ecumenical patriarchate saints constantine and helen greek … · 2020. 1. 17. · based on saint...

—Sunday Church ServicesPrsmdh 8:15p.m.$Orr" 8:45p.m.@HQeLetrg 10:00p.m.Proskomidi 8:15 a.m.Orthros 8:45 a.m.Divine Liturgy 10:00 a.m.

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Ecumenical Patriarchate

Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church

1 Marycrest Road, West Nyack, New York 10994(845) 623-4023

[email protected]

Parish Priest: Father Samaras

Welcome to our Parish Family

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January, February, and March, 2020 January, February, and March, 2020 Page 3

Parish RollFor any emergencies or spiritual need,

please call Father Samaras on the Parish cell phone:

(845) 731-9333

Parish Council

President: Naoum HatzisVice-President:

Nick Anagnostopoulos*Treasurer: John Livanos

Secretary: John Moustakakis

The Council Members

Costas DolianitisMike Dolianitis

John FellasAlex Kalos

Demetre Karavanas*Georgia Kintzing

Bobby KostopoulosKyriakos Lazaridis

Nikos LoizosDimitrios Misantonis

Mike Markogianis Tribunella

(*Past Council President)

Sometimes, we only have a few people to do a lot—and sometimes,

it can be overwhelming. Thus, we extend our thanks to all who help

our Parish. If, by any chance, we inadvertently leave out

anyone’s name from a mentioned list, we apologise for the accidental

oversight. We welcome any and all volunteers to help us

lighten and share our efforts.

Always a Spiritual Focus, FirstDearest Parish Family Members, Slowly, after a living Saint of our living Church passes away, books become written of the Saint and the things he shared with people. With the recent passing of our now-acknowledged Saint Paisios of Mount Athos, here is a beautiful observation he gave us, concerning those who criticise the Church:

Some people tell me that they are scandalized because they see many things wrong in the Church. I tell them that if you ask a fly, “Are there any flowers in this area?” it will say, “I don’t know about flowers, but over there in that heap of rubbish you can find all the filth you want.” And it will go on to list all the unclean things it has been to. Now, if you ask a honeybee, “Have you seen any unclean things in this area?” it will reply, “Unclean things? No, I have not seen any; the place here is full of the most fragrant flowers.” And it will go on to name all the flowers of the garden or the meadow. You see, the fly only knows where the unclean things are, while the honeybee knows where the beautiful iris or hyacinth is. As I have come to understand, some people resemble the honeybee and some resemble the fly. Those who resemble the fly seek to find evil in every circumstance and are preoccupied with it; they see no good anywhere. But those who resemble the honeybee only see the good in everything they see. The stupid person thinks stupidly and takes everything in the wrong way, whereas the person who has good thoughts, no matter

what he sees, no matter what you tell him, maintains a positive and good thought.

Based on Saint Paisiosof Mount Athos

Faithfully, Father Samaras

Amma Syncletica said: It is good not to get angry,

but if this should happen,the Apostle does not allow

you a whole day for this passion, for he says,

“Let not the sun go down on your anger”

(Eph. 4:25).

January, February, and March, 2020 January, February, and March, 2020

STEWARDSHIP Focus, Come and See

Is Your Family Represented? Dear Stewardship families, Thank you for helping with our stewardship rolls in 2019. Please make a commitment for our new 2020, so we may continue providing for our ministries and returning to you. As we’ve shared with you, it is all about being

counted and having a fair representation of how many families we are able to minister to in our parish. Our goal is getting back to our record of over 250 stewardship families. We need everyone to please come forward and show your supportive commitment to our parish family. Please note that our annual budget is over $300,000, placing heavy dependence on our Church Festival (which only nets half of our budget), which is why our Stewardship is so crucially important.

Faithfully, The Stewardship Committee

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Continued Education One of the main responsibilities of the parish priest is to continue reading and studying. Wise elders have even observed that a priest’s office should never be referred to as an “office” but as the “Priest’s Study.” In this way, we are reminded to value what it takes for a good priest to be able to provide for the people, to continue to grow spiritually, to make relevant references to Scriptures and other sources to enrich sermons and make helpful illustrations for people’s concerns and matters of faith and spiritual understandings. As we’ve just concluded our Nativity celebrations and Church services, it’s good to recap understanding. When a priest is trained at the Seminary (for seven long years, comprising both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s), the seminarians are taught about a number of fundamental things that are simply forbidden: for

example, a priest never publicises any person’s holy confession; we don’t do cremations, as Christians; we don’t receive Communion in any other churches that are not Orthodox or are not in communion with our Church. Another example is that it is forbidden for a priest to serve more than one Divine Liturgy in the same day. And, not only that, but you can’t even use the same Holy Altar more than once in the same day. Simply put, the Jewish Old Testament clearly marks time from the Book of Genesis, in which it states that God created light out of darkness, and that the night and the day make one day (“There was evening and there was morning, one day” Genesis 1:5). What this means is that, in acknowledging God and Creation, the liturgical day begins at sundown (darkness) and continues until the next sundown. For example, a Sunday begins on Saturday at sundown (Vespers) and concludes on Sunday at sundown. Everything in our Church Services is based on anticipation, and is why even our Holy Week morning services are held in the evening, in anticipation. What is crucial to understand is that our Greek Orthodox Church follows the time-cycle of the Jewish faith. It is central to our belief in Jesus Christ as the Messiah. If we don’t follow this understanding, then we are effectively denying that Jesus is the Christ Messiah. From following the life and example of Jesus Christ, we likewise follow the proper order of Church Services, and this is why it is forbidden for a priest to serve more than one Divine Liturgy in a single day—and it is forbidden for the priest to even use the Holy Altar twice in one day. Some may ask, “Then, why do we celebrate a Divine Liturgy on Holy Saturday morning and,


again, on Holy Saturday night?” Because that day is broken by sundown. Saturday morning is Saturday and Saturday evening, after sundown, is Sunday. It becomes a simple understanding. What is not allowed is to do an evening Divine Liturgy, followed by a next-morning Divine Liturgy, because it is the same day. Then, how do some larger Churches get away with doing an evening Divine Liturgy, followed by a next-morning Divine Liturgy? Because there are more than one priest. For example, some of you may remember that, over the years, we had been able to have a Christmas Eve Divine Liturgy at night and a Christmas morning Divine Liturgy in the morning: this is because we had available, that year, a substitute priest. And, even then, we weren’t allowed to use the same Holy Altar. Some of you questioned why the priest was bringing a portable table in front of the Holy Altar to do the Christmas morning Divine Liturgy. It must have looked odd, to some people who didn’t know. The second priest can’t even use the regular Holy Altar’s Antimension (a name that means “instead of the table” and is the blessed cloth upon which is depicted the burial shroud of Jesus Christ, upon which Holy Communion is consecrated—more on that later). Instead, the second priest has to use a substitute, extra Antimension. This is the only proper way in which a second Divine Liturgy is ever, ever done: by separate priests on separate Holy Altars and on separate blessed Antimensia. And even when there are two Divine Liturgies provided during a same-day period, the people are not allowed to receive Holy Communion twice. You either receive once during the night-time Liturgy or once during the morning liturgy. You never receive twice. All of this is the proper Greek Orthodox education. This past Christmas period, we asked the Archdiocese for any substitute priest to accommodate us. We planned ahead and submitted our request in September. We were told it was too early to tell. We resubmitted our request in October and then, in November. Because our Archdiocese

is currently experiencing a shortage of available clergy, we were finally told that there was no substitute priests available for any parish. Thus, I offered our parish council a choice of canonical, proper services: either a Royal Hours service, followed by the Vesperal Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil on Christmas Eve morning, followed by a Christmas Eve evening liturgy, with nothing on Christmas morning. Or the same Christmas Eve morning services, followed by the Christmas morning Divine Liturgy, and nothing on late Christmas Eve Evening. The parish council felt a number of our elderly parishioners have difficulty driving at night, so they voted for the morning-morning services. And it was all beautiful with the best Christmas morning service attendance we’ve had, to date. To express our spiritual understanding of our Church “Order of Services” in another way, let me share with you another voice of knowledge who speaks clearly on this best understanding of how we celebrate our services:

Dear Father Samaras: As a reminder, to you and your Parish Council, and parishioners, I write this as one who is, as you may recall, the final text reviewer of the Liturgical Guide Book and other texts, used by our Church Choirs and Chanters throughout the Archdiocese of America and in other countries as well. It is Church Order or Rubrics of our Holy Orthodox Church, that the day begins with vespers (usually around six in the evening) and carries over to the following day ending at six the next day. That is a twenty-four hour cycle in which we conduct our holy services. Festal celebrations of saints and other Holy Days all begin in the evening and

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January, February, and March, 2020 January, February, and March, 2020Page 8 Page 9

More Helpful, Fun Facts About Our Church Services

The Antimension

(from the Greek: ἀντιμήνσιον, “instead of the table”; in Slavonic: antimins), is among the most important furnishings of the altar in Orthodox Christian liturgical traditions. It is a rectangular piece of cloth, of either linen or silk, typically decorated with representations of the entombment of Christ, the four Evangelists, and scriptural passages related to the Eucharist. A small relic of a martyr is sewn into it. The Eucharist cannot be celebrated without an antimension. The antimension is placed in the center of the altar table and is unfolded only during the Divine Liturgy, before the Anaphora. At the end of the Liturgy, the antimension is folded in thirds, and then in thirds again, so that when it is unfolded the creases form a cross. When folded, the antimension sits in the center of another slightly larger cloth, the eileton (Slavonic: Ilitón) which is then folded around it in the same manner (3 x 3), encasing it completely. A flattened natural sponge is also kept inside the antimension, which is used to collect any crumbs which might fall onto the Holy Table. When the antimension and eiliton are folded, the Gospel Book is laid on top of them. The antimension must be consecrated and signed by a bishop. The antimension and the chrism are the means by which a bishop indicates his permission for priests under his omophorion to celebrate the Divine

conclude the following day at six o’clock. The reason for this is that the Divine Liturgy is a replication of the life of our Lord with actions and movements that tell us of his coming into the world, teaching and his crucifixion and resurrection. Inasmuch as our Lord was crucified once, this same action has to be followed for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy. We can only conduct it once in a day or twenty-four hour period. That being the Order of our Church, it is also stipulated that the Divine Liturgy can be conducted once within a twenty-four hour period. Thus, the Church has three basic liturgies familiar to you, Saint John Chrysostom, Saint Basil the Great and the Pre-Sanctified Divine Liturgy. Depending on the priest’s choice, an evening Divine Liturgy may be celebrated; this though, precludes the same priest celebrating a Divine Liturgy the next morning for it falls with the twenty-four hour period. If another priest is available, then the Divine Liturgy may be celebrated the next morning, but on a different arrangement for the Antiminsion and Altar Table. As you and other clergy face this situation for the Holy Days, such as Christmas, Theophany, and others, it is imperative for Church Order to be maintained as we seek to serve the faithful in the best possible fashion. Other fellow colleagues and clergy have asked for me to write and remind them what the Church Rubrics give as directions and I thought you would welcome this as well. To summarize: The Church Rubrics-Order direct us to start the celebrations for Feasts and Saints the evening before. The same Church Rubrics dictate that a Divine Liturgy may be celebrated in the Evening, but cannot be repeated again within twenty-four hours by the same priest. Our Lord was crucified once and in remembrance of that, we have a Divine Liturgy once in twenty-four hours. Praying you and your parishioners have a spiritually rewarding and uplifting Nativity of our Lord, I am,

In Christ, Born for our salvation,Fr. John G. Maheras


Liturgy and Holy Mysteries in his absence, being in effect the church’s license to conduct divine services. If a bishop were to withdraw his permission to serve the Mysteries, he would do so by taking back the antimension and chrism from the priest. Whenever a bishop visits a church or monastery under his omophorion, he will enter the altar and inspect the antimension to be sure that it has been properly cared for, and that it is in fact the one that he issued. Only a bishop, priest, or deacon is allowed to touch an antimension. Since the antimension is a consecrated object, they must be vested when they do so—the deacon should be fully vested, and the priest vested in at least stole (epitrachelion) and cuffs (epimanikia). The antimension is a substitute for the altar table. A priest may celebrate the Eucharist on the antimension even if the altar table is not properly consecrated. In emergencies, when an altar table is not available, the antimension serves a very important pastoral need by enabling the use of unconsecrated tables for divine services outside of churches or chapels. Formerly, if the priest celebrated at a consecrated altar, the sacred elements were placed only on the eileton. However, in current practice the priest always uses the antimension, even on a consecrated altar that has relics sealed in it. At the Divine Liturgy, during the Litanies (Ektenias) that precede the Great Entrance, the eiliton is opened fully and the antimension is opened three-quarters of the way, leaving the top portion folded. Then, during the Litany of the Catechumens, when the deacon says, “That He (God) may reveal unto them (the catechumens) the Gospel of righteousness,” the priest unfolds the last portion of the antimension, revealing the mystery of Christ’s death and resurrection. After the Entrance, the chalice and diskos are placed on the antimension and the Gifts (bread and wine) are consecrated. The antimension remains unfolded until after all have received Holy Communion and the chalice and diskos are returned to the Table of oblation (Prothesis). The deacon (or, if there is no deacon, the priest) must very carefully inspect the antimension to be sure there are no crumbs left on it. Then, it is folded, followed by folding the eiliton, and after which the Gospel Book placed on top of it. Although St. Theodore the Studite (759-826) mentions “fabric altars,” the term “antimension” is not found before the late twelfth century.

Everyone knows how hectic life is, with work, duties, families, etc. All of our heads spin, trying to keep up, with hardly any quality time for ourselves. Only time to react and no time to grow, mature, rest. We used to have our Adult Bible classes, until people were no longer able to show up. Now, we thought we’d try again and, instead, offer them on a timely basis that perhaps everyone may be able to attend, without having to commit to a weekly basis. For this season, I’m pleased to offer a monthly gathering (in our Church upstairs) for the following topics. I will start off with a “springboard” presentation. Then, we will open the conversation for any questions you may have. What have you seen in Church that you’ve never really understood? Bring all the questions you can think of. I’ll be happy to address every point:

January 22nd, Wednesday: 7-8 p.m.“Understanding God through Space and Time”

All faith-questions welcomed.

February 19th, Wednesday: 7-8 p.m.“The Fifty Actual Days of Great Lent”

March 25th, Wednesday: 7-8 p.m.“Types of Annunciations”

Adult Bible Class and You

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Sunday School We profusely thank our parents and volunteers who helped our community again for a year of growth and Sunday School. You’ll notice we have quite a large,

new crop of youngsters who are being brought to church by their families. Let’s get them all the support of our ministries by keeping them coming! We need more helpers and ask for others to come forward and help us help your children. Please consider this as a holy offering, a ministry you can participate in. Your children will thank you, as we thank you. Which of you parents will come forward for our Fall program?

Most respectfully, Sunday School Teachers

Greek School 2019-2020JAN 26, Sun. Three Hierarchs Presentation by Greek School StudentsFEB 17 - 21 Winter Recess - School closedMAR 29, Sun. Annunciation and Greek Independence Day presentationAPR 7, Tues. Parent- Teacher Conferences; Greek School Registration opens for 2020APR 11, Sat Lazarus Saturday Communion Breakfast (Student participation expected)APR 12, Sun. Palm SundayAPR 13 - 18 Holy Week - School closedAPR 19, Sun. EASTER

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CHOIR NEWS In our continuous efforts to maintain a dedicated choir in our church, we always endeavor not only to maintain the members in excellent shape, but also seek to recruit new ones in order to keep the membership at a

desirable state. We are now very happy to introduce to you the latest new members of the choir:1. Maria Papayiannopoulos2. Marie Prainito-Pedersen3. George Frances But our efforts don’t stop here. We always encourage the young ones to become interested. They are the ones that are going to take our place some day and they represent the future of our community. Already I introduced to you almost a year ago in this Newsletter two youngsters that are already reciting prayers during the services of the Great Lent and occasionally read the Epistle on Sundays. They are Emmanuel Moustakakis and Gerasimos Spellos.

The latest prospects are the four youngsters, ages 4-8, areGeorge Panopoulos (Jr.); Alexander Panopoulos; John Mocklar; Joseph Mocklar. With such good news, we are happy and thankful that are efforts are bearing fruits. Our encouragement is justified and gives us hope to continue our desire to promote the music and services of our faith.

—Leo Michaels,

Choir Director


YOUTH PAGES

HOPE Happenings (ages 3-7) and JOY

Happenings (Ages 8-12)

Dear HOPE and JOY families, Happiest New Year! We had many fun events for our HOPE and JOY kids throughout the year. Kristin and I were very happy to see so many kids participating and enjoying the events that were planned! We

continue to welcome all youth for our new year, 2020! Most recently, we had a massive turnout for our Youth Charity services, in which we all gathered together and drew and wrote Christmas Cards of encouragement for several Orphanages in Greece. In response, we just recently a letter at church, from one of the orphanages we sent cards and lip balms too (& some other little stickers, etc).. I know when we send ‘care packages’ overseas, we lose the connection with those whom we are helping, and it never seems enough. But this letter shows that anything and everything is always appreciated, no matter how far away or how small. Thank you again to you and your kids for supporting this event last month. Happy New Year again, and we’ll see everyone in 2020. Stay tuned for future announcements for future Youth events. Happy Reminder: Our HOPE & JOY groups are ministries at Saints Constantine and Helen that provide an opportunity for children to meet, socialize, and interact with one another through various events held during the year, while forming a sense of belonging to our parish and God. Please consider getting your kids involved in HOPE/JOY this

year. Some of our prior events have included Christmas Crafts/Wreath Decorating, PB&J Night (pizza, bible and jammies), Chocolate Dipping, Ninja Warrior Training, and Bounce Houses. Our annual events are the Harvest Dance and Easter Egg Hunt. There is no cost or fee to join since each event is “pay as you go.” Should you have any questions regarding the HOPE/JOY program, feel free to contact the youth group advisors, Kristin (201-694-0633) and Bonnie (845-638-1161). Please consider registering your child(ren) for the program in order to get involved in their future activities! We will send out an email with more details soon. Feel free to contact us with any questions. Our advisors are Bonnie Mavrommatis and Kristin Laoudis Rosenstein. They can be reached at: Kristin: [email protected] or 201-694-0633 and Bonnie: [email protected]

Near Future We want to create an Athletics committee to help our kids prepare for this summer youth olympics held on Long Island over the Memorial Day Weekend. Who will step up and be advisors for our children? We are striving hard to get our JOY and GOYA-aged children to make the commitment to return back to our Summer Olympics Program, held every Memorial Day Weekend in Long Island. Even if we can’t staff a full soccer team or baseball team, we can at least do the individual sports activities with other Orthodox Children, and can at least staff a relay-race track team of four to five runners! We just need to help Father with adult advisors and helpers. Call Father for details.


Suggestions for Lent

This year, 2020, Great Lent begins on March 2nd. Here are some helpful thoughts by which to build a solid foundation, spiritually, for practicing to improve on Great Lent, and come closer to God.

1. Meditate on the History of Salvation Think of the Lenten period as a time of meditating on the history of salvation. Think about the creation of the universe and of Adam and Eve as the beginning of human life on earth. Think about the fall of Adam and the entrance of sin in humanity. We see in the hymnology of the liturgical book of Lent, the Triodion, constant references to the tragedy of the fall of the first human beings. For example, in the Oikos of the Matins on yesterday’s Cheesefare Sunday, we read: “Adam sat and cried in those days across from the delights of Paradise; beat his hands upon his face, and said: Merciful One, have mercy on me who have fallen.”The memory of what happened through the fall of Adam and Eve continues on in us to this day. Think of the current condition of the world with its chaotic situation, confusion, violence, poverty, injustices, oppression, sickness and death, and remember it all started way back with Adam and Eve as a consequence of their sin and fall. But then contemplate the course of history and how the amazing, unimaginable, and unpredictable act of God Himself to become a human being radically changed everything. So in the course of Lent remember the history of salvation: From the fall of humankind, to the promise of redemption, the Incarnation of God as the new Adam, His Crucifixion, the Resurrection, the Ascension into Heaven, and the Second Coming. Take time to reflect on God’s divine actions through history.

2. Review the understanding of fasting Take fasting seriously as a very important aspect of Lent. Think of fasting not simply as an item of diet, but as something related to the fall of humankind, and at the same time as a victory through Christ. We fast for forty days in Lent before Holy Week not merely as an exercise, an ascesis, but also because there is an important Christological significance attached to fasting. We have forty-day fasting models from both the

Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, Moses fasted for forty days on Mount Sinai before receiving the Ten Commandments (Exodus 34:28, Deut. 9:9, 9:18) and Prophet Elijah fasted for forty days on Mount Horeb (3 Kingdoms 19:8). Both of these instances are connected with an encounter with God at the end of their fasting. In the New Testament, we have the forty-day fasting in the desert by our Lord Jesus Christ (Matt. 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-13). At the end of the forty-day fasting by Christ in the desert, there are the well-known “Temptations” of Christ, the first of which is related to eating: And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he [Christ] answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’” (Matt. 4:3-4). Is this event in the life of Christ in any way connected to the Fall of Adam? Indeed, the Fall of Adam was caused by an eating situation, yet the victory of Christ also happened through an eating situation. While Adam said “yes” to the temptation and ate (Genesis 3:1-6), Christ said “no” to the temptation and did not eat. This is why the fasting of the forty-days during Lent is not simply a matter of abstention or an issue of diet, but is a major Christological and soteriological situation; the fall of humankind, and then the restoration through the victory of Christ. So let us take fasting seriously and prepare ourselves for a blessed encounter with God.

3. Reconsider our life of prayer Great Lent is a special time to pray. But what is the content of our prayer? What is our praying language? For several people, their prayer is still on the same level of that when they were ten or fifteen years old; it has stayed undeveloped. Why when speaking to God are we using a poor language? What efforts are we making to improve and enhance our prayer in terms of content and expression? Looking at the Triodion, we see many examples of different types of prayer language and content. Try to pray and study the prayers that the Church has given us which are superb examples of conversing with God and try especially to prayerfully read the Psalms, the standard and universal book of prayer.


Philoptochos A happy and healthy New Year to all the families of Saint Constantine and Helen Church. The Philoptochos Board and I thank you for your generosity for our fund raisers for 2019. With your support, we were able to meet all of our National Philoptochos and District Archdiocese obligations and to the Archangel Michael Home, Ronald McDonald House Greek Division, Holy Cross Scholarship Fund,Hellenic Culture

Center, Cancer Fund, Ecumenical Patriachate, Saint Basil Academy, Rockland Social Services, People to People, and families in and out of our community. Last year for Thanksgiving, with your help, we were able to feed forty-two families through Rockland Social Services. When we first started this program, we fed only eight families. As per the R.S.S. social worker, all of the recipients look forward to our donations and are very thankful. Here are the intitutions we have charitably contributed to, per our Philoptochos mandate and national ministries in 2019: Saint Basil’s Academy, Saint Photios Shrine, Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC), the Sisterhood of Saint Basil Graduation and Awards, the International Orthodox Christian Charities, the Support a Mission Priest (SAMP) Program, the Hellenic College and Holy Cross Seminary Program, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Unicef, the National Philoptochos Emergency Relief Fund, the Archdiocesan Presbyters Council for Priests in time of Crisis; the Retired Clergy and Widowed Presvytera Fund, the Fund for Assisting Older Greek Orthodox Adults, the Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCM), the Autism Assistance Fund, the Cancer and Other Major Illnesses Fund; the Social Services/General Medical Fund, for Various Social Services in Need, National Stewardship dues to Archdiocesan District; the Saint Nicholas Shrine; the Hellenic Cultural Center; the Ronald McDonald Walkathon; the Direct DAD District, needed to help thirteen families in distress; People to People in Rockland

So try to pray more frequently this Lent and develop through constant praying a more refined language of prayer.

4. Be conscious of the gravity of sin Sometimes we don’t take sin seriously. Yet Scripture offers a very strong and unequivocal picture of the gravity of sin. The hymnology of the Triodion is replete with occurrences of the word “sin” or variations of it. Sin is a very serious issue. In the Hebrew Old Testament, there are fourteen different words to describe sin, but chiefly four: sin as a matter of human weakness, sin as a distortion or perversion, sin as a rebellion (borrowed from the political realm), and sin as an error or mistake related to ignorance. If we believe in God becoming a human being and willingly being crucified on the Cross for the sins of the world, then we must understand the seriousness of sin. Let’s reflect on how sin has control in our lives, and how it has distorted the divine image within each of us. Let us deal seriously with our sins with an understanding that they are part of the huge amount of sins and evil that led Christ to the Cross. But then remember that God has given forgiveness as the perfect antidote through the very same Cross. Forgiveness, however, is inseparably connected to repentance.

5. Make Lent a season for repentance Along with sin, we are called to reflect upon repentance. Repentance is a very important aspect in our lives and is a dominant theme throughout the Triodion. We should not forget that Jesus Christ our Lord began His public ministry with the words, “Μετανοεῖτε· ἤγγικε γὰρ ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν.”“Repent [change your mind], for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 4:17). The whole Sermon on the Mount is a commentary on this fundamental declaration on repentance. It is a central issue and an essential component of the Lenten period.


Q: Why are other ethnic groups and other religious faiths so strong in their solidarity and community?

A: Because they support each other, and patronize each other’s businesses. Then, to likewise be strong, let us learn the lesson:

Support and patronize our people’s businesses.

Good Day! Here is our Parish Calendar and Events for our Winter Season: January, February, and March, 2020. For the next Spring newsletter of April, May, and June, 2020, the deadline for all news items is March 1st. So, everybody think about what your group will be planning and doing for those months. All Church groups are asked to submit their materials in a timely fashion. Be sure to double-check our Sunday Church Bulletins for any possible scheduling changes or last-minute developments, additions, or deletions.

You can be a Parish Newsletter SPONSOR for any issue!

An easy way to help sponsor the production of this great service and ministry to our parish community—our parish newsletter—is to sponsor an issue and its production costs. You may dedicate such an issue to the memory of someone, or to the celebration of someone’s life or birthday or anniversary. Simply send in to our Church Office any photos, dedicational text, and remembrances, and a donation of $100.00 which will cover all inks, papers, staples, labels, mailings, and productions. All to your doorstep, email box, or mailbox, suitable for framing!

“Kali Parea” Our Kali Parea group will have their luncheon meetings on the second Monday of every month. The coordinator for our group is Mr. Gianakouros. Please join this active group for fellowship and conversation.

County; and the United Way. January, we will have the cutting of the Vasilopita; February, Autism luncheon; March, Holy Cross lenten luncheon. Exact dates to follow. The Philoptochos Stewardship

dues will be collected starting in January. On the second Sunday of each month, we have a meeting during coffee hour. Please join us and share your ideas with us. May God bless you and your families with health, happiness and love.

Sincerely,Lola Gabriel, Philoptochos President

January, February, and March, 2020 January, February, and March, 2020Page 22

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday1Saint Basil the GreatOR, 8:45 am.DL, 10 am.

2 3Royal Hours, 9 a.m.

4Liturgy/Saint JohnOR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.

5 Pre-Epiphany OR, 8:45 a.m.DL SAINT JOHN, 10 a.m. with AYIASMO.Vespers, 7 p.m.

6 Holy EpiphanyOR, 8:45 am.DL SAINT BASIL, 10 am. with AYIASMOKali Parea, 11:30 am.

7Saint John/Baptist OR, 8:45 am.DL, 10 am.

8Parish Council, 8 pm.

9Greek Edu, 7 pm.

10 11

12OR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.

13 14 15 16 17SAINT ANTHONYOR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.

18

19OR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.

20 21 22Adult Bible Study,

7-8 p.m.“Understanding God

Through Sapce and Time”

23 24 25

26OR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.Three Hierarchs Presentation

27 28 29 30Three HierarchsOR, 8:45 am.DL, 10 am.

31

OR = ORTHROS, 8:45 a.m.

DL = Divine Liturgy, 10:00 a.m.

January, 2020


Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday1

2 LORD’S PRESENTATIONOR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m

3 4 5Parish Council 8 p.m.

6 7 8

9 PUBLICAN/PHARISEEOR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m. TRIODION BEGINS

10Kali Parea, 11:30 am.

11 12 13 14 15

16OR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m. PRODIGAL SON

17 18 19Adult Bible Study,

7-8 p.m.“The Fifty Actual Days of

Great Lent”

20 21 221st Sat/SoulsOR, 8:45 am.DL, 10 am.

23 MEATFARE SUNDAYOR, 8:45 am.DL, 10 am.

24 25 26 27 28 292nd Sat/SoulsOR, 8:45 am.DL, 10 am.LEAP YEAR!



February, 2020


Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday1OR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m. CHEESEFARE SUNDAY

2GREAT LENT BEGINSGREAT COMPLINE, 7 pm.

3 4Pre-Sanctified DL, 7 pm.

5 6Cretsm/1st Salutations, 7 pm.

73rd Sat/SoulsOR, 8:45 am.DL, 10 am.

8SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXYOR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.

9 10 11Pre-Sanctified DL, 10 am.Parish Council 8 p.m.

12 13 Cretsm2nd Salutations, 7 pm.

14

15 OR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m. GREGORY PALAMAS

16 17 18Pre-Sanctified DL, 7 p.m.

19 20Cretsm3rd Salutations, 7 pm.

21

22OR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.Veneration/Holy Cross

23 24Vespers for Annunciation atvisiting parish

25 ANNUNCIATIONOR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.

Adult Bible Study, 7-8 p.m.

26 27 Cretsm4th Salutations, 7 pm.

28

29OR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.SAINT JOHN CLIMAKOS

30 31



March, 2020


Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday1Pre-Sanctified DL, 7 pm.

2 3Akathist Hymn7 pm.

4

5OR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m. SAINT MARY/EGYPT

6 7 8Parish Council 8 p.m.

9Greek Edu, 7 pm.

10 11SAT./LAZARUSOR, 8:45 am.DL, 10 am.COMM. BREAKFAST

12PALM SUNDAYOR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m. BRIDEGROOM, 7 pm

13HOLY MONDAYBridegroomService, 7 pm.

14HOLY TUESDAYBridegroomService, 7 pm.

15HOLY WEDNESDAYHoly Unction, 3 pm.Last Supper, 7 pm.

16HOLY THURSDAYVesperal Liturgy, SaintBasil, 8 am.Passion Service, 7 pm.

17HOLY FRIDAYRoyal Hours, 8:30 am.Cross Descent, 3 pm. Lamentations, 7 pm.

18 HOLY SATURDAY Vesperal Liturgy, Saint Basil, 9 amMidnight Service, 11:00pm.

19CHRISTOS ANESTI!AGAPE SERVICE12:30 pm.

20 21 22 23SAINT GEORGE OR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.

24Zoodogos PygiOR, 8:45 am.DL, 10 a.m.

25

26 SUNDAY OF SAINT THOMASOR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.

27 28 29 30



April, 2020

Page 25


Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday SaturdayGreek Educational Meeting, 7 pm.

1 2

3MYRRH-BEARERSOR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.


5 6 Parish Council Meeting,8:00 p.m.

7 8SAINT JOHN THEOLOGOSOR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.

9

10PARALYTICOR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m. MOTHER’S DAY

11 12 13 14 15 16

17OR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m. SAMARITANWOMAN

18 19 20PARISH NAMEDAYVESPERS, 7:00 p.m.

21PARISH NAMEDAYOR, 8:45 am.DL, 10 am.

22Youth OlympicsLong Island

23Youth Olympics

24OR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m. BLIND MANYouth Olympics

25Memorial Day

26 27VESPERS, EPITAFION7 P.M.

28 HOLY ASCENSIONOR, 8:45 am.DL, 10 a.m.

29 30

31OR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.



May, 2020

Page 26


Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday1 2 3 4

PARISH FESTIVAL5PARISH FESTIVAL

6Sat./SoulsOR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m. PARISH FESTIVAL

7HOLY PENTECOSTOR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m. PARISH FESTIVAL

8 9 10Parish Council Meeting,8:00 p.m.

11 12 13

14ALL SAINTS DAYOR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.


16 17 18 19 20

21OR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m. FATHER’S DAY

22 23 24 OR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.SAINT JOHN/BAPTIST BIRTH

25 26 27

28OR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.

29FATHER AT NATIONAL CLERGY-LAITY CONFERENCEJuly 28-July 4th.

30



June, 2020

Page 27


Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday1 2 3 4

5OR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.

6FATHER OUTTHIS MONTH.

7 8 9 10 11

12OR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.

13 14 15 16 17 18

19OR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.

20 21 22 23 24 25

26OR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.

27 28 29 30 31



July, 2020

Page 28


Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

FASTING PERIOD, AUGUST 1ST THROUGH 15TH.FOR THE THEOTOKOS.

1

2 OR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.

3Paraklysis, 7 pm.

4Paraklysis, 7 pm.

5Paraklysis, 7 pm.

6TRANSFIGURATIONOR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.Paraklysis, 7 pm.

7Paraklysis, 7 pm.

8

9OR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.

10Paraklysis, 7 pm.

11Paraklysis, 7 pm.

12Paraklysis, 7 pm.

13KOIMISIS OR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.Paraklysis, 7 pm.

14Paraklysis, 7 pm.

15KOIMISIS/DORMITIONOR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.

16OR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.

17 18 19 20 21 22

23OR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.

24 25 26 27 28 29Saint John/Baptist OR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.

30OR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m. Fanouropites Service for SAINT FANOURIOS

31 OR = ORTHROS, 8:45 a.m.


August, 2020

Page 29


Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday1 2 3 4 5

6OR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.AYIASMO, CLASSES

7 8Theotokos BirthOR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.Greek School Begins

9

Parish Council Meeting,8:00 p.m.

10 11 12

13OR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m. Vespers, visiting Middletown Parish

14HOLY CROSSOR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m. Kali Parea, 11:30 am.

15 16 17Saint SophiaOR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.

18 19

20

OR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.

21 22 23 24 25 26

27

OR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.

28 29 30



September, 2020

Page 30


Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday1Greek EducationCommittee. 7 p.m.

2 3

4OR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.


6 7Parish Council, 8 pm.

8Greek School Open Night, 7:30 p.m.

9 10

11OR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.

12 13 14 15 16 17

18OR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m. SAINT LUKE

19 20 21 22 23SAINT IAKOVOSOR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.

24

25OR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.

26SAINT DEMETRIOSOR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.

27 28 29 30 31



October, 2020

Page 31


Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday1OR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.

2 3 4 5Greek School Comm.7 pm.

6 7

8Synaxis ArchangelsOR, 8:45 am.DL, 10 am.

9Saint NektariosOR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.

10 11Parish Council, 8 p.m.

12 13 14

15OR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m. NATIVITY FAST BEGINS


17 18 19 20 21Entrance/TheotokosOR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.

22OR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.

23 24 25SAINT CATHERINEOR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.

26THANKSGIVING!

27 28

29 30Saint AndrewOR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.



November, 2020

Page 32


Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday1 2 3

Greek Educational, 7 pm.

4Saint BarbaraOR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.

5

6OR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m. SAINT NICHOLAS

7 8 9 10 11 12SAINT SPYRIDONOR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.

13SAINT ELEFTHERIOSOR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.


15 16Parish Council, 8 p.m.

17 18 19Christmas Play. Comm. BreakfastOR, 8:45 am.DL, 10 am.

20OR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.

21 22 23 24 Royal Hrs, 8:30 a.m./followed by Vesperal Liturgy Saint Basil, approximately 10 a.m.

25HOLY CHRISTMAS Liturgy of Saint JohnOR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m.

26

27 OR, 8:45 a.m.DL, 10 a.m. SAINT STEPHEN

28 29 30 31New Year’s Eve Party



December, 2020

Page 33

ecumenical patriarchate saints constantine and helen greek … · 2020. 1. 17. · based on saint...

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