Ὁ Νέας Ζηλανδίας Ἀµφιλόχιος

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1 Οἰκουµενικόν Πατριαρχεῖ ον - Ecumenical Patriarchate iiερα mητροπολιισ nεασ zηλαν ΙΙΑΣ -- Hol lly Arrchdi iiocesse off New Zeal lland Ἀπρίλιος Μάϊος Ἰούνιος April May June 2009 Περιοδική Ἔκδοση τῆς Ἱερᾶς Μητροπόλεως Νέας Ζηλανδίας Edition of Holy Archdiocese of New Zealand Ἀριθµός Τεύχους Newsletter 2 Χριστός ἀνέστη! Ἀληθῶς ἀνέστη! Christ is risen ; Truly, He is risen! Kua ara a te Karaiti ; He pono tonu, kua ara a Ia. Ua toe tu le Keriso ; ioe ua toe tu Keriso. Kristus sudah bangkit ; dia benar sudah bangkit. Al'Masiah qam ; haqqan qam. Mesih dirildi ; gerçekten dirildi. Jidu fuhuo liao ; zhende, ta fuhuo liao. Massih jee uthhā hai ; vāstav me vo jee uthhā hai. Harisutosu hukkatsu ; jitsu ni hukkatsu. Krist sudah membangun ; sesung guhnya dia sudah membangun. Christo è risuscitato ; in verità è resuscitato. Christus resurrectus est ; vere resurrectus est. Hristos váskrse ; vaïstinu váskrse. «Θανάτου ἑορτάζ ορτάζoµεν νέκρωσιν, ᾋδου τὴν καθαίρεσιν, ἄλλης βιοτῆς τῆς αἰωνίου ἀπαρχ παρχὴν» (ᾨδὴ ζ' καν. ζ' καν. Αναστάσιµος Αναστάσιµος) Καλὸ καὶ χαρούµενο Πάσχα Εὐχέτης Ὁ Νέας Ζηλανδίας Ἀµφιλόχιος Hristos a-înviat ; adevărat a-înviat. Christus ist auferstanden ; er ist wahrhaftig auferstanden. Le Christ est ressuscité ; en vérité, il est ressuscité. Vstal z mrtvŷch Kristus ; V pravdê vstal z mrtvŷch. Christos voskrese ; voistinou voskrese. Hristos vosskresse ; vo iss-ti-nou vosskresse. Khrystos uvaskros ; saprawdy uvaskros. Christo ha resucitado ; en verdad ha resucitado. Al'Masiah qam ; haqqan qam. Christos tenestwal ; ewnetem tenestwal. Kristu amefufuka ; kweli amefufuka. Kristy dia nitsangana tamin'ny maty ; eny efa nitsangana marina tokoa Izy. Ciise wuu soo daalacey ; runtii wuu soo daalacey. 1

2 Τὴν Ἀνάσταση τοῦ Κυρίου µας, τὸ µεγάλο γεγονὸς τῆς Ὀρθοδόξου Ἐκκλησίας, ἡ Ἱερὰ Μητρόπολις µας τὸ βίωσε, κατὰ τὴν Μεγάλη Τεσσαρακοστὴ µὲ τίς κατανυκτικὲς ἀκολουθίες τῶν Θείων Λειτουργιῶν τῶν Κυριακῶν (Μεγ. Βασιλείου), τῶν Θείων Λειτουργιῶν τοῦ Σαββάτου (Ἱ. Χρυσοστόµου), τῶν Θείων Λειτουργιῶν τῶν Προηγιασµένων Τιµίων ώρων (Ἁγ. Ἰακώβου) κάθε Τετάρτη καὶ Παρασκευή, τοῦ Ἀκαθίστου Ὕµνου τῆς Ὑπεραγίας Θεοτόκου κάθε Παρασκευὴ ἀπόγευµα καὶ τῶν Μεγάλων Ἀποδείπνων. Ἡ κορύφωση τῆς ἔντονης αὐτῆς λειτουργικῆς ζωῆς, ἡ «καρδιά» ὅλου τοῦ ἐκκλησιαστικοῦ ἔτους ἦταν ἡ Μεγάλη Ἑβδοµάδα. Ξεκινάει ἀπὸ τὴν Κυριακὴ τῶν Βαΐων καὶ τελειώνει τὸ Μεγάλο Σάββατο πρωΐ. Μία πορεία, µὲ τὴν εἴσοδο στήν πόλη τῶν Ἱεροσολύµων, τὴν διδασκαλία, τὸ Μυστικὸ δεῖπνο, τὴν προδοσία, τὸ πάθος, τὴν σταύρωση καὶ τέλος τὴν ταφὴ τοῦ Θεανθρώπου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὴν συνάντηση µὲ τὸν Ἀναστάντα ἐκ τῶν νεκρῶν Σωτῆρα καὶ Λυτρωτῇ Θεόν ὑµῶν. Ὅλους µᾶς συγκινεῖ ἡ ὑµνολογία-ποίηση, ἡ ὑ- µνῳδία-ψαλτική, τὸ πένθιµο ὕφος τῶν ἀκολουθιῶν καὶ ἡ ἔντονη ἀναπαράσταση τῶν γεγονότων ὅλης τῆς Μεγάλης Ἑβδοµάδας. Καθὼς ἐπίσης µᾶς συγκινεῖ καὶ ἡ µεγάλη προσέλευση στίς ἀκολουθίες τῶν Ὀρθοδόξων ἀλλὰ καὶ ἑτεροδόξων χριστιανῶν αὐτὴν τὴν περίοδο. Τέλος ἡ ζωηφόρος Ἀνάστασις τοῦ Κυρίου µας, αὐτὸ τὸ σωτήριο καὶ κοσµοϊστορικὸ γεγονός πού ἄλλαξε τὴν πορεία ὅλης τῆς ἀνθρωπότητος, ἑορτάστηκε λαµπρὰ σὲ ὅλες σχεδόν τίς ἐκκλησίες τῆς Μητροπόλεως µας. Μὲ τὴν χάρη τοῦ Θεοῦ λοιπὸν οἱ ἀκολουθίες στούς Ἱεροὺς Ναοὺς τῆς Ἱερᾶς Μητροπόλεως µας εἶχαν ὡς ἑξῆς: Our Holy Metropolis of New Zealand experienced the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, the greatest event in the Orthodox Church during the Great Lent period, with the sequence of moving services such as, the Divine Liturgies of Sunday (St. Basil the Great), the Divine Liturgies of (St. John Chrisostomos) each Saturday, the Liturgy of the Presanctified Holy Gifts (St. Iakovos) each Wednesday and Friday, the Akathist Hymn in praise of the most Holy Theotokos every Friday evening and the Great Compline. The culmination of this intense liturgic life, the heart of the entire ecclesiastical year, was the Holy Week. It starts from Palm Sunday and ends on Saturday morning. A course, by entering the city of Jerusalem, the teaching, the secret supper, the betrayal, the passion, the crucifixion and last the burial of the Godman Jesus Christ, but also the encounter with the resurrected from the dead,our saviour and redeemer God. Affects us all the hymnologypoetry, the chanting-hymnodia, the sorrowful tone of the services and the strong representation of events throughout the Holy Week. The great turnout at the services of the Orthodox Christians and dissident Christians also affects us this period. Finally the zoiforos resurrection of our Lord, this salutary and historic event which changed the course of humanity, was brilliantly celebrated in almost all churches of our Diocese. By the grace of God, the services in the churches of our Holy Metropolis were as follows: 2

3 Μητροπολιτικός Ἱερὸς Ναὸς Ἁγί γίου Ἀνδρέ δρέα, Wellington Metropolitan Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Andrews, Wellington Πραγµατοποιήθηκαν ὅλες οἱ ἀκολουθίες τῆς Μεγάλης Ἑβδοµάδος -ἐκτὸς τῆς Κυριακῆς τῶν Βαΐων καὶ τῆς Ἀναστάσεως- σὲ κλίµα κατάνυξης, στόν ἁπλὸ καὶ ταπεινὸ Μητροπολιτικὸ Ναὸ µας, καὶ µὲ πολὺ µεγάλη συµµετοχὴ χριστιανῶν ἀδελφῶν µας. Στίς περισσότερες ἀκολουθίες χοροστάτησε ὁ Σεβασµιώτατος Μητροπολίτης µας κ. Ἀµφιλόχιος. Τὸν ὑπόλοιπο µῆνα καθὼς καί τὸν µῆνα Μάϊο καὶ Ἰούνιο, ἐκτὸς τῶν Κυριακῶν: στίς 26/04 τοῦ Θωµᾶ, στίς 24/05 τοῦ Τυφλοῦ καὶ στίς 7/06 τῆς Πεντηκοστῆς, ὁ Μητροπολιτικὸς Ἱερὸς Ναὸς τοῦ Ἁγίου Ἀνδρέα λειτούργησε κανονικὰ τὰ Σάββατα καὶ τὶς ἑορτές µεγάλων Ἁ- γίων. The church had services all of Holy Week except for Palm Sunday and the Resurrection of our Lord- in a devout atmosphere, in our simple and humble Metropolitan Church and with great participation of our Christian brothers. His Eminence, Archbishop Amfilochios, chorostatise in most of the services. The remaining days of the month as well as the month of May and June except for Sundays of the: 26/04 of Thomas, the 24/05 of the Blind and the 7/06 of Pentecost, the Holy Metropolis of St. Andrews Had regular services on Saturdays and all great Saint Feast days. Ἔξοδος τοῦ ἐπιταφίου - The Lamentations Ἀνάστα ὁ Θεός Μέγα Σάββατον - Great Holy Saturday Tό παλαιό ἔθιµο τοῦ κρότου τῶν στασιδίων 3

4 Καθεδρικός Ἱερὸς Ναὸς Ἐξ ἀφορµῆς τῆς ἐπετείου τῆς Εὐαγ αγγε γελι λισµο σµοῦ τῆς Θεοτό τόκου κου, Wellington µάχης τῆς Κρήτης, κατὰ τὴν ὁποία συµµετείχαν καὶ Νεοζηλανδικὰ στρατεύµατα, Πραγµατοποιήθηκαν ὅλες ἀνεξαιρέτως πραγµατοποιήθηκε στίς 21 οἱ ἀκολουθίες τῆς Μεγάλης Μαΐου πανηγυρικὸ συλλείτουργο καὶ Ἑβδοµάδας µὲ λαµπρότητα ὅπως ἁρ- δοξολογία µὲ τὴν παρουσία τοῦ ἀξιότιµου µόζει στόν µεγαλοπρεπῆ Ἱερὸ Ναὸ τοῦ Πρέσβη κ. Εὐάγγελου αµιανά- Εὐαγγελισµοῦ. Ὁ Σεβασµιώτατος προεξῆρχε κη, ἐκπροσώπων τοῦ Ἑλληνικοῦ κοι- τῆς Ἀρχιερατικῆς Θείας Λειτουργίας νοβουλίου, ἐκπροσώπων τοῦ Νεοζηλανδικοῦ τοῦ Μεγάλου Βασιλείου τῆς Κυριακῆς τῶν Βαΐων. κοινοβουλίου καὶ ηµοτικοῦ συµβουλίου, βε- Στό τέλος τῆς λειτουργίας δέ, µοίρασε τεράνων Νεοζηλανδῶν πολεµιστῶν καὶ πλή- µαζὶ µὲ τὴν εὐλογία τοῦ ἀντιδώρου καὶ τὰ Βάϊα θους κόσµου πού ἦλθαν νά τιµήσουν αὐτὴ τὴν (πρωτότυπη χειροτεχνία τῶν κυριῶν τοῦ ἰδιαίτερη ἡµέρα γιά τὴν πατρίδα µας, ἀλλὰ καὶ συµβουλίου τῆς κοινότητος). Ἐπίσης ὁ Σεβασµιώτατος για τόν κόσµο ὁλόκληρο. χοροστάτησε στήν ἀκολουθία τοῦ Τὸν ὑπόλοιπο µῆνα καθὼς καὶ τοὺς µῆ- Ἐσπερινοῦ τοῦ Μεγάλου Σαββάτου (Ἀποκαθηλώσεως), νες Μάϊο καὶ Ἰούνιο τελέσθηκαν ὅλες οἱ ἀκο- τὸ ἀπόγευµα στήν ἀκολουθία τοῦ Ἐ- λουθίες κανονικά. πιταφίου καὶ τέλος στήν τελετὴ τῆς Ἀναστάσεως, Μπορεῖτε νά ἐπισκεφτεῖτε τὸ Μπλόκ τοῦ ὄρθρου καὶ τῆς Θείας Λειτουργίας τοῦ τοῦ Προϊσταµένου τοῦ Ιεροῦ Καθεδρικοῦ Ναοῦ Πάσχα. τοῦ Ἐυαγγελισµοῦ πρωτοπρ. Κωνσταντίνου Σηµαντικὸ γεγονὸς ἀποτέλεσε ἡ τέλεση Σιδηρόπουλου : τοῦ Ἀρχιερατικοῦ διορθόδοξου Ἑσπερινοῦ τῆς Holy Cathedral Church The Annunciation of the ἀγάπης, ἀνήµερα τῆς Κυριακῆς τοῦ Πάσχα. Theotokos, Wellington Προεξῆρχε ὁ Σεβασµιώτατος Ἐπίσκοπος Νέας Ζηλανδίας κ. Ἀµφιλόχιος µὲ All services of the Holy Week were held τὴν συµµετοχὴ σχεδὸν ὅλων brilliantly as appropriate to τῶν κληρικῶν τῆς Ἑλληνορθοδόξου Ἀρχιεπισκοπῆς the magnificent church of the Annunciation of the µας, καθὼς καὶ τῶν Ὀρθοδόξων κληρικῶν ἄλλων Theotokos. His Eminence led the Archieratiki Divine Πατριαρχείων ὅπως τοῦ Liturgy of St. Basil the Great on Palm Sunday. Ἀντιοχείας, Σερβίας, καὶ Ῥουµανίας. Κατὰ At the end of the liturgy he gave out along with τὸν Ἑσπερινὸ ἔγινε ἡ ἀνάγνωση τοῦ Εὐαγγελίου τῆς Ἀναστάσεως Ἑλληνιστί, στήν Ὁµηρικὴ his blessings the holy bread and Vaia (original handcrafted palm branches made by the ladies in διάλεκτο µελοποιηµένο σὲ ἡρωϊκό ἑξάµετρο, the community). His Eminence Λατινιστί, Ἀγγλιστί, Γερµανιστί, Γαλλιστί, also chorostatise, at the evening Vespers service Σερβιστὶ καὶ Ῥουµανιστί. on Holy Saturday (Apokathiloseos), at the 4

5 afternoon service of the Epitafios and last at the ceremony of the Resurrection, the Matins and Divine Liturgy of Easter. An important event was the service of the Archieratikou Vespers of love on Easter Sunday. HisEminence, Archbishop Amfilochios, of New Zealand led the service with the participation of almost all the clergy of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and other clergy of Orthodox Patriarchates as the Antiochian, Serbian and Romanian. During Vespers the reading of the Gospel was read in Greek, Latin, English, German, French, Serbian and Romanian languages. In connection with the anniversary of the Battle of Crete, which was attended by New Zealand troops was held on May 21, in a Doxology in the presence of his Excellency, the Ambassador of Greece, Mr. Evangelos Damianakis, representatives of the Greek Parliament, representatives of the New Zealand parliament and municipal council, veterans, New Zealand soldiers and crowds who came to honour this special day for our country but for Europe as a whole. The services were all held normally for the remaining days of the month as well as the months of May and June. 5

6 Ἱερ ερός Ναός Ἁγίου Νεκταρίου - Church of Saint Nektarios Petone (Hutt Valley) Ο Ἱερὸς Ναὸς Ἁ- γίου Νεκταρίου λειτουργεῖ τὴν πρώτη Κυριακὴ κάθε µῆνα, ἔτσι λοιπὸν εἶχε Θεία Λειτουργία: Κυριακὴ 5 Ἀπριλίου (E νηστειῶν, Μαρίας τῆς Αἰγυπτίας), Κυριακὴ 3 Μαΐου (τῶν Μυροφόρων) καὶ Κυριακὴ 7 Ἰουνίου (τῆς Πεντηκοστῆς). The Church of Saint Nektarios has its services on the first Sunday of each month. Divine liturgies were on: Sunday April 5 (5 th week of Lent, Saint Maria the Egyptian) Sunday May 3 (the Holy Myrrbearers) and Sunday June 7 (Pentecost) Κατὰ τὴν Μεγάλη Ἑβδοµάδα πραγµατοποιήθηκαν οἱ ἑξῆς ἀκολουθίες: Κυριακὴ τῶν Βαΐων βράδυ, ἡ ἀκολουθία τοῦ ὄρθρου Μεγάλης ευτέρας (Νυµφίος), ὅπου καὶ χοροστάτησε ὁ Σεβασµιώτατος Μητροπολίτης µας κ. Ἀµφιλόχιος. Μεγάλη Πέµπτη βράδυ. Μεγάλη Παρασκευὴ πρωΐ καὶ βράδυ Μεγάλο Σάββατο πρωΐ καὶ Τελετὴ τῆς Ἀναστάσεως, ὄρθρος καὶ Θεία Λειτουργία τοῦ Πάσχα. During the Holy Week the services were as follows: Palm Sunday evening, Matins service of Holy Monday where His Eminence, Archbishop Amfilochios, (chorostatise). Holy Thursday evening Holy Friday morning and evening Holy Saturday morning and ceremony of the Resurection, Matins and Divine Liturgy of the Holy Pascha. 6

7 Ἱερ ερός Ναός Ἁγίας Τριάδος δος, Auckland Στόν Ἱερό Ναό τῆς Ἁγίας Τριάδος, στήν ὄµορφη καί µεγάλη πόλη τοῦ Ὤκλαντ, πραγµατοποιήθηκαν ὅλες οἱ ἀκολουθίες. Ἡ συµµετοχή τοῦ κόσµου ἦταν ἐντυπωσιακή, ἰδιαίτερα τή Μεγάλη Ἑβδοµάδα. Ἡ ἀκούραστη καί συνεχής προσπάθεια τοῦ π. Νικολάου Γκρανιά ἐµπνέει τούς Χριστιανούς µας ἐκεῖ νά ξαναγυρίσουν στίς ρίζες τους, στήν πίστη τῶν πατέρων τους καί νά φέρνουν καί τά παιδιά τους κοντά στήν Ἀληθινή Ἐκκλησία µας. Μέ δική του πρωτοβουλία λοιπόν πραγµατοποιήθηκε στίς 11 Ἀπριλίου 2009, Σάββατο τοῦ Λαζάρου, Θεία Λειτουργία καί ἐν συνεχείᾳ ἡµερήσια γιορτή µέ ἐπίκεντρο τά παιδιά, ἡ ὁποία εἶχε µεγάλη ἐπιτυχία καί συµµετοχή. Ἐπίσης τά κατηχητικά Κυριακάτικα σχολεία ἐµπλουτίσθηκαν µέ τήν πρόσθεση στά τµήµατα πού µέ µεγάλο ἐνθουσιασµό δηµιούργησε ἡ Πρεσβυτέρα Μαρία, καί ἑνός εἴδους παιδικοῦ σταθµοῦ γιά παιδιά 1 ἕως 3 χρονῶν, µέ ὑπεύθυνη τήν ἐνορίτισσα κα. Tracey, πρός διευκόλυνση καί τῶν γονέων στήν παρακολούθηση τῆς Κυριακάτικης Θ. Λειτουργίας. Ἄλλος καρπός τοῦ ἐνθουσιασµοῦ τοῦ π. Νικολάου εἶναι ἡ ἀναγέννηση τῆς Φιλοπτώχου ὀργανώσεως τῆς Ἁγίας Τριάδος, στήν ὁποίαν ὅλοι εὐχόµαστε καλή δύναµη στό ἔργο της. Ὅλη αὐτή ἡ θαυµαστή καί θεάρεστη πρόοδος πρέπει νά συνεχισθῇ καί µετά τήν ἀναχώρηση τοῦ π. Νικολάου, πού δυστυχῶς θά γίνῃ γιά ὑπηρεσιακούς λόγους σέ περίπου ἑνάµισυ χρόνο. Ἔτσι λοιπόν ὁ Σεβασµιώτατος Μητροπολίτης µας κ. Ἀµφιλόχιος, µέ θερµή προσευχή στόν καλό Θεό µας καί διαρκή προσπάθεια ἀναζητᾶ κατάλληλον συνεχιστή τοῦ ἔργου πού συντελεῖται στό Ὤκλαντ. Ὁ π. Νικόλαος δέ, µέ ἀγάπη προσπαθεῖ νά ἐξηγήσῃ σέ ὅλους ὅτι ὁ ἴδιος µέν, µέ τήν βοήθεια τοῦ Θεοῦ (καί τοῦ ἐργοδότου του) δύναται νά προσφέρῃ τίς ὑπηρεσίες του δωρεάν. Γιά νά ἔλθῃ ὅµως ἕνας µόνιµος Ἱερέας, θά πρέπει ἡ κοινότητα νά τοῦ δώσῃ ἕναν ἀξιοπρεπῆ µισθό καί κατοικία, γιά νά µπορεῖ νά ζήσῃ µέ τήν οἰκογένεια του καί ἀπερίσπαστος νά ἀφιερωθῇ στήν Ἐκκλησία, νά συνεχίσῃ καί νά µεγαλώσῃ ἀκόµα πιό πολύ τό ἔργο πού ἔχει γίνῃ ἤδη. Σηµαντικός σταθµός στήν λειτουργική ζωή τῆς ἐνορίας ἀποτέλεσε ἡ Πανηγυρική Ἀρχιερατική Θεία Λειτουργία, προεξάρχοντος τοῦ Σεβασµιωτάτου Μητροπολίτου µας κ. Ἀµφιλοχίου, τήν Κυριακή τῆς Πεντηκοστῆς, κατά τήν διάρκεια τῆς ὁποίας ὁ Σεβασµιώτατος ἐχειροθέτησε τόν π. Νικόλαο Γκρανιά σέ Πρωτοπρεσβύτερο καί Πνευµατικό. Στό τέλος δέ τελέσθηκε καί ὁ Πανηγυρικός Ἀρχιερατικός Ἐσπερινός τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύµατος µέ τίς εὐχές τῆς γονυκλισίας. At the Holy Trinity Church in this beautiful and big city of Auckland, all the church services were held with great 7

8 participation. This was impressive to see especially during Holy Week. The tireless and constant efforts of Father Nicholas Grania, inspires our Christians there to go back to their roots, to the faith of their fathers and to bring their children closer to our true church. It was with his own initiative to hold a Divine Liturgy, on April 11, 2009 the Saturday of Lazarus, followed by a festive day focused on children. The event was very successful and had a good turnout. New groups of children have been added to the Sunday school that Presvytera Maria has created with such enthusiasm, as well as a sort of playgroup for children ages 1-3. Mrs. Tracey a parishioner is in charge of this group, in order to help parents better participate on Sundays Liturgies. Another fruit of the enthusiasm of Father Nicholas is to revive the Ladies Auxiliary Organization of Holy Trinity, in which we wish great success to. All this effort and pleasing progress that has been put in by Father Nicholas, has to continue even after his departure which unfortunately will happen in about a years time due to work reasons. His Eminence, Archbishop Amfilochios, is continuing to search and pray to God for the right person to continue this great work. Father Nicholas on the other hand, with love tries to explain to everyone that he with the help of God and (his employer), can offer his services for free. Another permanent priest though, to take over has to be given by the community a reasonable salary, housing, so he and his family can live and dedicate himself to this great work of the church and make it grow even more. An important event that took place at the parish, was the (Archieratiki) Liturgy which was led by His Eminence, Archbishop Amfilochios, on Sunday of Pentecost where Father Nicholas Grania, was made (Protopresvyteros) and Spiritual Father by His Eminence. At the end the Vespers of the Holy Spirit was held. 8

9 Ἱερ ερός Ναός Κοιµήσεως Θεοτόκου κου, Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos Christchurch Μὲ τὴν εὐλογία τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ ὁ Ἱερὸς Ναὸς τῆς Κοιµήσεως τῆς Θεοτόκου τοῦ Christchurch, µὲ τὸν διορισµὸ ἀπὸ τὴν Ἱερὰ Μητρόπολη Νέας Ζηλανδίας τοῦ π. Ἀµφιλοχίου Βασιλτσιωτέλη, λειτουργοῦσε ἀνελλιπῶς ὅλες τίς Κυριακὲς καὶ τὶς µεγάλες ἑορτές. Τὴν 18 Μαΐου τελέσθηκε ἡ κηδεία τοῦ ἐπίτιµου προξένου Θεοδώρου Χατζῆ καὶ στίς 20 Ἰουνίου τὸ 40/ἥµερο του µνηµόσυνο. Ἡ ποιµαντικὴ ἀγωνία καὶ ἀγάπη τοῦ π. Ἀµφιλοχίου γιά τοὺς ἐνορίτες του φαίνεται καὶ στήν παρακάτω ἀνοιχτὴ ἐπιστολὴ τὴν ὁποία καὶ καταχωροῦµε αὐτούσια: With the Grace of God, the Holy Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos, in Christchurch, has know a new priest Father Amfilochios Vasiltotelis, who served Liturgy on all great feast days as well as every Sunday. On the 18 th of May was the funeral of the honorary consul Theodore Hatzi And on the 20 th of June was his 40 day memorial service. The love of Father Amfilochios for his parishioners, shows in his letter which follows. Dearest Brethren. Christchurch 20/6/2009 Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. With the Grace of God, the blessings of our Bishop of New Zealand H. E. Amphilochios and the help and permission of my home Bishop of Mytiline H. E. Iakovos, three months have already passed since my family and I came to New Zealand. It is the love and concern of our Bishop towards our Church, towards all of you, which brought us here. We have met and spoken with the most of you and I'm filled with joy every time I see your beloved faces during our Holy Services. For those I've not met yet, I' m looking forward to meeting you and for that reason; I have started visiting many of you at your jobs or at your homes. I would like us all to have unity in Christ and to strengthen our relationship with our Lord. 9

10 Therefore, we want you to have opportunities for prayer and Catechism, except of those we already have on Sundays and big Feast Days. One of those opportunities is the service of the holy Paraklesis to Panagia, the Mother of God, who intercedes for us to her Son. This prayer is followed by Catechism. So all, you that are not occupied with a job are invited to come and pray together every Thursday a.m. For those that are working, I would like to hear from you if you are interested to make some time for an individual or a group prayer and Catechism. Now about our beloved children and youth. Don't you think it is time to help them find their way to Christ, to help them open up their souls for Him to step in? Jesus said: Let the children come to me. My wife presvitera Anastasia and I would be very happy if you could manage to find one hour every week for your children to come together to learn about the life of our Church. Our Treasure is right here! We just have to reach out to get it! If you are interested in any of the above, please let me know. You can visit us, call us for a visit or phone us. My phone numbers are: Tel and My address is: amphilochio@ yahoo.gr. Also, I would very much like to have your address to communicate personally with you. With love in Christ. Rev. Amphilochios S. Vasiltsotelis Μπορεῖτε να ἐπισκεφτεῖτε τὸ Μπλόκ τοῦ π. Ἀµφιλοχίου: 10

11 Ἱερ ερός Ναός Τιµίου Προδρόµου µου, Palmerston North Ο Ἱερὸς Ναὸς Τιµίου Προδρόµου λειτουργεῖ τὴν τελευταία Κυριακὴ κάθε µῆνα, ἐνίοτε καὶ ἐκτάκτως λόγῳ µεγάλης ἑορτῆς, ἔτσι λοιπὸν εἶχε Θεία Λειτουργία: Κυριακὴ 12 Ἀπριλίου (τῶν Βαΐων), Κυριακὴ 26 Ἀπριλίου (τοῦ Θωµᾶ), Κυριακὴ 24 Μαΐου (τοῦ Τυφλοῦ) µὲ Ἀρχιερατικὴ χοροστασία τοῦ Σεβασµιωτάτου Μητροπολίτου µας κ. Ἀµφιλοχίου καὶ Κυριακὴ 28 Ἰουνίου, εἰς µνήµη τοῦ Γενεθλίου τοῦ Τιµίου Προδρόµου (24 Ἰουνίου) ὅπου ἀποτελεῖ τὴν ἡµέρα που πανηγυρίζει ὁ Ἱερὸς Ναὸς τοῦ Πάλµερστον Νόρθ, πραγµατοποιήθηκε πανηγυρικὸ ἱερατικὸ συλλείτουργο. Ἡ συµµετοχὴ τῶν χριστιανῶν ἦταν µεγάλη, ὄχι µόνον ἀπὸ τὴν ἐνορία ἀλλὰ καὶ ἀπὸ τὴν πόλη τοῦ Οὐέλλινγκτων µὲ λεωφορεῖο καὶ αὐτοκίνητα. Μετὰ τὸν ὄρθρο καὶ τὴν Θεία Λειτουργία ἀκολούθησαν ἀρτοκλασίες καὶ πλούσιο κέρασµα σὲ κοντινὴ αἴθουσα. Church of Saint John the Forerunner The Greek Orthodox Church of the Forerunner John has its services on the last Sunday of each month. The Divine Liturgy was on: Sunday April 12 (Palm Sunday) Sunday April 26 (Thomas) Sunday May 24 (the Blind) Sunday June 28 (in memory of the Nativity of John the Baptist which is the day that the Palmerston North church celebrates) a festive hieratic function was held. The participation of Christians was great, not only from the parish but of the town of Wellington as well. Matins and Divine Liturgy was followed by artoklasies and rich treats at the nearby room. 11

12 Ἱερ ερός Ναός Ἁγίου Νικολάου ου, Church of Saint Nicholas - New Plymouth Ο Ἱερὸς Ναὸς Ἁγίου Νικολάου λειτουργεῖ τὴν τρίτη Κυριακὴ κάθε µῆνα, ἐνίοτε καὶ ἐκτάκτως λόγῳ µεγάλης ἑορτῆς, ἔτσι λοιπὸν εἶχε Θεία Λειτουργία: Κυριακὴ 12 Ἀπριλίου (τῶν Βαΐων), Κυριακὴ 10 Μαΐου (τοῦ Παραλύτου) καὶ Κυριακὴ 17 Μαΐου (τῆς Σαµαρίτιδος) Κυριακὴ 21 Ἰουνίου. Κατὰ τὴν Μεγάλη Ἑβδοµάδα πραγµατοποιήθηκαν οἱ ἑξῆς ἀκολουθίες: Μεγάλη Πέµπτη βράδυ. Μεγάλη Παρασκευὴ πρωΐ καὶ βράδυ Μεγάλο Σάββατο πρωΐ καὶ Τελετὴ τῆς Ἀναστάσεως, ὄρθρος καὶ Θεία Λειτουργία τοῦ Πάσχα. Τὴν 17η Μαΐου, Κυριακὴ τῆς Σαµαρίτιδος, στὸν Ἱερὸ Ναὸ τοῦ Ἁγίου Νικολάου στὸ New Plymouth ἔγιναν δύο βαπτίσεις. ύο ἀδέλφια ἀπὸ τὸ Hastings (ἐνορία τοῦ Ἁγίου ηµητρίου) βαπτίζονται.ἱερεµίας καὶ Ἰωάννης τὰ ὀνόµατα τους. Κατὰ τὴν διάρκεια τῆς Θείας Λειτουργείας ὁ Σεβασµιώτατος Μητροπολίτης κ. Ἀµφιλόχιος µεταξὺ ἄλλων τόνισε τὴν σηµασία καὶ τὴν ἀξία τῶν Χριστιανικῶν ὀνοµάτων καθώς ἐπίσης καὶ τῶν Χριστιανικῶν ἑορτῶν στὴν καθηµερινὴ µας ζωὴ ἐν ἀντιθέσει µέ τίς κοσµικές, καί χωρὶς πνεῦµα, Προτεσταντικῆς ἐµπνεύσεως ἑορτὲς ὅπως τῶν γενεθλίων, τῶν ἀνθέων, τοῦ δρόµου κ.λ.π. Ἀποσπάσµατα ἀπὸ τὴν Θεία Λειτουργεία, τὴν Βάπτιση τοῦ Ἱερεµία καὶ τοῦ Ἰωάννη καθὼς ἐπίσης καὶ τὸν λόγο τοῦ Σεβασµιωτάτου µπορεῖτε νὰ ἀκούσετε στὰ «Πολυµέσα -Ἦχος» τῆς Ἰστοσελίδας µας The Holy Church of Saint Nicholas has services on the third Sunday of every month. The Divine Liturgy was on: Sunday April 12 (Palm Sunday) Sunday May 10 (the Paralytic) and May 17 (the Samaritan woman) Sunday June 21 All through the Holy Week the following services were held: Holy Thursday evening Holy Friday morning and evening Holy Saturday morning and evening Liturgy of the Great and Holy Pascha On the 17 th of May, Sunday of the Samaritan Woman, the first two baptisms were held at the Holy Church of St. Nicholas in New Plymouth. Two brothers from Hastings - parishioners of St. Dimitrios. Iremias (Jeremy) and Ioannis (John) their names. During the Divine Liturgy His Eminence, Archbishop Amfilochios, pointed out the significance and value of the Christian names as well as the celebration of namedays in our every day lives as opposed to the cosmic and without spirit protestant inspiration of celebrations such as birthdays, flowers etc. Parts of the Liturgy and baptism of Jeremy and John as well as the speech given by the Archbishop, can be listened to, on the <<Multimedia-Sound>> of our website 12

13 Ἱερ ερός Ναός Ἁγίου ηµητρίου ου, Hastings Η ἀγάπη τοῦ Σεβασµιωτάτου Μητροπολίτου µας κ. Ἀµφιλοχίου καὶ ἡ εὐλάβεια του στόν ἅγιο Μεγαλοµάρτυρα ηµήτριο, ἔδωσε τὴν εὐκαιρία στούς Ὀρθοδόξους τῆς πόλεως Hastings να ἑορτάσουν γιά πρώτη φορὰ στήν ἱστορία τῆς περιοχῆς τους σὲ Ἑλληνικὸ Ὀρθόδοξο Ναὸ τὸ ἅγιο Πάσχα. Ἔτσι ἀπὸ τὴν Κυριακὴ τῶν Βαΐων 12 Ἀπριλίου µέχρι καὶ ἀνήµερα τοῦ Πάσχα στόν Ἑσπερινὸ τῆς Ἀγάπης 19 Μαΐου λειτουργοῦσε ὁ ναὸς τοῦ Ἁγίου ηµητρίου Χάστινγκς. Ἔπρεπε νά περάσουν 80 καὶ παραπάνω χρόνια γιά νά ἀξιωθοῦν οἱ Ἕλληνες καὶ λοιποὶ Ὀρθόδοξοι τοῦ Hastings νά ἀκούσουν τὰ 12 Εὐαγγέλια καὶ τό «Σήµερον κρεµᾶται ἐπὶ ξύλου» στόν δικὸ τους Ὀρθόδοξο ναό. Μὲ µεγάλη συγκίνηση ἂρχισαν πρωΐ πρωΐ τῆς Μεγάλης Παρασκευῆς νά στολίζουν τὸν ἐπιτάφιο. Εἶχαν λησµονήσει µετὰ ἀπὸ τόσα χρόνια, πῶς θὰ ἔπρεπε νά τὸν κάνουν. Ὅµως τὰ καταφέρανε. Καὶ τὸ ἴδιο βράδυ ψάλανε µὲ µεγάλη ἱκανοποίηση καὶ χαρὰ τὰ ἐγκώµια. Μετὰ τήν περιφορά τοῦ ἐπιταφίου γύρω ἀπὸ τὸν ναὸ περάσανε ὅλοι ἀπὸ κάτω µπαίνοντας στήν Ἐκκλησία, γιά νά λάβουν τὴν εὐλογία του. «Σήµερα µεταφερθήκαµε χρόνια πολλὰ πίσω, ὅταν µικρὰ παιδιὰ περνούσαµε κάτω ἀπὸ τὸν ἐπιτάφιο τοῦ χωριοῦ µας», ἔλεγαν, σκουπίζοντας τὰ δάκρυα ἀ- πὸ τὰ µάτια τους. Τὸ πρωΐ τοῦ Μεγάλου Σαββάτου ὅταν ὁ Ἱεροµόναχος πατὴρ Ἰωακεὶµ ἄρχισε νά ψάλλῃ τὸν θριαµβευτικὸ ὕµνο «Ἀνάστα ὁ Θεὸς κρίνων τὴν γῆν» ἀκούστηκε τὸ ῥυθµικὸ κτύπη- µα τοῦ καθίσµατος τοῦ µοναδικοῦ στασιδίου, σύµφωνα µὲ τὴν παράδοση τῶν νησιῶν µας, ἕνας ἀπὸ τοὺς ὡραίους συµβολισµοὺς τῆς χαρᾶς τῆς Ἀναστάσεως. Τὴν νύχτα τῆς Ἀναστάσεως ὅλοι µαζὶ ψάλαµε τὸν παιᾶνα τῆς Χριστιανικῆς πίστεως: «Χριστὸς ἀνέστη ἐκ νεκρῶν.». Στόν Ἑσπερινὸ τῆς ἀγάπης, ἀπόγευµα τῆς Κυριακῆς τοῦ Πάσχα, σὲ µία πανορθόδοξη ἀτµόσφαιρα Ἕλληνες, Ρῶσοι, Σέρβοι, Ῥουµάνοι καὶ Νεοζηλανδοὶ ἀκούσαµε τὸ Εὐαγγέλιο «Οὔσης οὖν ὀψίας τῇ ἡµέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ τῇ µιᾷ Σαββάτων» καὶ τσουγκρίσαµε τὰ κόκκινα εὐλογηµένα αὐγά πού πήραµε ἀπὸ τὸ χέρι τοῦ Ἱερέα π. Ἰωακείµ. Ἡ ἑπόµενη Θεία Λειτουργία πού πραγ- µατοποιήθηκε ἦταν στίς 10 Μαΐου, στήν ὁποία καὶ χοροστάτησε ὁ Σεβασµιώτατος Μητροπολίτης µας κ. Ἀµφιλόχιος. Στὶς 31 Μαΐου στὸν Ἱερὸν Ναὸν τοῦ Ἁγίου ηµητρίου στὸ Hastings ἔγινε ἀκόµα µία βάπτιση. Ἡ Νεοζηλανδὴ Elles ἔγινε Χριστιανὴ Ὀρθόδοξη. Καί τὸ ὄνοµα αὐτῆς Ἐλισάβετ. Εἶναι ἡ πρώτη Νεοζηλανδὴ πού βαπτίζεται Ὀρθόδοξη καὶ ἡ βάπτιση της εἶναι ἡ πρώτη ποῦ γίνεται στὸν Ἱερὸν Ναὸν τοῦ Ἁγίου ηµητρίου, τὰ θυρανοίξια τοῦ ὁποίου ἔγιναν τὸν προηγούµενο Ὀκτώβριο. 13

14 The love and devotion of our Eminence Metropolitan Amphilochios for the Megemartyr Saint Dimitrios, gave the opportunity to the Orthodox Christians of Hastings to celebrate Easter in a Greek Orthodox Church for the first time in the history of their area. Over 80 years must have passed before the Orthodox people of Hastings had this opportunity to participate in listening to the readings of the twelve Holy Gospels and hearing Today he who suspended the earth amid the waters is suspended on the Tree in their own Orthodox Church. With great emotion on Good Friday they began to decorate the Epitaphio very early in the morning. They managed to decorate it even though they had forgotten after all these years.that same evening with great satisfaction and joy they chanted the lamentations Christ, the Life, You were laid in a tomb, and the ranks of angels were amazed as they glorified Your condescension. The Epitaphio was taken around the church and everyone had the opportunity to pass underneath it before going back into the church by doing so they received the blessing of the Epitaphio. Today took us years back to when we were children, we would pass under the Epitaphio of our village, they said wiping the tears from their eyes. In the morning of Holy Saturday when Heirmonk Father Joachim began to chant the triumphal hymn Arise, O God, and be judge of the earth the banging sound of the only seat (something like a small pew made from wood where the base of the seat could be lifted up and down) was heard in the church according to the traditions of our Greek islands. This nice gesture symbolizes the joy of the resurrection. In the evening of the resurrection we all chanted the hymn of the Christian faith: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death, and bestowing life on those in the graves, followed by the nice troparion from the canon of Saint John the Damascus: The day of the resurrection! O people let us be radiant. It is Pascha. At the vespers of love, in the afternoon of Easter Sunday, in an orthodox atmosphere Greeks, Russians, Romanians and New Zealanders, all listened to the Gospel On the evening of that day, the first day of the week and we cracked the blessed red eggs which we received from the hand of Father Joachim. The following Divine Liturgy took place on the 10th of May where His Eminence, Archbishop Amfilochios, took part. On the 31st of May at the Holy Church of Saint Demetrios of Hastings, one more baptism took place. Elles a New Zealander became Christian Orthodox. She took the name Elizabeth. She is the first New Zealander to be baptized Orthodox and her baptism was the first that took place at the Holy Church of Saint Demetrios. 14

15 Ἱερά Μονή Παµµεγίστων µεγίστων Ταξιαρχῶν, Monastery Synaxis of the Archangels (LEVIN LEVIN) Εχουµε τὴν χαρὰ νά παρουσιάζουµε τὴν τοποθεσία, τὰ πρῶτα κτίσµατα ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰ µελλοντικὰ σχέδια για τὴν ὁλοκλήρωση τοῦ πρώτου Ὀρθόδοξου χριστιανικοῦ µοναστηριοῦ στή Νέα Ζηλανδία. Μπορεῖ κάποιος νά ἀναρωτηθεῖ, ποιός εἶναι ὁ λόγος τῆς ὕπαρξης ἑνὸς µοναστηριοῦ. Ἐµεῖς οἱ Ὀρθόδοξοι χριστιανοὶ πολὺ εὔκολα θὰ ἀπαντούσαµε πώς ἡ ὕπαρξη µοναστηριοῦ εἶναι ἀπαραίτητη. Ἀποτελεῖ γιά τή Μία Ἁγία, Καθολικὴ καί Ἀποστολική Ἐκκλησία, στήριγµα, πνευµατικὸ κέντρο καὶ καταφύγιο γιά ὁποιαδήποτε ταλαιπωρηµένη ψυχή. Σὲ τοῦτο τὸ εἰδυλλιακὸ περιβάλλον τοῦ Λεβίν, σὲ κτῆµα ἰδιόκτητο 104 στρεµµάτων, θὰ λειτουργήσῃ, πρῶτα ὁ Θεός, προσεχῶς, τὸ πρῶτο ἱερὸ ἀνδρικὸ Μοναστῆρι τῆς Ἱερᾶς Μητροπόλεως Νέας Ζηλανδίας, τοῦ Οἰκουµενικοῦ Πατριαρχείου, στὸ ὄνοµα τῶν Παµµεγίστων Ταξιαρχῶν (διάστ. 9x5) καὶ τὸ παρακείµενο ἐκκλησάκι τοῦ Ἁ- γίου Βασιλείου (διάστ. 6 x 2.5) θὰ κοστίσει περίπου στὶς Εὐρώ, δηλαδὴ δολάρια Ν.Ζ. περίπου. Παρακαλεῖσθε ἂν θέλετε νά βάλετε, ἐσεῖς καὶ οἱ φίλοι σας, ὅ,τι µπορεῖτε στὸν Τραπεζικὸ λογαριασµό: We are pleased to present the location, the first buildings and future plans for the Completion of the first Orthodox Christian Monastery in New Zealand. One can ask, what is the reason for the existence of a monastery? We Orthodox Christians can very easily answer that such a monastery is 15

16 necessary for one is the Holy and Catholic Church which supports, provides spiritual shelter and center for every feeble soul. In this idyllic environment Levin, AN estate owned 104 acres, will serve God first, soon THE FIRST holy male monastery of the Holy Metropolis of New Zealand, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, in the name of the Synaxis of the Archangels (9x5) AND THE adjacent church of St. Basil (6x2.5) WILL cost about 60,000 euros, or $130,000 N.Z. We kindly ask you if you can donate whatever you can in this account: Bank Westpac: Branch, 2 Devon St. East, New Plymoyth, New Zealand Name Amfilochios Tsoukos Full account number: Swift code: WPAC NZ2W Εὐχαριστοῦµε πολύ. Να εἶναι βοήθεια σας καὶ νὰ ἔχετε τὴν προστασία τῶν Ἁγίων Ἀρχαγγέλων καὶ τὴν εὐλογία τοῦ Ἁγίου Βασιλείου, τοῦ ὀργανωτοῦ τοῦ Ὀρθόδοξου Μοναχισµοῦ. Thank you for your support. May the Archangels be of help to you and your families and may you have the blessings of Saint Basil the organizer of Orthodox Monasticism. Εὐχέτης σας Ὁ Νέας Ζηλανδίας Ἀµφιλόχιος 16