.
From the three–year–olds through
eighth grade, A. Fantis School strives to
create a learning environment in which
each and every child is enabled, encouraged and nurtured to succeed to their
fullest potential. The small class size allows
teachers to ensure their students achieve a
thorough understanding of core subjects,
as well individualized attention to ensure
maximum success. The students’ progress
is monitored closely, with informal and
formal assessment taking place throughout the year.
With the curriculum being aligned to
the New York State Education Department
standards, many of our students graduate with distinction, having also earned
Regents credits in mathematics, science
and Greek language towards high-school
graduation. Graduates continue on to
attend private high schools, specialized
high schools, and other high-achievement
public high schools. Whatever the level
of ability, A. Fantis inspires its students to
develop their talents and reach for excellence in everything they do.
The extended day program has attracted many students where they benefit
from one-on-one tutoring in specific subjects, supervised homework help, piano,
guitar, voice lessons, Greek dance, art, and
boys and girls basketball teams.
While the school celebrates the academic successes of our students, there is
also the awareness, as outlined by the
Greek philosopher Aristotle, that “the purpose of an education is to create a good
person”. Underpinning the academic
strivings is the goal that students grow as
individuals, and mature into being part of
the community. Many graduates become
leaders of the community in future years,
and also send their children to A. Fantis
School.
The entire community takes pride in
the school and is always aiming to maintain the high standards that currently exist.
In addition, the PTO is very active, and
always striving to raise funds to enhance
the education and culture experiences of
the students.
On Jan. 5, Maria Perdik-Zolotas
assumed the duties of principal. Mrs.
Perdik-Zolotas has had an extensive and
diversified career with the Department of
Education for over 33 years as a teacher
and assistant principal. She brings a lifetime of dedication to education and Hellenism to her responsibilities. Her plans
include building on the solid foundation
that currently exists at A. Fantis by devel-
oping and reinforcing new and innovative
teaching and learning techniques, never
losing sight of the individualized attention
that all of the students benefit from. “The
school is a great place, all around, and
we will continue to strive for perfection”.
Mrs. Perdik-Zolotas has strong ties
to the Greek-Orthodox community from
a very young age. She received her Greek
school education at the St. Demetrios
community of Astoria in the afternoon
school, and is currently a member of the
St. Nicholas parish in Flushing, N.Y.
She serves as president of the Stephen and Areti Cherpelis Greek Afternoon
School for over 15 years, and is currently
the treasurer of Philoptochos. She resides
in Bayside with her husband of 30 years,
Nicholas, and their daughter Spiridoula.
Mrs. Perdik-Zolotas is honored to have
been selected for her current position
at A.Fantis, where she will now proudly
serve the children of our Greek Orthodox
schools which are deep rooted in our
culture, heritage, religion, and language.
The culture of A.Fantis is one of
warmth and friendliness, coupled with
purpose and energy.
This is because the school continues
to succeed in combining academic excellence with cultural, family, and spiritual
values.
Argyrios Fantis School photos
24
JANUARY 2015
Scenes from Christmas Past
Oriental carpet & area rugs
Ceramic tile & grout cleaning
Upholstery & fine fabrics
Headboards & bed frames
Drapery & shades
Fabric walls
Marble & stone cleaning
Leather furniture
Christmas celebrations
Photo courtesy of Diane Primis
Children of Transfiguration Church in Anchorage, Alaska (above) present their first Nativity play in
their new church. (Below) At St. Demetrios Church Parochial School in Astoria, N.Y., everyone gets
to play Santa.
Serving the Tri-State Area
212.777.4040 fabracleen.com fabracleenstoneandtilecare.com
Dimitrios Panagos photo
Impromptu concert
O.O. photo
Following the lighting of the Archdiocese headquarters Christmas tree by Archbishop Demetrios on Dec.
10, Bishop Andonios of Phasiane, chancellor, briefs staff members about the carols they are about to sing.
25
JANUARY 2015
Family Connections
Parenting a Child with Cancer: A Journey through the Storm
by Angie Giallourakis
Before March 2006 my life was moving smoothly. I had fulfilled a life–long
goal of becoming a university professor. I
was blessed to have a wonderful husband
(Harry) and three loving sons (Phillip,
Nicholas & Steven). Life was good and all
was well in the world. What more could
I ask for? I was 51 years old and believed
my husband and I had achieved much in
our loving marriage: successful careers,
handsome and smart sons, loving family
and friends, and a parish in which we were
actively engaged as youth advisors.
“The scans reveal Steven has Stage Four
Metastatic Osteosarcoma (Bone Cancer).
He has a 25 percent chance of survival. He
will need chemotherapy, radiation and two
spine surgeries to remove the tumor that is
wrapped around his Lumbar 4 Vertebrae
and part and repair his spine.”
When my husband, Harry, and I were
informed of our 15-year-old son Steven’s
cancer diagnoses our world came to a halt.
Steven’s back pain was not sciatica,
but a softball size tumor in his lower spine.
What was happening to our baby, our
youngest child?
“Have Mercy on Me
O God According
to thy Great Mercies…”
(Psalm 51)
It was very difficult for us to emotionally process Steven’s diagnoses. We were in
shock and alternating between crying and
feeling completely bewildered. Our nurse
informed us that our lives would never be
the same. We were on a new trajectory:
dealing with our son’s cancer diagnoses.
Everyone came to our aid: sons, siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, priests, friends
and strangers. We were amazed at the outpouring of love for our son. Meals were sent
to our home, gifts and encouraging messages for Steven were sent to the hospital.
“Arise, Lord,
save me, my God.”
(Psalm 3)
My dear departed mother raised my
brother and me to look to our Lord when
experiencing life crises. “Pray everyday and
ask Him for forgiveness”, she would say. I
tried to make sense of Steven’s illness. God
doesn’t punish us by giving our children
cancer. God did not create cancer. This
horrible illness is a human disease caused
by genetics and/or the environment.
However in the midst of this understanding I still didn’t want to see my son suffer! I needed to find purpose in his illness.
When I raised these concerns to my
brother he reassured me that God wanted
us to pray for strength and health. He
encouraged me to talk to my priest and
remember what our mother used to say:
“Without Faith In God we have nothing!”
How will having Faith help my family?
What could I do to help us through this
difficult journey?
“We suffer with Him
that we may also
be glorified with Him”
(Romans 8:17)
In my pursuit of an answer to this
stressful time, Fr. Paul Patitsis (our parish
priest), provided spiritual support and
direction.
He spoke on the nature of prayer and
how important it is to pray unceasingly.
He also gave me Holy Oil to anoint Steven
on a regular basis. He suggested I anoint
him following our evening prayers. In addition, Steven was encouraged to pray. In
fact, Fr. Paul suggested that perhaps God
wanted Steven to increase his own prayer
life. At the time of this conversation with
Fr. Paul, Steven was sedated and receiving
chemotherapy. Steven groggily responded:
“No offence Fr. Paul but couldn’t God have
found another way to get me to pray?”
Needless to say, Fr. Paul’s words to
Steven on prayer guided us to a regular
prayer schedule. Our Orthodox prayer
book became a permanent travel companion to and from the hospital. In addition,
icons were being sent to Steven from all
over the world, therefore he was continually surrounded the images of our Lord and
saints. One commonly received icon was of
St. Nektarios. Our Orthodox Christian Faith
teaches us that St. Nektarios is one of the
patron saints of cancer patients.
“Nektarios let us, the faithful, praise
as inspired servants of Christ; for he pours
out healings of every kind…” (Apolytikon
of St. Nektarios)
We were introduced to the glorious
St. Nektarios of Pentapoli. His humble yet
miraculous story provided us with comfort
and hope. St. Nektarios’ life and miracles
helped us engage in spiritual conversations
during those stressful times.
“O God,
do not be far from me.”
(Psalm 71)
Steven underwent 10 months of treatment to fight his Osteosarcoma. He had grueling chemotherapy treatments, two spine
surgeries and radiation. Following those 10
months Steven was declared cancer free or
NED (no evidence of disease). We exhaled,
inhaled and prayed. For one and a half years
Steven was cancer free. He began to attend
college, but fate had other plans. Following routine blood work, it was discovered
that he had Secondary Acute Myelogenous
Leukemia (as a result of the treatment for
his bone cancer). Our son had cancer for a
second time. He needed a life–saving bone
marrow transplant.
Once again we were crushed by the
news.
Steven was given a 19 percent chance
of survival. We were beyond hope, however
our Faith prevailed! After the initial shock,
we looked at each other and said, “Okay,
we obviously haven’t been praying enough.
God has a plan for us, so we need to pray
with fervor!”
For a second time we hosted a healing
service (service of the Six Psalms) at our
church. Fr. James Doukas resided over the
lovely service, which lifted the hearts of
everyone present.
With a diagnosis of AML (Acute Myelogenous Leukemia) patients must remain in
the hospital during treatment for approximately 3 – 4 weeks. We brought reminders
of home to make the experience more relaxing. Some of the items brought included a
coffee pot, folding table for family meals,
blankets, pillows, plates, cups, silverware
and colorful room decorations.
My husband, sons and I alternated
evening stays. Our two sons, Phillip and
Nick were acutely aware of the stress. Their
immense empathy, love and kindness were
a testament to the affection they have for
their younger brother.
We knew this new experience would
either make or break us, and we were
determined to be an example of strength
and courage for our son. Amazingly, it was
Steven who displayed the strength and
courage. Whenever he felt well enough he
would converse and tease his nurses. These
were precious moments for us.
“I cried to the Lord
with my voice,
and he heard me…”
(Psalm 3)
In preparation for the bone marrow
transplant, Steven’s immune system was
completely eliminated through chemotherapy. In addition to our family, our parish
prayed and supported us in our journey.
Bone marrow drives were held. Goyans
throughout our Metropolis sent messages
of love and hope.
Our own Metropolitan Maximos visited
Steven in the hospital and offered prayers
and love. We were deeply moved by his
support.
“In you,
O Lord, I put my trust.”
(Psalm 31)
The day of Steven’s bone marrow
transplant was peaceful and calm. Our
family, priest and presbytera surrounded
our sleeping son.
Fr. James Doukas anointed him and
blessed the bone marrow (donated from
a 33–year–old man) with the relic of St.
Raphael.
It was amazing to witness the life–saving bone marrow enter our son’s blood
stream with the hope of renewal.
The bone marrow transplant was nine
years ago. Despite complications of chronic
graft vs. host disease, Steven is doing well.
We are all truly blessed.
Our family had many experiences during Steven’s treatment and recovery. There
were many ups and downs.
While in the hospital we established
new friendships.
But we also mourned the loss of young
people, some from our own parish. Words
cannot express the grief I feel knowing that
250 children die everyday to this horrible
disease.
We have learned a great deal. Our family can survive the worst of times. Our Faith
does sustain us! Our Savior’s sacrifice for us
is the Hope and we must allow Him to carry
us through the storm.
“Glory to Thee O God, Glory to Thee!”
If you or someone you love has cancer,
do not be afraid to reach out to a greater
support system than your immediate family.
Talk to your priest. Do not be embarrassed by the diagnoses of cancer.
The more social support you and your
loved ones have, the greater opportunities
for physical and emotional health.
For more information on adolescent
and young adult cancer visit: www.fightconquercure.com
Angelike (Angie) Giallourakis, Ph.D.
is a resource specialist for the GOA Center
for Family Care. She and her family attend
St. Demetrios Church in Rocky River, Ohio.
Resources
For Families
Dealing With Cancer
• Akathist to the Mother of God Healer
of Cancer (2002) Published by St. Paisius
Serbian Orthodox Monastery.
This Akathist prayer can be recited at
anytime. The small booklet also contains
an icon of the “Pantanassa” Icon of the
Mother of God and two brief prayers.
• St. Nektarios: The Saint for our Century
(2004) by Soto Chondropoulos.
The author provides the reader with a
loving biography of St. Nektarios. His
example is an excellent model for dealing
with challenges in our lives.
• Suffering and Salvation (2002) by Archim. Vassilios Bakoyannis.
This brief book provides the Orthodox
perspective on suffering and salvation in
a simple but comprehensive way.
• Getting Out of Bed In the Morning: Reflections of Comfort in Heartache (2013):
by Alice J. Wisler
Written by a mother who lost her son
to cancer, this book is a culmination of
reflections, prayers, and encouraging
words. Ms. Wisler also reminds us to create healthy outlets for deep sadness.
26
JANUARY 2015
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28
JANUARY 2015
Epiphany USA 2015
Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos blesses the Illinois River in Peoria.
Diimitrios Panagos photo
TARPON SPRINGS, Fla.
CAMARILLO, Calif.
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Bishop Apostolos of Medeia blesses the waters of San Diego Bay, Calif.
GALVESTON, Texas.
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LOUISVILLE, Ky.
NEW ORLEANS
BUFFALO, N.Y.
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