orthodox observer - july-august 2012 - issue 1277

JULY – AUGUST 2012 • Vol. 77 • No. 1277 $1.00www.observer.goarch.org • e-mail: [email protected]

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C-L Delegates ‘Bear Fruit’ from Arizona Desert CongressPHOENIX -More than 1,200 partici-

pants attended the successful 41st Clergy-Laity Congress and National Philoptochos Convention July 1-4, undaunted by triple-digit temperatures in this southwestern desert environment. The J.W. Marriott Desert Ridge Resort served as the spacious location for the congress.

Among their major actions, delegates overwhelmingly voted to continue holding the congress every two years. Resolutions from the Boston, New Jersey and Atlanta metropolises had called for changing the frequency to three–years as a means of reducing expenses for communities.

National Philoptochos Convention delegates pledged $205,000 toward a new Philoptochos Center of Philanthropy. (story below)

Many workshops and seminars took place on July 2 and 3 where delegates re-ceived briefings and information on the Na-tional Ministries which they can take to their individual parishes for implementation.

Several auxiliary organizations also held meetings in conjunction with the congress, including the Retired Clergy As-sociation, Sisterhood of Presvyteres, the National Fourm of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians and others. Separate articles in this issue highlight the work of several of these groups.

Also in attendance was the patriarchal representative, Metropolitan Sotirios of Toronto, who delivered the greetings of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the opening session and spoke to several groups.

Archbishop Demetrios served as the

by Jim Golding

Philoptochos delegates attend one of many meetings of their convention.

keynote speaker at the opening session on July 2 and expounded on the theme of “Chosen and appointed by God to go and bear fruit” there and at other events at the congress.

National Philoptochos President Aph-rodite Skeadas also offered her greetings. She noted the significance of the city of Phoenix taking its name from the mytho-logical bird that became an early Christian symbol representing Christ’s resurrection.

In his welcoming remarks, Metropoli-tan Gerasimos of San Francisco observed that the format of the congress is unique in the Orthodox world, engaging “all of our parishes in the work of the church” and demonstrating “in a very concrete way the

unity of the Archdiocese.”He added, “The purpose of this con-

gress is to grow in our faith and make decisions in our life together as the Greek Orthodox Church in America. The process begins here to go and bear fruit. To con-tinue in Christ’s salvific work and proclaim Orthodoxy will require new ideas and new strategies. That’s why we are here; to learn from the Archdiocese and ministries and, most importantly, to learn from one another.”

Later in the week, Archbishop Deme-trios commented that the congress, “set a high level of achievement in everything that happened.”

He told the 1,400 persons attending

the July 4 banquet to “go and bear fruit” in three areas: youth, outreach to Orthodox Christians who have disconnected, or have no connection to the Church, and support for the rebuilding of St. Nicholas Church.

Archbishop’s keynote highlightsThe Archbishop enumerated a litany

of reasons to “be thankful to God,”which characterizes the role, purpose and recent accomplishments of the Church in America over the past two years since the last con-gress.

“For the gifts we have received in the two years since the last congress we give thanks for everything,” His Eminence said. “The period of 2010-12 is full of circum-stances for us to give thanks to God,” which include:

• for the very distinguished hierar-chical service by Metropolitan Maximos of Pittsburgh. We owe him much for his contributions to theological, pastoral and ecumenical work of the Church.

• for Savas, the new Metropolitan of Pittsburgh.

• for the new Bishop Sevastianos, the chief secretary of the Holy Synod and bishop of zeal.

• for the new clergy who have been ordained, including 28 priests and 41 deacons.

• for the life and work of the 22 clergy who have departed after long years of fruit-ful diaconia.

• for the agreement with the Port Au-thority of New York and New Jersey for the rebuilding of the new St. Nicholas Church. The agreement was signed last October and the paperwork for the technical details is

PHOENIX – With a spotlight on 80 years of its philanthropic endeavors, close to 400 delegates at the biennial Philoptochos convention turned inward

National Philoptochos Convention Raises $205,000 for Center of Philanthropyby Melody Simmons for a golden hour and raised a stunning

$205,000 toward a new Philoptochos Center of Philanthropy on the final day of the Clergy–Laity Conference here.

The flurry of donations and pledges were made by many of the 392 regis-

tered delegates, some on behalf of their chapters all across the U.S. and others in honor of or in memory of beloved Philoptochos members and family members. The amount was added to an existing $1.2 million raised over the past two years for the Center, to be located in New York City.

It was the pinnacle event of the four-day conference held at the J.W. Marriott Desert Ridge Resort on the edge of the rugged and beautiful Sonoran Desert.

The wide-ranging agenda included a forum on domestic violence awareness and prevention, emotional testimony of Philoptochos-sponsored charitable work, a discussion on lifestyle choices called “Are You a Martha or a Mary?” and passage of the organization’s budgets for 2013 and 2014.

“You have the traits of true Christian leaders,” said Bishop Sevastianos of Zela,

the newly appointed spiritual advisor for Philoptochos. “Be the example of what you want people to do.”

National Philoptochos President Aphrodite Skeadas told the delegates that the convention was a success be-cause of their diligence and concern to keep the organization’s ministry that included a recent donation of $160,000 made to non-governmental relief agen-cies in Greece to help relieve suffering brought on from the economic collapse in the country.

“The Philoptochos women in Amer-ica demonstrate through unwavering faith and commitment that Philoptochos is the extraordinary philanthropic or-ganization of sterling integrity offering healing, peace and hope for more than 80 years,” she said.

Dimitris Panagos photos

Archbishop Demetrios addresses the opening session of the 41st Biennial Clergy–Laity Congress, delivering a 45–minute keynote speech.

JULY – AUGUST 20122 A RCHDIOCESE NEWS

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FAITH Awards 2012 Ionian Village ScholarshipsNEW YORK – For the sixth consecu-

tive year, “FAITH: An Endowment for Or-thodoxy and Hellenism” is sponsoring a series of financial aid scholarships this summer through its “Birthright Hellas” program to campers in the Ionian Village Summer Camp pro-gram. FAITH has awarded financial aid scholarships to 59 students from throughout the United States.

Ionian Village is the Summer Camping Ministry of the Archdiocese. The mission of Ionian Village is to enrich the lives of its participants by bringing campers and staff into close contact with their Orthodox faith and Hellenic heritage.

Ionian Village provides the op-portunity for teenagers, ages 13–18, of the Archdiocese to foster a life-long appreciation and love of Greece, Or-thodoxy, and Hellenism.

This important mission is ac-complished by providing a safe and fun environment in which campers and staff can fully immerse themselves into the rich Greek heritage, experience the vi-brancy of our Greek Orthodox traditions, and learn to lead Christ–centered lives.Ionian Village participants travel across Greece, venerate the relics of the saints, walk in the footsteps of the Apostles, and visit significant sites of Greek history and

culture. At the end of each program, the campers, staff and clergy return home with strengthened faith, life–long friendships based on Christian love, and an expanded appreciation for the Orthodox Church and Greek culture.

“Ionian Village, as many people know, is a very special place. It is truly more than a summer camp; it is an experience that is life-transforming. Through the gener-

ous support and love of the Founders of FAITH, many young people who perhaps could not otherwise afford this experience are now able to.

As we saw this year, we have re-cipients from each Metropolis of the Archdiocese, telling us what an amazing impact this grant continues to make in the life of our Archdiocese. This pro-gram is truly a great show of support for

this amazing ministry, and a wonderful opportunity for these young campers”

remarked Fr. Evagoras Constantinides, the Ionian Village director.

Peter T. Kikis, president of FAITH, added “We (the founders of Faith) are proud to support young people wishing to participate in Ionian Village, which is a truly transformative and enriching experience the intellectual and spiritual growth along with the friendships that take place as these young people connect to their Hellenic roots at Ionian Village are extraordinary.

For more than 40 years, Ionian Village has been and still is the premiere program for the young Greek Americans to under-stand their Hellenic heritage and identity and we are very pleased to offer this op-portunity through our Birthright Hellas scholarship program.”

FAITH also has funded several scholar-

GARRISON, N.Y. – Six students who graduated from area schools were hon-ored in an emotion–filled ceremony at the 65th Commencement at Saint Basil Academy.

Three students graduated from eighth grade, two from high school and one from a community college.

Each student spoke briefly about the positive impact the academy has had in

Saint Basil Academy Holds 65th Commencement

Students graduating from their respective schools honored at the 65th commencement at Saint Basil Acad-emy with Archbishop Demetrios, Fr. Constantine Sitaras, trustees and National Philiptochos representatives.

shaping their life and preparing them to become productive individuals anchored in the Faith, and related some of the dif-ficult circumstances that brought them to the facility.

Fr. Constantine Sitaras, executive director of the academy, summed up the work of Saint Basil’s as offering “support, guidance, discipline, an element of caring, nurturing and love beyond comprehen-

sion in shaping well-rounded, whole individuals” and making them “people of quality” that are respected, respectful and “appreciative of what has been given to them.”

This year’s ceremony took place un-der a large tent erected on the front lawn of the academy’s administration building, unlike past years when the gym was used. Fr. Sitaras noted that the relocation result-ed from several broken water pipes that rendered some of the facilities unusable and that the entire underground piping system, which is as much as a century old, will have to be replaced at an estimated cost of about $250,000.

The academy had been without elec-tric power for nearly eight weeks as the

JULY – AUGUST 2012 3A RCHDIOCESE NEWS

Dimitris Panagos photo

Ten–year milestoneArchbishop Demetrios greets a soldier during a gathering of “fi rst responders” at the World Trade Center site on June 4, two days before His Eminence and other Church leaders received a private tour and briefi ng by WTC offi cials. (Story on page 10) The event marked the 10th anniversary of the completion of work to remove debris from the site of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers. The “fi rst responders” were those who actively participated in recovery eff orts and in ministering to the survivors and victims’ families following the catastrophe.

CLER GY UPDATEOrdinations to the Diaconate

John (Eric) Wallace – Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta – Holy Cross Chapel, Brookline, Mass. 3/31/12John Pantelis – Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta – St. George Church, New Port Richey, Fla. 5/13/12Mathew Kakis – Bishop Andonios of Phasiane – St. Paul Cathedral, Hemp-stead, NY 6/10/12Jason Houck – Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos – St. Mary Church, Minne-apolis 6/17/12

AssignmentsFr. Stavroforos Mamaies – St. Barbara Church, Durham, NC 6/01/12Fr. George Gartelos – Saint Sophia Church, San Antonio, Texas 6/03/12Fr. Paul Bebis – Holy Trinity Church, Fitchburg, Mass. 7/01/12Dn. Jason Houck – Sts. Constantine & Helen Church, Washington 7/01/12Fr. Chris Margaritis – Assumption of the Theotokos Cathedral, Denver 7/01/12Fr. Philemon Patitsas – St. Katherine Church, Naples, Fla. 7/01/12Fr. Apostolos Hill – St. George Church, Prescott, Ariz. 7/15/12Dn. Nikolas Karloutsos – Archangel

Michael, Port Washington, NY 8/01/12V. Rev. Fr. Nektarios Papazafiropoulos – St. Demetrios Cathedral, Astoria, N.Y 8/01/12

AppointmentsFr. George S. Callos – Chancellor of the Metropolis of Pittsburgh 6/01/12Fr. Jason C. Roll – National Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries 7/01/12

OffikiaFr. Barnabas Powell – Office of Confes-sor, bestowed by Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta 5/27/12Fr. James Hademenos – Office of Pro-topresbyter, bestowed by Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver 6/10/12

SuspensionsFr. Michael H. Kontos 6/05/12

Priests on LoanFr. Costa Constantinou (to the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto) 7/01/12

Leave of AbsenceArchdeacon Ryan Gzikowski 4/15/12

New CommunitiesGreek Orthodox Parish of Loudoun County, Dulles, Va.

NEW YORK – The Archdiocese, responding to the loving wish of Ecu-menical Patriarch Bartholomew, to help, if possible, with part of the proceeds col-lected in the “Relief Fund for the People of Greece,” the suffering people in the Holy Metropolises of Crete and the Holy Metropolises of Dodecanese, sent funds totaling $190,000.

Specifically, the total amount of $130,000 was sent to the Holy Archdio-cese of Crete and to the eight Metropo-lises of the Orthodox Church in Crete; $60,000 was sent to the five metropo-lises of the Dodecanese and the Holy

Archdiocese Sends $190,000 to Churches in Crete, Dodecanese

Monastery of Patmos.Archbishop Demetrios in his letter

to the hierarchs accompanying the check noted that the amount is an offering for the special programs of these Churches for the relief (food, shelter, medicine) of the suffering people in their area.

He wrote, “This is an offering of love of the parishes and individuals of our Holy Archdiocese of America, who responded to the call for solidarity and support of the Greek people during this difficult period, with what they could and despite the adverse economic conditions that exist here as well.”

NEW YORK – Archbishop Demetrios has appointed the Rev. Fr. Jason C. Roll as the national director of the Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries effective July 1, succeeding Fr. Mark Leondis who served as National Youth Director from 2000 to 2011.

Fr. Jason previously served as assistant priest at St. Nicholas Church in North-ridge, Calif., and had been a part-time assistant at Holy Trinity Church in New Rochelle, N.Y.

Fr. Jason has more than 20 years experience in youth work and camp-ing ministries, and 18 years of business and professional management experi-ence. Under the direction of Archbishop Demetrios, Fr. Jason served as director of Ionian Village from 2009-2011. He also has directed various youth camps throughout our Archdiocese and served in many areas of youth, young adult and campus minis-try, most recently including the OCF-West spiritual adviser.

Commenting on Fr. Roll’s appoint-ment, Archbishop Demetrios said, “Fr. Ja-son brings to the Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries a vigorous faith, an unwavering enthusiasm and strong, mana-gerial skills. I am sure that with the help of God he will work diligently, creatively and effectively on the challenging, but also promising, field of the youth related activities of our Church.”

Fr. Roll Named National Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries

“With the b l e s s i n g s o f A r c h b i s h o p Demetr ios , I look forward to serving the youth and young adults of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America” said Fr. Jason. “My goal is to strengthen the relationship between God

and the Greek Orthodox youth through supportive Christ-centered resources aimed at sustaining youth leaders. I look forward to enhancing and establishing a greater online presence with a live re-source center for Orthodox youth, young adults, parish youth leaders and parents.”

Fr. Jason, a Portland, Oregon native, graduated from Oregon State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in busi-ness administration and a minor in behav-ioral sciences. He received his Masters of Divinity from Holy Cross School of Theol-ogy where he graduated cum laude in 2009. Prior to attending Holy Cross, Fr. Jason worked for companies such as US Bank, NIKE Inc. and as a neuroscience treatment team manager and pharmaceutical sales representative with Eli Lilly and Company.

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 Dis-tinguished Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Day, Afternoon, and Church Schools, the Philoptochos Sister-hoods, the Youth, the Hellenic Organi-zations, and the entire Greek Orthodox Family in America

Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,Our observance of Independence

Day this year coincides with the 41st biennial meeting of the Clergy-Laity Congress of our Holy Archdiocese, and our Congress theme has tremendous sig-nificance when we reflect on the heritage of freedom that we have in this country, the United States of America. Our theme, “Chosen and Appointed by God to Go and Bear Fruit,” is directly related to our divine calling as Orthodox Christians to carry the message of the Gospel and to reveal the grace and power of God in our lives so that beautiful and eternal spiritual fruit may be produced in the lives of others.

On this July 4, we give thanks to God that we live in a land that is free. We are in a nation where we can affirm publicly our Orthodox Faith, and we can live openly with the conviction that God has appointed us for a special task. We are also blessed with the freedom to go and bear fruit. As we meet in Phoenix, Arizona and plan the ministry and service of our

Independence DayENCYCLICAL

Church, and as we gather in worship and ministry in our local parishes, we are able to do so without the pressures and chal-lenges of oppression or persecution. We are able to seek the guidance of God and to determine the best course of action to meet the needs around us, to lead others to salvation, and to bring honor and glory to Him.

We are also free to offer our lives and resources so that great fruit is produced in the lives of others. This land is one which has fostered respect for the spiritual life and for the role of religion in teaching the values that nurture community, peace, and civility. In this environment, we offer this and so much more through Christ, knowing that others are free to embrace life in Him and to experience grace and faith in many, and sometimes unexpected ways.

As we celebrate our freedom to go and bear fruit on this Independence Day, may we remember those who have given so much to establish and protect this free-dom. May we also affirm the blessings we have in this country to worship and wit-ness through the work of our Church and through our lives so that others may see, hear, and receive the Gospel and experi-ence the abundant life we have in Christ.

With paternal love in Him,

† Archbishop DEMETRIOS of Amer i ca

Congress Information on WebsiteFor more information on the 41st Biennial Clergy–Laity Congress that took place

in Phoenix, visit the Archdiocese website: www.clergylaity.org to view all the texts of reports presented at the congress, the complete texts of Archbishop Demetrios’ keynote address, the greetings from Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew read by Metropolitan Sotirios of Toronto, photographs and other information.

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41st Clergy-Laity Congress

to be completed in the coming weeks. The location is one of most advantageous. It directly faces the memorial. An additional advantage is the expected 40,000-50,000 visitors per day; plus more than 2,000 people using the nearby commuter trains each day. “You can imagine the witness.”

• for-Holy Cross School of Theology which celebrates 75 years. The class en-tering this September will have a record enrollment–50 new students.

• for the Ladies Philoptochos Society; 80 bright years of sustained caring, love and philanthropy; an impressive army of more than 27,000 ladies around country.

• for St. Michael’s home for aged people. The home is about to acquire an important new facility, with space for more residents and a ward for nursing and medi-cal care.

• for the Archbishop Iakovos Leader-ship 100 Endowment Fund that has com-pleted more than 25 years. It was born in 1985 in Phoenix and, so far, has given $33 million to the ministries of the Church.

• for FAITH endowment fund, which, since its inception in 2003; offers serious responsible funding; and has produced impressive work in promoting Orthodoxy and Hellenism. This includes textbooks for teaching Greek to children; giving as-sistance to Ionian Village, programs for the Fulbright Foundation, and the St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival.

• for the Archons, Order of St. Andrew. Their tireless efforts over the last 10 years have changed the approach to fundamental issues relating to the Ecumenical Patriarch-ate and support of religious freedom by major governmental bodies. The Novem-ber 2010 conference on religious freedom in Brussels was resoundingly successful, which the Turkish government paid high attention.

• for Saint Basil Academy, which offers a blessed home for children of families fac-ing serious difficulties. The children offered a check for the relief fund to Greece with tears in their eyes, which brought tears to the eyes of many at the commencement.

• for St. Photios Shrine, which cel-ebrates 30 years.

• for the hundreds of day and after-noon schools educating our children in Orthodoxy and Hellenic heritage.

• for our children who fill our summer camps and Ionian Village.

• for the children who attend the folk dance festivals.

• for the children and young people who participate in commendable athletic events that have shown a more responsible approach in meeting spirituality needs.

• for the children participating in the St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival.

• for the Metropolitan Youth Choir that has offered concerts at various places internationally.

• for the people of our Orthodox Church in the United States. The people genrerously offered to the suffering people in Greece so far almost $1 million in a very short period.

‘Bearing Fruit’ in the Arizona Desert

More than 1,200 congress and Philoptochos delegates begin their week at the opening session on July 2.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew delivers a video messsage to the Philoptochos delegates.

Convention Raises $205,000 for Center

Archbishop Demetrios opened the Philoptochos convention on Sunday afternoon with prayer and a charge to the delegates to build on the theme of the 2012 Clergy–Laity Congress “Chosen and appointed by God to go and bear fruit.”

“It is evident through this witness of service that the members of Philop-tochos, both past and present, have been chosen and appointed by God,” His Eminence said in an open letter to the delegates. “The mission has been and continues to be one that leads the members of Philoptochos to go and meet critical needs. Through essential and unique demonstrations of love, you constantly answer God’s call.”

Such examples of that mission in-clude raising funds over the past two years that have totaled more than $2.9 million for the Children’s Medical Fund since 1989. Delegates were told that a December 2011 luncheon for the charity held in Greenwich, Conn. drew more than 650 people and resulted in a dona-tion of $204,456 to 15 area hospitals.

A report from the Philoptochos So-cial Services committee stated that nearly $310,000 in emergency grants had been made between October 2010 and June 2012. Many of the grants were to help stave off eviction and foreclosure, pay for funerals, supply heating oil and help pay for homecare costs.

Other highlights of the Phoenix convention were news that individual metropolis chapters had contributed generously to charities and ministries in their areas. Those gifts included Boston’s more than $200,000, Denver’s more than $330,000, Atlanta’s nearly $750,000 and Pittsburgh’s $115,000.

In New Jersey, the metropolis held a luncheon earlier this year and raised $115,000 for the Philoptochos Center of Philanthropy.

Overall, delegates were told that Philoptochos had donated $2.8 million to various philanthropic endeavors and

ministries from January 2010 through December 2011. They include the Acad-emy of Saint Basil, Hellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology, the Autism Assistance Fund, and the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

At the convention, children’s book author Nick Katsoris, who has written the popular “Loukoumi” series, spoke and offered to donate $4 from the sale of each Loukoumi book to Philoptochos, as well as one book per each one sold to the organization to help promote literacy. A Loukoumi mascot danced in the aisles as delegates took photos and cheered.

The convention marked Philopto-chos’ 80th Birthday. A gala party was held at the unique and classic Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix where nine Philoptochos members from the metropolis regions were honored with AGAPE awards.

The winners were: Anastasia Geotes, of Greenlawn, N.Y., Pauline Douglas, of Oak Lawn, Ill., Dorothea Ocnos, of Weston, Mass., Marie Harris, of Houston, Elaine Nugent, of New Orleans, Delores Revelos, of Middletown, Ohio, Alexandra Melonas, of Weirton, W.Va., Dorothea Love, of Irvine, Calif., and Alice Nicas, of Asbury Park, N.J. (related story p.7)

The sparkling event was hosted by the Metropolis of San Francisco’s

Philoptochos Metropolis Board and chapters–the Philoptochos convention’s host sponsor, led by Metropolis Presi-dent Jeannie Ranglas.

It held a festive and joyful atmo-sphere complete with dinner, drinks, museum tours, an elegant two–tier birthday cake, Greek pastries and toasts to the next 80 years–all serenaded by classic music flowing from a gorgeous Steinway piano.

The next day, President Skeadas reported that the future of the organi-zation was bright–and pledged to help move the group to the next step, into its own offices through the purchase of a building in New York. The Center will be located in a multi-purpose building that will also garner rental income, she said.

A total of nearly $4 million is needed to make the purchase and move, she said. Each chapter was challenged to donate $1,000 in the next phase of fund-raising for the Center, and will be named individually on a special tree-shaped commemorative when the center opens.

During the hour-long fundraising push, the national Philoptochos board members surprised Skeadas with a check for $10,000 in her honor, as the delegates cheered and Skeadas wept.

“We’re 80 years old, we need a home of our own,” she said. “We will get there.”

CLC photos by Dimitris Panagos unless otherwise noted

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ORTHODOX OBSERVER PHOTO

Archbishop Demetrios presents a sterling silver cross to Dr. Pappas at the Forum’s meeting.

Hierarchs and priests attending the congress gather for their o� cial picture following the Clergy Breakfast on July. The priests represented 326 parishes of the Archdiocese. Their next gathering will be at the November 2013 Clergy Retreat in Florida.

National Forum of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians began its series of meet-ings Sunday with an announcement by Dr. Vicky Pappas, who has served as chairman for 30 years, that she is retiring from the position, though will continue her involve-ment with the National Forum.

A new chairman was elected during the Forum’s meetings. Maria Keritsis of Sts. Constantine and Helen Cathedral in Richmond, Va., will assume her new duties in September.

Archbishop Demetrios had high praise for Dr. Pappas’ contributions over the years. A few of her accomplishments include the organization and performances of the com-bined choirs at the Clergy Laity Congresses, and the $350,000 offering by the Forum to Hellenic College Holy Cross School of Theology for a church music endowment. The Forum gave an additional $100,000 to

National Forum Chairman Vicky Pappas Announces Retirement

the Archbishop Iakovos Library and for a long-term project.

In an interview with the Observer, Dr. Pappas reflected on how the National Forum has changed in her 36 years as a member.

“In the beginning the focus was mostly on choirs,” said, but that its role has “ex-panded to supporting chanters, education for chanters, promoting youth involvement and offering assistance to parishes and clergy.”

Her long-term project involves organiz-ing and publishing the work of a 19th and early 20th century doctor with an interest in choral music. The Archdiocese and Metropolis of New Jersey was bequeathed money from the estate of Dr. Spyros Spathis.

Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco and Metropolitan Sotirios of Toronto, greet the del-egates at the opening session.

Congress exhibit openingLeadership 100 Chairman Charles H. Cotros, with several hierarchs taking part, prepares to cut the ribbon for the opening of the exhibit hall at the congress. Shown with Mr. Cotros, from left, Metro-politans Evangelos of New Jersey, Methodios of Boston and Gerasimos of San Francisco, Archbishop Demetrios and Metropolitans Sotirios of Toronto and Nicholas of Detroit.

Clergy Gathering

JULY – AUGUST 20126 A RCHDIOCESE NEWS

Fr. Kezios Honored at HC Reception


Because the clergy-laity congress was a day shorter than in past years, delegates attended a one-day plenary session to hear presentations from the National Ministries and Church institutions.

Reports were presented by Fr. Na-thanael Symeonides, director of the Arch-diocesan Advisory Committee on Science and Technology, Archons of the Ecumeni-cal Patriarchate National Commander Dr. Anthony Limberakis; Leadership 100 Chairman Charles H. Cotros, Greek Educa-tion Director Dr. Ioannis Efthymiopoulos, Director of Development Jerry Minetos, Ad-ministration Committee Chairman Anthony Stefanis, Outreach and Evangelism Director Fr. Jim Kordaris and committee Chairman Fr. James Dokos, U.S. Navy Chaplain Capt. John Kalantzis, Stewardship Ministries Director Fr. Jim Kordaris and committee Chairman George Matthews, Communi-cations Committee Chairman Clifford T. Argue and department Coordinator Marissa Costidis, Internet Ministries and Informa-tion Technology by Theo Nikolakis, Finance Committee Chairman George Vourvoulias, Youth and Young Adult Ministries Director Fr. Jason Roll, Hellenic College Holy Cross President Fr. Nicholas Triantafilou, Director of Religious Education Dr. Anton Vrame, Family and Interfaith Marriage Fr. Constan-tine Sitaras and Fr. Charles Joannides, and National Philoptochos President Aphrodite Skeadas. Delegates approved the Finance Committee recommendations for proposed budgets for 2013-14 of $25.53 million and $25.55 million respectively. With a pro-jected reduction in total expenses and an increase in revenue, surpluses of $13,622 in 2013, $343,444 in 2014 are anticipated.

ArchonsDr. Limberakis’ report generated

considerable discussion on progress being made toward religious freedom and human rights for the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

He outlined several ongoing efforts be-ing undertaken by the Order of St. Andrew, including the religious freedom initiative that has so far resulted in 41 states passing resolutions in support of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The controversial issue of the government of Turkey offering citizenship to any non-Turkish hierarchs, which would satisfy the requirement mandated by the Turks that any candidate for Ecumenical Patriarch, drew a response from Metropoli-tan Sotirios of Toronto, the representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, who said the idea of a hierarch applying for Turkish citizenship is “totally unacceptable. I do not agree with this at all.” He said the Turkish government already has rejected some hierarchs from other jurisdictions who applied for citizenship. “This is not for us, this is against us.” He added that he himself would not think of applying. “I do not want the Turkish ambassador to say ‘Come and celebrate the Fall of Constantinople’ on May 29.”

Archbishop Demetrios added that “Not one of our metropolitans has applied for Turkish citizenship. We are Greek citizens and American. We cannot have a third citizenship.”

Archdiocese legal counsel Emanuel Demos added that “Turkey is undergoing a draft for a new constitution and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew was asked to appear before parliamentary committee” preparing the new document. “We can only hope the new constitution grants religious freedom like other nations.”

Leadership 100Chairman Charles Cotros cited the

beneficiaries of the organization’s grants

Congress Plenary Session have included Hellenic College Holy Cross School of Theology, the International Or-thodox Christian Charities, the Orthodox Christian Mission Center, for the technology infrastructure of Internet Ministries, Youth and Young Adult Ministries, the Office of Marriage and Family and assistance for people in Greece under the current eco-nomic hardships. Mr. Cotros noted that Leadership 100 has proved $14.5 million in scholarships with another $10 million pledged over the next 10 years and will also provide grants to priests to help ease the burden of college loans.

Total assistance to these organizations and ministries has exceeded $33 million.

Outreach and EvangelismFrs. Kordaris and Dokos highlighted

the many programs and resources devel-oped by the department, including articles, brochures, sermons, outreach banners, visitor cards and displays; ministry profiles, home mission parish grants, outreach Sunday, parish location analysis; interfaith marriage and inclusion of people with dis-abilities.

Outreach and Development also serves as a clearing house of liturgical items for parishes to provide these to other church, such as mission parishes.

StewardshipFr. Kordaris and George Matthews re-

ported that the Stewardship Task Force has visited more than 300 parishes to promote stewardship in the communities and that plans call for stewardship training of Holy Cross seniors who, in turn, can train others.

Greek educationDr. Efthymiopoulos reported that a

major undertaking of his department has been the printing of new textbooks for parochial schools. The books have been tested for their effectiveness in New York, Detroit and Chicago schools.

Office of Parish DevelopmentAmong the projects discussed by Mr.

Minetos include workshops and grants to individual parishes and focusing on tying in the 12 major Feasts of the Lord with stewardship.

AdministrationAs noted in the initial congress story

on page one, delegates did not approve the resolution that called for changing the fre-quency of the clergy-laity congresses from two to three years. Several delegates who spoke on the issue called for reducing costs where possible to make attendance at the congress more affordable. Another resolu-tion, to allow the merger of non-viable par-ishes with viable communities was not acted upon but referred to the Legal Committee for further study and future consideration.

Other ReportsAdditional brief reports were present-

ed by Communications, Hellenic College Holy Cross School of Theology, Internet Ministries and Information Technology, Youth and Young Adult Ministries, Religious Education and Interfaith Marriage.

Additional coverage of these ministries and more information on other presenta-tions at the congress will be included in the Observer’s September issue. Complete reports from the congress can be viewed online at www.goarch.org

ResolutionsDelegates approved resolutions calling

for support of the people of Greece suffer-ing from the current economic plight, sup-port for the Patriarchate of Antioch in the current crises in Syria, and of the Christians in Egypt, accessibility to churches for those with disabilities and an appreciation resolu-tion for the work of the congress.

Holy Cross School of Theology honored an outstanding alumnus at its reception during the clergy-laity congress on July 3.

Fr. Spencer Kezios, a member of the HCHC executive board and the pastor of St. Nicholas Church in Northridge, Calif. For 45 years, received the Distinguished Ministries Award at the standing-room-only event.

Among his accomplishments is the compilation of liturgical chants in English.

Archbishop Demetrios, commenting on the event and the honor given to Fr. Kezios, called the reception “a happy re-union that combines the first generation of alumni” with subsequent and more recent ones.

He said that, as a member of the HC board, Fr. Kezios “had the best record

in attendance” at the biannual meetings that involved his traveling to Boston from California.

The Archbishop also noted that Hel-lenic College Holy Cross “has not received what it should” (in financial support) in comparison to the value “of what it has accomplished.”

“This is an occasion to ensure the effort to go and bear fruit to enhance the quality and performance of our school.”

Commenting on the milestone an-niversary of the school, Metropolitan Gerasimos, referring to the large number of priests educated at Holy Cross, said “the vine has produced a great deal of fruit in its 75 years of existence. The question is ‘What is the vision for the next 75 years?”

“Society will need leaders in the Church and in society,” he added.

The theme “Chosen and appointed by God to go forth and bear fruit” is directly applicable here because military chap-laincy is itself one of the many fruits of the ministry of our honored metropolitans.

Through their eminences’ efforts, the Chaplains Corps is transitioning from SCOBA to the Assembly of Canonical Bish-ops as the endorsing agency for military chaplaincy. This administrative alignment with the emerging order is a necessary step, and will consolidate the chaplaincy’s official standing with the U.S. military.

Greek Orthodox priests in the mili-tary serve under the omophorion of the Archbishop of America. While chaplains may come from different metropolises, they receive permission from their local metropolitan to serve on the national level in the U.S. Department of Defense.

Chaplains are administratively sup-ported by military ordinary of the Arch-diocese, Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver, the endorsing agent, Fr. Luke Uhl, the Metropolis of Denver chancellor, both of whom have prior military service (Fr. Luke as a naval officer and Metropolitan Isaiah as a United States Marine). Having fulfilled

The Military Chaplaincy Programby Fr. John Kalantzis, CAPT USN Department of Defense requirements,

chaplains receive a commission from the President of the United States to serve as an officer in whichever of the Armed Services has accepted their candidacy. The Army, Air Force, and Navy each have a chaplain corps.

The Navy Chaplain Corps serves the Marine Corps, the Coast Guard and the Navy in a variety of assignments at home and abroad.

In the many and various circum-stances of their assignments, they may find themselves living or serving near a local Orthodox church.

Chaplains are mindful of their status as visitors in a local metropolis and seek the local hierarch’s permission to serve in metropolis churches. When possible, chaplains offer their services to the local priest to use at his discretion. For their part, priests have been gracious hosts and loving brothers in Christ.

Parish communities of the metropo-lises have received chaplains with open arms, warm hospitality, and gracious, loving support, especially to their families while chaplains been deployed far off at

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Proud AmericansThe Fourth of July was celebrated at the closing banquet of the congress with a patriotic program of songs by Fr. John Bakas, dean of St. Sophia Cathedral in Los Angeles, professional soprano Michele Patzakis, and baritone Constantine Pappas, son of Fr. James Pappas of St. George Church, Fresno, Calif. Their concert brought everyone to their feet, along with lumps to their throats and tears to their eyes.


Today we celebrate and honor the 80th anniversary of Philoptochos 80 Years of Caring, 80 Years of Sharing, 80 Years of Philanthropy. “Faces of Philoptochos” cap-tures the faces of the women who for over 80 years have labored for the Philoptochos’ good works. Women today, as the women in 1931, remain first responders to those in need, feeding the hungry, reading to a sick child, providing sleeping bags to those without shelter, packing backpacks for chil-dren who would otherwise not eat, visiting the elderly with a smile and a warm hug, providing wheelchairs to children in Africa, Greece and Georgia, offering hope to those in prison, Providing food and staples for vic-tims of hurricanes, earthquakes and floods throughout the world, Embracing the con-

National Philoptochos President Aph-rodite Skeadas announced on June 26, 2012 that donations totaling $160,000 from Philoptochos chapters and friends of Philoptochos nationwide for the Philopto-chos Appeal are being distributed to five organizations in Greece for the relief of our brethren suffering due to the severe eco-nomic crisis. These funds are in addition to the $25,000 donation offered in Febru-ary 2012 from the National Philoptochos Emergency Fund expedited through IOCC (International Orthodox Christian Chari-ties) that provided medical supplies and food staples to the people affected by the economic crisis. President Skeadas reported that many requests for aid were submitted to Philoptochos and the selection of the fol-lowing organizations was determined by the Executive Council of the National Philopto-chos based on the extensive research and recommendations of a special committee led by Paulette Geanacopoulos, National Philoptochos Social Worker.

‘Apostoli’ $50,000‘Apostoli’ is the non-governmental,

non-profit organization founded by the So-cial Services Department of the Archdiocese of Athens. Its main objective is to provide immediate assistance to children, elderly and families suffering hunger, disabilities and illness.

Metropolis of Thessaloniki $50,000The Metropolis of Thessaloniki, under

the leadership of Metropolitan Anthimos, will provide assistance for those who are suffering.

Archdiocese of Crete $25,000The Archdiocese of Crete, under the

leadership of Archbishop Irenaios, will dis-tribute food and medical supplies to those in need in Crete.

Kivotos Tou Kosmou $10,000Kivotos (Ark of the World) was founded

and is guided by Fr. Antonios Papanicolaou to provide care and support, offering hope for children and their families. Kivotos pro-vides food, clothing, education and shelter to more than 150 needy children daily. The goal of Kivotos is to keep families together.

Theotokos Foundation $25,000 The Theotokos Foundation is a non-

profit organization based in Ilion, Greece. For more than 45 years it has served more than 5,000 children, adults and families with learning and other developmental disabilities. Its services provide children and adults opportunities to communicate, function with adequacy, be independent and self-sufficient, and enter the workforce. Due to the financial crisis this philanthropic organization, as well as many others, has seen the financial assistance provided by the Greek government substantially reduced making them unable to provide care for those in need.

For this important expression of love, National President Skeadas expresses her gratitude to all those who so generously responded to the call of the National Philop-tochos and anticipates that additional funds will be collected for this worthy effort.

Donations may be sent to National Philoptochos, 7 West 55th Street, New York, NY 10019 or can be made online at www.philoptochos.org. For more information contact Christine Karavites, National Public Relations, 508.982.4276

National PhiloptochosDistributes $160,000

in Aid to Greece

PHOENIX, Ariz.– A highlight of the 2012 National Philoptochos Convention was the presentation of the AGAPE Award to nine outstanding Philoptochos women representing All Generations Accomplish-ing Philanthropic Endeavors. National Philoptochos inaugurated the AGAPE award at the 2008 National Philoptochos Biennial Convention.

The 485 chapters nationwide are af-forded the opportunity to nominate one extraordinary chapter member who over many years has embodied the true spirit of Philanthropia. Though all women in the chapters serve Philoptochos with dedica-tion, the individual selected demonstrates special qualities of giving selflessly of her time and talents to her chapter and local community.

AGAPE Award Committee Chairwom-

en Elaine Cladis and Maria Stavropoulos and their committee conduct the review process prior to the National Philoptochos Convention selecting one woman from the Direct Archdiocesan District and each of the eight Metropolises.

Archbishop Demetrios presented the 2012 AGAPE Awards with National Philop-tochos President Aphrodite Skeadas at the Musical Instrument Museum to these nine outstanding Philoptochos women at the Philoptochos Evening: Celebrating 80 Years of Philanthropy. Each AGAPE Award recipient was introduced to the audience of over 400 during the reading of special remarks highlighting her philanthropic “Good Works.”

The 2012 AGAPE Award honorees who serve as role models by inspiring and impacting the work of their respective

chapter are:• Anastasia Geotes, Direct Archdiocesan District, St. Paraskevi, Greenlawn, N.Y.• Z. Dolores Revelos, Metropolis of Detroit, Sts. Constantine and Helen, Middletown, Ohio • Pauline Douglas, Metropolis of Chi-cago, St. Nicholas, Oak Lawn, Ill. • Alexandra Melonas, Metropolis of Pitts-burgh, All Saints Parish, Weirton, W.Va.• Dorothea Ocnos, Metropolis of Boston,St.Demetrios, Weston, Mass.• Dorothea Love, Metropolis of San Fran-cisco, Saint Paul, Irvine, Calif. • Alice Nicas, Metropolis of New Jersey, Saint George, Asbury Park/Ocean Twp.• Marie Harris, Metropolis of Denver, Annunciation Cathedral, Houston• Elaine Nugent, Metropolis of Atlanta, Holy Trinity Cathedral, New Orleans

Agape Award: Honoring Chapters’ Unsung Heroines

The Metropolis of San Francisco Philoptochos hosted a special evening at the Musical Instrument Museum on Tuesday, July 3 in honor of the 80th anniversary of Philoptochos. Guests visited the 350 ex-hibits that feature narration and music for each instrument and also enjoyed a lovely reception before the evening’s program honoring 80 Years of Philoptochos.

NATIONAL PHILOPTOCHOS CELEBRATES…80 Years of Caring, 80 Years of Sharing, 80 Years Of Philanthropy

Jeannie Ranglas, Metropolis of San Francisco Philoptochos president and the Metropolis board under the spiritual leader-ship of Metropolitan Gerasimos, organized a memorable evening where Philanthropy and music were joined for an evening of remembrance to honor the 2012 AGAPE Award recipients and present the “Faces of Philoptochos: Past, Present and Future.”

Jenni Pulos, television personality and actress, who grew up in Phoenix as a stew-ard of the Holy Trinity Cathedral, served as the evening’s emcee. Ms. Pulos narrated the Faces of Philoptochos Presentation that highlighted the philanthropic works of all women and the special mission of Philoptochos serving those in need across the globe. A special “Faces of Philoptochos” banner was displayed that featured photos of Philoptochos women from across the United States,

”Past, Present and Future: The Faces of Philoptochos” captures the faces of the women, who for over 80 years, have labored for the organization’s good works as they feed the hungry, provide shelter and a smile, extend a hand here and around the world. The 400 attendees expressed emotional accolades as this moving tribute was recited.

The Program continued with a musical presentation by Constantine, Chrysanthe and Evangelia Pappas, the children of Fa-ther James and Presbytera Pappas and the AGAPE Award presentations.

Archbishop Demetrios offered arch-pastoral remarks and the benediction. Fol-lowing the program, guests continued the evening at the Museum visiting the many galleries.

Philoptochos: Past, Present and Futuretemporary Orthodox woman, stretching a hand to the unchurched, alleviating hunger and homelessness and strengthening family and Children’s services.

Look closely at the faces – their beau-tiful hearts and love of humanity shine through. Together they form an ‘Icon of Christ’, 80 Years of Caring, 80 Years of Faith, 80 Years of working together doing the good works that Christ, Himself has chosen us to do.

Remember each woman who im-pacted your life, who served tirelessly, who strengthened your community, who inspired by example, who mentored with a loving spirit, who led others to great works.

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The Voice of Philoptochos

AGAPE Award winners with Metropolitans Gerasimos and Sotirios, Archbishop Demetrios and National Philoptochos Board offi cials.


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Following Archbishop Demetrios’ key-note address on July 2, each metropolitan of the Holy Synod chaired a session to further discuss the congress theme.

At the hierarchical session presented by Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver, he posed the question: What are we, as Orthodox Christians, doing to allow those of other religious persuasion to understand what Orthodox Christianity is?

“I have lived in a situation where we have said in the past, not so much now, that Orthodox Christianity is the best kept secret in America,” Metropolitan Isaiah said. “In order to add to it, I am from the etsi είναιgeneration. When we asked our mothers or fathers why a priest did that – ‘etsi είναι,’ that’s the way it is.”

They did not have religious education, he said. Metropolitan Isaiah added, “This is probably one of the reasons why we as Orthodox Christians have not shared our faith with other people because they ask pertinent questions - ‘What is Orthodox Christianity?’ and we really do not have adequate answers.”

Raising Greater Awareness of Orthodox Christianity

by Arianna Ranahosseini

by Arianna Ranahosseini

Answers to how we can overcome the etsi είναι situation came from those in atten-dance. Some suggestions are to develop the attitudes of missionaries, actually reading and living the Bible, asking parishioners and the youth to invite their friends, and adult catechism.

Fr. Chris Margaritis added to the dis-cussion offering that including the kiss of peace is a simple thing that a community can benefit from by allow them to be more including.

“I’m not saying the kiss of peace is go-ing to change anything,” he said. “But we have to be more loving.”

Metropolitan Isaiah also made note of a remark within the letter from Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew that was read in the during the keynote address, when he wrote that Orthodox Christianity is for all people, not just those of Hellenic background.

“We still have, unfortunately, this con-cept that to be an Orthodox Christian, you have to be of a Greek background,” Metro-politan Isaiah said. “We know that of the 300 million Orthodox Christians, I believe about 10 million speak Greek, so we cannot discount them as Orthodox Christians.”

The July 3 Youth, Young Adults and Camping Ministry workshop, led by Fr. Jason Roll, Deacon Paul Zaharas and Eva Kokinos, discussed how to effectively cre-ate and develop a youth ministry program at the parish level by making the ultimate priority Christ, then developing your plan of action from there. “The number one priority is for our young people to achieve the kingdom of God. Then it becomes how are we going to accomplish that goal,” said Dn. Zaharas.

The title of the workshop was “Back to the Basics” and advised that whether the program is just emerging, or is well estab-lish, youth directors should take a step back, see where they are as a parish, and evaluate from there. The first step is identifying goals.

A suggestion for an effective model is one that has a youth ministry team, led by the parish priest and comprised of a par-ish council member and representatives from each youth group (Hope, Joy, GOYA, OCF, YAL). When planning the events for the year, Ms. Kokinos suggests inviting the leaders on the ministry team as well as

Eff ective Parish Youth Ministry Subject of Workshop

Sunday school teachers, coaches, Greek school teachers and anyone that deals with the youth, to plan together so that events aren’t competing with each other, or with other local parishes.

A difficulty many parishes face is the lack of volunteers. Kokinos recommends the power of the phone call – personally reaching out to ask someone to help. And to thank everyone, even those who do the smallest thing to remind them that their efforts are needed but also appreciated.

When it comes to youth workers, it can help to make responsibilities “bite-sized,” she said. “Cut things up so everyone can take part in the leadership and also feel like that can handle what is on their plate.”

One way of doing this is rotating lead-ership and breaking down components of the ministry such as assigning one person to write sessions, another in charge of food, and so on. Another key component is securing the youth a line item in the parish budget. For more information on parish resources you can visit The Ladder, the youth office’s official blog online at orthodoxyouthministry.blogspot.com and The Wellspring at youthworker.goarch.org.

National Sisterhood MeetingMembers of the National Sisterhood of Presvyteres held their meetings during the congress.


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Your Eminence Archbishop Deme-trios of America, beloved brother and concelebrant in the Holy Spirit; Most Rev-erend brother Metropolitans–members of the Holy Eparchial Synod; Right Reverend Bishops; reverend Presbyters and Dea-cons; honorable Archons; distinguished members of the Archdiocesan council, presidents and members of the Greek Orthodox communities, the National Philoptochos, and delegates all at the 41st

Clergy Laity Congress of the Greek Ortho-dox Archdiocese of America: Grace and Peace from God and our personal prayers and blessings.

“I thank my God every time I remem-ber you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now” (Philippians 1:3-5). We offer glory and gratitude to the Lord, above all, that He has deemed us worthy once again to address these fraternal and paternal words of love. Moreover, we convey to you the blessing and prayer of the Holy and Great Mother Church of Christ, whose clergy and chosen members you are blessed to comprise in order to serve the Orthodox flock in the United States of America, under the pastoral responsibility and vigilant care of your Most Reverent Archbishop Demetrios, our beloved brother and concelebrant in the Lord, as well as his colleagues, the Met-ropolitans, Bishops, presbyters, deacons, and all other community leaders and lay members in the holy territory of the sacred vessel of America within the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Your Eminence, beloved brother Archbishop of America, we address to you – and through you to the entire Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America – our whole-hearted greeting and fervent patri-archal blessing for the diligent organiza-tion and realization of your 41st Clergy Laity Congress. This significant assembly of the community provides the forum to offer, in one spirit and one heart, prayers and thanks to our Lord, the giver of all good things, for all that He bestows upon us in His goodness and mercy. At the same time, it is an opportunity to study, examine, and consider, the various is-sues and matters that concern this Holy Eparchy, its faithful people, the individual Communities, and numerous Institutions, particularly the Holy Cross School of The-ology in Boston.

Beloved brother Archbishop, the established institution of the Clergy Laity Congresses, organized by your wise pre-decessors, and especially by our predeces-sor, the late Patriarch Athenagoras, and afterward by the late Archbishop Iakovos (Coucouzis), with whom we shared the same birthplace and who proudly hon-ored the Throne of this Eparchy for over three decades, contributing immensely to the ministry of unity, organization, and progress, in many areas of this great Eparchy of our Ecumenical Throne.

The theme of your clergy laity con-gress is “Chosen and Appointed by God to go and Bear Fruit”, based on the words of our Lord: “You did not choose me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and to bear fruit” (John 15:16).

Our mission and obligation as Chris-tians to bring fruit worthy of our calling should rouse us to search for many and diverse fruits. There are two distinct di-

Ecumenical Patriarch’s Message to the Clergy–Laity Congress

rections of work that lie before us. First, we must seek fruits in depth: fruits of spiritual cultivation and virtue, fruits of love toward God and humanity, fruits of holiness, wisdom and all virtues. Second, we must seek fruits in breadth: by attract-ing our neighbors to Christ, who either know nothing about Him or else have been insufficiently and wrongly informed about Him.

The fruits in depth are cited by Saint Paul in his letter to the Galatians (Chapter 5:22-23), “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.” In order to bear such fruits, our effort and struggle should be constant. For without these we are not good Christians and, therefore, are unable to attract our brothers and sisters to Christ, as we are called to do.

Our Holy Orthodox Church has always been missionary. It has always preached and continues to preach our Risen Lord Jesus Christ as the savior and redeemer of the world, always welcoming in its embrace and always opening its gates to all people of other faiths.

As you will know from the history of our Orthodox tradition, our Holy Mother Great Church of Christ of Constantinople, the Church of Christ’s Poor, the martyric Phanar, brought Christianity to the Slavic peoples through Saints Cyril and Metho-dios, Equal to the Apostles, who were born in Thessalonica. The same Church also offered the Christian truth, way and life to all peoples and continues its missionary endeavors to this day in all corners of the earth, including the countries of Asia, Af-rica, the Americas, Australia, and Europe. In this sense, your Holy Archdiocese of America, which is comprised of large or-ganized Communities, with magnificent properties and Churches, with abundant facilities and community centers, as well as numerous charitable Institutions, consti-tutes and indeed is the appropriate body to attract to Christ and to His Orthodox Church the people of this vast and affluent American continent, many of whom may have heard and learned about Christ, but nevertheless remain indifferent to Him.

Of course, we do not overlook the efforts of the other Orthodox Communi-ties established in America. However, we emphasize once again that all the mem-bers of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America must pay close attention to their obligation to open the gates of your hearts to all those in America desiring to know Christ and His Orthodox Church. This would be an immense missionary achievement, which as a wholesome fruit will nourish the Church. If we do not produce good fruits in this domain, we run the risk of being characterized as a fruitless fig tree which would die for lack of bearing fruit.

Introversion is good when it relates to self-criticism; but it is illegitimate and unacceptable when it overly preoccupies and prevents us from opening our Church to those desiring to know and enter it.

All of us in the most Holy, Apostolic and Patriarchal Ecumenical Throne are certain, while we personally are aware – in as much as we are familiar with the Orthodox community affairs in America,

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Church Leaders Tour Future St. Nicholas Site at WTCNEW YORK – “The new World Trade

Center will not be whole and complete until the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church is rebuilt.” With these words, Patrick J. Foye, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, welcomed Arch-bishop Demetrios and other representatives of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and the St. Nicholas parish. The meeting was held, June 6, at the offices of the director for the WTC construction, Steven Plate, and included a comprehensive presentation of the planning and construction under way in the World Trade Center. The future site of St. Nicholas Church was a significant part of the presentation through architectural plans and virtual reality renderings.

Archbishop Demetrios praised New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo for his role in achieving a positive resolution for the rebuilding of St. Nicholas Greek Ortho-dox Church, the only house of worship destroyed during the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. His Eminence also remarked on the important role of New York Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and other individuals including Greek–American entrepreneur Archon Dennis Mehiel, who was present at the meeting.

Other participants included Arch-diocese Chancellor Bishop Andonios of Phasiane, Chief Secretary of the Holy Ep-archial Synod Bishop Sevastianos of Zela, Fr. Alexander Karloutsos, Fr. Mark Arey, Archons National Commander Dr. Anthony Limberakis, Ladies Philoptochos Society National President Aphrodite Skeadas, AHEPA Supreme President Dr. John Gros-somanides, Stamatios Lykos and Olga Pavlakos, representing St. Nicholas parish, architect Nicholas Koutsomitis, Deacon Aristidis Garinis, GOA Press Officer Stavros Papagermanos, and Archon Demetrios Panagos, photographer.

Following the presentation at the of-fice, Steven Plate, director of WTC Construc-tion, and his associates led His Eminence and the other participants on a tour through the construction site.

They stopped in front of the site where St. Nicholas is to be built at the corner of Liberty and Greenwich streets (the south-east corner of WTC) and viewed the vast understructures for the Vehicle Security Center now under construction, which will be situated beneath the church. St. Nicholas will be built 25 feet above street level, atop a park directly facing the 9/11 Memorial, which will receive 250,000 passers–by ev-ery day when the transportation hubs are complete.

Following a walk around the Memorial Plaza and the footprints of the fallen tow-

by Stavros H. Papagermanos

ers, the group took a construction elevator first to the 37th and then to the 90th floor of the One World Trade Center Tower (previ-ously known as Freedom Tower) which is still under construction and will reach 104 floors, making it the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.

From that vantage point Archbishop Demetrios and his entourage were able to view the entire area of the World Trade Cen-ter, and the extraordinary work performed there, part of which will be, by the grace of God, our St. Nicholas Church.

Steven Plate, asked Archbishop Deme-trios to inscribe a thought on one of the steel girders on the 90th floor and His Emi-nence wrote: “This is a miracle of human creativity love and courage in defeating hatred and darkness, and in building love, hope and perspective of a bright future for our beautiful America, the place of God’s love and blessings. † Archbishop Demetrios of America – 6.6.12.”

(clockwise, top) The new St. Nicholas Church will be situated atop this site where construction is currently under way for the underground Vehicle Security Center. (below right) Steven Plate, director of construction at the World Trade Center, goes over plans for the site with Archbishop Demetrios. (bottom right) WTC officials, the Archbishop and Archdiocese clergy on one of the upper floors of the One World Trade Center currently under construction. (bottom left) His Eminence writes a special message on one of the steel girders at the request of Mr. Plate.

DIMITRIOS PANAGOS PHOTOS


“He wrote the music for the king’s court of Athens;” said Dr. Pappas, “but because it was so beautiful, when they consecrated the Greek Orthodox cathedral in Paris, they invited him to perform and form a choir to sing.” The music is choral, but based on Byzantine style, Dr. Pappas ex-plained, adding that Dr. Spathis composed about 2,500 different hymns, and several full liturgies and special services.

Dr. Pappas also announced the re-cipients of the St. Romanos Medallion for exemplary national contributions to church music. They are George Stefanidakis of Houston, Archdeacon Panteleimon Papado-poulos and retired priest Fr. John Maheras, who has served parishes in Massachusetts.

Dr. Stefanidakis has been a choir member and chanter at the parish and me-tropolis level. He also serves as an officer in Church Music Federation and as a Metropo-lis council member. Over the past two years he has been working on two major projects of the National Forum.

The first involves compiling and orga-nizing 10,000 transcriptions of Byzantine hymns over a 60-year period by a former chanter in Moline, Ill., John Velon.

The other was the preparation for publication of Dr. Frank Desby’s original manuscript for the chanters training manual that the National Forum recently published. It has been distributed to more than 40 academic institutions that offer Byzantine Studies programs.

Archdeacon Panteleimon has had a key role in developing the Metropolitan Youth Choir and in establishing the School of Byzantine Chant.

Fr. Maheras has been a long-time friend of church music and choirs in the Metropo-lis of Boston, has been guest instructor at several church music institutes and is also part of the liturgical guidebook team that includes Peter Vatsures and Nicolas Maragos. He has also lent expertise in the “Typicon,” so the guidebook has correct changes in hymns based on the patriarchal hymerologi on.


National Forum Chairman to Retireuu from page 5

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as well as lovingly and proudly follow the continual progress of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese under the illumined spiritual guidance of the worthy and abundantly charismatic and gifted, virtuous and vener-able brother Archbishop Demetrios – that all of you understand and appreciate that the bearing of fruit, with which your clergy laity congress is concerned, must indeed be two-fold: in depth and in breadth.

If we consider both of these dimen-sions of bearing fruit in Christ, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ will be abundantly bestowed upon us, and we shall see this local church revived and rejuvenated as it advances toward new successful achieve-ments.

Our troubled world, particularly in the United States of America, expects much from you because it considers your mission as heavenly and divine. You can readily see that, on a global level, political and social structures and ideologies are crumbling, leaving peoples’ souls in de-spair and hunger with regard to truth of divine knowledge.

Since, by the Grace of God, all of you have been blessed to be honorable members of the Orthodox Church, many of you dressed with the garment of Arch-priesthood and Priesthood, do not disap-point those who look to you with great expectation.

Most reverend and most honored beloved brother, Archbishop Demetrios; most reverend and right reverend brother Hierarchs; beloved Fathers and children in the Lord; “Holy partners in a heavenly calling” (Hebrews 3:1):

Unfortunately, we do not have the spiritual joy of physically participating in the deliberations of your clergy laity congress. However, we are sending you, as our Patriarchal Representative, our dearly beloved brother and concelebrant, His Eminence Metropolitan Sotirios of Toronto, who will personally convey the blessing and positive sentiments of the Mother Church and ourselves to all of you collectively and individually.

As for us, we whole-heartedly, frater-nally, and paternally express the thanks, gratitude, satisfaction, and deserved praise of the Mother Church for all that has been accomplished in this vineyard of the Lord from the very beginning and especially during the last two years since the convo-cation of your previous congress.

We shall pray for your daily spiritual progress and rejoice as we learn about this from your Most Reverend Archbishop.

May our Lord, who rose from the dead, deem you all worthy of sharing the heavenly and spiritual table of sacrifice in the Heavenly Jerusalem, with all the Saints.

May the Grace of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ, through the fervent supplications of our Lady Theotokos, the Honorable Forerunner John the Baptist, as well as Saint Paul, Apostle to the Gentiles, protect all of you, granting you health in body and soul, as well as illuminating you always to do that which is pleasing to the Lord.

“Peace be to the whole community, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who have and undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen” (Ephesians 6:23-24).

Patriarchal Message

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sea or to distant war–torn lands. Orthodox Christians bear fruit for the

glory of God: through hospitality to Ser-vice members and their families stationed near them when Service members deploy into harm’s way, and through support for their fellow citizens in the Service when they return home, sometimes wounded physically, emotionally, or spiritually.

There currently are two other Greek Orthodox priests serving on active duty in the military: Fr. Milton Gianulis, CAPT, USN, newly assigned to Marine Corps Combat Development Command in Quan-tico, Va., and Fr. Matthew Streett, CAPT, USAF, newly assigned to the Presidio in California.

Three Greek Orthodox priests serve in the Reserve Component: Fr. Peter So-uretsidis in the U.S. Air Force, Fr. Kevin Millsaps in the Tennessee National Guard, and Fr. Chris Moody, in the Massachusetts National Guard.

Three additional chaplain candidates are completing their requirements for

service.The chaplains’ role in the military

can be summarized as providing services and sacraments of the Orthodox Church to the Orthodox faithful. Chaplains are protected by law so they may minister to their faithful according to the manner and forms of the Faith.

In addition to providing for their own, they help those who do not share the same faith to find the support they need.

For example, if a Catholic or Baptist sailor comes for assistance, Orthodox chaplains him find the appropriate chap-lain to support his needs. Chaplains of other faiths do the same for Orthodox faithful. Additionally, all chaplains offer non-faith-specific care and counsel from a trusted, confidential source who under-stands the unique challenges of military life to all those in need. Finally, chaplains advise commanders and leaders up and down the chain of command on religion, morals, and morale.

In this way your Greek Orthodox mili-tary chaplains bear fruit on the behalf of Orthodox Christians and the Archdiocese.

The Military Chaplaincy Program

RCA MeetingLeadership 100 Chairman Charles Cotros addresses the Retired Clergy Association breakfast.

For the fi rst time in many years, chancellors representing every metropolis and the Direct Archdiocesan District convened at the congress. With Archbishop Demetrios, and Metropolitans Sotirios and Gerasimos, are (from left): Fr. Theodore Barbas (Boston), Fr. Kosmas Karavellas (NJ vicar-Maryland), Archdiocese and Direct Archdiocesan District Chancelor Bishop Andonios of Phasiane, (behind their Eminences) Fr. Luke Uhl (Denver), V. Rev. George Tsahakis (Atlanta), Fr. Wiliam Bartz (Detroit), and Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos (Chicago), V. Rev. Apostolos Koufalakis (San Francisco) and Fr. George Callos (Pittsburgh).

A Gathering of Chancellors from around the Archdiocese


Stewardship‘Prune’ Juice: Why Do Bad Things

Happen to Good People?by Fr. Mark Sietsema

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Many are asking this nowadays. Why must a successful businessman of 20 years close up shop? Why do graduates with good grades struggle to find jobs? Why are senior citizens–who worked hard all their lives–now squeezed financially?

Anyone who tells you they have the absolute answer to these ‘Why questions’ would be lying. Human troubles are not something to be speculated about casu-ally. When it comes to suffering, we tread on sacred ground. But suffering also has a power to push the human spirit into exploring questions of meaning and pur-pose. It is generally in hard times that we ask “What is God thinking?” and so begin to open up to higher realities.

Time for a new JobOne of the great figures of the Old

Testament is the righteous prophet Job. Job suffered terrible things: financial loss, of course, but even worse, loss of health, of reputation, and of loved ones. Several “friends” stepped forward to comfort Job by explaining why these bad things happened. Their words were salt in the wound (mixed with lemon juice and vin-egar!). Job rejected their pat answers and demanded that the Lord explain Himself.

God finally does show up, but Job isn’t given a reason. For the ‘Why’ is not what Job’s soul ultimately needs. Instead, it is Job’s direct experience of God that changes him (Job 42:1-6). It alters his outlook, his values, his sense of what’s truly important. The experience changes Job’s sense of who he is, in a way that goes beyond the power of words to explain.

Suffering can be like a sacrament, a mystery of transformation that defies definition, that must be lived to be un-derstood. Through those painful events, something in Job died and was born anew for God.

Grape ExpectationsThis is just how Jesus Christ speaks of

suffering in His famous Parable of the Vine in John 15. “I am the vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, so that it will be more fruitful.”

Maybe this passage resonates with you as you work on your garden: trimming down raspberry canes and pinching back tomato plants. If plants have feelings, then pruning must hurt! But...pruning makes

the plant put its energy into bearing fruit. In the end, it is the pruned plant

which accomplishes the gardener’s plans. We as Orthodox Christians are branches on the grapevine that is Jesus Christ. Which branches have it the easiest? The ones that bear lots of grapes? Or the ones that just do their own thing, soaking up sun and rain, but yielding only leaves? Jesus tells us that pruning–the painful, repeated, unwelcome pruning–hap-pens to the good branches, to the best branches. These get the knife so that they bring forth all the more fruit for the joy of the vineyard’s Master. The lazy, unfruitful branches? They get lopped off, cast into brush pile, and burned.

Why do bad things happen to nice Christian people? Sometimes it is so that through a reassessment of their values, their purpose–their very selves–they can become even more fruitful for God. Weren’t they fruitful already? Yes, but the Heavenly Horticulturist sees in them the potential for even greater fruitfulness. So it was for the prophet Job in ancient times, and so may it be for us today.

Sweet Wine, Not Bitter WhiningWhat kind of fruit is God looking for

in the well-pruned soul? St. Paul tells us (Galatians 5:22-23): love, joy, peace, pa-tience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, self-control. It’s a paradox, really. It is in undergoing evil, hateful things that some people grow to be more loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, forgiving, and so on. Others, of course, respond to suffering by growing more bitter, spiteful, and mean.

What makes the difference? Jesus Christ–His life, His teachings, His Church. Grafted into Him, we learn to respond constructively to suffering. And so one more fruit of a well-pruned soul is grati-tude towards God, leading to thoughtful, proportionate, meaningful gifts to the Church–gifts that reflect our transformed sense of values. We call this stewardship, and in a world of givers and takers, it is the ones who suffer most who tend to be the most grateful and generous givers. Life in Christ is never a bed of roses. He promised pruning. But if we respond to the Garden-er’s tending as fruitful branches, yielding the sweet wine of virtue, we have the joy of knowing that He chose and appointed us to go and bear fruit–in good times, in bad times, and in eternity.

Fr. Mark Sietsema serves as pastor of Holy Trinity Church in Lansing, Mich.


Planned Giving

The following is a supplement to the Planned Giving Resources for planning your legacy from Lou Kircos. A complete packet of Planned Giving Resources has been made available to all parishes of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese through Stewardship Ministries’ Planning Your Legacy program: A program for parishes to use in helping our Orthodox faithful plan their legacy and to remember their Church with planned giving.

Frequently Asked QuestionsQ. Why is it important to have a will, a

living will and a durable power of attorney? A. It’s all about whether you want to

make certain decisions or if you want the state to make those decisions for you. If you want to decide how your belongings will be distributed when you pass, how your assets will be managed while you are alive, but unable to manage them yourself, and the kind of health care you will receive if you cannot give the directions because you are too sick, then you will want these documents. Without them, state laws will usually govern who gets your belongings and what kind of care you get or who will make those decisions. Often, the court will impose a guardianship or conservatorship on you if you have not signed a durable power of Attorney or a living will and be-come unable to manage your finances or make your own health care decisions. We recommend, and most people prefer, to make these decisions themselves. To do that, you need a will, a durable power of attorney for financial matters, and a living will for healthcare decisions.

Q. What are some of the differences between a “will,” a “durable power of at-torney,” and a “living will”?

A. Your “will” deals with how your individually owned assets will be distributed after your death. Assets that are owned jointly with right of survivorship or which have a valid beneficiary designation will pass by law. With a will, you decide who gets what from your estate (all the assets you own in your individual name when you pass). Without a will, state laws govern who gets what your “durable power of attorney” for financial matters nominates an attorney-in-fact to handle your money and to manage your assets. Your attorney-in-fact will pay your bills and manage your accounts on your behalf. You may give your attorney-in-fact very broad or very limited powers.

A “living will” (sometimes called a “du-rable power of attorney for health care” or “health care power of Attorney” or “advance medical directive”) has nothing to do with your belongings. It deals with your medical treatment. In a living will, you name a health care agent whom you trust to make health care decisions for you when you cannot make them for yourself. The living will also tells your health care agent the kind of care you want, including end of life care, so that your doctor and your health care agent may carry out your wishes. You should consider using the Orthodox Living Will because it addresses important Orthodox values and traditions that should be considered when end of life issues are involved.

Q. I am considering make a gift to the Church, but I’m not wealthy. Can an aver-age person leave a bequest?

A. Definitely! Although very large gifts receive the most publicity, you can leave a gift of any amount. Thousands of Americans leave a retirement plan or life insurance policy to a nonprofit organization or give bequests through their wills. All gifts are meaningful and greatly appreciated by the Church.

Planning Your LegacyThese gifts represent a way that your

name can be associated with the Church long after you are gone.

Q. Do I have to rewrite my will to leave a gift to charity?

A. Fortunately, no, you do not need to re–think your entire estate plan in order to leave something to the Church. You can make a gift by listing the Church as the ben-eficiary on a retirement account or on a life insurance policy you don’t need. Also, you can simply ask your attorney to amend your will with a codicil that includes a bequest to the Church so that you don’t need to make a whole new will.

Q. What if I am not sure how much money will be left to give?

A. There are many ways you can make sure you are comfortable with the final amount to be given. You can leave a percentage of your estate, that way you don’t have to worry about a specific dollar amount. Also, many people find leaving all or a percentage of the balance in a retire-ment plan is a simple and easy way to ad-dress this concern. You can also leave any other specific asset, such as a certificate of deposit, securities, or real estate, or name the Church as the beneficiary of a life insur-ance policy that your family may no longer need.

Q. Are there tax advantages to giving a particular kind of legacy gift?

A. Yes. Retirement plans, such as IRAs and 401(k)s can be subject to tax twice -- once as part of the estate and again as tax-able ordinary income to the heir. Because of this, many people find that leaving a retire-ment account to the Church can have a sig-nificant tax advantage. The estate gets a tax deduction for the charitable donation, and the heir can receive other assets that aren’t subject to taxes when they are received.

Q. Can I make a charitable gift that also provides financial security for my future?

A. Yes! You may want to speak with a professional advisor about setting up a charitable remainder trust or a charitable gift annuity that will provide an immedi-ate tax deduction plus give you income during your life or the life of you and your spouse. The Church receives your gift after your death.

Q. What if I don’t have a will? Can I still make a legacy gift?

A. Yes, you can. It is important to have a will and you should discuss this with your attorney and/or financial advisor. However, if you decide you don’t need a will, you can make a legacy gift in many different ways. You can list the Church as the beneficiary on a retirement account or a life insurance policy. You can complete a gift form that instructs the executor of your estate to make a specific gift from your assets.

Many different ways are available to make a legacy gift. We strongly recommend that you discuss your intentions with your attorney and/or financial advisor. If you need help in identifying one, contact your local priest, stewardship committee or planned giving committee for help.

Q. Who should I talk to about a legacy gift?

A. Contact your local priest or a mem-ber of the Planned Giving Committee at your parish. You can also contact these Greek Orthodox Archdiocese offices by phone or e-mail for information on a con-fidential, no obligation basis: Stewardship Ministries: (646) 519-6160, [email protected] • Office of Parish Development: (847) 478-5275, [email protected]

Your final plans should always be dis-cussed and reviewed with your attorney and/or financial advisor.


Η σύζυγός μου και εγώ είμαστε υπερήφανοι που ανήκουμε στη Μεγαλώνυμο αυτή Κοινότητα του Αγίου Νικολάου, Flushing. Υπερήφανοι για τον Ιερατικώς Προϊστάμενό μας π. Παύλο Παλαιστίδη και όλους τους ιερείς μας. Υπερήφανοι για τα Σχολεία μας και όλους τους διδάσκοντες εις αυτά. Υπερήφανοι για τον Διευθυντή του Απογευματινού Σχολείου κ. Γεώργιο Κανελλόπουλο. Υπερήφανοι που και οι τέσσερις κόρες μας απεφοίτησαν από το Σχολείο αυτό. Υπερήφανοι που οι εγγονές μας Μαρία και Αριάνα–Αρετή φοίτησαν στο Ημερήσιο Σχολείο μας. Ευχαριστούμε τον Πανάγαθο Θεό και την Κοινότητα του Αγ. Νικολάου που ευλογηθήκαμε να δώσουμε το όνομά μας στο καλύτερο σχολείο της Διασποράς του Ελληνισμού. Στους αποφοίτους της 8ης τάξης 2012, ευχόμαστε να συνεχίσουν να είναι οι αγωνιστές της Ελληνικής κληρονομιάς μας, της Ελληνορθόδοξης πίστης μας και του σεβασμού στις πανανθρώπινες αξίες. Είμαστε υπερήφανοι για όλους σας!

Στέφανος και Αρετή Τσερπέλη

‘ΣΤΕΦΑΝΟΣ και ΑΡΕΤΗ ΤΣΕΡΠΕΛΗ’ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΟ ΑΠΟΓΕΥΜΑΤΙΝΟ ΣΧΟΛΕΙΟ ΑΓΙΟΥ ΝΙΚΟΛΑΟΥ, ΦΛΑΣΙΝΓΚ

Αντώνης Αδικημενάκης. Γιοβάννα Αμβροσιάτου, Γιώργος Γερμανάκος, Σταύρος Γερμάνης, Βασιλική Γκλέκα, Αναστασία Γουσέτη, Αντώνης Καραμίντζος, Γιάννης Λαϊνης, Παρασκευή Μπενεντέτη, Βαλασία Μακρίδου, Μίνα Ντιφράνκο, Γιώργος Παπαστεφάνου, Αχιλλέας Πάσχος, Χαράλαμπος Παυλάτος, Αλεξάνδρα Περάκη, Δημήτρης Σηράκης, Σπύρος Σουλιώτης, Κυριάκος Στουπάκης, Κωνσταντίνος Terbaci, Μαριάννα Τζιράνη

ΕΤΟΣ 77 • ΑΡΙΘΜΟΣ 1277ΙΟΥΛΙΟΣ – ΑΥΓΟΥΣΤΟΣ 2012

uΣελίδα 16uΣελίδα 17

41η Κληρικολαϊκή ΣυνέλευσηΕναρκτήριος Ομιλία του Σεβασμιωτάτου Αρχιεπισκόπου Αμερικής κ. Δημητρίου

Ἡ χάρις τοῦ Κυρίου ἡµῶν Ἰησοῦ Χρι-στοῦ καί ἡ Ἀγάπη τοῦ Θεοῦ καί Πατρός καί ἡ Κοινωνία τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύµατος µᾶς συγκέ-ντρωσε ἀκόµη µία φορά στήν ἀνά διετία Ἐκκλησιαστική Σύναξη, ἡ ὁποία εἶναι γνω-στή ὡς Κληρικολαϊκή Συνέλευση τῆς Ἑλλη-νικῆς Ὀρθοδόξου Ἀρχιεπισκοπῆς Ἀµερικῆς. Στά ἐνενήντα ἔτη τῆς ζωῆς τῆς Ἀρχιεπι-σκοπῆς µας, ἡ παροῦσα εἶναι ἡ 41η ∆ιετής Κληρικολαϊκή Συνέλευση. Γνωρίζουµε, βε-βαίως, ὅτι ἡ Ἀρχιεπισκοπή µας, ὡς Ἑλληνι-κή Ὀρθόδοξος Ἐκκλησία στήν Ἀµερική, εἶναι πολύ παλαιότερη. Πράγµατι, ξεκίνησε σέ ἐµβρυακή µορφή στά µέσα τοῦ 18ου αἰῶνος, κατόπιν ἀναβαθµίσθηκε σηµαντικά στά µέσα τοῦ 19ου αἰῶνος, αὐξήθηκε ἐντυ-πωσιακά στή δεκαετία τοῦ 1890, καί τέλος ἱδρύθηκε ἐπισήµως στίς ἀρχές τοῦ 20οῦ αἰῶνος, συγκεκριµένα στίς 17 Σεπτεµβρίου 1921.

Σήµερα, συνερχόµεθα στήν Κληρικολα-ϊκή Συνέλευσή µας µέ τίς πατρικές εὐλογίες καί τίς θερµές προσευχές τοῦ βαθύτατα σε-βαστοῦ, θαυµαστοῦ καί προσφιλεστάτου µας Οἰκουµενικοῦ Πατριάρχου κ.κ. Βαρθολοµαί-ου. Ἑνός Πατριάρχου, ὁ ὁποῖος εἶναι µονίµως κοντά µας πνευµατικῶς καί προσφέρει ἀφειδῶς τήν πατρική ἀγάπη καί σοφή καθο-δήγησή του στήν προσπάθειά µας νά προ-βάλλουµε τήν Ὀρθόδοξο Πίστη µας στό ∆υτικό Ἡµισφαίριο. Τοῦ προσφέρουµε µέ ταπείνωση τήν βαθειά εὐγνωµοσύνη καί ἀφοσίωσή µας, µαζί µέ τίς ὁλόθερµες εὐχές καί προσευχές µας ἐπ’ εὐκαιρίᾳ τῆς 20ῆς ἐπετείου του ὡς Ἀρχιεπισκόπου Κωνσταντι-νουπόλεως, Νέας Ρώµης καί Οἰκουµενικοῦ Πατριάρχου. Βαρθολοµαίου τοῦ Παναγιωτά-του καί Οἰκουµενικοῦ Πατριάρχου πολλά τά ἔτη!

Σήµερα, ἐπ’ εὐκαιρίᾳ αὐτῆς τῆς ἱερᾶς συνάξεως, ἐκφράζουµε τήν εὐγνωµοσύνη µας στόν Θεό γιά τόν Οἰκουµενικό Πατρι-άρχη µας. Ἐκφράζουµε, ἐπίσης, τήν εὐγνω-µοσύνη µας στόν Κύριο καί Θεό µας γι’ αὐτή τήν 41η ∆ιετῆ Κληρικολαϊκή Συνέλευση, τῆς

ΠΑΤΡΙΑΡΧΙΚΟ ΜΗΝΥΜΑ ΓΙΑ ΤΗΝ 41η ΚΛΗΡΙΚΟΛΑΙΚΗ

Ἱερώτατε Ἀρχιεπίσκοπε Ἀµε-ρικῆς, ἐν Ἁγίῳ Πνεύµατι ἀγαπητὲ ἀδελφὲ καὶ συλλειτουργὲ τῆς ἡµῶν Μετριότητος κύριε ∆ηµήτριε, Ἱερώ-τατοι ἀδελφοὶ Μητροπολῖται – µέλη τῆς Ἱερᾶς Ἐπαρχιακῆς Συνόδου, Θε-οφιλέστατοι Ἐπίσκοποι, Εὐλαβέστα-τοι Ἱερεῖς καὶ ∆ιάκονοι, Ἐντιµολο-γιώτατοι Ἄρχοντες Ὀφφικίαλοι, Ἐντιµότατα µέλη τοῦ Ἀρχιεπισκοπι-κοῦ Συµβουλίου, Ἀξιότιµοι Πρόεδροι καὶ Μέλη τῶν Ἑλληνορθοδόξων Κοινοτήτων, τῆς Ἐθνικῆς Φιλοπτώ-χου καὶ ἁπαξάπαντες οἱ συγκρο-τοῦντες τὴν ΜΑ΄ Κληρικολαϊκὴν Συνέλευσιν τῆς Ἱερᾶς Ἀρχιεπισκοπῆς Ἀµερικῆς, χάρις ὑµῖν εἴη καὶ εἰρήνη παρὰ Θεοῦ, παρ’ ἡµῶν δὲ εὐχὴ καὶ εὐλογία.

"Εὐχαριστῶ τῷ Θεῷ µου ἐπὶ πάσῃ τῇ µνείᾳ ὑµῶν, πάντοτε ἐν πάσῃ δεή-σει µου ὑπὲρ πάντων ὑµῶν µετὰ χαρᾶς τὴν δέησιν ποιούµενος ἐπὶ τῇ κοινω-νίᾳ ὑµῶν εἰς τὸ εὐαγγέλιον ἀπὸ πρώ-της ἡµέρας ἄχρι τοῦ νῦν [...]" (Φιλιπ. α΄ 3-5).

∆οξάζοµεν καὶ εὐχαριστοῦµεν, ἐν πρώτοις, τῷ Κυρίῳ, Ὅστις κατηξίωσε καὶ πάλιν τὴν ἡµετέραν Μετριότητα ἵνα ἀπευθύνωµεν τοὺς παρόντας ἀδελ-φικοὺς καὶ πατρικοὺς λόγους ἀγάπης καὶ µεταφέρωµεν ὑµῖν τὴν εὐλογίαν καὶ εὐχὴν τῆς Μητρὸς Ἁγίας τοῦ Χριστοῦ Μεγάλης Ἐκκλησίας, τῆς ὁποίας κληρικοὶ καὶ µέλη ἐκλεκτὰ ηὐλογήθητε ἵνα εἶσθε καὶ ἵνα δια-κονῆτε τῷ ἐν Ἡνωµέναις Πολιτείαις Ἀµερικῆς Ὀρθοδόξῳ ποιµνίῳ, ὑπὸ τὴν ποιµαντορικὴν εὐθύνην καὶ ἄγρυ-πνον µέριµναν τοῦ Ἱερωτάτου Ἀρχιε-πισκόπου ὑµῶν καὶ λίαν ἀγαπητοῦ ἐν Κυρίῳ ἀδελφοῦ καὶ συλλειτουργοῦ ἡµῶν κυρίου ∆ηµητρίου καὶ τῶν συ-νεργατῶν αὐτοῦ Μητροπολιτῶν, Ἐπισκόπων, ἱερέων, διακόνων καὶ λοιπῶν κοινοταρχῶν καὶ λαϊκῶν στελεχῶν τοῦ Ἱεροῦ Περιβόλου τῆς ἐν Ἀµερικῇ ὑπὸ τὸ Οἰκουµενικὸν Πατριαρχεῖον ἱερᾶς τοῦ Κυρίου ὁλκά-δος ταύτης.

Ὁλοκάρδιον ἀπευθύνοµεν ὑµῖν, Ἱερώτατε καὶ πολυφίλητε ἀδελφέ, Ἀρχιεπίσκοπε Ἀµερικῆς, καὶ δι' ὑµῶν παντὶ τῷ πληρώµατι τῆς Ἱερᾶς Ἑλλη-νορθοδόξου Ἀρχιεπισκοπῆς Ἀµε-ρικῆς χαιρετισµὸν καὶ ἔνθερµον πέ-µποµεν πρὸς ὑµᾶς τὴν Πατριαρχικὴν ἡµῶν εὐλογίαν ἐπὶ τῇ ἐπιµελεῖ ὀργα-νώσει καὶ ἤδη πραγµατοποιήσει τῆς ΜΑ΄ Κληρικολαϊκῆς ὑµῶν Συνελεύ-σεως, τῆς µεγάλης ταύτης ὁµογενει-ακῆς συγκεντρώσεως, ἐν τῇ ὁποίᾳ ἐν ἑνὶ πνεύµατι καὶ µιᾷ καρδίᾳ ἀναπέ-µπονται δεήσεις καὶ εὐχαριστίαι πρὸς τὸν δοτῆρα παντὸς ἀγαθοῦ Κύριον ἡµῶν δι' ὅσα παρέχει ἡµῖν ἐν τῇ ἀγα-θότητι καὶ τῷ ἐλέει Αὐτοῦ, καὶ συγ-χρόνως µελετῶνται, ἐξετάζονται καὶ θεωροῦνται τὰ ἀπασχολοῦντα τὴν Ἱερὰν Ἐπαρχίαν ταύτην, τὸν πιστὸν

ὁποίας κεντρικό θέµα εἶναι: Ὁ Θεός µᾶς ἐδιάλεξε καί µᾶς ὥρισε νά πορευθοῦµε καί νά φέρουµε καρπό. Ἡ εὐγνωµοσύνη µας σχετίζεται, βεβαίως, µέ τίς πολλές καί συνε-χεῖς δωρεές τοῦ Θεοῦ στόν καθένα µας καί σέ ὅλους µας, καθώς καί σέ ὁλόκληρη τήν Ἐκκλησία στή διάρκεια τῆς ζωῆς µας. Ἡ εὐγνωµοσύνη µας σχετίζεται ἐπιπλέον καί συγκεκριµένα µέ τίς δωρεές τίς ὁποῖες ἐλά-βαµε στά δύο ἔτη πού µεσολάβησαν µεταξύ τῆς τελευταίας Κληρικολαϊκῆς µας στήν Atlanta, Georgia, τό 2010 καί τῆς παρούσης στήν πόλη Phoenix, Arizona. Στήν παροῦσα περίπτωσή µας, ἡ ἀκόλουθη προτροπή τοῦ Ἀποστόλου Παύλου στούς Θεσσαλονικεῖς ἰσχύει ἀπολύτως: Ἐν παντί εὐχαριστεῖτε· τοῦτο γάρ θέληµα Θεοῦ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ εἰς ὑµᾶς (Α Θεσ. 5:18). Ἐν παντί εὐχαριστεῖτε. Ἡ χρονική περίοδος µεταξύ τῶν ἐτῶν 2010

καί 2012 εἶναι πλήρης περιστάσεων καί γε-γονότων γιά τά ὁποῖα πρέπει νά εὐχαριστή-σουµε τόν Θεό. Ἐπιτρέψατέ µου νά ἀναφέρω, ἐπιλεκτικά, ὁρισµένα ἐξ αὐτῶν µέ πνεῦµα εὐχαριστίας πρός τόν Θεό.

Εὐχαριστία1) Εὐχαριστοῦµε τόν Θεό γιά τήν ὄντως

διακεκριµένη ἀρχιερατική προσφορά στήν Ἐκκλησία µας τοῦ Σεβασµιωτάτου Μητρο-πολίτου πρώην Πιττσβούργου κ. Μαξίµου. Μετά ἀπό 33 ἔτη ἀληθινῆς ἀποστολικῆς προσφορᾶς στήν Ἱερά Μητρόπολη Πιτ-τσβούργου, ἀρχικῶς ὡς Ἐπισκόπου καί κα-τόπιν ὡς Μητροπολίτου, ἐσυνταξιοδοτήθη τόν Σεπτέµβριο 2011 διά λόγους ὑγείας. Τοῦ ὀφείλουµε πολλά γιά τήν ἀποφασιστική συµβολή του στό θεολογικό, τό ποιµαντικό καί τό οἰκουµενικό ἔργο τῆς Ἐκκλησίας µας. Προσευχόµεθα, δέ, ὁ Θεός νά τοῦ προσφέρῃ τίς ἄφθονες εὐλογίες Του κατά τά ἔτη τοῦ ἐφησυχασµοῦ του.

2) Εὐχαριστοῦµε τόν Θεό γιά τόν νέο Σεβασµιώτατο Μητροπολίτη Πιττσβούργου κ. Σάββα, ὁ ὁποῖος ἐξελέγη ἀπό τήν Ἁγία καί Ἱερά Σύνοδο τοῦ Οἰκουµενικοῦ Πατριαρχεί-ου µας στίς 3 Νοεµβρίου 2011, καί ἐνεθρονί-σθη στίς 8 ∆εκεµβρίου 2011. Προσευχόµεθα ὁ Χριστός, ὁ Κύριός µας, νά τόν εὐλογῇ πλουσίως στήν νέα του ἀρχιερατική διακο-νία, ὅπως τόν εὐλόγησε στά δέκα ἔτη κατά τά ὁποῖα διετέλεσε Ἐπίσκοπος Τρωᾶδος καί Πρωτοσύγκελλος τῆς Ἀρχιεπισκοπῆς µας.

3) Εὐχαριστοῦµε τόν Θεό γιά τόν νέο Ἐπίσκοπο ὁ ὁποῖος προσετέθη στίς τάξεις τῆς Ἱερᾶς Ἀρχιεπισκοπῆς Ἀµερικῆς. Ὁ Ἀρχιγραµµατεύς τῆς Ἐπαρχιακῆς Συνόδου µας, Ἀρχιµανδρίτης κ. Σεβαστιανός Σκορδαλ-λός, ἐξελέγη Ἐπίσκοπος Ζήλων στίς 2 ∆ε-κεµβρίου 2011 ὑπό τῆς Ἁγίας καί Ἱερᾶς Συ-νόδου τοῦ Οἰκουµενικοῦ Πατριαρχείου µας. Ἐξακολουθεῖ νά ὑπηρετῇ στήν ἴδια θέση καί βεβαίως τοῦ εὐχόµεθα εὐλογηµένη παρά

ΙΟΥΛΙΟΣ – ΑΥΓΟΥΣΤΟΣ 201216 ΟΡΘΟ∆ΟΞΟΣ ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΤΗΣ

uΣελίδα 15

Εναρκτήριος Ομιλία Σεβασμιωτάτου Αρχιεπισκόπου ΔημητρίουΘεοῦ διακονία.

4) Εὐχαριστοῦµε τόν Θεό γιά τούς νέους κληρικούς οἱ ὀποῖοι ἐχειροτονήθησαν τήν περίοδο 2010-2012. Πρόκειται γιά 41 χειρο-τονίες εἰς ∆ιάκονον καί γιά 28 εἰς Πρεσβύτε-ρον. Πρόκειται γιά νέο, πολύτιµο, ἱερατικό αἷµα πού µέ τήν χάρη τοῦ Θεοῦ εἰσέρευσε στό σῶµα τῆς Ἐκκλησίας.

5) Εὐχαριστοῦµε τόν Θεό γιά τή ζωή καί τό ἔργο τῶν κληρικῶν µας οἱ ὁποῖοι µετά ἀπό µακρά ἔτη πιστῆς διακονίας ἀπεδήµησαν εἰς Κύριον τά τελευταῖα δύο ἔτη. Οἱ ἀείµνη-στοι αὐτοί κληρικοί δέν ἀνήκουν πλέον στήν ἐπίγεια στρατευµένη Ἐκκλησία, ἀλλά στήν ἐπουράνια θριαµβεύουσα Ἐκκλησία. Εἶναι συνολικά 22, οἱ ἑξῆς:

10 Ἰουλίου–31 ∆εκεµβρίου 2010Ἀρχιµ. Κύριλλος Loeb/4 Σεπτεµβρίου 2010Αἰδ. Κωνσταντῖνος Μιχόπουλος / 8 Σεπτεµ-βρίου 2010

1 Ἰανουαρίου–31 ∆εκεµβρίου 2011Αἰδ. Γεώργιος Παπαποστόλου/2 Ἰανουαρίου 2011, Αἰδ. Ἐµµανουήλ Σ. Μεταξᾶς/23 Φεβρου-αρίου 2011, Αἰδ. Ἰωάννης Ἀσηµακόπουλος/17 Μαρτίου 2011, Αἰδ. Ἠλίας Κατρᾶς/24 Ἀπριλί-ου 2011, Αἰδ. Γεώργιος Γάλλας/15 Μαΐου 2011, Αἰδ. Νικόλαος Μαγούλιας/6 Ἰουνίου 2011, Αἰδ. Ἀντώνιος Μοσχονᾶς/13 Αὐγούστου 2011, Αἰδ. Γεώργιος Παπαδέας/18 Νοεµβρίου 2011, Αἰδ. Θεόφιλος Π. Θεοφιλόπουλος/16 ∆εκεµ-βρίου 2011

1 Ἰανουαρίου–10 Ἰουνίου 2012Αἰδ. Ἀναστάσιος ∆ιακοβασίλης/17 Ἰανουαρίου 2012, Αἰδ. Βασίλειος Κίσσας/29 Ἰανουαρίου 2012, Ἀρχιµ. Ἰερεµίας Μονιός/23 Φεβρουαρί-ου 2012, Αἰδ. Ἀναστάσιος Μπέντης/25 Φε-βρουαρίου 2012, Αἰδ. ∆ηµήτριος ∆ηµόπου-λος/17 Μαρτίου 2012, Αἰδ. Ἰωάννης Κε-φαλᾶς/8 Ἀπριλίου 2012, Αἰδ. Ἰωάννης Ἀργυρός/10 Ἀπριλίου 2012, Ἀρχιµ. Ἀλέξαν-δρος Κιλές/7 Ἰουνίου 2012, Αἰδ. Στυλιανός Μαρκαντώνης/9 Ἰουνίου 2012, Αἰδ. Προκό-πιος Νίκας/10 Ἰουνίου 2012, Αἰδ. Μιχαήλ Γιαχνῆς/24 Ἰουνίου 2012Αἰωνία ἡ µνήµη αὐτῶν!

Ἐπίσης ἄς εἶναι αἰωνία ἡ µνήµη καί τριῶν ἀδελφῶν Ὀρθοδόξων Ἱεραρχῶν στίς ΗΠΑ οἱ ὁποῖοι ἀπεβίωσαν κατά τό ἴδιο χρονικό διάστηµα. Εἶναι οἱ ἑξῆς:• Μητροπολίτης Ἀµισσοῦ κ. Νικόλαος, Ἐπι-κεφαλῆς τῆς Καρπαθο-Ρωσσικῆς Ἐπισκοπῆς στίς ΗΠΑ ὑπό τό Οἰκουµενικό Πατριαρχεῖο,• Μητροπολίτης Εἰρηνουπόλεως κ. Κων-σταντῖνος, Ἐπικεφαλῆς τῆς Οὐκρανικῆς Ἐπισκοπῆς στίς ΗΠΑ, ἐπίσης ὑπό τό Οἰκου-µενικό Πατριαρχεῖο µας, καί• Μητροπολίτης Χριστοφόρος, ἐπί κεφαλῆς τῆς παρουσίας τοῦ Σερβικοῦ Πατριαρχείου στίς ΗΠΑ.

6) Εὐχαριστοῦµε τόν Θεό γιά τή συµ-φωνία πού ἐπετεύχθη µεταξύ τῆς Λιµενικῆς Ἀρχῆς Νέας Ὑόρκης / Νέας Ἰερσέης καί τῆς Ἀρχιεπισκοπῆς µας γιά τήν ἀνοικοδόµηση τοῦ Ἱεροῦ Ναοῦ τοῦ Ἁγίου Νικολάου στόν χῶρο τοῦ Παγκοσµίου Ἐµπορικοῦ Κέντρου (WTC), τοῦ γνωστοῦ ὡς Ground Zero. Τό βασικό συµφωνητικό ὑπεγράφη τόν παρελ-θόντα Ὀκτώβριο καί τά νοµικά ἔγγραφα τά ἀφορῶντα στήν ὁλοκλήρωση τῶν πολλῶν τεχνικῶν λεπτοµερειῶν ἀναµένονται σύντο-µα. Ἡ τοποθεσία τῆς Ἐκκλησίας στή διεύ-θυνση 130 Liberty Street, ἀποτελεῖ ἕνα ἐκ τῶν πλέον πλεονεκτικῶν σηµείων διότι βρίσκεται στόν ἴδιο δρόµο καί ἀκριβῶς ἀπέ-ναντι ἀπό τό ἱστορικό Μνηµεῖο στό Ground Zero. Προσευχόµεθα νά ἀνατείλῃ σύντοµα ἡ ἡµέρα κατά τήν ὁποία θά δοῦµε τόν νέο Ἱ. Ναό τοῦ Ἁγίου Νικολάου νά ὀρθώνεται ἀνάµεσα στούς οὐρανοξύστες, προσφέροντας τήν καλύτερη θέα τοῦ ἀληθινοῦ οὐρανοῦ τῆς παρουσίας, χάριτος καί εἰρήνης τοῦ Θεοῦ! Πρέπει ὅλοι νά ἐργασθοῦµε γιά νά ἔλθῃ ἡ

ἡµέρα αὐτή, καθώς ἡ ἀνοικοδόµηση τοῦ Ναοῦ τοῦ Ἁγίου Νικολάου δέν εἶναι τοπικό ζήτηµα, ἀλλά παν-Ἀµερικανικό, µάλιστα δι-εθνές.

7) Εὐχαριστοῦµε τόν Θεό γιά τήν ὕπαρ-ξη τῆς Ὀρθοδόξου Θεολογικῆς Σχολῆς τοῦ Τιµίου Σταυροῦ, ἡ ὁποία ἑορτάζει 75 ἔτη τεραστίας προσφορᾶς στήν Ἐκκλησία µας. Αὐτά τά ἑβδοµήντα-πέντε ἔτη ἔδωσαν στήν Ἀρχιεπισκοπή ἕνα µεγάλο ἀριθµό ἀφοσιω-µένων, δυναµικῶν καί δηµιουργικῶν κλη-ρικῶν. Ὁ Τίµιος Σταυρός, τή στιγµή κατά την ὁποία µή Ὀρθόδοξες Θεολογικές Σχολές ἀντιµετωπίζουν σηµαντικές ἀπώλειες στίς ἐγγραφές καί στόν ἀριθµό σπουδαστῶν, συνεχίζει νά προοδεύῃ σταθερά µέ ὅλο καί αὐξανόµενο ἀριθµό σπουδαστῶν, ὑποψηφί-ων κληρικῶν. Μέ εὐγνωµοσύνη χαιρετίζου-µε τό γεγονός ὅτι ἡ τάξη ἡ ὁποία θά ἀρχίσῃ τίς σπουδές της στήν Θεολογική µας Σχολή ἐφέτος τόν Σεπτέµβριο θά ἀποτελεῖται ἀπό περισσοτέρους τῶν πενήντα σπουδαστῶν, πού εἶναι ἀριθµός ρεκόρ γιά τήν Σχολή.

8) Εὐχαριστοῦµε τόν Θεό γιά τήν Φιλό-πτωχο Ἀδελφότητα Κυριῶν, ἡ ὁποία ἑορτά-ζει ἐφέτος 80 λαµπρά ἔτη συνεχοῦς µερίµνης στοργῆς καί φιλανθρωπίας. Πρόκειται περί ἑνός ἐντυπωσιακοῦ «στρατοῦ» ἀποτελουµέ-νου ἀπό περισσότερες από 27,000 Κυρίες σέ ὅλη τήν ἐπικράτεια. Οἱ Κυρίες αὐτές διαδρα-µατίζουν ζωτικό ρόλο στή ζωή καί στίς δραστηριότητες τῶν Ἐνοριῶν µας. Ἐκτός ἀπό τά πολλά µόνιµα προγράµµατα καί τίς δραστηριότητες ἐξωτερικῆς βοηθείας, εἶναι πάντοτε ἕτοιµες νά συµβάλλουν σέ περιπτώ-σεις ἀντιµετωπίσεως καταστροφικῶν γεγο-νότων ὅπως ἦτο ἡ τροµοκρατική ἐπίθεση τῆς 11ης Σεπτεµβρίου 2001 στήν πόλη τῆς Νέας Ὑόρκης, ἡ θύελλα Κατρίνα πού ἔπληξε τή Νέα Ὀρλεάνη, τό Τσουνάµι στήν Ἄπω Ἀνατολή, οἱ πυρκαϊές στήν Ἑλλάδα τό 2007, καί ἐφέτος ἡ προσπάθεια ἀνακουφίσεως τῶν χειµαζοµένων ἀνθρώπων, θυµάτων τῆς δραµατικῆς οἰκονοµικῆς κρίσεως στήν Ἑλλάδα.

9) Εὐχαριστοῦµε τόν Θεό γιά τήν Ὀργάνωση Ἀρχιεπίσκοπος Ἰάκωβος Κλη-ροδότηµα τῆς Ἡγεσίας τῶν 100, ἡ ὁποία συµπλήρωσε περισσότερα ἀπό 25 ἔτη δρά-σεως, ἔχοντας προσφέρει 33,025,686 ἑκατοµ-µύρια δολλάρια σέ ζωτικές διακονίες τῆς Ἐκκλησίας. Ἰδιαιτέρας σπουδαιότητος εἶναι ἡ µεγάλη συµβολή τῆς Ἡγεσίας τῶν 100 στή Θεολογική Σχολή µας τοῦ Τιµίου Σταυροῦ. Περισσότερα ἀπό 17,472,217 ἑκατοµµύρια δολλάρια ἔχουν προσφερθεῖ τά τελευταῖα δέκα καί πλέον ἔτη γιά τήν οἰκονοµική ἀρωγή σέ σπουδαστές ὑποψηφίους γιά τήν ἱερωσύνη, γιά τήν ἀνάπτυξη τῆς Πληροφο-ρικῆς καί Τεχνολογικῆς ὑποδοµῆς τῆς Σχολῆς, γιά τήν Βιβλιοθήκη της καί γιά τό Τµῆµα Ἐπιµορφώσεως καί ∆ιακονίας τοῦ Ἑλληνικοῦ Κολλεγίου / Θεολογικῆς Σχολῆς

τοῦ Τιµίου Σταυροῦ.10) Εὐχαριστοῦµε τόν Θεό γιά τήν

Ὀργάνωση «Πίστις: Κληροδότηµα γιά τήν Ὀρθοδοξία καί τόν Ἑλληνισµό». Ἀπό τό ἔτος ἱδρύσεώς του, τό 2003, προσφέροντας σοβα-ρή καί ὑπεύθυνη χρηµατοδότηση, τό Κλη-ροδότηµα Πίστις παρήγαγε ἐντυπωσιακό ἔργο στόν τοµέα τῆς προαγωγῆς τῆς Ὀρθο-δοξίας καί τοῦ Ἑλληνισµοῦ µέσῳ τῶν δια-κονιῶν τῆς Ἀρχιεπισκοπῆς µας καί ἄλλων σηµαντικῶν δραστηριοτήτων. Ἀνάµεσα σ’ αὐτές συγκαταλέγεται ἡ συνεχιζοµένη ἐργα-σία γιά τήν παραγωγή τῶν καλυτέρων διδα-κτικῶν βιβλίων γιά τήν ἐκµάθηση τῆς Ἑλληνικῆς Γλώσσης γιά τά παιδιά µας, ἡ ποικιλία πρωτοποριακῶν ὑποτροφιῶν γιά µεγάλο ἀριθµό προσοντούχων Ἑλληνορθο-δόξων σπουδαστῶν ἀπό ὅλη τήν Ἀµερική, ἡ σηµαντική ἀρωγή πρός τό Ἰονικό Χωριό, τό εἰδικό πρόγραµµα σέ συνεργασία µέ τό Ἵδρυµα Fulbright, ἡ οὐσιαστική ὑποστήριξη τοῦ σηµαντικοῦ Νεανικοῦ Φεστιβάλ Ρητο-ρικῆς Ἅγιος Ἰωάννης ὁ Χρυσόστοµος, ἡ παραγωγή ταινιῶν καί DVD’s καί ἡ χορηγία σέ ἐκδηλώσεις σχετιζόµενες µέ πολιτιστικές δραστηριότητες τῆς Ἐκκλησίας καί µέ τήν προώθηση τῶν παγκοσµίων ἀξιῶν τοῦ Ἑλληνισµοῦ.

11) Εὐχαριστοῦµε τόν Θεό γιά τοὐς Ἄρχοντες τοῦ Τάγµατος τοῦ Ἁγίου Ἀνδρέου τοῦ Οἰκουµενικοῦ Πατριαρχείου. Οἱ µεθο-δικές καί ἄοκνες προσπάθειές τους τά τελευ-ταῖα δέκα ἔτη ἔχουν ἀλλάξει ριζικά τήν προσέγγιση καί τόν χειρισµό θεµελιωδῶν ζητηµάτων πού σχετίζονται µέ τό Οἰκουµε-νικό Πατριαρχεῖο µας. Ἕνα σηµαντικό ἐπί-τευγµα τῆς περιόδου 2010-2012 ὑπῆρξε τό ψήφισµα ἀξιοσηµείωτων διακηρύξεων περί τῆς ἀναγκαιότητος τῆς θρησκευτικῆς ἐλευ-θερίας γιά τό Οἰκουµενικό Πατριαρχεῖο µας ἀπό µείζονα κυβερνητικά καί πολιτικά σώ-µατα στίς Ἡνωµένες Πολιτεῖες. Ἄλλο ἐπί-τευγµα πραγµατοποιήθηκε τό Νοέµβριο 2010 ὅταν οἱ Ἄρχοντές µας διοργάνωσαν ἕνα πολύ ἐπιτυχές συνέδριο στίς Βρυξέλλες τοῦ Βελγίου µέ θέµα τή θρησκευτική ἐλευθερία. Τό συνέδριο αὐτό πού ἔλαβε χώρα στό διοι-κητικό Κέντρο τῆς Εὐρωπαϊκῆς Ἑνώσεως, προσέχθηκε πολύ ἀπό τήν Τουρκική Κυβέρ-νηση. Πράγµατι, εἶναι δύσκολο νά καλύψου-µε ἐπαρκῶς ὅλες τίς ἀσταµάτητες δραστηρι-ότητες τῶν Ἀρχόντων µας γιά τή στήριξη τοῦ Οἰκουµενικοῦ Πατριαρχείου µας.

12) Εὐχαριστοῦµε τόν Θεό γιά ἕνα ἐκ τῶν Ἱδρυµάτων µας τό ὁποῖο ἐπιτελεῖ ἀθό-ρυβο µέν ἀλλά δηµιουργικό ἔργο. Τό Προ-σκύνηµα τοῦ Ἁγίου Φωτίου στόν Ἅγιο Αὐγουστῖνο τῆς Φλόριδας, τό ὁποῖο ἑόρτασε ἐφέτος τριάντα ἔτη ζωῆς καί δράσεως, παρέ-χει λαµπρή µαρτυρία τῆς Ὀρθοδοξίας καί τῆς ἱστορίας τῆς Ἑλληνορθοδόξου Μεταναστεύ-σεως στήν Ἀµερική σέ πολλές χιλιάδες ἐπισκεπτῶν κάθε χρόνο. Ἀξίζει, ὄντως, νά

τό ἐπισκεφθῇ κανείς.13) Εύχαριστοῦµε τόν Θεό γιά τά παιδιά

µας πού, εἰδικώτερα κατά τά τελευταῖα ἔτη, γεµίζουν τίς καλοκαιρινές κατασκηνώσεις µας σ’ ὅλη τήν χώρα καί στό Ἰονικό Χωριό στήν Ἑλλάδα. Εἴµεθα εὐγνώµονες στά παιδιά µας πού ἐπί τριάντα καί πλέον ἔτη συγκε-ντρώνονται κατά χιλιάδες στό Φεστιβάλ Παραδοσιακῶν Χορῶν στήν Καλιφόρνια, καθώς καί σέ παρόµοια φεστιβάλ στή Νέα Ἰερσέη, Ἀτλάντα, Σικᾶγο καί ἀλλοῦ.

14) Εὐχαριστοῦµε τόν Θεό γιά τά παιδιά µας καί τούς νέους µας πού λαµβάνουν µέρος µέ αὐξανόµενη συµµετοχή σέ ἀξιέπαινες ἀθλητικές ἐκδηλώσεις, σέ ὅλες τίς Ἱερές Μητροπόλεις µας. Αὐτές οἱ δραστηριότητες κερδίζουν ἔδαφος, καί στά πρόσφατα ἔτη ἐµφανίζουν µιά πιό µεθοδική καί πιό ὑπεύ-θυνη προσέγγιση, καθώς καί ἕνα καλύτερο καί δυνατότερο συνδυασµό µέ τήν καλλιέρ-γεια τῆς πνευµατικότητος στούς κύκλους τῆς νεολαίας µας.

15) Εὐχαριστοῦµε τόν Θεό γιά τά παιδιά µας ἀπό ὁλόκληρη τήν Ἀµερική γιά τήν συµµετοχή τους στό Φεστιβάλ Ρητορικῆς Ἅγιος Ἰωάννης ὁ Χρυσόστοµος. Τό Φεστιβάλ αὐτό ἀποτελεῖ θεσµό ὁ ὁποῖος ἐπί 29 ἔτη, ἀπό τό 1983, ἔχει συγκεντρώσει πανεθνικά τόν ἀπίστευτο ἀριθµό τῶν 60.000 παιδιῶν, ἤ περίπου 2.000 κατά µέσον ὅρο ἐτησίως, παιδιῶν τά ὁποῖα παρουσιάζουν λαµπρή δι-ανόηση µέ ἐντυπωσιακές ἱκανότητες σκέψε-ως, γραψίµατος καί ὁµιλητικῆς εὐχέρειας.

16) Εὐχαριστοῦµε τόν Θεό γιά µιά ἰδι-αίτερη ὁµάδα νέων ἀνθρώπων, τήν Ἀρχιεπι-σκοπική Χορωδία Νέων ἡ ὁποία ἀποτελεῖται ἀπό παιδιά τῶν Σχολείων µας. Ἡ Χορωδία αὐτή πού δηµιουργήθηκε περίπου πρό δέκα περίπου ἐτῶν, ἀνέπτυξε ἐκπληκτική µουσική ποιότητα. Λόγῳ τῆς ποιότητος αὐτῆς, ἡ χορωδία ἔδωσε συναυλίες σέ ὑψηλούς καλ-λιτεχνικούς χώρους ὅπως τό Carnegie Hall καί τό Lincoln Center στή Νέα Ὑόρκη, στόν Λευκό Οἶκο, ἔκανε δύο ἐµφανίσεις στήν Ἑλλάδα καί πέρυσι, γιά δεύτερη φορά, στό Προεδρικό Μέγαρο στήν Κύπρο, καί στήν ἱστορική Ἐκκλησία τῆς Ἁγίας Εἰρήνης στήν Κωνσταντινούπολη. Ἡ τελευταία αὐτή συ-ναυλία στήν Κωνσταντινούπολη προσεφέρ-θη µέ σεβασµό καί ἀφοσίωση στόν Οἰκου-µενικό Πατριάρχη µας κ.κ. Βαρθολοµαῖο ἐπ’ εὐκαιρίᾳ τοῦ ἑορτασµοῦ τῆς 20ῆς ἐπετείου του ὡς Οἰκουµενικοῦ Πατριάρχου.

17) Εὐχαριστοῦµε τόν Θεό γιά τούς ἀνθρώπους τῆς Ὀρθοδόξου Ἐκκλησίας µας στίς ΗΠΑ οἱ ὁποῖοι στήν περίοδο αὐτή τῶν σοβαρῶν ἐλλείψεων τροφῆς, στέγης καί φαρµάκων στήν Ἑλλάδα, προσέφεραν τή βοήθειά των µέ γενναιοδωρία. Συνεισέφεραν στό «Ταµεῖο Ἀνακουφίσεως γιά τούς Ἀνθρώ-πους τῆς Ἑλλάδος», συγκεντρώνοντας µέχρι στιγµῆς 966,997 δολλάρια. Ἐξ αὐτῶν, 700,000 δολλάρια ἔχουν δοθεῖ ἤδη ὡς βοή-θεια σέ διάφορες ἐκκλησιαστικές ὑπηρεσίες στήν Ἑλλάδα, γνωστές γιά τό καλά ὀργανω-µένο καί ἐκτεταµένο ἔργο τους στήν προ-σφορά βοήθειας σέ χιλιάδες ἀνθρώπους οἱ ὁποῖοι εὑρίσκονται σέ κατάσταση ἐπειγού-σης ἀνάγκης.

18) Κλείνω αὐτή τήν ἐπιλεκτική καί περιορισµένη ἀναφορά µου στά πολλά γεγο-νότα πού ἔλαβαν χώρα µεταξύ τῆς προηγου-µένης Κληρικολαϊκῆς καί τῆς ἐφετινῆς 41ης, παραθέτοντας δύο ἀκόµη γεγονότα: Τό πρῶτο εἶναι ἡ ἐπίσκεψη τοῦ ἐν ἐνεργείᾳ Ἀντιπροέδρου τῶν Ἡνωµένων Πολιτειῶν Joe Biden τόν παρελθόντα Νοέµβριο στήν Ἀρχιεπισκοπή µας. Ἡ ἐπίσκεψη ἦτο ἐγκάρδια καί εἰλικρινής, διήρκησε περίπου µία ὥρα, καί ἦτο ἡ πρώτη φορά κατά τήν ὁποία ἐν ἐνεργείᾳ Ἀντιπρόεδρος τῶν Ἡνω-µένων Πολιτειῶν τῆς Ἀµερικῆς ἐπισκέ-φθηκε τά Γραφεῖα τῆς Ἑλληνικῆς Ὀρθο-δόξου Ἀρχιεπισκοπῆς γιά συνάντηση µέ τόν

ΙΟΥΛΙΟΣ – ΑΥΓΟΥΣΤΟΣ 2012 ORTHODOX OBSERVER 17ΟΡΘΟ∆ΟΞΟΣ ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΤΗΣ

uΣελίδα 19

uΣελίδα 18

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ΟΙΚΟΥΜΕΝΙΚΟΝ ΠΑΤΡΙΑΡΧΕΙΟΝ

λαὸν αὐτῆς καὶ τὰς ἐπὶ µέρους Κοινότητας καὶ τὰ πολυπληθῆ Ἱδρύµατά της, µὲ ἐπὶ κεφαλῆς τὴν ἐν Βοστώνῃ Ἱερὰν Θεολο-γικὴν Σχολὴν τοῦ Τιµίου Σταυροῦ, ζητή-µατα καὶ ὑποθέσεις.

Ὁ κατηξιωµένος θεσµὸς τῶν Κληρι-κολαϊκῶν Συνελεύσεων, διακονηθεὶς ὑπὸ τῶν σοφῶν προκατόχων ὑµῶν, ἅγιε ἀδελ-φέ, καὶ µάλιστα ὑπὸ τοῦ ἀοιδίµου ἐκ τῶν προκατόχων ἡµῶν Πατριάρχου Ἀθηνα-γόρου, ἐν συνεχείᾳ δὲ καὶ ἐπὶ µίαν τρια-κονταετίαν καὶ πλέον ὑπὸ τοῦ κλεΐσαντος τὸν Θρόνον τῆς Ἐπαρχίας ταύτης µακα-ριστοῦ Ἀρχιεπισκόπου Ἰακώβου Κουκού-ζη, τοῦ καὶ ὁµοπατρίου τῆς ἡµετέρας Μετριότητος, προσήνεγκε µεγίστας ὑπη-ρεσίας καὶ διακονίαν εἰς τὴν ἑνότητα, τὴν ὀργάνωσιν καὶ τὴν πρόοδον ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς τοµεῦσι τῆς µεγάλης ταύτης Ἐπαρχίας τοῦ καθ' ἡµᾶς Οἰκουµενικοῦ Θρόνου.

Θέµα τῆς Κληρικολαϊκῆς ταύτης Συνελεύσεως εἶναι "ὁ Θεὸς µᾶς ἐδιάλεξε καὶ µᾶς ὥρισε νὰ πορευθοῦµε καὶ νὰ φέ-ρουµε καρπούς", βασιζόµενον εἰς τοὺς λόγους τοῦ Κυρίου "οὐχ ὑµεῖς µε ἐξελέξα-σθε, ἀλλ' ἐγὼ ἐξελεξάµην ὑµᾶς καὶ ἔθηκα ὑµᾶς ἵνα ὑµεῖς ὑπάγητε καὶ καρπὸν φέρη-τε" (Ἰωάν. ιε΄ 16).

Ἡ ἀποστολὴ καὶ τὸ καθῆκον ἡµῶν τῶν Χριστιανῶν ὅπως φέρωµεν καρποὺς ἀξίους τῆς ἡµετέρας κλήσεως πρέπει νὰ διεγείρῃ ἡµᾶς εἰς τὴν ἀναζήτησιν τοῦ εἴδους καὶ τοῦ πλήθους τῶν καρπῶν, τοὺς ὁποίους πρέπει νὰ παραγάγωµεν. Καὶ ἔχοµεν ἐνώπιον ἡµῶν δύο κατευθύνσεις ἐργασίας ἵνα φέρωµεν: Πρῶτον, καρποὺς εἰς βάθος πνευµατικῆς καλλιεργείας καὶ ἀρετῆς· καρποὺς ἀγάπης πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν καὶ τὸν ἄνθρωπον, ἁγιότητος καὶ σοφίας καὶ πάσης ἀρετῆς. Καί, δεύτερον, καρποὺς εἰς πλάτος, διὰ τῆς προσελκύσεως εἰς Χριστὸν τῶν συνανθρώπων µας, οἱ ὁποῖοι εἴτε δὲν γνωρίζουν τι περὶ Αὐτοῦ, εἴτε εἶναι ἀνεπαρκῶς ἢ λελανθασµένως πλη-ροφορηµένοι περὶ Αὐτοῦ.

Οἱ εἰς βάθος καρποὶ ἀναφέρονται ὑπὸ τοῦ Ἀποστόλου Παύλου εἰς τὴν πρὸς Γαλάτας Ἐπιστολὴν αὐτοῦ (ε , 22) ὡς ἑξῆς: "ὁ δὲ καρπὸς τοῦ Πνεύµατός ἐστιν ἀγάπη, χαρά, εἰρήνη, µακροθυµία, χρηστότης, ἀγαθωσύνη, πίστις, πρᾳότης, ἐγκράτεια". ∆ιὰ τὴν παραγωγὴν τῶν καρπῶν τούτων, ἡ προσπάθεια καὶ ὁ ἀγὼν ἡµῶν πρέπει νὰ εἶναι συνεχής, διότι ἄνευ αὐτῶν δὲν εἴµε-θα καλοὶ χριστιανοὶ καὶ ὡς ἐκ τούτου δὲν δυνάµεθα νὰ προσελκύσωµεν τοὺς ἀδελ-φοὺς ἡµῶν εἰς Χριστόν, ὡς ὀφείλοµεν.

Ἡ Ἁγία Ὀρθόδοξος ἡµῶν Ἐκκλησία ὑπῆρξεν ἀνέκαθεν ἱεραποστολική. Πά-ντοτε ἐκήρυττε καὶ κηρύττει τὸν Ἀναστά-ντα Κύριον ἡµῶν Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν σωτῆρα καὶ λυτρωτὴν τοῦ κόσµου, καὶ πάντοτε προσεδέχετο εἰς τοὺς κόλπους αὐτῆς πάντας τοὺς ἀλλοθρήσκους καὶ ἤνοιγεν εἰς αὐτοὺς τὰς πύλας αὐτῆς.

Εἶναι γνωστόν, ἐκ τῆς ἱστορίας τῆς ἡµετέρας Ὀρθοδόξου παραδόσεως, ὅτι ἡ

Μήτηρ πάντων ἡµῶν Ἁγία τοῦ Χριστοῦ Μεγάλη Ἐκκλησία τῆς Κωνσταντινου-πόλεως, ἡ Ἐκκλησία τῶν τοῦ Χριστοῦ πενήτων, τὸ µαρτυρικὸν Φανάριον, ἐξε-χριστιάνισε τὰ γένη τῶν Σλάβων, διὰ τῶν Ἁγίων Θεσσαλονικέων τὴν καταγωγὴν Ἰσαποστόλων Κυρίλλου καὶ Μεθοδίου· ὅτι προσέφερε τὴν ἐν Χριστῷ ἀλήθειαν, ὁδὸν καὶ ζωὴν εἰς πάντας τοὺς λαούς· καὶ ὅτι συνεχίζει τὴν ἱεραποστολικὴν αὐτῆς προσπάθειαν καὶ σήµερον εἰς πάντα τὰ µήκη καὶ πλάτη τῆς γῆς, εἰς τὰς Ἀσιατι-κάς, Ἀµερικανικάς, Αὐστραλιανὰς καὶ Εὐρωπαϊκὰς Χώρας.

Ὑπὸ τὴν ἔννοιαν ταύτην, ἡ καθ' ὑµᾶς Ἱερὰ Ἀρχιεπισκοπὴ Ἀµερικῆς, περιλαµ-βάνουσα πολυαρίθµους ὠργανωµένας Κοινότητας µετ' ἰδιοκτήτων καλλιµαρµά-ρων Ἱερῶν Ναῶν, πλήρως ἐξωπλισµένων, καὶ κοινοτικῶν αἰθουσῶν, ὡς καὶ πληθὺν κοινωφελῶν Ἱδρυµάτων, ἀποτελεῖ καὶ εἶναι ὁ ἐνδεδειγµένος φορεὺς τῆς προ-σελκύσεως εἰς Χριστὸν καὶ εἰς τὴν Ὀρθό-δοξον Αὐτοῦ Ἐκκλησίαν τῶν ἀνθρώπων τῆς µεγάλης ταύτης καὶ εὐηµερούσης Ἀµερικανικῆς Ἠπείρου, πολλοὶ ἐκ τῶν ὁποίων ἂν καὶ ἤκουσαν καὶ ἐπληροφορή-θησαν περὶ τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἵστανται ἀδιά-φοροι ἐνώπιον Αὐτοῦ.

Βεβαίως, δὲν παραγνωρίζοµεν τὰς προσπαθείας καὶ τῶν λοιπῶν ἐν Ἀµερικῇ ἐγκατεστηµένων Ὀρθοδόξων παροικιῶν, ἀλλὰ τονίζοµεν ἅπαξ ἔτι, ὅτι πρέπει νὰ δοθῇ ὑπὸ πάντων τῶν µελῶν τῆς Ἱερᾶς Ἑλληνορθοδόξου Ἀρχιεπισκοπῆς Ἀµε-ρικῆς ὅλως ἰδιαιτέρα προσοχὴ εἰς τὸ καθῆκον ὑµῶν τοῦτο, ὅπως ἀνοίξητε τὰς πύλας τῶν καρδιῶν ὑµῶν εἰς ὅλους τοὺς ἐν Ἀµερικῇ ποθοῦντας ἵνα γνωρίσουν τὸν Χριστὸν καὶ τὴν Ὀρθόδοξον Ἐκκλησίαν Του. Θὰ εἶναι τοῦτο µέγα ἱεραποστολικὸν ἐπίτευγµα, τὸ ὁποῖον ὡς εὔχυµος καρπὸς θὰ θρέψῃ τὴν Ἐκκλησίαν. Ἐὰν δὲν παρα-γάγωµεν καρποὺς καλοὺς εἰς τὸν τοµέα τοῦτον, κινδυνεύοµεν νὰ χαρακτη-ρισθῶµεν ὡς ἄκαρπος συκῆ καὶ νὰ ξη-ρανθῶµεν ἐλλείψει καρποφορίας. Ἡ ἐσωστρέφεια εἶναι καλὴ ὅταν ἀφορᾷ εἰς τὴν αὐτοκριτικὴν ἡµῶν αὑτῶν, ἀλλ' εἶναι οὐχὶ θεµιτὴ καὶ ἀπορριπτέα ὅταν ἀπα-σχολῇ ὑπερβολικῶς καὶ ἐµποδίζῃ ἡµᾶς ἵνα ἀνοίξωµεν τὴν ἡµετέραν Ἐκκλησίαν πρὸς τοὺς ἐπιθυµοῦντας νὰ γνωρίσουν καὶ νὰ εἰσέλθουν εἰς αὐτήν.

Ἔχοµεν τὴν βεβαιότητα πάντες οἱ ἐν τῷ Ἁγιωτάτῳ Ἀποστολικῷ καὶ Πατριαρ-χικῷ Οἰκουµενικῷ Θρόνῳ καὶ ἡ ἡµετέρα Μετριότης προσωπικῶς, ὡς γιγνώσκουσα καλῶς τὰ ἐν Ἀµερικῇ ἡµέτερα Ὀρθόδοξα κοινοτικὰ πράγµατα καὶ ὡς παρακολου-θοῦσα µετὰ στοργῆς καὶ εὐαρεσκείας τὴν συνεχῆ πρὸς τὰ πρόσω ἐξέλιξιν τῆς Ἑλληνορθοδόξου Ἀρχιεπισκοπῆς ὑπὸ τὴν πεφωτισµένην πνευµατικὴν καθοδή-γησιν τοῦ κατὰ πάντα ἀξίου καὶ πλου-τοῦντος εἰς χαρίσµατα καὶ τάλαντα, ἐνα-ρέτου καὶ ἀξιοσεβάστου Ἱερωτάτου


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Ἀρχιεπίσκοπο.Ὁ ἴδιος Ἀντιπρόεδρος, ἕνα µήνα ἀργό-

τερα, δηλαδή τόν ∆εκέµβριο 2011, ἐπισκέ-φθηκε τό Οἰκουµενικό µας Πατριαρχεῖο. Ἡ ἐπίσκεψη ἦτο καί πάλι ἡ πρώτη ἑνός ἐν ἐνεργείᾳ Ἀντιπροέδρου τῶν Ἡνωµένων Πολιτειῶν τῆς Ἀµερικῆς στό Οἰκουµενικό Πατριαρχεῖο γιά συνάντηση µέ τόν Οἰκου-µενικό Πατριάρχη µας στήν Ἕδρα του. Μετά τή συνάντηση στό Γραφεῖο τοῦ Οἰκου-µενικοῦ Πατριάρχου, ἡ ὁποία διήρκησε πε-ρίπου µία ὥρα, ὁ Ἀντιπρόεδρος περιηγήθηκε γιά µία ἀκόµη ὥρα τήν Πατριαρχική Ἐκκλη-σία τοῦ Ἁγίου Γεωργίου στό Φανάρι.

Οἱ δύο ὡς ἄνω ἀναφερόµενες ἐπισκέ-ψεις δείχνουν µέ πειστικό τρόπο τήν σπου-δαιότητα πού ἔχει ἡ Ὀρθοδοξία ὑπό τήν ἡγεσία τοῦ Οἰκουµενικοῦ Πατριάρχου µας γιά τήν Ἀµερικανική Κυβέρνηση. Ταυτοχρό-νως, ὑποδηλώνουν ἔντονα τήν τεράστια εὐθύνη πού ἔχουµε γιά νά προσφέρουµε τήν γνήσια, ὁλοκληρωµένη, καθαρή καί στοργι-κή µαρτυρία τῆς Ὀρθοδόξου Πίστεώς µας.

Ἄς µιλήσουµε περισσότερο γι’ αὐτήν ἀναλύοντας τό θέµα τῆς 41ης Συνελεύσεώς µας.

Τό θέµα τῆς Συνελεύσεώς µαςΤό θέµα τῆς 41ης Συνελεύσεώς µας Ὁ

Θεός µᾶς ἐδιάλεξε καί µᾶς ὥρισε νά πορευ-θοῦµε καί νά φέρουµε καρπό βασίζεται σέ ἕνα σηµαντικό βιβλικό χωρίο ἀπό τό κατά Ἰωάννην Εὐαγγέλιο (Ἰωάν. 15:16). Ἄς µελε-τήσουµε, λοιπόν, πρῶτα περιληπτικά αὐτό τό συγκεκριµένο κείµενο ἐντός τοῦ εὐρυτέ-ρου πλαισίου του.

Αὐτό τό βιβλικό χωρίο πού ἀποτελεῖται ἀπό τούς λόγους τοῦ Χριστοῦ, Οὐχ ὑµεῖς µε ἐξελέξασθε, ἀλλ’ ἐγώ ἐξελεξάµην ὑµᾶς καί ἔθηκα ὑµᾶς ἵνα ὑµεῖς ὑπάγητε καί καρπόν φέρητε (Ἰωάν. 15:16), εἰσάγεται ἀπό τόν Χρι-στό µέ τήν ἀκόλουθη δήλωσή Του: Ὑµεῖς φίλοι µού ἐστε ἐάν ποιῆτε ἅ ἐγώ ἐντέλλοµαι ὑµῖν. Οὐκέτι λέγω ὑµᾶς δούλους, ὅτι ὁ δοῦλος οὐκ οἶδεν τί ποιεῖ αὐτοῦ ὁ κύριος· ὑµᾶς δέ εἴρηκα φίλους, ὅτι πάντα ἅ ἤκουσα παρά τοῦ Πατρός µου ἐγνώρισα ὑµῖν (Ἰωάν. 15:15).

Μέ τούς λόγους Του αὐτούς ὁ Χριστός θεµελιώνει ἐδῶ δύο ἀλήθειες:

Πρῶτον, µᾶς ἀποκαλεῖ φίλους Του, ὄχι δούλους Του. Ἡ Ἑλληνική λέξη φίλοι µπο-ρεῖ νά ἑρµηνευθῇ εἴτε ὡς φίλοι εἴτε ὡς ἀγα-πηµένοι. Ἔτσι, ὁ Χριστός δηλώνει καθαρά ὅτι ἐµεῖς, οἱ µαθητές Του, δέν εἴµεθα δοῦλοι ἤ ὑπηρέτες Του, ἀλλά φίλοι Του καί ἀγαπη-µένοι Του.

Ἀλλά ὑπάρχει καί µία δεύτερη σηµαντι-κή ἀλήθεια στήν παραπάνω δήλωση τοῦ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. Λέγει: ὑµᾶς δέ εἴρηκα φίλους, ὅτι πάντα ἅ ἤκουσα παρά τοῦ Πατρός µου ἐγνώρισα ὑµῖν (Ἰωάν. 15:15). Αὐτή ἡ δήλωση µᾶς ἀνυψώνει ὡς µαθητάς τοῦ Ἰησοῦ σέ ἀνήκουστο ὕψος. Ἀποκαλούµεθα ἀπό τόν Χριστό φίλοι Του διότι µοιράζεται µαζί µας τήν ἀπόλυτη ἀλήθεια τήν ὁποία ἔλαβε ἀπό τόν Θεό Πατέρα. Ἑποµένως, ἀποκαλούµεθα φίλοι καί ἀγαπηµένοι ἀπό τόν Υἱό τοῦ Θεοῦ καί ἔχουµε τό προνόµιο νά ἀπολαµβάνουµε

τήν µοναδική γνώση τῶν ἀληθειῶν, τίς ὁποῖες ὁ Υἱός ἄκουσε ἀπό τόν Πατέρα στή θεία ὑπερφυσική σφαίρα.

Σ’ αὐτό τό κοµβικό σηµεῖο καί ἐντός τῆς ἀνωτέρω συναφείας ἔρχεται ἡ ἐπίσηµη δή-λωση τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἡ ὁποία ἀποτελεῖ τή βάση καί τό περιεχόµενο τοῦ θέµατος τῆς παρούσης Κληρικολαϊκῆς Συνελεύσεως: Ὑµᾶς δέ εἴρηκα φίλους... Οὐχ ὑµεῖς µε ἐξελέ-ξασθε, ἀλλ’ ἐγώ ἐξελεξάµην ὑµᾶς καί ἔθηκα ὑµᾶς ἵνα ὑµεῖς ὑπάγητε καί καρπόν φέρητε (Ἰωάν. 15:16).

Ἔχουµε ἐπιλεγεῖ ὡς φίλοι καί ἀγαπη-µένοι τοῦ Ἰησοῦ µέ σκοπό τήν ἀνάθεση µιᾶς συγκεκριµένης ἀποστολῆς. Ἡ ἀποστολή µας κατ’ οὐσίαν ἔγκειται στή συνέχιση τῆς δια-κονίας τοῦ Χριστοῦ στή Γῆ, καί σηµαίνει νά πορευθοῦµε καί νά φέρουµε καρπό. Ἔχουµε ἐπιλεγεῖ καί ὡρισθεῖ ἀπό τόν Κύριο γιά νά συνεχίσουµε τό ἔργο, τή διακονία καί τή θυσία τοῦ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ κατά τρόπο ὁ ὁποῖος θά παραγάγῃ καρπό ὁ ὁποῖος θά δι-αρκέσῃ. Εἶναι φανερό ὅτι σ’ αὐτό τό ἐννοιο-λογικό πλαίσιο ἡ λέξη καρπός ἔχει βαθειά πνευµατική σηµασία ἡ ὁποία οὐσιαστικά σχετίζεται µέ αἰώνιες καί ἱερές πραγµατικό-τητες.

Ὅπως γνωρίζουµε καλά, οἱ Ἀπόστολοι ἄκουσαν τούς λόγους τοῦ Κυρίου οὐχ ὑµεῖς µε ἐξελέξασθε, ἀλλ’ ἐγώ ἐξελεξάµην ὑµᾶς καί ἔθηκα ὑµᾶς ἵνα ὑµεῖς ὑπάγητε καί καρπόν φέρητε (Ἰωάν. 15:16), καί µετά ἀπό τήν ἀνά-ληψή Του καί τήν κάθοδο τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύ-µατος κατά τήν Πεντηκοστή, ἐπορεύθησαν ὅπως Ἐκεῖνος εἶχε ζητήσει. Ἐπορεύθησαν σέ ἕνα κόσµο ὅπου παρά τήν Pax Romana, τήν ἐξωτερική εἰρήνη τήν ὁποία εἶχε ἐγκα-θιδρύσει ἡ Ρωµαϊκή Αὐτοκρατορία, ἔδειχνε καθαρά τά σηµάδια µιᾶς πολύµορφης κρίσε-ως: θρησκευτικῆς, κοινωνικῆς, οἰκονοµικῆς καί ἠθικῆς. Ἐπορεύθησαν µή ἔχοντας οἰκο-νοµικά, πολιτικά ἤ πολιτισµικά µέσα. Τό µόνο πού διέθεταν ἦτο ἡ δυνατή πίστη των καί ἡ ἀποφασιστικότητά των νά παραγάγουν καρπό διαδίδοντας τό Εὐαγγέλιο καί παρου-σιάζοντας τήν ὑπέροχη ἀλήθεια τῆς Βασιλεί-ας τοῦ Θεοῦ. Καί παρήγαγαν καί ἔφεραν καρπό παρά τίς πολλές ἐχθρικές δυνάµεις οἱ ὁποῖες τούς πολέµησαν, παρά τούς ἀδυσώ-πητους διωγµούς, παρά τίς τεράστιες πολιτι-σµικές, θρησκευτικές καί ἐθνικές διαφορές τίς ὁποῖες ἀντιµετώπισαν. Παρήγαγαν καρπό ἐγκαθιδρύοντας τόν Χριστιανισµό ὡς τήν ἀπόλυτη ἀλήθεια καί θρησκεία καί θεµελιώ-νοντας τίς Ἐκκλησίες τοῦ Χριστοῦ ὡς ὑπέροχες ἀνθρώπινες κοινότητες σέ ὁλόκλη-ρο τόν Κόσµο. Καί ὁ καρπός των δέν ἐσάπι-σε, δέν µαράζωσε, ἀλλά εἶναι ζωντανός καί διαρκεῖ ὅπως τούς εἶπε ὁ Χριστός, καί ὅπως τό βιώνουµε, εἴκοσι πλήρεις αἰῶνες µετά ἀπό τόν θάνατό των.

4. Ἡ Ἀποστολή: Πορεία στόν Κόσµο καί Παραγωγή Καρπῶν

Εἴκοσι αἰῶνες ἀργότερα, ἀκοῦµε σήµερα τούς ἴδιους λόγους τούς ὁποίους ὁ Κύριος ἀπηύθυνε στούς Ἀποστόλους καί στούς

ΙΟΥΛΙΟΣ – ΑΥΓΟΥΣΤΟΣ 201218 ΟΡΘΟ∆ΟΞΟΣ ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΤΗΣΟΡΘΟ∆ΟΞΟΣ ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΤΗΣ

µαθητάς καί ἐκλεκτούς φίλους Του σέ ὅλη τήν διαδροµή τῆς ἱστορίας τῆς Ἐκκλησίας. Εἴµεθα οἱ φίλοι Του, µᾶς διάλεξε καί µᾶς ὥρισε νά πορευθοῦµε καί νά παραγάγουµε καρπό.

Ποιός ὅµως εἶναι ὁ κόσµος ἐντός τοῦ ὁποίου µᾶς ὥρισε νά πορευθοῦµε καί νά φέρουµε καρπό;

α) Πρόκειται περί ἑνός κόσµου ὁ ὁποῖος µαστίζεται ἀπό βαθειά καί ἐξαιρετικά ἐπώδυ-νη καί πολύπλοκη κρίση παγκοσµίως. Ἀνήκουστα ποσοστά ἀνεργίας, ὁλόκληρες χῶρες στά πρόθυρα χρεωκοπίας, ἐκτεταµένες περιοχές καταστροφικῆς πτώχειας, ἐφιαλτι-κές ἱστορίες πείνας, ἔλλειψη στέγης καί ἰα-τρικῆς περιθάλψεως καί φαρµάκων ἀποτε-λοῦν καθηµερινά θέµατα στίς εἰδήσεις.

β) Πρόκειται περί ἑνός κόσµου µέ κοι-νωνικές ἀναταραχές, φανερές ἤ κεκαλυµµέ-νες, λόγῳ κραυγαλέων ἀδικιῶν, φυλετικῶν συγκρούσεων καί ἐλλείψεως ἴσων δικαιω-µάτων καί εὐκαιριῶν.

γ) Πρόκειται περί ἑνός κόσµου ὁ ὁποῖος παρουσιάζει εἰκόνα ἰδεολογικοῦ χάους καί ἰδεολογικῆς ἀπαθείας. ἐδῶ ἔχουµε ἕνα µετα-Μαρξιστικό, µετα-Φροϋδικό καί µετα-µοντέρνο κλίµα, δηλαδή, πρόκειται γιά µία κατάσταση ὅπου οἱ παλιές ἰδεολογίες ἔχουν πεθάνει καί τά ὑπολείµµατά τους ἐµφανίζο-νται καί ἐξαφανίζονται προκαλώντας πλήρη σύγχυση καί µόνιµο ἀποπροσανατολισµό µεταξύ νέων καί ἡλικιωµένων ἀνθρώπων.

δ) Πρόκειται περί ἑνός κόσµου µετακι-νήσεων µεγάλου ἀριθµοῦ ἀνθρώπων, πού µεταναστεύουν ἀπό χώρα σέ χώρα, πού πληµµυρίζουν γειτονιές ἤ ἀπόµακρες πολι-τεῖες, προκαλώντας ριζικές ἀλλαγές σέ ἐθνικές καί πολιτισµικές ταυτότητες καί ταυτοχρόνως µεταφέρουν τήν θρησκεία τους µέ τίς ἰδιαίτερες παραδόσεις καί τά χαρακτη-ριστικά των, γεγονός πού δυστυχῶς συχνά παραβλέπεται.

ε) Πρόκειται περί ἑνός κόσµου ὁ ὁποῖος βασανίζεται ἀπό σοβαρά ἠθικά προβλήµατα σέ ἐπίπεδο πρωτόγνωρο γιά τήν ἱστορία. Ἡ κατάχρηση οὐσιῶν, τά ζητήµατα σεξουα-λικῶν παραπτωµάτων καί ταυτότητος, τά φαινόµενα ἀνθρώπινης ἐκµεταλλεύσεως, ἀδικιῶν, τροµοκρατίας, βίας καί ἀγριότητος ἀποτελοῦν καθηµερινά συµβάντα στή ζωή ἑκατοµµυρίων ἀνθρώπων σέ ὁλόκληρο τόν κόσµο.

στ) Πρόκειται περί ἑνός κόσµου στόν ὁποῖον συναντοῦµε τόν µεγαλύτερο στήν ἱστορία ἀριθµό φανατικῶν διαφόρων θρη-σκειῶν µετερχοµένων βία ἤ ὄχι, ἐνῶ τήν ἴδια στιγµή βιώνουµε τόν πόλεµο ἐναντίον τῆς θρησκείας, ἰδιαιτέρως ἐναντίον τοῦ Χριστια-νισµοῦ µέ κάθε διαθέσιµο µέσο.

Αὐτός εἶναι ὁ κόσµος στόν ὁποῖον ἔχουµε ὡρισθεῖ νά πορευθοῦµε καί νά παρα-γάγουµε καρπό. Εἶναι ἕνας κόσµος πληγω-µένος, πού τελεῖ σέ σύγχυση, ἕνας κατακερ-µατισµένος κόσµος στόν ὁποῖον καλούµεθα νά καλλιεργήσουµε καί νά προσφέρουµε τούς καρπούς τῆς πίστεως, τῆς ἀγάπης, τῆς θεραπείας, τῆς εἰρήνης καί τῆς ἐλπίδος.

Τό ἔργο εἶναι τεράστιο. Ἀλλά θυµηθῆτε τούς ∆ώδεκα Ἀποστόλους! ∆ώδεκα ἁπλοί ἄνθρωποι πού ἀντιµετώπισαν ὁλόκληρο τόν κόσµο καί τελικά τόν κατέκτησαν!

Τό πεδίο εἶναι ἀνοιχτό γιά µᾶς. Εἶναι ὁ καιρός γιά µᾶς νά ἀκούσουµε τήν θεία φωνή καί νά πορευθοῦµε γιά νά φέρουµε καρπό.

5. Ὁ Θεός µᾶς ἐδιάλεξε καί µᾶς ὥρισε νά πορευθοῦµε καί νά φέρουµε καρπό.

α) Καλούµεθα νά παραγάγουµε καρπό στίς ζωές τῶν οἰκογενειῶν τῶν µεικτῶν γάµων. Πορευθῆτε καί φέρετέ τους στόν οἶκο τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἐπανασυνδέστε τους ἤ, ἀναλόγως τῆς περιπτώσεως, συνδέστε τους γιά πρώτη φορά µέ τήν Ἐκκλησία. Φέρνοντας τίς µει-

κτές οἰκογένειες στήν κοινότητα πίστεως, παράγουµε καρπό καί ἔτσι ἐκπληρώνουµε τήν εἰδική ἀποστολή τήν ὁποία µᾶς ἀνέθεσε ὁ Χριστός. Αὐτός ὁ καρπός εἶναι ἐπειγόντως ἀπαραίτητος ἐάν δέν θέλουµε νά χάσουµε ἀνθρώπους γιά πάντα. Καί σ’ αὐτή τήν περί-πτωση, ὅπως καί σέ πολλές ἄλλες, δέν πρέπει νά λησµονοῦµε τί εἶπε ὁ Χριστός στό τέλος τῆς ἐντολῆς τῆς ἀποστολῆς µας: ἔθη-κα ὑµᾶς ἵνα ὑµεῖς ὑπάγητε καί καρπόν φέρη-τε καί ὁ καρπός ὑµῶν µένει (Ἰωάν. 15:16). Ὁ καρπός πρέπει νά µένῃ, νά διατηρηθῇ, νά καταστῇ µόνιµος.

Οἱ φυσικοί καρποί οἱ ὁποῖοι προέρχο-νται ἀπό τά δέντρα ζοῦν γιά λίγο χρονικό διάστηµα, ὠριµάζουν καί µετά σαπίζουν, δέν διατηροῦνται. Αὐτό δέν συµβαίνει µέ τόν πνευµατικό καρπό. Ἐάν καρπός µας εἶναι ἡ σύνδεση οἰκογενειῶν µεικτῶν γάµων µέ τήν Ἐκκλησία, πρέπει νά διαφυλάξουµε αὐτό τόν καρπό, πρέπει νά κρατήσουµε αὐτές τίς οἰκογένειες γιά πάντα στήν ἀγκαλιά τῆς Ἐκκλησίας.

β) Καλούµεθα νά παραγάγουµε καρπό µεταξύ τῶν παιδιῶν µας, µεταξύ τῶν ἐφήβων µας, µεταξύ τῶν νεαρῶν ἐνηλίκων µας. Πρέ-πει νά ἀναθεωρήσουµε καί νά ἀναβαθµίσου-µε τά προγράµµατά µας τῆς θρησκευτικῆς παιδείας, νά µελετήσουµε καί πάλι τίς εὐκαι-ρίες πού ἔχουµε γιά νά ἑλκύσουµε τούς νεα-ρούς ἐνηλίκους σέ δηµιουργικές δραστηρι-ότητες, ἰδιαιτέρως κοινωνικῆς σηµασίας. Νά αὐξήσουµε τίς εὐκαιρίες γιά καλά ὀργανωµέ-νες πολιτιστικές καί ἀθλητικές ἐκδηλώσεις. Νά φέρουµε καρπό καθιερώνοντας κλίµα χαρᾶς καί εἰρήνης µέσα στίς ὁµάδες τῶν παιδιῶν τῶν σχολείων µας. Νά παραγάγουµε καρπό σταθερότητος καί συνδέσεως µέ τόν Θεό µεταξύ τῶν Ὀρθοδόξων σπουδαστῶν µας σέ Κολλέγια καί Πανεπιστήµια καθώς συχνά ἀντιµετωπίζουν προκλήσεις ἀντι-

Εναρκτήριος Ομιλία Σεβασμιωτάτου Αρχιεπισκόπου ΔημητρίουuΣελίδα 17

θρησκευτικῶν στάσεων καί διδασκαλιῶν στίς τάξεις τους.

γ) Καλούµεθα νά παραγάγουµε καρπό στούς χώρους ἐργασίας µας, προσφέροντας ἀποτελεσµατικά τήν πίστη µας στούς ἀνθρώ-πους πού ἐργάζονται µαζί µας σέ ἐπιχειρή-σεις, νοσοκοµεῖα, καταστήµατα, ἀγορές, σχολεῖα, σταθµούς, ἀθλητικά γήπεδα, ἐργο-στάσια, σέ κάθε χῶρο καί ἐπάγγελµα. Προ-σφέροντας ἀποτελεσµατικά τήν πίστη µας διά λόγου καί πράξεως, µέ πειστική ὁµιλία, µέ τόν τρόπο ζωῆς καί µέ ἀληθινή Χριστια-νική συµπεριφορά.

δ) Καλούµεθα νά φέρουµε καρπό συγκε-ντρώνοντας τούς ἀποξενωµένους ἀνθρώπους µας. Πρακτικά, αὐτό σηµαίνει νά φέρουµε στήν Ἐκκλησία τούς ἀδελφούς καί τίς ἀδελ-φές µας πού εἶναι µακρυά ἀπό τόν Χριστό, τό δέντρο τῆς ζωῆς. Τελικά, νά αὐξήσουµε τόν πληθυσµό πού σχετίζεται µέ τήν Ἐκκλησία µας. Στό σηµεῖο αὐτό, ἐπιτρέψατέ µου νά ἀναφέρω ἕνα παράδειγµα:

Τό ἔτος 1986, εἴχαµε ὡς Ἑλληνική Ὀρθόδοξος Ἀρχιεπισκοπή 7,389 βαπτίσεις, 563 χρίσµατα ἐκ µεταστροφῆς καί 5,183 γά-µους. Εἰκοσιτέσσερα χρόνια ἀργότερα, δηλα-δή τό ἔτος 2010, εἴχαµε 6,366 βαπτίσεις, 947 χρίσµατα καί 2,709 γάµους. Παρατηρεῖται αὔξηση στόν ἀριθµό χρισµάτων ἐκ µετα-στροφῶν, ἀλλά µείωση στόν ἀριθµό βαπτί-σεων καί µεγαλύτερη µείωση στόν ἀριθµό γάµων. Οἱ ἀριθµοί αὐτοί δείχνουν µειώσεις τοῦ ἐκκλησιαζοµένου Ὀρθοδόξου πληθυ-σµοῦ οἱ ὁποῖες ἀπαιτοῦν ἄµεση δράση. Ἡ αὔξηση τοῦ ἐκκλησιαζοµένου Ὀρθοδόξου πολιτισµοῦ ἀποτελεῖ βεβαίως ἐπείγοντα ἀναγκαῖο καρπό.

ε) Καλούµεθα νά παραγάγουµε καρπό στόν τοµέα τῶν δι-Ὀρθοδόξων σχέσεων στή χώρα µας. Πρό τριετίας, οἱ Προκαθήµενοι ὅλων τῶν Αὐτοκεφάλων Ὀρθοδόξων

Ἐκκλησιῶν ὁδηγούµενοι ἀπό τήν ἐµπνευ-σµένη πρωτοβουλία τοῦ Οἰκουµενικοῦ Πατριάρχου µας κ.κ. Βαρθολοµαίου, δηµι-ούργησαν τίς Συνόδους ὅλων τῶν Κανονικῶν Ἐπισκόπων σέ µείζονες γεωγραφικές περι-οχές. Μία ἐξ αὐτῶν τῶν περιοχῶν εἶναι ἡ δική µας Σύνοδος τῆς Βορείου καί Κεντρικῆς Ἀµερικῆς ἀποτελουµένη ἀπό περισσότερους ἀπό 60 Κανονικούς Ὀρθοδόξους Ἐπισκό-πους. Ὁ σκοπός τῆς Συνόδου εἶναι ἡ ἀρωγή καί ὁ συντονισµός Ὀρθοδόξων δράσεων καί ἡ ἐνίσχυση τῆς Ὀρθοδόξου µαρτυρίας. Ἐδῶ ἔχουµε µιά πολλά ὑποσχόµενη εὐκαιρία παραγωγῆς καρποῦ, διότι ἡ Ἀρχιεπισκοπή µας παίζει σηµαντικό ρόλο στή λειτουργία καί ἀποστολή τῆς Συνόδου.

στ) Καλούµεθα νά φέρουµε καρπό µέ τήν αὔξηση τῆς ὑπευθύνου οἰκονοµικῆς συµµετοχῆς (Stewardship) στίς κοινότητές µας. Παρά τήν µεγάλη οἰκονοµική πρόοδο τῆς Ὁµογενείας µας, ὑστεροῦµε ἀρκετά στό ζήτηµα τῶν εἰσφορῶν πρός τήν Ἐκκλησία µας. Εἴµεθα αἰσθητά χαµηλότερα ἀπό τόν µέσον ὅρο εἰσφορῶν σέ σύγκριση µέ τίς Ρωµαιο-Καθολικές ἤ τίς ∆ιαµαρτυρόµενες Ἐκκλησίες. Ἐδῶ ὑπάρχει ἕνα θέµα τό ὁποῖο πρέπει νά µελετηθῇ καί νά ἀντιµετωπισθῇ µέ µεθοδικό στρατηγικό προγραµµατισµό.

ζ) Καλούµεθα νά παραγάγουµε καρπό λαµβάνοντας σοβαρά ὑπ’ ὄψιν καί ἐνεργῶντας καταλλήλως γιά τή διατήρηση τῶν παγκο-σµίων Ἑλληνικῶν θησαυρῶν µας. Ἡ Ἑλλη-νική Γλώσσα καί ὁ Ἑλληνικός Πολιτισµός πρέπει νά ἀποτελοῦν ἀναπόσπαστα κοµµάτια τῶν κοινοτικῶν δραστηριοτήτων µας. Αὐτή εἶναι ὑποχρέωση στήν ἀνθρωπότητα ἡ ὁποία ὑπερβαίνει τά ἐθνικά ὅρια, καθώς οἱ ἀξίες τοῦ Ἑλληνισµοῦ εἶναι πράγµατι παγκόσµιες.

ἘπίλογοςὉ Κύριος εἶπε στούς Ἀποστόλους καί

σ’ ἐµᾶς: Οὐχ ὑµεῖς µε ἐξελέξασθε, ἀλλ’ ἐγώ ἐξελεξάµην ὑµᾶς καί ἔθηκα ὑµᾶς ἵνα ὑµεῖς ὑπάγητε καί καρπόν φέρητε (Ἰωάν. 15:16). Στήν ἴδια ἀκριβῶς περίσταση καί µέσα στό ἴδιο ἐννοιολογικό πλαίσιο τό ὁποῖο παρου-σιάζεται στό κεφάλαιο 15 τοῦ κατά Ἰωάννην Εὐαγγελίου, ὁ Χριστός προσέθεσε ἕναν ἀναπόσπαστο καί µοναδικό ὅρο γιά τήν πραγµατοποίηση τοῦ στόχου τῆς παραγωγῆς καρποῦ. Εἶπε στούς µαθητάς καί σ’ ἐµᾶς: Ἐγώ εἰµι ἡ ἄµπελος, ὑµεῖς τά κλήµατα. Ὁ µένων ἐν ἐµοί κἀγώ ἐν αὐτῷ οὗτος φέρει καρπόν πολύν, ὅτι χωρίς ἐµοῦ οὐ δύνασθε ποιεῖν οὐδέν (Ἰωάν: 15:5).

Ὁ ἀπαραίτητος ὅρος παραγωγῆς καρποῦ εἶναι νά ὑπάρξῃ πλήρης σύνδεση µέ τόν Χριστό, ὅπως ἀκριβῶς τά κλαδιά εἶναι συν-δεδεµένα µέ τήν κληµαταριά ἡ ὁποία τά κρατᾶ καί τά τρέφει. Χωρίς Ἐκεῖνον δέν µποροῦµε νά καταφέρουµε τίποτε, δέν ὑπάρχει δυνα-τότητα νά φέρουµε καρπό.

Σέ τελική ἀνάλυση, ἡ µεγάλη τιµή νά ὁρισθοῦµε ἀπό τόν Θεό γιά νά πορευθοῦµε καί νά παραγάγουµε καρπό, σηµαίνει νά µείνουµε ἐν Χριστῷ, νά προρευθοῦµε µέ τόν Χριστό, νά ἐργασθοῦµε γιά τόν Χριστό. Ἑνωµένοι µέ Ἐκεῖνον, κατά τόν ἴδιο τρόπο πού τά κλαδιά εἶναι ἄρρηκτα καί οὐσιαστικά ἑνωµένα µέ τήν κληµαταριά, θά µπορέσουµε νά πορευθοῦµε καί νά φέρουµε καρπό, πολύ καρπό, ἀκόµη καί σέ ἄγονο ἔδαφος, ἀκόµη καί ὑπό τίς χειρότερες συνθῆκες. Ἡ ἀληθινή προοπτική µας γιά νά φέρουµε καρπούς εἶναι ὁ Χριστός, καί αὐτή ἡ προοπτική δέν ἔχει ὅρια.

Ἄς µήν καθυστεροῦµε. Ἄς πορευθοῦµε τώρα. Τό πεδίο εἶναι τελείως ἀνοικτό διά τῆς χάριτος τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὁ Ὁποῖος ἦτο, εἶναι καί θά εἶναι γιά πάντα µαζί µας.

* Στο φύλλο του Σεπτεµβρίου το δεύτε-ρο µέρος µε όλες τις βαρυσήµαντες αποφάσεις της 41ης Κληρικολαϊκής Συνελεύσεως.

JULY – AUGUST 2012 19ΟΡΘΟ∆ΟΞΟΣ ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΤΗΣΙΟΥΛΙΟΣ – ΑΥΓΟΥΣΤΟΣ 2012

ἀδελφοῦ κυρίου ∆ηµητρίου, ὅτι ἅπαν τὸ χριστεπώνυµον πλήρωµα αὐτῆς κατανο-εῖ καὶ ἀποδέχεται ὅτι πράγµατι ἡ καρπο-φορία, περὶ τῆς ὁποίας ἀσχολεῖται ἡ πα-ροῦσα Κληρικολαϊκὴ Συνέλευσις, πρέπει νὰ εἶναι ὄντως διπλῆ, εἰς βάθος καὶ εἰς πλάτος κατὰ τὰ ἀνωτέρω λεχθέντα. Ἐὰν πρὸς ἀµφοτέρας τὰς ὄψεις ταύτας τῆς εἰς Χριστὸν καρποφορίας ἡµῶν ἀποβλέψω-µεν, ἡ Χάρις τοῦ Κυρίου ἡµῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ θὰ ἔλθῃ πλουσία ἐφ’ ἡµᾶς καὶ θὰ ἴδωµεν τὴν τοπικὴν ταύτην Ἐκκλη-σίαν ἀναζωογονηµένην καὶ νεάζουσαν καὶ πρὸς νέας κορυφὰς ἐπιτυχῶν προσπα-θειῶν πορευοµένην.

Ὁ ταλαίπωρος κόσµος, καὶ δὴ ἐν τῇ χώρᾳ ταύτῃ τῶν Ἡνωµένων Πολιτειῶν τῆς Ἀµερικῆς, πολλὰ ἀναµένει ἐξ ὑµῶν, θεωρῶν τὴν ὑµετέραν ἀποστολὴν οὐρα-νίαν καὶ θεϊκήν. Βλέπετε ὅτι ἐπὶ παγκο-σµίου ἐπιπέδου τὰ πολιτικοκοινωνικὰ σχήµατα καὶ αἱ ἰδεολογίαι καταρρέουν καὶ ἀφήνουν τὰς θεοπλάστους ψυχὰς τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἀπηλπισµένας καὶ πεινώσας τὴν ἀλήθειαν τῆς γνώσεως τοῦ Θεοῦ. Ὑµεῖς πάντες, ἀξιωθέντες, Χάριτι Θεοῦ, νὰ εἶσθε µέλη τίµια τῆς Ὀρθοδόξου Ἐκκλησίας καὶ µάλιστα πολλοὶ ἐξ ὑµῶν ἐνδεδυµένοι τὸν ποδήρη χιτῶνα τῆς Ἀρχιερατείας καὶ τῆς Ἱερατείας, ἂς µὴ ἀπελπίσητε ὅσους προσβλέπουν εἰς ὑµᾶς µετὰ πολλῆς τῆς προσδοκίας.

Ἱερώτατε καὶ πολυτίµητε ἀδελφὲ ἅγιε Ἀµερικῆς, Ἱερώτατοι καὶ Θεοφιλέστατοι Ἀδελφοί, Πατέρες καὶ τέκνα ἐν Κυρίῳ ἀγαπητὰ τῆς ἡµετέρας Μετριότητος, «κλήσεως ἐπουρανίου µέτοχοι» (Ἑβρ. γ , 1), Μὴ ἔχοντες τὴν πνευµατικὴν χαρὰν τῆς καὶ µετὰ σώµατος συµµετοχῆς εἰς τὰς ἐργασίας τῆς ὑµετέρας Κληρικολαϊκῆς

Συνελεύσεως, ἀποστέλλοµεν πρὸς ὑµᾶς ὡς ἡµέτερον Πατριαρχικὸν Ἀντιπρόσω-πον τὸν λίαν ἀγαπητὸν ἀδελφὸν καὶ συλλειτουργὸν Ἱερώτατον Μητροπολίτην Τορόντο κύριον Σωτήριον, ὅστις θὰ µε-ταφέρῃ καὶ διὰ ζώσης τὴν εὐλογίαν καὶ τὰ ἀγαθὰ αἰσθήµατα τῆς Μητρὸς Ἐκκλη-σίας καὶ ἡµῶν προσωπικῶς πρὸς πάντας ὑµᾶς καὶ ἰδιαιτέρως πρὸς ἕνα ἕκαστον ἐξ ὑµῶν.

Ἡµεῖς, ἐγκαρδίως, ἀδελφικῶς καὶ πατρικῶς, ἐκφράζοντες τὰς εὐχαριστίας, τὴν εὐγνωµοσύνην, τὴν εὐαρέσκειαν καὶ τὸν δίκαιον ἔπαινον τῆς Μητρὸς Ἐκκλη-σίας δι’ ὅσα ἐπετελέσθησαν ἐν τῷ Ἀµπελῶνι τούτῳ τοῦ Κυρίου ἀπ’ ἀρχῆς καὶ ἰδίᾳ κατὰ τὴν τελευταίαν διετίαν ἀπὸ τῆς συγκλήσεως τῆς προηγουµένης ἀνα-λόγου συναντήσεως, θὰ εὐχώµεθα διὰ τὴν ὁσηµέραι πνευµατικὴν πρόοδον ὑµῶν καὶ θὰ χαιρώµεθα πληροφορούµενοι περὶ αὐτῆς παρὰ τοῦ Ἱερωτάτου Ποιµενάρχου ὑµῶν.

Εἴθε ὁ ἐκ τάφου ἀνατείλας Κύριος ἡµῶν νὰ ἀξιώσῃ ἅπαντας ἵνα γένησθε ὁµοτράπεζοι εἰς τὸ ἐπουράνιον καὶ νοερὸν Θυσιαστήριον τῆς Ἄνω Ἱερουσαλήµ, µετὰ πάντων τῶν Ἁγίων.

Εἴθε ἡ Χάρις τοῦ Κυρίου καὶ Θεοῦ καὶ Σωτῆρος ἡµῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ταῖς θερµαῖς ἱκεσίαις τῆς Κυρίας ἡµῶν Θεο-τόκου, τοῦ Τιµίου Προδρόµου καὶ τοῦ Ἁγίου Ἀποστόλου τῶν Ἐθνῶν Παύλου, νὰ σκέπῃ πάντας ὑµᾶς καὶ νὰ χαρίζῃ εἰς ὑµᾶς ὑγείαν σώµατος καὶ ψυχῆς, καὶ φωτισµὸν εἰς τὸ πράττειν πάντοτε τὸ εὐάρεστον τῷ Κυρίῳ.

«Εἰρήνη τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς καὶ ἀγάπη µετὰ πίστεως ἀπὸ Θεοῦ Πατρὸς καὶ Κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. Ἡ χάρις µετὰ πάντων τῶν ἀγαπώντων τὸν Κύριον ἡµῶν Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν ἐν ἀφθαρσίᾳ· ἀµήν» (Ἐφ. ς΄ 23-24).

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General News & Events

NEW YORK – The Hellenic Times Scholarship Fund awarded more than $100,000 to 34 college-age and parochial school recipients and honored two promi-nent Greek Orthodox individuals at its 21st anniversary dinner dance in mid-May.

Dennis Mehiel, a successful entre-preneur, civic and political leader and an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, received the HTSF’s Humanitarian Leader-ship Award. Among his accomplishments, he was instrumental in negotiating with state officials and the Port Authority of New York–New Jersey for the eventual rebuilding of St. Nicholas Church project at the World Trade Center.

Mr. Mehiel, a member of Holy Trin-ity Archdiocesan Cathedral, is chairman/CEO of U.S. Corrugated Inc., the nation’s largest independent manufacturer of cor-rugated packaging.

He was also former chairman and CEO of Sweetheart Cup Co., and former chairman and CEO of Box USA, and has served on the boards of several corpora-tions and civic organizations.

His was a member of the Democratic National Committee, former chairman of the Westchester County Democratic Com-mittee and was the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in 2002.

The HTSF also awarded its Humani-tarian Media Achievement Award to FOX News Channel’s Chief Congressional cor-respondent Mike Emanuel, also an Archon and a White House correspondent during the Bush administration and the first year of the Obama administration.

He traveled extensively with both presidents on numerous trips abroad.

Mr. Emanuel also was a national se-curity correspondent for the network and traveled with Defense Secretary Robert Gates to Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

He joined FNC in 1997 as a Los-Angeles–based correspondent and later served as a Dallas–based correspondent.

Scholarship recipientsEleni Antoniadou and Anastasia Way,

both of Illinois; Nicholas Chingas, Cas-sandra Georgiadis and Savina Vavlas, all of

(Above) Hellenic Times Scholarship Fund Chairman John Catsimatidis (r.) presents the Humanitar-ian Award to Dennis Mehiel. (below right) Mike Emanuel with HTSF President Nick Katsoris. (Jillian Nelson photos)

HTSF Honors Mehiel, Emanuel, Awards 34 Scholarships

Pennsylvania; Michael Bilirakis of Florida and Taylor Gossweiler of Iowa.

Christopher Hazlaris of Louisiana, Alexandra Kostes of Delaware, Amanda Manickas of Rhode Island and Philip Con-stantine Smith of Maryland.

Eli Collins and Alexander Prodromos Gilbert, both of Virginia.

Kyriaki Christodoulou, Jaden Dico-poulos, Elena Melekos, Stephanie Orfa-nakos and John Papaspanos, all of New Jersey.

Veroni Antoniadis, Aretae Boukas, Sofia Chelpon, Maria Hanakis, Cleopatra Haviaras, Eraklis Hristodoulou, George Karounos, Peter Dean Kouretsos, George M. Kulakis, Theodore Lampropoulos, Di-ana Mikelis, Nicholas Polanchik and Anna Tsakas, all of New York.

In addition, the HTSF awarded schol-arships to students from three New York parochial schools: Theodora Athanitis of A. Fantis School in Brooklyn; Katerina Marinis from The William Spyropoulos School in Flushing; and John Nicolas from the Greek American Institute in the Bronx.


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BROOKLYN, N.Y. – A memorial ser-vice to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Asia Minor Holocaust will take place at Three Hierarchs Church after the Divine Liturgy on Sept. 23.

The event is sponsored by the Ho-locaust Memorial Observance Commt-

Brooklyn Asia Minor Tribute Scheduled Sept. 23

tee, chaired by Basilios Theodosakis of Brooklyn.

The holocaust claimed an estimated 3.5 million lives.

For more information, contact Mr. Theodosakis at 1104 East. 17th St., Brook-lyn, NY 11230. (718) 377.4656.

Editor’s note: The following is an excerpt from the article “From Currents to Currency: Greece in Yet Another Crisis,” by Dr. William H. Simonides, which appears on the Asia Minor Hellenic Society web site.

It was war that precipitated the most serious crisis faced by the Greek nation. The defeat in the 1919-1922 war with the Ottoman Turks and its bitter aftermath are still referred to as “The Catastrophe.” On Sept. 7, 1922, Metropolitan Archbishop Chrysostom of Smyrna sent a bleak assessment to former prime minister Eleftherios Veni-zelos (1864-1936), whom he blamed for the catastrophe. “Hellenism in Asia Minor, the Greek state and the entire Greek Nation are descending now to a Hell from which no power will be able to raise them up and save them.” On Sept. 9, during the final military action of the campaign, the Turkish army burned the city of Smyrna. The defeat was an unmitigated disaster. On the battlefield, there were over 100,000 casualties, including the dead, the wounded, and those who were missing or taken prisoner. At the negotiating table following the war, Greece lost all its considerable territorial gains from World War I, including Eastern Thrace and the islands of Imbros and Tenedos, the Dodecanese Islands, and northern Epirus.

The Treaty of Lausanne was final-ized on July 25, 1923. One of the main provisions was a compulsory popula-tion exchange. About 380,000 Turkish Muslims residing in Greece and over one million Greek Christians living in Asia Minor were required to abandon their homes. Greece was forced to ab-sorb over one million refugees, most of whom arrived with few possessions.

Greece was also required to pay reparations to the Greek Muslims for their lost land but waived the require-

An Account of Asia Minor Tragedy

Drs. William and Regine Samonides (left) discuss their exhibit with several persons at the St. Photios National Shrine earlier this year. It will be on display through November.

ORTHODOX OBSERVER photo

by William H. Samonides, Ph.D. ment that Turkey compensate Greek Christian refugees for their lost prop-erty. The population of Athens doubled between 1920 and 1928, with many of the refugees forced to live in shanty towns. The entire ordeal strained the resources of the nation to the point of collapse. It took two more foreign loans totaling 13 million British pounds to pay the reparations and attend to the needs of the refugees. With the help of the Greek Refugee Resettlement Commission and other foreign aid, Greece was able to survive. Nonethe-less, the Catastrophe severely strained the resources of the war-weary nation for decades to come; there were still homeless refugees when Greek entered World War II.

In addition to the high cost of de-feat, the psychological loss had a great impact. The image of Greeks leaping into the sea at Smyrna is seared into the Greek consciousness. The population exchange essentially marked the end of three millennia of Hellenic presence in Asia Minor. It destroyed any hope of the fulfillment of the Great Idea (Megali Idea) that had dominated Greek foreign policy: the dream of Greece reuniting with the Greek Christian populations of Constantinople and the Ionian coast of Asia Minor.

Dr. William H. Samonides is presi-dent of the Asia Minor Hellenic Society (AMHAS), an international organization whose members trace their origins to Asia Minor. William and his wife, Regine, who hold Ph.Ds in history from Harvard, are guest curators of an AMHAS-sponsored exhibition entitled “For Their Faith:Remembering the Greek Christians of Asia Minor on the 90th Anniversary of the Fall of Smyrna,” which is on display at the St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine in St. Augustine, Fla., through November. They are members of Holy Trinity Church in Canton, Ohio.

A Taste of the Old World...TodayOur spanakopita recipe originated with our very own Yiayia, Chrysanthy (Yiayia means grandmother in Greek). She served it at family gatherings, and it was on of her grandchildren’s favorites. Two of her grandsons have been serving the family recipe in their restaurants. Due to popular demand of their customers, we began packaging our delicious spanakopita for sale in 1997. It is now available nationwide. Yiayia’s Spanakopita is ideal as an appetizer, as a side dish,

or as a main course served with Greek salad (also available Yiayia’s Premium Greek Salad Dressing). We hope you enjoy Yiayia’s line of Greek foods and we welcome your comments.

Our spanakopita recipe originated with our very own Yiayia, Chrysanthy (Yiayia means grandmother in Greek). She served it at family gatherings, and it was on of her grandchildren’s favorites. Two of her grandsons have been

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BROOKLINE, Mass. – The Metropolis of Boston has received a Leadership 100 grant to launch an Emerging Leaders Min-istry, a two-year program the metropolis will pilot as the prototype for the entire Archdiocese.The Emerging Leaders Ministry is developing a contemporary professionals ministry program that will include parish outreach and leadership training and me-tropolis mentoring programs.

Metropolitan Methodios appointed steering committee members at the new ministry’s first meeting on June 21, where they discussed program components and steps to initiate this ministry, and estab-lished four working groups to provide the framework for implementing the Emerging Leaders Ministry.

Committees include: Outreach/Net-working; Education, Research and Orga-nizational Structure. The metropolis is collaborating with the Hellenic College Holy Cross School of Theology faculty and several Archdiocesan Departments to develop and implement this ministry, including Internet Ministries, Religious Edu-cation, Youth and Young Adults, Office of Parish Development, and the Department of Outreach and Evangelism for the The Emerging Leaders Ministry’s primary goal is to engage contemporary professionals in the life and leadership of the Church toward their own personal growth in the Faith and in their walk with Christ.

The Emerging Leaders Ministry will serve as the prototype in addressing impor-tant parish needs. These include training parish leaders in outreach, developing new Church community leaders; offering college

and graduate students, seminarians, and young adults opportunities to learn side-by-side with pastoral and professional mentors to better understand Church service and life; and providing opportunities for profes-sionals for more Church participation and to connect with their peers.

Steering committee members include: Kosta Alexis, Fr. Bob Archon, Stamati Astra, Fr. Theodore J. Barbas, Drake Behrakis, Ann Bezzerides, Fr. Alex Chetsas, Fr. Tom Chininis, Fr. Greg Christakos, Fr. Demetri Costarakis, Ted Demetriades, Dr. John Fotopoulos, Fr. Christopher Foustoukos, Fr. Peter Giannakopoulos, Eleni Kalioras, Costa Karageorgis, Christine Karavites, John Karolemeas, Dr. Demetrios Katos, Fr. Panteleimon Klostri, Fr. James Kordaris, George Lamberis, Alex Magdalinos, Fr. Christopher Makiej, Dr. Philip Mamala-kis, Yanni Michaelidis, Jerry Minetos, Fr. Philippe Mousis, Fr. Athanasios Nenes , Fr. Makarios Niakaros, Theo Nicolakis, Fr. Dean Panagos, Dr. Aristotle Papanikolaou, Mario Papathanasiou, Melanie Pappas, Dr. Timothy Patitsas, Jonathan Resmini, Ann Robinson, Fr. Jason Roll, Michael Sintros, Dr. James Skedros, Theodore Speros, Fr. Christopher Stamas, Dr. George Stavros, George Stefanides, Stephen Sterpis, Fr. Nathanael Symeonides, Fr. Ted Toppses, Chrysanthy Tiggas, Julie Tziolas, Fr. Luke Veronis, Eleni Vidalis and Dr. Anton Vrame.

This fall, nine district leadership seminars are planned at various parishes to address the ministry’s scope and vision. Anyone interested in becoming involved may contact the Metropolis of Boston Chan-cellor’s Office at 617.277.4742.

WESTFIELD, NJ – The New Jersey Archons hosted a religious freedom sympo-sium, on June 16 at the Metropolis of New Jersey headquarters.

The symposium featured two speakers: Dr. George Demacopoulos, Archon Didas-kalos Tou Genous, associate professor, co-director and co-founder of the Orthodox Christian Studies Program and Center at Fordham University, and Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis, National Commander of the Order of St. Andrew. Dr. Demacopoulos specializes in the history of Christianity of Late Antiquity, the Early Medieval West and Byzantium. He received an M.T.S. from Holy Cross School of Theology and an M.A. and Ph.D in Religious Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and also serves as the historian for the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle. He spoke on the historical issues of the Orthodox Faith and religious freedom for the Ecumeni-

NJ Archons Hold Religious Freedom Symposiumcal Patriarchate. Dr. Limberakis, Archon Aktouarios, is a practicing radiologist in Philadelphia, PA. A graduate of the Univer-sity of Pennsylvania and Duke University School of Medicine, he is the president and owner of Bustleton Radiology Associates, Ltd., a leading full service outpatient radiol-ogy practice. He is married to Dr. Maria A. (Borden) Limberakis, a family practitioner. Under the leadership of Dr. Limberakis, the Archons in the United States have initiated an assertive, multifaceted religious freedom project to strengthen and ensure religious freedom for the Ecumenical Patriarchate and all religious minorities in Turkey. The program included a working luncheon, discussing the day’s events and exploring further efforts to secure religious freedom for the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Archons B. Theodore Bozonelis and Michael F. Parlamis, regional commanders for New Jersey, organized the symposium.

NEW YORK - South Dakota, Virginia and Washington became the 38th, 39th and 40th states to adopt Religious Free-dom resolutions, joining Missouri which recently also adopted the measures in sup-port of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The state resolutions project is part of a multi-faceted religious freedom initiative of the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle, designed to safeguard the future of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. To date, 49 such resolutions have been adopted in 41 states.

In South Dakota, Father Sava Leida, Dr. Aristides Assimacopoulos and Father Thomas Williams spearheaded the suc-cessful effort in close cooperation with dedicated legislators who introduced the individual resolutions.

Sens. Phyllis Heineman and Stanford Adelstein sponsored the resolution and spoke passionately in their remarks during the Senate debate.

Sen. Heineman remarked, “Any single state resolution may not be enough to move a government to action. The cu-mulative effect of 44 of these resolutions, adopted across 37 states...this has been noticed by the Turkish Foreign Ministry. These resolutions represent the will of the citizens of our nation...and are powerful statements to the Turkish government of

Three More States Adopt Religious Freedom Resolutions

the importance that we place on religious freedom. It is important that South Dakota adds our voice to those other thirty seven.”

Sen. Adelstein said, “As you all well know, I am not a Christian, but the Chris-tian Patriarch should have the same rights as anyone of any faith anywhere in the world.”

The successful resolutions in Virginia and Washington each required over five years of sustained efforts, overcoming in both states organized opposition.

In Virginia, Fr. Nicholas Bacalis worked with Delegates Johnny Joannou and Manoli Loupassi to secure the adop-tion of the resolution.

The Washington initiative was led by Stefanos Vertopoulos, Isidoros Garifalakis, Cliff Argue, Bob Dingethal and Rep. Bill Hinkle.

Rep. Hinkle said, “We are gratified that the work of so many dedicated sup-porters throughout the state has added Washington to the list of states calling on the Turkish government to extend full religious freedom to the Ecumenical Patriarch.”

For further information about this project, contact Stephen Georgeson at [email protected], or visit www.archons.org/resolutions.

Illinois Academy CommencementHellenic American Academy in Deerfi eld, Ill., affi liated with Holy Trinity Church in Chicago, celebrated its commencement on June 2. The 35 graduates include students from the day school’s 8th grade, the Greek Language Program’s Saturday and evening schools’ 6th grade and 12th grade Lyceum. Metro-politan Iakovos of Chicago attended and addressed the graduates. For more information regarding its educational and cultural programs call 847-317-1063 or visit www.hellenicamericanacademy.org.

St. Vasilios Church in Peabody, Mass., together with Fr. Andrew Demotses and Fr. Christopher Fous-toukos, presented 36 scholarships totaling more than $41,000 to members of the graduating Class of 2012 and to returning college students who are parishioners and have given their time and service. St. Vasilios has presented scholarships annually over the past 56 years.

Scholarship presentations


Name: Holy Trinity CathedralLocation: Camp Hill, Pa.Metropolis of PittsburghSize: about 600 familiesFounded: 1937Clergy: Fr. Kosta Petrogeorge (Holy Cross ‘87); Fr. Mark Lichtenstein –assistant (Holy Cross and St. Tikhon’s Seminary) E–mail: [email protected] Web: www.holytrinityhbg.orgNoteworthy: Parish offers a large number of ministries and programs

P A R I S H p r o f i l e

Pennsylvania Community Abounds in Ministries and Programs

HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL

Strategic Planning Workshops: For greater involvement in your parish

Capital Campaign Planning Studies: Assessing your project’s fundraising potential

Capital Campaign Management: Planning and coaching from beginning to end

Stewardship Assistance: Inspiring greater giving in your parish

Parish Planned Giving Programs: Guidance in cultivating planned gifts

Grant Proposal Research & Writing: Help throughout the grant proposal process

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:

Greek orthodox Archdiocese of Americaoffice of Parish Development3 South Prospect Avenue, Ste. IIPark Ridge, IL 60068Phone: (847) 825-1432Email: [email protected]

Want More Information?Contact us to discuss your Goals & Needs and allow us

to explain how we might be of help.

CAMP HILL, Pa.– Holy Trinity parish covers a wide geographical area in south-central Pennsylvania on either side of the Susquehanna River and centered on Har-risburg, the state capital. Parishioners come from as far west as Chambersburg, about 55 miles away, and Lebanon, 25 miles to the east.

Though the Greek Orthodox presence in the area goes back to the 1890s, there is still a very large percentage of first- and second-generation parishioners with close ties to Greece. Camp Hill, the borough located on the west side of the river across from downtown Harrisburg, has been the home of the parish since December 1970, when Archbishop Iakovos held the thyra-noixia (door-opening) service. The church became the third cathedral of the Pittsburgh Diocese in 1980, when it was elevated by Bishop Maximos and was consecrated in May 1981.

A hallmark of the community is the extensive number of ministries, programs and groups available to parishioners of all ages. According to the parish website these include:

• The Holy Trinity bookstore offers Orthodox prayer books, service books, books on the lives of saints, marital en-richment, Orthodox considerations in selecting a spouse, parenting tools, addic-tions resources, church history, catechism materials, along with many other topics, including Greek language books and other religious items.

• Sts. Joachim & Anna Society, a group that sponsors trips and other activities for that age 55 and above. Nine monthly meetings are held that usually include a luncheon and a guest speaker. A Christ-mas gathering is held with senior citizens organizations from other Greek Orthodox parishes.

• St. Elizabeth Moms Study Group - A family-oriented approach to scripture and the traditions of the Orthodox Church and faith. Gatherings take place bi-monthly.

• Young Married Couples - This group brings together recently married couples for fellowship and to meet their peers in the community.

• The Young Parents group brings parents together for fellowship and a night out with adults.

• Blood Bank - AHEPA Chapter 64 Blood Committee has two annual drives at the cathedral, one in spring and the second in fall. The parish’s annual quota of 90 units is obtained thru the combination of the two drives and parishioners who donate on a regular basis at local hospitals.

• AED/CPR (Automated External De-fibrillator) program consists of individuals from parish organizations who are certified bi-annually in AED/CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) and who can respond if needed for any cardiac emergencies and provide Basic Life Support until EMS

(Emergency Medical Services) arrives on the scene.

• The award-winning Olympic Flame Dancers group that performs traditional Greek dances consists of three distinct age-related groups. They compete and perform all across the Northeast and have won numerous awards. They also perform throughout the Greater Harrisburg Area and at the annual Greek Festival. Parents are encouraged to sign up their children.

• The newly formed Strategic Planning Committee looks at the long-term needs of the church.

• Hellenic Heritage Association pre-serves the Hellenic heritage within the com-munity through organizing many cultural and educational events and participating in issues that concern the Hellenic community in the U.S. The Association, in cooperation with other parish organizations and associa-tions, has organized artistic and theatrical shows, as well as presentations and open discussions on issues that concern the Hel-lenic Diaspora and its heritage. The Associa-tion has actively and materially supported the educational work of the Greek School in our community.

• The Arcadian Society consists of de-scendants of the Peloponnese in southern Greece and holds fundraisers, donating the proceeds to different church projects.

• Syllogos Neohoriton, an organization made up of descendants of the village of Neohorion-Nafpaktias, Greece. The Syllo-gos was established in 1918 in Johnsonburg, Pa. One of its first acts was the installation of a water system at the village of Neohorion, in 1929. Since its establishment, the Syllo-gos constantly pursues various social and cultural activities on behalf of Neohori, its inhabitants and its worldwide descendants. The Syllogos provides educational schol-arships, issues various publications, and donates its fundraising proceeds to various benevolent causes including projects and programs of our Church. It has built and operates the Dormition of the Theotokos and St. Paraskevi Greek Orthodox Chapel at the Neohoriton Park in York, Pa.

• Velouchi, Evrytanian Association-Agios Taxiarhis Chapter 18, a philanthropic organization founded in 1944 in Charlotte, N.C., assist the Evrytania region in Central Greece and Greece in general (www.ve-louchiusa.org).

Holy Trinity has a highly active Philop-tochos chapter, a Sunday school a Greek school and an adult Greek school program. GOYA, HOPE/JOY, the Choir and support for the Project Mexico orphanage also are important community’s activities.

Some parishioners help support the pan Orthodox Aghia Sophia Coffee Shop in downtown Harrisburg, which Fr. Petro-george said is organized along the lines of Starbucks. It is sponsored by the local OCA parish, but includes participation by other area Orthodox parishes.

The priest said that the various Or-thodox parishes celebrate various services together during the year.

Early history–bands of brothers Young immigrants began arriving

in the Harrisburg area the late 1890s, ac-cording to a parish history. Several sets of brothers soon formed the core of the Greek community. Among them were the Rolles brothers, who arrived in Harrisburg in 1902 and opened a confectionary. Others included the Belehas, Sempeles, Coliveras, Chianos, George, Kathales, Manelas, Me-goulas and Kokolis brothers, who moved to Carlisle and opened a billiard parlor. Many opened restaurants and other businesses.

The immigrants eventually organized themselves, formed an AHEPA chapter, and held various social events, picnics and occasional church services performed by visiting priest.

They elected a board of trustees and

petitioned the Archdiocese in 1937 for a permanent priest, Fr. Tsekouras, who became the first of many priests assigned to the new community, the parish history noted. Services took place wherever they could be held: paint shops, dance halls, homes, at a chapel in downtown Harrisburg and at a local Roman Catholic cathedral, St. Steven’s.

The community built its first church across the street from the grounds of the state Capitol.

Eventually, many parishioners worked in various state government positions, including elective offices. One cathedral member is retired U.S. Congressman George Gikas.

The first church was completed in1946 at a cost of $16,500. The land purchase price was $11,500.

By the 1960s, the community grew to the point that a new church was needed and land was purchased in Camp Hill for the church that is the current location of the parish.

The new cathedral was built at a cost of nearly $683,000.

Each year, the annual Greek festival, which serves as a key source of revenue, along with the stewardship program, is a major focal point of parish involvement. “People have fun doing it,” he said, “includ-ing the young people.”

Fr. Petrogeorge, who arrived in the parish in 2009, after serving other parishes, described the community as “a very active parish” but there are some challenges, in-cluding retaining young people after they go off to college.

Presently, the community is preparing to celebrate its 75th anniversary, which is set for November.

— Compiled by Jim Golding


Obituaries

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Fr. Alexander KileUNION, N.J.– Archimandrite Alexan-

der Kile, 56, pastor of St. Demetrios Church, died June 7, of complications resulting from injuries he received in a traffic accident in February.

He was born in Istanbul (Constantino-ple), Turkey, on Feb. 5, 1956. He completed his elementary education in the Greek educational system in Istanbul, and then enrolled in the private French Benedictine High School of St. Benoit.

In 1974, he immigrated to Toronto, where he completed high school at the French-Canadian High School of Etienne Brulee.

In 1976, he enrolled at Hellenic Col-lege in Brookline, Mass., then continued his theological studies at the Aristotelian University in Thessaloniki, where he gradu-ated with honors in 1985.

During his studies in Greece, he re-ceived scholarships from the Ecumenical Patriarchate, UNESCO, and the Taylor Scholarship of the Archdiocese.

He returned to Canada and worked as a lay assistant at All Saints Church in Toronto. On Sept. 13, 1986, he was ton-

sured a monk and ordained a deacon on the 14th by Bishop Timothy of Detroit in Farmingville, Mich.

He was ordained a priest in December 1986 at St. Spyridon in Washington Heights, N.Y., by Bishop Philotheos of Meloa and was assigned as the second priest to that parish.

Fr. Kile was elevated to the rank of Archimandrite by Bishop Philotheos while serving as dean of Sts. Constantine and Helen Cathedral in Brooklyn, N.Y.

The Very Rev. Kile also served the parishes of St. Demetrios in Jamaica, N.Y., St..Nicholas in West Babylon, N.Y., Dormi-tion of the Virgin Mary in Port Jefferson, N.Y., St. George in Piscataway, N.J., and St. Demetrios in Union, N.J.

Fr. Kile was fluent in English, Greek, Turkish, French and Bulgarian and had command of Russian and Serbian.

Funeral services took place June 12 with Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey officiating.

Memorial donations may be made to the “Fr. Alexandros Kile Scholarship Fund” for seminarians from the Metropolis of New Jersey at Holy Cross School of Theology, c/o Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Jersey, 215 E. Grove St., Westfield, NJ 07090.

Fr. Prokopios Nikas

PHILADELPHIA – Fr. Prokopios Nikas, 80, pastor of Evangelismos Church since April 1999, died June 10.

He was born Dec. 12, 1931, in Attikis Greece and came to the United States in November 1962.

He attended public school in Greece and studied law at the Panteias University in Athens, political science at the Universi-ty of Thessaloniki, and Hartford Seminary Foundation.

He married Golfo Drouviotou of Pyr-

Fr. Stanley N. Markantonis

BELMONT, Mass. – Fr. Stanley N. Markantonis, 83, a retired priest who served parishes from Vermont to Califor-nia, died June 9.

He was born June 12, 1928 in New York, but received his elementary and high school education in Rethymnon, Crete.

He enrolled at Holy Cross School of Theology and received a diploma in 1952. He had earned a bachelor’s degree in ac-counting at Boston University in 1971.

He married Elene Sgourou of Kerkyra, Greece. They had three children: Athena, Vasiliki and Nicholas.

In March 1954, he was ordained a deacon in Crete in August of that year, and a priest at Holy Trinity in Lowell, Mass., in October 1955 by Bishop Athenagoras Cavadas.

Fr. Markantonis served the parishes of Annunciation in Dover, N.H.; St. George in Fresno, Calif., St. George in Piscataway, N.Y., St. Vasilios in Watertown, N.Y., Holy Trinity in Norwich, Conn., Rutland, Ver-mont and, from October 1974 until his retirement in February 1986, occasionally served different communities as needed.

Services took place June 13 at Taxo-archae Church in Watertown, Mass.,with Metropolitan Methodios officiating.

gos, Greece. They had one son, George.In June 1963, he was ordained a dea-

con in Binghamton, N.Y., and a priest in Yonkers by Bishop Germanos Polizoides..

Fr. Nikas served the parishes of St. Nicholas in Thompsonville (now Enfield), Conn., St. George in Schenectady, N.Y., All Saints in Weirton, W.Va., Holy Trinity in Portland, Maine, St. Theodore in Bran-dywine, Md., and St. Nicholas in Atlantic City, N.J., before coming to Philadelphia.

Funeral services took place June 15 at Evangelismos Church with Metropolitan Evangelos officiating.

Fr. Michael Yachnis

WASHINGTON – Fr. Michael Yachnis, 90, a retired priest with a lay profession, died June 24.

He was born March 9, 1922 in Athens, Greece and completed public school in Athens. He attended the Mili-tary Academy in Athens and received a BS degree in engineering and served in the Greek army, attaining the rank of major. He also earned a degree in civil engineering from the Military Techni-cal College.

He met and married to Athena Spy-ropoulos of Longastra (Sparta) Greece in Washington whom he met while undergoing military training at Fort Belvoir, Va..They later married and be-

came parents of two children, Anthony and Angelica. He also earned two mas-ters and a doctorate in engineering at George Washington University in 1968.

After completing a special Archdi-ocesan program for lay persons, he was ordained a deacon in February 1974 at St. John the Baptist Church in New York and as a priest at Sts. Constan-tine and Helen church in Washington in March 1974, both times by Bishop Philotheos of Meloa. Fr. Yachnis served the parishes Dormition Church in Win-chester, Va., from 1975-2004 when he retired on Aug. 8.

Funeral services took place June 29 at Sts. Constantine and Helen Church in Washington, with Fr. Nicholas Ma-nousakis, pastor, and other area priests taking part.


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A RCHDIOCESE NEWS

BETHESDA, Md. -- The 29th annual St. John Chrysostom National Oratorical Festi-val, hosted by the Metropolis of New Jersey was held at St. George Church on June 8-10.

Fr. Dimitrios Antokas, Chairmen Tony Djinis and Manoli Anagnostiadis and the host committee organized the event, which drew 18 finalists and their families.

The weekend events began June 8 with vespers followed by a social and ice breaker, t-shirt exchange, for the Oratorical Festival participants. After an early morning wake-up call on Saturday everyone gathered in the church eagerly waiting for the orations to begin. Honored guests in attendance were Archbishop Demetrios and Depart-ment of Religious Education Director Dr. Anton C. Vrame. The awards luncheon at the Congressional Country Club was emceed by Archon Mike Emmanuel, chief congressional correspondent for FOX News Channel and hosted by Peter and Adrienne Barris of St. George Church.

The top speakers in each division received a $2,000 college scholarship for first place; a $1,500 college scholarship for second place and a $1,000 college scholar-ship for third place. Each honorable men-tion awardee received an iPad2.

Participants also were given a plaque, a certificate signed by Archbishop Demetrios and a hand-painted icon of St. George. Each participant also will be given a scholarship by FAITH: An Endowment for Orthodoxy and Hellenism.

Junior Division resultsFirst place–Elena Bilotto–Kimisis Tis

Theookou Church, Aliquippa, Pa; sec-ond place–Athena Chapekis-St. Nicholas Church, Ann Arbor, Mich.; third place-Nikolas Bardossas-St. Catherine Church, Greenwood Village, Colo.

Honorable Mention–Christina Hanos-Sts. Constantine and Helen Church, West Nyack, N.Y.; Raymond Assi–St. John the Divine Church, Jacksonville, Fla; Sophia Pe-trou–Annunciation Church, Cranston, R.I; Katherine Ketchum–Kimisis Tis Theotokou Church, Racine, Wis; Alexandros Pandazis, St. George Church, Clifton, N.J; and Su-sanne Silva–St. Basil Church, San Jose, Calif.

Senior Division resultsFirst place-Alexa Cristina Pappas-

Holy Trinity Cathedral, Salt Lake City, UT; second place-Nicholas Bilotto-Kimisis Tis Theotokou Church, Aliquippa, Pa; third place–Rebecca Morris–St. Demetrios Church, Libertyville, Ill;

Honorable mention: Alexandra Walsh-St. George Cathedral, Hartford, Conn; Elias Selimos–St. Demetrios Church, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla; Eleni Giannopoulos–St. Spyridon Church, Newport, R.I; George Gemelas–Holy Trinity Church, Indianapo-lis; Roman Papademetriou–Holy Trinity Church, Egg Harbor Township, N.J., and Arianna Aram-Sts. Constantine and Helen Church, Cardiff–By–The Sea, Calif.

After the event, finalists, their families, and host committee members accompa-nied Archbishop Demetrios on a private after-hours VIP tour of the Capitol. The architect of the Capitol, Stephen T. Ayers, greeted the group and accompanied it on the tour, along with Takis Tzamaras, deputy superintendent and St. George parishioner.

The day ended with bus tour of Wash-ington at night.

On June 10, the Hierarchical Liturgy was celebrated at the Church of St. George. Archbishop Demetrios spoke fervently about the Oratorical Festival and invited the top two speakers to deliver their speeches to the congregation. Before departing for home a luncheon was offered by the St. George community.

Maryland Church Hosts 29th Chrysostom Oratorical Festivalby Presbytera Margaret Orfanakos

Oratorical Festival participants with Archbishop Demetrios on the steps of the Capitol in Washington.

Alexa Cristina PappasHoly Trinity Cathedral, Salt Lake City

In Matthew 18:21-22, Jesus tells Peter that one should forgive one’s brother not just seven times but “seventy times seven.” Discuss how and why we should for-give wrongdoers, even when some-thing within us cries out for justice – especially if we’re the injured party.

“I’m sorry, I forgive you;” these are some of the most powerful words we will ever say. They hold the key to our salvation. The times we feel we have been wronged and want revenge or justice are the times St. Seraphim of Sarov says, “We must return to our heavenly Father. The cold desire for revenge comes from the devil. God is a fire that warms and kindles the heart.” St. John Cassian further

Senior Division 1st Place

Junior Division 1st Place

explains that true compassion and forgive-ness become possible when we ourselves experience God’s love.

The beginning of our spiritual life is our acceptance of God’s boundless for-giveness and mercy. Yet for God’s love to permeate our hearts, we must be able to truly repent for our mistakes and forgive others for theirs. As Christians we are challenged to strengthen our soul and body through forgiveness. The Fathers of the Church emphasize the principle that being forgiven and forgiving are the two sides of the same spiritual coin.

This is made clear by the Greek words for “I forgive,” “συγχωρώ” Literally trans-lated, they mean to come together into the same place. From there, true forgiveness helps us walk forward as one with the person who sought our forgiveness. St. Maximos the Confessor teaches us, “We find the forgiveness of our trespasses in the forgiving of our brothers, and the mercy of God is hidden in mercifulness to our neighbor.”

To St. Maximos, the relationship between God’s forgiveness of us and our forgiveness of others means that our salva-tion is in our hands. We have been given the choice to receive God’s mercy and forgiveness, and we exercise that choice by choosing to forgive.

Sometimes, however, this choice is difficult to make because a part of us cries out for justice against those who wrong us. We may even feel anger against God when we experience something bad or painful. If God doesn’t act as we think He should, we believe He has offended us, and therefore we must forgive Him. But the notion that we must forgive God is based on a false premise. God does not, and cannot, sin against us. He does not need to be forgiven. God allows us to experience pain because His goal is our growth and maturity. We complain of “bad things happening to good people,” but we live in a fallen world and bad things

Elena BilottoKimisis Tis Theotokou, Aliquippa, Pa.

In our day, when people’s lives have become more and more scheduled with events, how might we reclaim our understanding of Sunday (the Sabbath) as a day of rest and honoring the Lord?

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. It is the Fourth Commandment given to us by God. But how many of us really try to keep the Sabbath holy? After all, Sunday is my day to do what I want. I go to church. I take Holy Communion. That’s good enough. With all the things I have to do, keeping the entire day holy is just not practical. Sound familiar? I’m sure that none us would say that the Sixth Commandment, “Thou shall not kill” is

not practical. So, why is it so easy for us to ignore the Fourth Commandment? I am here to tell you that because it will bring you closer to God, and because it will improve your relationships with others, I want you to reclaim the Sabbath for what it is, a gift from God.

You’re already thinking that keeping the Sabbath is about all the things you can’t do. It’s a duty, a burden. But imag-ine for a moment that you are an Israelite slave, 2,500 years ago. You make bricks all day, every day, no days off, no rest. Now, God gives you one day of rest every week. Your attitude about the Sabbath would be much different. You could relate to St. Mark, 2:27, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” You would see the Sabbath, not as a burden, but as a gift.

Unfortunately, we have so much leisure time in America that we don’t feel the need for the Sabbath rest. But we

may actually need it more, because our Sabbath has become a day of entertain-ment, recreation, and shopping. If we’re going to reclaim the Sabbath, we must keep it holy, which can only come from our relationship with God. So, it is fitting that the Sabbath begins in God’s house, celebrating the Liturgy. As Jesus said in St. Matthew 18:20, “Where two or three gather in my name, I am there with them.” The more time we spend with God, the more our character is changed, the more holy we become, and the more we will see the Sabbath as a gift.

Jesus not only honored the Sabbath by worshipping and teaching, but he of-ten performed miracles, demonstrating his love for us. In chapter 12 of St. Mat-thew’s Gospel, Christ healed a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath. He was condemned by the Pharisees for doing


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happen to people, period. The fact is our own sin helped unbalance the world and make a climate of injustice possible. The real failure is not in God’s lack of perfor-mance, it is in our misperception of His character. So then how do we choose forgiveness, especially if we feel we have been wronged?

The Lord’s Prayer guides us with the words, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us”. It is an important lesson to learn that in order to receive we must first give.

We must let go of all indignation. Because we believe in a merciful God, we realize He does not want us to perish, but rather He wants us to live a happy and fulfilled life. He is willing to cleanse us of every stain of sin. If He can do this for us, then we should learn from Him and be able to forgive others.

As we grow to understand forgive-ness, we realize it has little to do with the other person; it has everything to do with ourselves, our own inner freedom and desire to move forward in our lives. Forgiveness is not just a thought, an idea

Senior Division 1st Place

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or mental concept. True forgiveness is a process of greater understanding and analysis. It requires attention, healing, and time. It does not occur instantaneously. In his book, Five Steps to Spiritual Growth, author Peter M. Kalellis states, “Forgive-ness is a process that can be painful, and at times, seem unending.” True forgive-ness is not denial and avoidance. It does not brush things under the rug without ever getting to the root of the problem. In order to truly forgive, each of us must process through the full range of emo-tions, lessons, and feelings associated with the traumatic event in our life. Our goal is to retain the lesson and leave the pain behind.

The Apostle Peter asked Christ, “Mas-ter, how often shall we forgive; until seven times?” But Jesus answered, “I say to you, until seventy times seven” in order to show his abundant love and that his forgiveness is immeasurable.

Fr. Alexander Schmemann writes, “The triumph of sin, the main sign of its rule over the world, is division, opposi-tion, separation, hatred. Therefore, the first break through this fortress of sin is forgiveness: the return to unity, solidar-ity, love. To forgive is to put between me and my “enemy” the radiant forgiveness of God himself.”

so. But Jesus said it is lawful to do what is good on the Sabbath. What is good are our relationships with the people in our lives, not the things. When we spend our time with people we love, or people that need love, we reflect Christ healing the sick.

I remember one Sunday, I was in a hurry to get home to see my friends, but my father made me stay with my yiayia. It was that Sunday that she taught me how to make the Avolemona soup her special

way, with an extra egg, to make the broth a little creamier. That day brought me closer to my yiayia, and gave me a piece of her. It was the same piece that was given to her by her yiayia, I hope to pass it on to my grandchildren someday. This is the gift of the Sabbath.

When we free ourselves from our scheduled lives, we reclaim the Sabbath. When we worship and receive holy com-munion, we reclaim the Sabbath. When we share God’s love with others, we reclaim the Sabbath.

The Fourth Commandment is really our weekly chance to repent, and to do God’s will. I ask all of you to keep the Sabbath holy and accept God’s Gift to you.

Oratorical Festival participants with Archbishop Demetrios, Religious Education Department Director Dr. Anton Vrame, Chairman Presbytera Margaret Orfanakos, Fr. John Orfanakos and other clergy.

Remember inspiring spiritual leaders, honored past presidents, beautiful friend-ships, heartwarming acquaintances, all Philoptochos members, loving pioneers.

Remember those who are no longer with us, each Face speaks to us in some way, each Face is integral to Philoptochos as a Friend of the Poor.

Remember each Woman through her kind acts of holding a child in her arms so the mother can participate in Sunday Divine Liturgy, baking koulourakia for someone in the hospital, working at an orphanage, caring for Children with Cancer and special

needs. Remember this work, this commitment

of one hour, one day and many years.This makes us true Stewards of Jesus

Christ. This beautiful and incredible history of

service and these remarkable Faces, gird us to transmit this important Legacy, so that at the 100th Anniversary in 2031 Philoptochos is recognized throughout the world, mem-bership has doubled and services continue to expand.

Special thanks are extended to every woman Past, Present and Future who mani-fests the Philoptochos Spirit of Philanthropy offering healing, peace, hope and love.

Philoptochos: Past, Present, Future


by Eva Kokinos

Be a Lightbearer for Christ!The 2012 Summer Olympics are just

around the corner! I don’t know about any of you, but I always get very excited about the Olympic Games. I will be glued to the television for three weeks, watch-ing everything from badminton to the trampoline event (Yes! Both are actual events in the Summer Olympics). Since I’m not very good at any sport, these world-class athletes never cease to inspire me…accomplishing extraordinary feats of physical and mental strength. But there are so many other things that inspire me about the entire Olympics experience: the Opening Ceremonies, the human interest stories, the Parade of Nations, and the Closing Ceremonies–just to name a few.

One of the most iconic images of the Olympics is the historic torch relay and the lighting of the Olympic flame. It is incredible to know that the torch relay has not changed much since its origin all the way back to the Ancient Olympic games. It makes its way from Greece to the host country.

More importantly, the responsibility to be a torchbearer is not reserved for only one person. Imagine being the only person who is charged with the respon-sibility of getting the Olympic flame to London this year! I definitely couldn’t do it. So getting the Olympic Flame to its

final destination becomes the responsibil-ity of many people… a diverse group of men and women, children and adults, all coming from different backgrounds and upbringing. To learn more about the 8,000 Olympic Torchbearers, you can visit the following link: http://www.london2012.com/torch-relay/torchbearers.

Watching the progress of the Olympic Torch making its way to its destination reminds me of something even more special–the passing of the Paschal Light. When you hear people talk about being an Olympic Torchbearer, they naturally use words like “incredible” or “moving” to describe the experience.

So it makes sense that I have an even more overwhelming feeling of joy, responsibility, peace, and love when I re-ceive the Paschal Light in Church. When I receive the Light, I don’t just stand there. I immediately look around to share it with someone–making sure everyone can have the Light and share in the joy.

Imagine if your parish priest came out on Pascha with the Light and then never gave it out. You and the rest of your parish would have been left in the dark and the joy of the Resurrection would not have made its way out of the doors of the church.

You and I might never get to be Torchbearers for the Olympics. But rest assured–we all have been selected to be

Lightbearers for Christ! We are called to not only bear the Light, but to share that Light with all that we encounter. As it says in the Gospel of Matthew, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-17)

It is true that not everyone embraces this honor and responsibility. So for those of us that try to take on this responsibility to the best of our ability, we must carry this light with a stronger sense of purpose and vigilance to ensure that the Good News of the Gospel still gets out there!

Fellow Lightbearers of Christ, let’s make the most of this incredible and joyful responsibility.

As Lightbearers of Christ, we can al-ways extend our kindness to everyone we meet so that there will be more kindness than cruelty in the world. We can extend our hands to give to others so that there can be fewer people in need. We can choose to live our lives according to God’s commandments, witnessing that a Christ-like life IS possible in the 21st century.

So as you are watching the Olympics with me this summer, let’s be inspired. Just as the Olympic Flame is carried in to

spark the spirits of the Olympic hopefuls, let us carry the Light of Christ from our hearts into the world and to everyone we encounter. Maybe we, too, can inspire those around us to achieve the seemingly impossible through Christ.

Eva Kokinos serves as the Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries for the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Detroit. In 2003, she received a Masters of Theo-logical Studies from Holy Cross School of Theology in Brookline, Mass.

For those of you who have recently graduated high school, the Class of 2012, you are probably anxiously awaiting the next part of your journey. Many of you are preparing to be the newest incom-ing class of your respective colleges and universities.

This is an exciting and sometimes overwhelming transition. So it is never too early to prepare for the social, emo-tional, and spiritual transition that lies ahead of you.

Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) is the official campus ministry of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. OCF is a growing, vital ministry to young adults who are looking for an Orthodox Chris-tian community to continue their spiritual journey while in college. For new and cur-rent college students, the spiritual journey can be challenging for various reasons.

Some of you are away from home, without your usual support system. For others, the collegiate experience will

OCF: Preparing for the Transitionconfront you with many new perspectives on culture, life, and faith. OCF can be that lifeline for college students to keep everything in focus.

So what are some of the things that OCF has to offer you?

1) OCF wants to get YOU connectedOCF wants to find incoming students

and get you connected from the very beginning of your college experience. OCF started an exciting new program – “The First Forty Days” – to gather contact information for incoming students from parishes throughout North America. You can also help OCF by visiting http://www.ocf.net/Transitions.aspx and submitting your information TODAY.

2) OCF Chapters: A campus commu-nity of faithful Orthodox Christians

As a college student, you might not be near your home parish. In fact, you might be studying far away from home. One major advantage to getting involved with OCF is that you will have that Orthodox Christian community, even away from home. For anyone in a new place, this is can be a huge blessing! Many campuses throughout the U.S. have OCF chapters. For a listing, visit www.ocf.net/wikis/chapters/ocf-chapters.aspx or talk to your parish priest before heading off to school.

3) Relevant Resources for the Young Adult

OCF offers you a variety of resources to keep you informed and educated about

your faith. In addition, OCF provides re-sources that are relevant and useful for the collegiate. For example, OCF publishes a newsletter called The Headliner. This fan-tastic newsletter, which can be sent right to your email, offers you great articles and information. Also, OCF provides practical resources to help support you in school and in your faith. Check out www.ocf.net/wikis/resources/student-resources.aspx to see some of the resources they have available.

4) Retreat/Event Opportunities in the U.S. and Abroad

OCF provides you with incredible opportunities to worship, witness, serve, and join in fellowship with other Orthodox Christians in the U.S. and around the world. OCF sponsors the hugely successful College Conferences every year in different places through-out the U.S.

These conferences are full of in-credible workshops, opportunities to join in worship with others, and lots of fun and fellowship. In addition, OCF sponsors an incredible and popular alternative to the traditional spring break–OCF Real Break. Each spring, more than 100 students attend various trips in the United States and countries around the world. Past destinations included: Constantinople, Greece, Do-minican Republic, Jerusalem, Romania, Mexico and Alaska. Get connected to OCF today. Visit www.ocf.net for more information.

FOR PARENTS AND YOUTH WORKERS

• Do you love to follow blogs? Looking for an Orthodox Christian blog about variety of topics? Check out The Lad-der at http://orthodoxyouthministry.blogspot.com/• Are you on Facebook? If you are a member of Facebook, you can visit us on our GOYA and Young Adult Ministries fan pages! These fan pages have information about GOYA and Young Adult Ministries events from throughout the Archdiocese. Also, fans are connecting and talking about differ-ent issues regarding faith and life! Just search for GOYA – Greek Orthodox Youth of America or Greek Orthodox National Young Adult Ministries and Become a fan today.

Workshops Held at CongressThe Department of Youth and Young

Adult Ministries offered several workshops for the delegates at the Clergy Laity Con-gress. Delegates had an opportunity to speak with the Archdiocese Youth Ministry Team members, including the National Youth Department and metropolis youth directors.

The National Youth Department’s booth at the exhibit hall showcased new resources and promoted those currently available to parishes.

The department also offered two youth ministry workshops to discuss topics and is-sues facing today’s parish youth and young adult ministries, including.bullying, sexual purity and body image, along with “Back to the Basics: Creating and Developing Parish Youth Ministry Programs.”


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Witness the moving service of the Resurrection of Christ in what is known as the largest Greek Orthodox parish in America, St. Nicholas Shrine Church, Flushing, NY.

Thousands gather inside and outside the church to hear Archbishop Demetrios of America read the Gospel and proclaim, “Christos Anesti - Christ is Risen!” The faithful raise their lighted candles, joyfully singing together.

Christ is risen from the dead; by death, He has trampled death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life. (Paschal Troparion).

This video presentation, “Christ is Risen! The Resurrection Service & Divine Liturgy of Pascha,” was broadcast LIVE around the world in 2011. The narration was added and editing occurred in order for the program to air nationally on NBC during the Paschal season in 2012.To purchase your DVD copy of this

program ($20 per DVD + $6 S&H) please call 212-774-0244, or email [email protected], or comple the order form below and mail it to: GOTelecom, 8E. 79th Street, New York, NY 10075.

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Witness the moving service of the Resurrection of Christ in what is known as the largest Greek Orthodox parish in America, St. Nicholas Shrine

Thousands gather inside and outside the church to hear Archbishop Demetrios of America read the Gospel and proclaim, “Christos Anesti - Christ is Risen!” The faithful raise their lighted candles,

Christ is risen from the dead; by death, He has trampled death, and to those in the tombs He has

This video presentation, “Christ is Risen! The Resurrection Service & Divine Liturgy of Pascha,” was broadcast LIVE around the world in 2011. The narration was added and editing occurred in order for the program to air nationally on NBC

The Resurrection Service & Divine Liturgy of PaschaChrist is Risen!

The program has been made possiblewith a grant by Christos Spyropoulos

and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

FAITH Awards Ionian Village Scholarships

result of a snowstorm in late October.In his remarks, Archbishop Demetrios

commented on the significance of holding the program under the tent, stating that it represents “a very biblical situation.”

“Abraham, Isaac and Jacob lived under a tent,” he said, and that it has the “characteristic of mobility,” which for the graduates gives a sense of the “totality of life” and the “mobility of life.”

The Archbishop also had high praise for Fr. Sitaras’ work and accomplishments over the years, and that of the staff.

“What we do here should be of the highest possible quality,” he added.

Several of those in attendance, Na-tional Philoptochos President Aphrodite

Samuel Pappas presents Archbishop Demetrios with a check for $327 for the Greek Relief Fund, which was raised at a recent bake sale. Also shown: board President Evellyn Tsiadis and 13-year-old Eleni Koumboulis, who also took part in the fundraiser.


ship programs including many merit-based scholarships for Academic Excellence to high school students graduating from public, parochial and private high schools across the country. The program, originally limited to valedictorians and salutatorians, has expanded to include students who dis-play extraordinary academic achievement and an acute need for financial support for their studies.

In past years, several graduating seniors received FAITH Scholarships for Academic Excellence through the Archdiocese toward

Saint Basil’s 65th CommencementSkeadas, and various Philoptochos and AHEPA chapter representatives and board President Evellyn Tsiadis offered gifts to the students and the Academy. Mrs. Tsia-dis offered a $5,000 donation toward the replacement of the underground pipes.

Consul General of Cyprus Koula Sophianou, an ardent supporter and fre-quent visitor at Saint Basil’s, and Greece’s Consul General Georgios Iliopoulos, also offered their greetings and best wishes to the graduates.

The six graduates are Jake Pappas, Bishop Dunn Memorial School; Sofiya Petri, Birchwood School; Arturo Reyes, San Miguel Academy; Thomas Koumbou-lis and Christina Loukakis, Haldane High School; and Irakli Quiros, Rockland Com-munity College.

their college tuition. In addition, FAITH sponsors scholarships through the US – Greece Fulbright Foundation to support scholarly exchanges and international col-laboration in education. The core mission of FAITH is to support the development of innovative educational, cultural and scholarship programs for young people that promote excellence through an un-derstanding of Hellenism, and its relation-ship to America’s history and multicultural landscape with programs such as funding Fulbright fellowships and other related programs. For more details about FAITH programs, visit www.faithendowment.org

To kick off the 2012 summer season of missions, OCMC sent short-term teams to Uganda and Mongolia.

The Uganda health care team in mid-June, offered health care services to people in the eastern and northern regions of Uganda, where there is limited access to medical care. Team members will serve the spiritual and physical needs of the people from both the established Holy Cross Hospital in Kampala and from temporary health clinics that will be set up in neigh-boring Orthodox communities. Many of these patients will travel long distances in order to receive care for malaria, pneumo-nia, ulcers, tuberculosis, and many other medical issues. OCMC also sent its first-ever mission team to Mongolia in June, where

OCMC Teams to Uganda & Mongoliaby Emily Walker team members proclaimed the gospel and

shared the Orthodox faith with Mongolians. This historic first team went to Ulaanbaatar, the capital, to help plant the seeds of Chris-tianity in a nation that is over 98 percent non-Christian. The country’s only Orthodox church, Holy Trinity, hosted the team. To help strengthen the Church there, team members assisted in implementing effective discipleship and develop Mongolian church leaders. The mission team to Mongolia of-fered an evangelism event where, through focus groups, they spread the word of Christ. The focus groups included English language lessons, Byzantine chant, discus-sion of life after death from a Christian perspective (different from the Buddhist mindset), and family issues, including gen-

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by Fr. David Eynon Shield of Faith Family Shield Activity Needed

• Print template of shield (www.busybeekidscrafts.com/designashield) or cre-ate your own out of poster board • Crayons/markers/paint• Family photo • Icon of Christ and icons of the patron saint of each family member• Magazine photos (optional)

Instructions1. Read the Breastplate Prayer aloud. 2. Discuss these questions: • How could we improve our outreach and service to others? • How could we enhance our family prayer life? • How could we spend more meaningful time together? • Consider what God is calling your family to do. Decide on two or three ideas together. 3. Place an icon of Christ in the center of the shield and the icons of your patron saints around it.4. Place the family photo under the icons. Draw, paint, and write the family name either under the photo or at the top of the shield. • Optional: Use photos from magazines on the rest of the shield to make it reflect who you are. 5. In the upper right portion, write or draw pictures by answering: “As a fam-ily we HOPE to…” This will reflect the resolutions you chose in step 2. 6. In the upper left portion, list with words or pictures: “With JOY as a family we will achieve our goals by…” 7. In the lower right portion, complete the following: “With LOVE in our hearts, we promise to help one another keep our goals by…” 8. In the lower left portion, write or draw pictures by answering: “With FAITH as a family we will rely on God by…”9. Sign the shield and display it promi-nently in your home. 10. Close by asking each family member to name their favorite part of your family shield and the hope it represents. Say the Lord’s Prayer together.

This is adapted from an activity by the same title written by Rev. Heath Howe and published by Vibrant Faith @ Home. For more family faith-forming activities go to www.vibrantfaitha-thome.org.

Like many boys of a certain age, I spent a lot of time playing with toy soldiers and, in my case, this developed into a love of history. I got caught up in weapons, ar-mor, battles and strategies.I was fascinated by the cultural, political and geographical contexts. As I grew more interested, I came across a fascinating historical board game belonging to my father. The game took its name from one of the most formidable troop formations of the ancient world — the phalanx. Soldiers would stand shoulder to shoulder in large rectangular formations where the front line would interlock their shields. Armed with long weapons like spears, this allowed the first ranks to attack over the shield wall. Any kind of frontal assault on such a formation would be really difficult at best.

I mention this as a prelude to one of my favorite metaphors in all of Scripture:

“Brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might . . . For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take . . . the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one.”

– Ephesians 6:10; 12; 16Metaphors, of course, invite us to

apply them to our own lives. As 21st cen-tury Americans, however (being several centuries removed from soldiers using shields), this is not an easy a task as one might think. Due to the historic proxim-ity, we might be tempted to imagine the medieval knight ready to charge into battle for individual glory or the hand of a fair maiden. Despite the similarity in language, however, the medieval knight is not a type of soldier that St. Paul would have been

aware of when he wrote to the Ephesians. Rather, he would have been familiar with warfare that produced formations like the phalanx.

Therefore, to understand St. Paul’s metaphor, it is important to understand how a soldier in a phalanx would have used his shield. Primarily, the shield was used not to protect the soldier himself, but the soldier next to him. Indeed, soldiers had to have faith in their fellow soldier – that they would sacrifice the protection of their shield.

The concept of sacrifice, of course, is central to the Christian faith. Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ willingly sacrificed Himself for us. In turn, we are told by our Savior: “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

– Matthew 16:24In other words, the Shield

of Faith can also be called the Cross. This is confirmed at the feast of the Elevation of the Cross, celebrated on September 14th. Note the hymn: “This very Cross of the Lord, then, let us all surely hold as our boast. For this wood is our salvation, the shield of peace, the trophy invincible.”

This, then, is our key to applying the metaphor to our own lives. In order to pick up the Shield of Faith, we must pick up the Cross. In a word: sacrifice. Of course, the Church provides many op-portunities and tools in which to practice sacrifice. The most common, however, may be a surprise: the family.

Notice what the Church advises for husbands in the Epistle reading from the marriage service: “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” (Ephesians 5:25) Christ went to the Cross for His bride, the Church. In a word: sacrifice. Wives are called to submit to their husbands. In a word: sacrifice.

To use St. Paul’s metaphor from above, husband and wife are to stand as a phalanx, using their Shield of Faith to protect, not themselves, but their spouse.

This, of course can be extended to the whole family: everyone – whether a par-ent, a child, a grandparent, or extended family member – can use their Shield of Faith to protect the other members of the family. They can stand in a phalanx with interlocked shields.

When a husband and wife – and by extension the whole family – place the needs of the other above their own the marriage and the family not only works, but thrives. As spouses get to know each other, they begin to anticipate what the other one needs even before their spouse realizes what he/she needs! The Shield of Faith, wielded by one spouse protects the other before they even realize that they are in danger.

This phalanx becomes even more powerful when the whole family is doing the same.

This path of sacrifice, this shield of the Cross is confirmed in our worship: “Lord, God Almighty, You alone are holy. You accept a sacrifice of praise from those who call upon You with their whole heart. Receive also the prayer of us sinners…

“Enable us to bring before You… spiritual sacrifices for our sins and for the transgressions of the people. Make us wor-thy… so that our sacrifice may be pleasing to You and that Your good and gracious Spirit may abide with us, with the gifts here presented, and with all Your people.”

– Prayer of the Proskomide We are called to take up the Shield of

Faith through sacrifice – by freely placing the needs of others before our own–and to bring this sacrifice forth before the altar of God for our salvation and the salvation of the people. This sounds counter-intuitive.

Our natural instinct is to hold on to what we have for our own protection. Remember, though, we are talking about the Cross – a font of mercy and power that is endless.

In the game of Phalanx, just as with its antecedent chess, it is necessary to sac-rifice pieces in order to win. The phalanx formation — as long as every soldier was willing to sacrifice his shield for another — was virtually invincible. Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross defeated death by death. By imitating Christ, by regarding our families as phalanxes in the spiritual warfare of the fallen world, we will help each other on our journey toward the Kingdom of God.

Fr. David W. Eynon is pastor of An-nunciation Church in Decatur, Ill. He also maintains a blog entitled, “Shine Within Our Hearts.” Fr. David graduated from Holy Cross School of Theology in 2008.

� e Breastplate Prayer

I bind unto myself today� e power of God to hold and lead,His eye to watch, His might to stay,His ear to hearken to my need.� e wisdom of my God to teach,His hand to guide, His shield to ward;� e word of God to give me speech,His heavenly host to be my guard.

Christ be with me, Christ before me,Christ behind me, Christ in me,Christ beneath me, Christ above me,Christ on my right, Christ on my le� ,Christ when I lie, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,Christ in the mouth of everyone that speaks of me,Christ in every eye that sees me,Christ in every ear that hears me,Salvation is of the Christ,May you salvation, O Lord, be ever with us.

*From ‘My Daily Orthodox Prayer Book’ by Fr. Anthony Coniaris.


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Metropolis News

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Men from 30 to 70 years of age returned to the altar where they once served as acolytes and celebrate a Divine Liturgy with their former pastor, 86-year old Fr Nicholas L.Vieron on June 10.

The 42 former altar boys served be-tween 1955 until 1991 at Annunciation Church.

They are often referred to as “Fr. V’s Altar Boys.” But Fr. Vieron insists “They are God’s acolytes. I was just blessed to have served with them.”

He added that, “It was a very moving experience seeing grown men as acolytes again serving with their former priest. They all wore choir robes, crowded into the altar and served with such piety that brought tears to the eyes of loved ones seeing their “little boys” once again serving in the altar.

A similar service was celebrated eight years ago but now they had all grown older. Two of the men are now 70 years old. They came from all walks of life - restaurateurs. doctors, lawyers, dentists, business men, computer executives, real-estate agents, professors, artists. theater owners, presi-dents of companies, retirees. Most of them are local parishioners.

Several came back to Memphis for the

occasion from distant cities. One of the moving highlights of the Lit-

urgy was recalling the 14 former altar boys who had died. As each name was offered at the Mnimosino service, one of 14 candles placed on the koliva was lit by the presiding priest, Fr. Anthony Cook, who was recently assigned to the Memphis church and who not only gave his blessing to the occasion but also his participation.

The Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper, in reporting the event, stated, “Reading in commemoration the 14 names Fr. Nicholas Vieron paused to compose himself. Although he’s 86 and still speaks with clarity, charisma and power....his voice cracked as he prayed, ‘Give rest, O Lord, to Your servants, Your altar boys, Your anolytes....’”

Fr. Vieron was assigned to the Mem-phis church 57 years ago and continues to serve as pastor emeritus; the former altar boys must desire to participate in such an event; the parish must want to embrace it and it does with love and tears.

The first “Altar Boys’ Reunion” in Mem-phis was held in 1983 and, until Fr. Vieron’s 1991 retirement, every Palm Sunday would include such a “reunion.”

Memphis Church Holds Altar Boys’ Reunion

der roles. All discussions were translated into Mongolian.

Team member Thomaida Hudanish, said, “In preparing for this experience, I am learning that the most important thing I can do is be in the moment now…my goal is simple: to go see, to learn from Fr. Aleksei, and to take in the beauty of the Mongolian culture.” One of her tasks was to prepare a short lesson about the Resurrection icon. Of this she said, “When I look at the icon, I notice that Adam is a recipient of God’s

mercy and strength. Keeping focused on this helps me re-

member both why we are on this trip and Who is providing.”

The OCMC mission team in Mongolia was challenged by numerous hurdles. While Mongolia is one of the most open countries in Asia, with limited interference from the government when it comes to Christian work, the challenges are arduous. There is a void left from 70 years of Soviet rule, secular influences, and widespread social upheaval. There has been a breakdown of traditional values that will need to be rebuilt.

uu from page 28

OCMC Teams to Uganda & Mongolia

National Philoptochos President Aphrodite Skeadas announced with sad-ness the falling asleep on June 30 of our beloved Past National President Mimi Skandalakis who served with distinction

Obituaries

Former Nat. Philoptochos President Mimi Skandalakis

by Christine Karavites

by Edward Mitchell

as the eighth National Philoptochos Presi-dent from 1994 to 1998.

Mrs. Skandalakis led this philan-thropic organization of the Church that she and her late, beloved husband, Dr. John Skandalakis served all their lives. Her goal was to expand the services offered by Philoptochos and to ensure inclusion so that everyone became engaged in the organization.

Mimi traveled often on early morning flights from Atlanta to the National Philop-tochos Office in New York to oversee the multiple presidential responsibilities and traveled throughout the country visiting each diocese and many Chapters.

She raised awareness of critical social issues including presentations at the Na-tional Philoptochos Convention with spe-cial educational speakers and videos and promoted the enhanced role of women.

During her tenure, National Philopto-chos pledged $100,000 for the Archbishop Iakovos Library and Resource Center at Hellenic College Holy Cross donating in total more than $170,000.

National Philoptochos also initiated the Awards Program during her presiden-cy that honors the excellent philanthropic works of the Philoptochos Chapters na-tionwide.

The funeral for Mrs. Skandalakis was held at the Annunciation Cathedral in Atlanta on July 3.

May her memory be eternal.

Georgian by birth and Greek by de-scent, Simena ‘Mimi’ Skandalakis embraced both identities throughout her life.

She grew up in Marietta, spoke with a southern accent and loved University of Georgia football.

But the first-generation American also dedicated her later years to advancing Greek causes.

Mrs. Skandalakis died Saturday of natural causes. She was 85. Her funeral, arranged by H.M. Patterson & Son, will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation.

Simena Cutis was born in 1927 to Greek immigrants and was raised in Marietta. After graduating from Marietta High School in 1944, she attended Mercer University.

In 1950, she married Dr. John Skandal-akis, a Greek native. While Dr. Skandalakis, who died in 2009, worked long hours at Emory University Hospital, Mrs. Skandala-kis raised their three children.

“She was always there for us every day, raising us,” recalled her son, Mitch Skandalakis, former chairman of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners. “She was basically acting as a single mom.”

Her daughter, Vickie Skandalakis Scal-jon, said, “She was a short person, but very powerful. Whether she was disciplining us or talking to a group of people ... she was very powerful.”

A Tribute to Mimi SkandalakisWhen her children grew up and left

home, she used that power to advance her lifelong interest in Greek causes. She was a devoted follower of the Greek Or-thodox Church and a member of the Na-tional Philoptochos Society, a philanthropic group supporting the church’s faith and tra-ditions. In 1994, the Archbishop appointed her Philoptochos Society president.

As leader of Philoptochos, she spear-headed various activities: rebuilding the group’s finances, assisting Greeks who came to the U.S. seeking medical care, educating the community on the problem of spousal abuse in Greek households, hosting a regular children’s medical fund luncheon and raising the prominence of the Greek church.

“She worked to put the church on equal footing with other denominations,” Mrs. Scaljon said. “She and my father worked very closely with the Archbishop to do that.”

Such efforts led to the construction of Atlanta’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Annunciation.

Even after her retirement in 1999, she maintained her concern for Greece, looking for ways to help those affected by its recent economic crisis.

Still, she was just as much a Georgian as a Greek. A UGA fan, she once wrote a children’s book titled “The Little Bulldog.”

“She lived a remarkable life,” Mr. Skandalakis said. “She led a charmed life. All of that comes with hard work.”

In addition to her son and daughter, Mrs. Skandalakis is survived by another son, Lee Skandalakis of Atlanta; brother, Nick Cutis, of Athens, Greece; six grand-children; and two great-grandchildren.

Goyans visitRev. Dr. Peter Spiro, pastor of St. Athanasios Church in Aurora, Ill., and members of the parish GOYA chapter recently took a weeklong trip to the East Coast, visiting Boston and New York. Here, they present a donation to Archbishop Demetrios on June 27 for the rebuilding of St. Nicholas Church at the World Trade Center. At Archdiocese headquarters, they also presented Bishop Andonios of Phasiane with a donation for St. Michael’s Home. The Goyans’ New York segment included seeing the 9/11 memorial, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, touring Holy Trinity Archdiocesan Cathedral and seeing some Broadway plays. In Boston, they went to Hellenic College Holy Cross where they presented a donation to the seminary, and went to the Metropolis of Boston, meeting with Metro-politan Methodios. The Goyans fi nanced the trip through several fund-raisers, private donations and help from the church.

Information for retired priest Fr. Constantine Mitsopoulos arrived too late for inclusion in this issue.

A complete obituary will appear in the September issue of the Observer.

His was a native of a village near Nafplion, Greece, and his last parish was Holy Trinity–St. Nicholas Church in Cincinnati before retiring in October 1990.

Fr. Constantine Mitsopoulos


* Edward Mitchell is a staff writer at The Atlanta Journal–Constitution. Re-printed with permission from the July 2 issue of the AJC.

32 JULY – AUGUST 2012

The Metropolis of Chicago at a Glance

Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago

Editor’s note: The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Con-stantinople, consists of more than 500 parishes in the United States and the Bahamas, apportioned within eight metropolises and the Direct Archdiocesan District.

General InformationNumber of communities: 59 parishes and two monastic communities

(Source: Archdiocese Yearbook, Metropolis website and Metropolis oÖ cials)Geographic description: The Metropolis of Chicago, led by Metropolitan Iakovos, includes the central Midwestern states

of Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri (except for the western area around Kansas City, and the northwestern third of Indiana. Most of its parishes are heavily concentrated in and around Chicago.

Approximate area: About 294,250 square miles.Largest parish: The following communities have at least 750 families and determining which is the largest community

may be subject to fluctuation: St. Mary’s in Minneapolis, Sts. Peter and Paul in Glenview, Sts. Constantine and Helen in Palos Hills, Annunciation in Milwaukee and St. John the Baptist in Des Plaines.

Monastic communities: Monastery of Transfiguration, Harvard, Ill., and St. John Chrysostom Monastery, Pleasant Prairie, Wis.Chancellor: Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos

Major Ministries Youth and Young Adult Ministry, Religious Education, FANARI Summer Camp, Greek Education, Orthodox Ministries, Par-

ish Renewal Outreach and Evangelism, Church Music Federation, St. John Damascene League of Chanters, Metropolis Radio Program, Bishop’s Task Force on AIDS, Domestic Violence Ministry and Webmaster.

Editor’s Note: Num-bers indicate the cities and towns with Greek Orthodox communi-ties. The following cit-ies have either more than one parish or an additional chapel: Chi-cago, Champaign, Mil-waukee. Chicago, seat of the Metropolis, contains eight parishes: Annun-ciation Cathedral, and the churches of Annunciation, Assumption, Holy Trinity, St. Andrew, St. Basil, St. Demetrios, St. George, and St. Nicholas Albanian Church under Bishop Ilias.

Minnesota1. Duluth (The Twelve Holy Apostles), 2.Minneapolis (St. Mary’s), 3. St. Paul (St. George), 4. Roches-ter (Holy Anargyroi-Sts. Cosmas & Damianos).

Iowa5. Mason City (Transfigu-ration of Our Lord), 6. Sioux City (Holy Trinity), 7.Des Moines (St. George), 8. Waterloo (St. Demetrios), 9. Dubuque (St. Elias the Prophet), 10 Cedar Rapids (St. John the Baptist).

Missouri11. Columbia (St. Luke the Evangelist), 12. Town & Country (Assumption), 13. St. Louis (St. Nicholas).

Wisconsin14. Appleton (St. Nicholas), 15. Fond du Lac (Holy Trinity), 16. Madison (Assumption), 17. Sheboygan (St.Spyridon), 18. Milwau-

Contact InformationAddress: 40 E. Burton Place, Chicago, IL 60610-1697

Tel. (312) 337.4130e-mail: [email protected] • web: www.chicago.goarch.org

kee (Annunciation, Sts. Constantine & Helen), 19. Racine (Kimisis tis Theotokou).

Illinois20. Rockford (Sts. Constantine

and Helen), 21. East Moline (Assumption), 22. Rock

Island (St. George), 23. Peoria (All Saints), 24. Springfield (St. Anthony), 25. Swansea (Sts. Con-stantine & Helen), 26.

Decatur (Annunciation), 27. Champaign (Three Hier-

archs, Chapel of St. Philip the Apostle and Chapel of St. Barbara

in Danville, Ill.), 28, Kankakee (Annuncia-tion), 29. Joliet (All Saints), 30. Orland Park (Assumption), 31. Hegewisch (Assumption), 32. Palos Heights (St. Spyridon), 33. Palos Hills

(Sts. Constantine & Helen), 34. Oak Lawn (St. Nicholas), 35. Justice (Holy

Cross), 36. Westchester (Holy Apostles), 37. Elm-hurst (St. Demetrios), 38. Aurora (St. Athanasios), 39. Elgin (St. Sophia), 40. Des Plaines (St. John the Baptist), 41. Niles (Holy Taxiarhai-St. Haralam-bos, 42. Glenview (Sts. Peter & Paul), 43. Pala-tine (St. Nectarios), 44. Lincolnshire (Ascen-sion of Our Lord), 45. Libertyville (St. Deme-trios), 46. DeKalb (St. George).

Indiana47. Hammond (St. Demetrios),

48. Schererville (St. George), 49. Merrillville (Sts. Constantine &

Helen Cathedral), 50. Valparaiso (St. Iakovos), 51. South Bend (St. Andrew).

L i s t o f C o m m u n i t i e s

orthodox observer - july-august 2012 - issue 1277

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