THE CANON. G.O.Y.A. News. ST. NICHOLAS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH February 2015 Volume 43 - Issue 2. Toys for Tots

Transcript

1 G.O.Y.A. News Last month we told you about how we collected and purchased toys for Toys for Tots. We also went later in December to the Toys for Tots distribution site. While we were there wehelped organize toys and helped parents shop for their children by directing them to the proper age group sections and helping them find the perfect toy for their kids. This was a great experience that we hope to continue on with in the years to come. IF DURING THE YEAR YOU FIND GREAT DEALS ON TOYS AND WOULD LIKE TO DONATE THEM FOR THIS YEARS DRIVE JUST TAKE THEM TO THE GOYA ROOM OR GIVE THEM TO ANY GOYAN. Later that evening we went Christmas Caroling to as many houses as we could. Thank you to everyone for your generous donations and thank you to Mrs. Epitropolous for the yummy food you had for us. Thank you to our parents for driving us around. We had a good time as usual. We also had time that weekend to help Sevasti Tsarnas prepare over 250 bagged lunches for the Homeless. We made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and packed the bags with juice, fruit and treats. Sevi said the people greatly appreciated our efforts. We hope to do this again. Thank You to everyone who helped us prepare the lunches while they were waiting on Lolley the Trolley to take them to Cleveland. Toys for Tots Making Lunch for the homeless Christmas Caroling! ST. NICHOLAS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH February 2015 Volume 43 - Issue 2 THE CANON My Dear Spiritual Children, Two periods in the Orthodox liturgical year are most significant: (1) Great Lent and (2) the period from Pascha to Pentecost. Great Lent is a symbol of our life on earth. The period from Pascha to Pentecost is a symbol of our life in heaven. The former period is a time of preparation, a pilgrimage, a spiritual ascent, leading to the glory of Easter. The latter period is a time of joy and thanksgiving, an image of the unending celebration in God s eternal Kingdom. These two periods each have their own liturgical books, the Triodion and the Pentecostarion. These books contain the richest treasures of Orthodox hymnology literally hundreds upon hundreds of hymns and prayers developed especially from the Gospel readings and arranged according to various theses such as repentance, forgiveness, fasting, prayer, renewal and joy. The entire Triodion period is a journey to Pascha, a spiritual pilgrimage, a time of cleansing and renewal, a reaffirmation of our liberation from the power of sin and materialistic values. As the ancient Jews crossed the Red Sea and journeyed for forty years in the desert before entering the Promised Land, we also seek to cross the passageway of true repentance during Lent so that we may leave behind the old sinful nature and enter into a new life by the grace of the risen Christ. Our goals for this period are three: 1. Renewal through repentance. 2. Reordering our priorities according to Christ s teachings. 3. Developing a stable, growing life in union with Christ. Our provisions for this Lenten journey are also three: 1. Prayer/sacrental life. 2. Fasting 3. Good deeds. Read what the Lord tells us from the Sermon on the Mount concerning these three aspects of Christian life which are central to Lent. (Matthew 6:1-18) Καλή Τεσσαρακοστή May you have a good and fruitful Lenten Season. In Christ s Love, +Rev. Protopresbyter Michael C. Gulgas Ieratikos Proistenos

2 11 February 2015 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 Orthros 9:45 Divine Liturgy 10:30 2 Presentation of our Lord Othros 9: SENIORS 5:00 PM PHILOPTOCHOS 11 PARISH COUNCIL 12 NIGHT WITH FATHER Saturday of Orthros 9:15 10:00 VALENTINES DAY &&& 15 Meat Fare 16 PRESIDENTS DAY OFFICE CLOSED Saturday of Divine Lit. 10:15 APOKREATIKO GLENDI 22 Cheese Fare 23 GREAT LENT BEGINS Salutations to the Theotokos 28 Saturdya of

3 3 February 2015 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 Orthros 9:45 Divine Liturgy 10: Meat Fare 22 Cheese Fare 2 Presentation of our Lord Othros 9: PRESIDENTS DAY OFFICE CLOSED 23 GREAT LENT BEGINS PHILOPTOCHOS PARISH COUNCIL SENIORS 5:00 PM 12 NIGHT WITH FATHER Saturday of Orthros 9:15 10:00 VALENTINES DAY &&& Saturday of Divine Lit. 10:15 APOKREATIKO GLENDI Salutations to the Theotokos 28 Saturdya of Καιρός μετανοίας Ολόκληρη η ζωή τού ανθρώπου είναι καιρός μετανοίας. Κάθε στιγμή τής ζωής μας είναι δυνατόν νά αμαρτήσουμς καί νά λυπήσουμε τόν Θεό, επομένως κάθε στιγμή είναι δυνατόν νά μετανοήσουμε καί νά χαροποιήσουμε τόν Κύριο. Αφού όμως όλος ο χρόνος τής ζωής μας είναι καιρός μετανοίας, ποτέ δέν πρέπει νά απελπίζεται ο άνθρωπος όταν έρχρται σέ επίγωνση τών αμαρτιών του. Τό ότι ο αμαρτωλός μετά τήν διάπραξη τής αμαρτίας εξακολουθεί νά ζή, είναι εγγύηση ότι ο Θεός φανερώνει τό μέγεθος τής θείας φιλανθρωπίας. όταν αμαρτάνουμε δέν μάς επιβάλλει από τήν αρχή τήν δίκαιη τιμωρία, αλλά μακροθυμεί καί μας δίδει καιρό επιστροφής. Στόν καιρό αυτό τής μακροθυμίας Του, μάς δίδει τήν δυνατότητα νά μετανοήσουμε και νά γίνουμε εκ νέου παιδιά Του, απολαμβάνοντας τήν πατρική Του αγάπη. Ο άγιος Γρηγόριος λέγει ότι η μετάνοια είναι ταυτόχρονως αρχή καί μεσότης καί τέλος τής πνευματικής ζωής τών χριστιανών. Γι αυτό ακριβώς ο Θεός ζητά από εμάς τήν μετάνοια καί πρίν από τό άγιο Βάπτισμα, καί κατά τήν τέέσή του, καί μετά από αυτό. Πρίν από τό άγιο Βάπτισμα, η μετάνοια καθαρίζει τήν ψυχή γία νά δεχθή τή δωρεά τού Θεού. Ο άγιος Κύριλλος Ιεροσολύμων προτρέπει τούς κατηχουμένους πού προετοιμάζονται νά βαπτισθούν, νά πλύνουν μέ τήν μετάνοια τήν στολή τής ψυχής τούς, ώστε όταν ο Κύριος τούς καλέση νά εισέλθουν, μέ τό άγιο Βάπτισμα, στόν νυμφώνα Του, νά είναι καθαροί. Γι αυτό άφού πιστεύσαμε στόν Θεό, συντασσόμαστε μέ τόν υπεράγαθο Χριστό, αποτασσόμενοι τόν παμπόνηρο εχθρό Διάβολο. Καί υποσχόμαστε τίς μέν εντολές τού Θεού νά κρατούμε μέ κάθε δύναμη, από κάθε δέ πονηρό πράγμα καί φρόνημα νά απέχουμε». Αυτό είναι τό νόημα τής τελετής μέ τήν ποία ο κατηχούμενος αποτάσσεται τόν σατανά καί συντάσσεται μέ τό Χριστό. Κατά τό άγιο Βάπτησμα, συσταυρωνόμαστε καί συνθαπτόμαστε μέ τόν Κύριο στήν κολυμβήθρα, καί ανασταινόμαστε μαζί Του καθαροίαπό τούς πύπους τής αμαρτίας. Γι αυτό ονομάζεται τό Μυστήριο βάπτισμα: Διότιόταν συνθαπτόμαστε μέ τόν Χριστό στήν κολυμβήθρα, «συνθάπτεται καί η αμαρτία». Καί άν ακόμη ολόκληρη η κακία υπάρχει σέ ένα άνθρωπο, όταν «κατέλθη στήν κολυμβήθρα τών θείων υδάτων, ανέρχεται από εκεί αφού γίνη καθαρότερος από τίς ηλιακές ακτίνες». «Κατεβαίνουμε στό ύδωρ τής κολυμβήθρας γεμάτοι από ρύπους καί αμαρτίες, καί ανεβαίνουμε έχοντας αποκτήσει στήν καρδιά μας τόν φόβο καί στήν ψυχή μας τήν ελπίδα στόν Χριστό.» Μετά τό άγιο Βαπτισμα, μέ τήν μετάνοια φυλάσσουμε τήν δωρεά τού Θεού. Διότι τό Άγιο Πνεύμα πού δεχθήκαμε μέ τό άγιο Βάπτισμα, ακόμη καί άν αμαρτήσουμε, εφ (Continued on page 4)

4 9 (Continued from page 3) όσαν ζούμε μέ μετάνοια, παραμένει, «από εκείνους όμως πού αμαρτάνουν αμετανόητα απομακρύνεται.» Γι αυτό, «είθε σέ όλη μας τήν ζωή κρατώντας σφικτά τήν μετάνοια μέ έργα, μέ λόγια καί μέ λογιασμού, νά φυλάσσουμε μέσα μας πάντοτε τό Αγιο Πνεύμα γιά νά μάς συνετίζουν, νά μάς φροντίζη καί νά μάς παρέχη τήν ύψιστη σωτηρία.» (Continued from page 8) love. To gorgive is to put between me and my enemy the radiant forgiveness of God Himself. To forgive is to reject the hopeless dead-ends of human relations and to refer them to Christ. Forgiveness is truly a breaking through of the the Kingdom into this sinful and fallen world.. St. Theodore the Commander And Great Martyr Saint Theodore away from Christ did as was asked of him. Coffee Hour Hosts February 8 The holy Martyr Theodore was from Euchaita of Galatia and dwell in Heraclea of Pontus. He was a renowned commander in the military, and the report ce to the Emperor Licinus that he was a Christian and abominated the idols. Lininus therefore sent certain men to him from Nicomedia, to honor him and ask him to appear before him. Through them, however, Saint Theodore sent back a message that it was necessary for various reasons, that Licinius come to Heraclea. Licinus, seeing in this a hope of turning When the Emperor ce to Heraclea, Saint Theodore met him with honor, and the Emperor in turn gave Theodore his hand, believing that through him he would be able to draw the Christians to offer sacrifice to the gods. But Theodore asked that the emperor entrust him with the most venerable of his gods, those of gold and silver, that he might take them home and himself attend upon them that evening, promising that the following day he would honor them in public. The Emperor filled with joy at these tidings, gave command that Theodore s request be fulfilled. When the Saint had taken the idols home, he broke them in pieces and distributed the gold and silver to the poor by night. The next day a centurion ned Maxentius told Licinius that he had seen a pauper pass by carry the head of Artemis. St. Theodore far from repenting of this, confessed Christ boldly. Licinius, in an uncontainable fury, had the Saint put to many tormebnts, then crucified. While upon the cross, the holy Martyr was further tormented his privy parts were cut (Continued on page 5) February - Philoptochos March - GOYA MINIMUM CONTRIBUTION 2015 DUES GUIDELINES FOR ST. NICHOLAS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH FAMILY - Married Couple, Married Couple with Children $ SINGLE (ONE SPOUSE) FAMILY -Individuals who are not married and have Children $ SINGLE- Individuals who are not married and do not have Children $ RETIREES- Married couples who are no longer employed * $ RETIREES SINGLE (ONE SPOUSE)-Individuals who retired and are single or widowed* $ *If you are retired, but still working in some capacity or if your spouse is employed you are Not Eligible for RETIRED membership status. Any questions please call the office

5 5 The of Forgiveness is the last prior to the commencement of Great Lent. During the pre-lenten period, the services of the Church include hymns from the Triodion, a liturgical book that contains the services from the of the Publican and the Pharisee, the tenth before Pascha (Easter), through Great and Holy Saturday. On the of forgiveness focus is placed on the exile of Ad and Eve and from the Garden of Eden, an event that shows us how far we have fallen in sin and separated ourselves from God. At the onset of Great Lent and a period of intense fasting, this reminds us of our need for God s forgiveness and guides our hearts, minds, and spiritual efforts on returning to Him in repentance. The of Forgiveness, the last of the preparatory s before Great Lent, has tow theses: It commemorates Ad s expulsion from Paradise, and it accentuates our need for forgiveness. There are obvious reasons why these two things should be brought to our attention as we stand on the threshold of Great Lent. One of the primary images in the Triodion is that of the return to Paradise. Lent is a time when we weep with Ad and Eve before the closed gate of Eden, repenting with them for the sins that have deprived us of our free communion with God. But Lent is also a time when we are preparing to celebrate the saving event of Christ s death and rising which has reopened Paradise to us once more. (Luke 23:43). So sorrow for our exile in sin is tempered by hope of our re-entry into Paradise. The of Forgiveness The second theme, that of forgiveness, is emphasized in the gospel reading for this (Matthew 6:14-21) and in the special ceremony of mutual forgiveness at the end of the Vespers on evening. Before we enter the Lenten fast, we are reminded that there can be no tore fast, no genuine repentance, no reconciliation with God, unless we are at the se time reconciled with one another. A fast without mutual love is the fast of demons. We do not travel the road of Lent as isolated individuals but as members of a fily. Our asceticism an fasting should not separate us from others, but should link us to them and with ever-stronger bonds. The of Forgiveness also directs us to see that Great Lent is a journey of liberation from our enslavement to sin. The Gospel lesson sets the conditions for this liberation. The first one is fasting the refusal to accept the desires and urges of our fallen nature as normal, the effort to free ourselves from the dictatorship of the flesh and matter over the spirit. To be effective, however, our fast must not be hypocritical, a showing off.: We must appear not unto men to fast but to our Father who is in secret. ( Matt. 6:16-17) The second condition is forgiveness if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. (Mtt 6: 14-15) The triumph of sin, the main sign of its rule over the world is division, opposition, separation, hatred. Therefore, the first break through this fortress of sin is forgiveness- the return to unity, solidarity, (Continued on page 9) (Continued from page 4) off, e was shot with arrows, his eyes were put out, and he was left on the cross to die. The next day Licinius sent men to take his corpse and cast it into the sea; but they found the Saint alive and perfectly whole. Through this, many believed in Christ. Seeing his own men turning to Christ, and the city in a uproar. Licinius had Theodore beheaded, about the year 320. The Saint s holy relics were returned to his ancestral home on June 8, which is also a feast of the Great Martyr Theodore. Apolytikon: In truth enlisted with the King of the Heavens, thou didst become for him a noble commander, O trophy-bearer and Great Martyr, Theodore. With the weaponry of faith didst thou arm thyself wisely and didst utterly destroy all the hordes of the demons, as a triumphant athlete of the Lord; wherefore we ever do faithfully call thee blest. Kontakion: In courage of soul, and furnished with the arms of faith, thou tookest in hand the word of God as though a spear and dist put thy foe to flight, thou great boast of martyrs. O Theodore; now together with them. O Saint, cease not o entreat Christ our God for all of us. St. Theodora the Empress February 11 As for the renowned Empress Theodora, she was from Paphlagonia and was the daughter of a certain Marinus, the commder of a military regiment. While being the wife of the Emperor Theohilus, the last of the Iconoclasts, she adorned the royal diadem with her virtue and piety; as long as her husband Theophilus lived, she privately venerated icons, despite his displeasure. After his death, she restored the holy icons to public veneration; this is commemorated on the of Orthodoxy, the First of the Great Lent. She governed the Empire wisely for fifteen years, since her son Michael was not yet of age. But in 857 she forsook her royal power and entered a certain convent in Constantinople called Gastria, where she finished the course of her life in holiness and reposed in the Lord. Her sacred incorrupt remains are found in Corfu, in the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos of the Cave, in the capital city of the island. Apolytikion: As a right worthy nesake of gifts bestowed to God (Theo Dora), and a divinely-wrought image of holy wisdom and faith, thou didst make the Church a shrine with godly piety; for thou didst demonstrate to all that the Saints in every age have shown honor to the icons, O Theodora, thou righteous and fair adornment of the Orthodox. Kontakion: We sing thy praises as the gem and fairness of the Church, and as a diadem and pattern of Christian queens, O all-lauded and divinely- crowned Theodore; for in bringing back the icons to their rightful place, thou didst cast usurping heresy out of the Church. Hence, we cry to thee: Rejoice, O Sovereign most venerable.

6 Thank you The Ladies of the Philoptohos would like to thank all of you who ce and participated in our Annual Vasilopeta Dinner and contributed in our support to St. Basil s Academy. We would also like to give a special thank you to Ted and Demetra Argeroplos and fily for donating the Prime Rib. To Petros Nicolaou, Dennis Christo and all those who assisted in preparing the delicious meal, and the Athanasia Vardous and Mary Krp for making the Vasilopita.. MAY YOU ALL HAVE A HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR!!! COMMUNITY NEWS Seniors: The first Senior Meeting of the New Year will take place on Thursday February 5 th at 5:00 p.m. here at the church. Sympathy: Our deepest sympathy to Debbie Chagaros and her fily upon the death of her father Nick Gliatta who fell asleep in the Lord this past January. +May God rest his soul and grant peace and comfort to his fily+ Mary Gulgas On behalf of my brother, our filies and myself, we would like to express our deepest thanks to all of you for your prayers and thoughtful condolences, for those who attended the funeral and those who gave in loving memory of our Mother who fell asleep in the Lord January 10, Her 40 Day Memorial Service will take place here at our Parish on February 15 th. Please keep her in your prayers. Philoptochos News 7 Ψυχοσάββατο / Saturday of February 14, 21, 28, 2015 Υπέρ αναπαύσεως τών ψυχών For the Repose of Athanasia Vardous baking the Vasilopita! The God Parents Luncheon date has been changed. The event will now take place on, May 3rd. Watch the bulletin for more details!