St. Theodore the General Monthly Newsletter

Transcript

1 V St. Theodore the General Monthly Newsletter METROPOLIS OF NEW JERSEY Volume 3, Issue 8 August 2011 Greek Orthodox Metropolis Of New Jersey His Eminence Metropolitan EVANGELOS THE DORMITION OF OUR MOST HOLY LADY THE THEOTOKOS AND EVER VIRGIN MARY St. Theodore the General Greek Orthodox Church 7101 Cipriano Road Lanham, MD Phone: Fax: Website: office@sttheodores.org Parish Proistamenos His Eminence Metropolitan PANTELEIMON of Antinoes Church Office Hours Monday through Friday 10:00 am 2:00 pm Church Secretary Juliana Moniodis 2011 PARISH COUNCIL Officers: President..John Maroulis Vice President. Nicholas Michaelides Treasurer Pantelis Zairis Secretary Nora Presti Members: Patrick Curtis George Kollaros Paul Moniodis Anthony Quebral PHILOPTOCHOS President Maria Curtis Vice President Stella Higgs Treasurer Maria Kapsalis Secretary. Elaine Michaelides Advisor.. Angie Alexion ORGANIZATIONS Sunday School..Christina Villano Greek School. Nora Presti PTO... Nora Presti Concerning the Dormition of the Theotokos, this is what the Church has received from ancient times from the tradition of the Fathers. When the time drew nigh that our Savior was well-pleased to take His Mother to Himself, He declared unto her through an Angel that three days hence, He would translate her from this temporal life to eternity and bliss. On hearing this, she went up with haste to the Mount of Olives, where she prayed continuously. Giving thanks to God, she returned to her house and prepared whatever was necessary for her burial. While these things were taking place, clouds caught up the Apostles from the ends of the earth, where each one happened to be preaching, and brought them at once to the house of the Mother of God, who informed them of the cause of their sudden gathering. As a mother, she consoled them in their affliction as was meet, and then raised her hands to Heaven and prayed for the peace of the world. She blessed the Apostles, and, reclining upon her bed with seemliness, gave up her all-holy spirit into the hands of her Son and God. With reverence and many lights, and chanting burial hymns, the Apostles took up that God-receiving body and brought it to the sepulchre, while the Angels from Heaven chanted with them, and sent forth her who is higher than the Cherubim. But one Jew, moved by malice, audaciously stretched forth his hand upon the bed and immediately received from divine judgment the wages of his audacity. Those daring hands were severed by an invisible blow. But when he repented and asked forgiveness, his hands were restored. When they had reached the place called Gethsemane, they buried there with honor the allimmaculate body of the Theotokos, which was the source of Life. But on the third day after the burial, when they were eating together, and raised up the artos (bread) in Jesus' Name, as was their custom, the Theotokos appeared in the air, saying "Rejoice" to them. From this they learned concerning the bodily translation of the Theotokos into the Heavens. These things has the Church received from the traditions of the Fathers, who have composed many hymns out of reverence, to the glory of the Mother of our God + + +

2 Page 2 The Life of St. Phanourios St. Phanourios is a great martyr of the Church, but unlike other saints of the Church, we learned of his sainthood only after the discovery of his icon. On the island of Rhodes, in 1500, when it was under Islamic rule, there were some abandoned dwellings at the foot of the island s old fortress. It happened that the Muslims were excavating stone s from a fortress, and uncovered a church. The faithful Christians went in to recover anything sacred that might be in the Church. Everything was decayed, except one icon, of St. Phanourios, which looked untouched by years, as though it had just been painted. The icon had the center depiction of him, holding a cross in his right hand, and a candle in his left. Around it, were 12 scenes: Undergoing examination by a magistrate With soldiers, beating him on the mouth and head with stones Stretched out on the ground, being whipped by soldiers Stripped naked, while being raked with iron hooks Incarcerated in a dudgeon Again, standing before a tribunal Being burned with candles Bound on the rack Cast among wild beasts Crushed with a great rock Having to stand before idols with burning coals in his hands Standing in the midst of a fiery furnace, his hand lifted towards heaven. Holy Great Martyr Phanourios, intercede unto God on our behalf! Many miracles of his miracles are known, among which includes the following miracle in Crete. At the time, Crete was under Latin rule, it had no Orthodox bishop, but a Roman Catholic one, since it was under the control of the Venetians. This way the Latins hope to eventually, with time, to convert the Orthodox. If someone wanted to be ordained a priest, he had to leave the island and go to Kythera. Once, three deacons had gone to Kythera and were ordained priests, but on the return trip, they were intercepted at sea by the Muslims, and taken into slavery. Being taken to the island of Rhodes, the new priests had heard of the newly discovered Saint Phanourios, and when given time to pray, they went to his church where his icon was, and prayed that he would intercede with God that they be delivered from slavery. That night, by God s leave, St. Phanourios appeared to their Muslim masters and commanded them to free the three priests. The Muslim masters, however, thought this was some cleaver sorcery and did not free them. The next day, they were all struck blind, and all their households were paralyzed with pains. With this, the Muslim masters repented, and freed the priests. For this reason, St. Phanourios is known as the protecter of priests. There is also a tradition concerning him, that he loved his mother dearly, although she had fallen into a life of sin as a harlot. At the time of his stoning in his martyrdom, he prayed out for her, for the sake of my suffering, may God help all those who pray on behalf of my mother. And, many to this day, still pray for her, submitting her name as the mother of St. Phanourios, since her name is unknown. His name in Greek also gives a hint of another tradition concerning him. Since Phanourios comes from the Greek work I reveal, he is known to help those who have lost things. Some, therefore, have referred to him as Saint lost and found!. On his feast day, the faithful bake the St. Phanourios bread, and, by custom, it is to be given to the poor in honor of his mother and to be shared with at least 7 people.

3 Page 3 St. Phanourios The Patron Saint of Lost Articles & Protection of Priests It is a pious Eastern Orthodox custom that if you lost something, try baking Phanouropita (a cake for St. Phanourios). St. Phanourios, the patron saint of lost articles, helps people find anything from a missing piece of jewelry to good health and happiness. Phanrourios comes from the Greek word phanerono (I reveal). When asking St. Phanourios for help, a cake is baked for the forgiveness of his mother, a troubled woman. The cake can be brought to the Church and placed there to be blessed by the parish priest together with the faithful. Afterwards, the blessed cake is shared by those at the church and given to the poor. Ingredients: Phanouropita Servings: cups flour 4 teaspoons baking powder 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup olive oil 1 cup sugar, plus 2 tablespoons sugar 2 tablespoons grated orange peal 2 cups fresh orange juice 1/2 cup brandy or 1/2 cup water 1 cup golden raisin 1 cup walnuts, roughly chopped (optional) Directions: Prep Time: 10 minutes Total Time: 55 minutes 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. Butter and flour a 12-inch, round cake pan or a 9x13x2-inch baking dish. 3. Mix the flour with the spices. 4. In a bowl mix the oil, sugar, orange juice, brandy and the orange zest. 5. Mix well. 6. Add the flour, the raisins and the walnuts. 7. Mix well. 8. Pour batter into prepared pan. 9. Bake the cake for 45 min to an hour (tester inserted comes out clean). 10. May use powdered sugar to dust the top (optional)

4 Page 4 ΦΙΛΟΠΣΩΥΟ ΑΔΕΛΦΟΣΗΣΑ Την Δεςηέπα, 27 Θοςνίος, 2011, ςπό ηην πποεδπία ηηρ κ. Μαπίαρ Κατάλη, Πποέδπος ηηρ Φιλοπηώσος Αδελθόηηηαρ ηος Αγίος Θεοδώπος, ζςνεδπίαζε ηο νέο Διοικηηικό Σςμβούλιο ηηρ Αδελθόηηηορ. Παπούζερ ήζαν η κ. Κατάλη Μαπία, Ππόεδπορ, η κ. Αλεξίος Απγςπώ, Γπαμμαηέαρ, η κ. Οςπανία Μάνεζζη, Ταμίαρ, η κ. Σηέλλα Higgs και η κ. Elaine Michaelidis, μέλη. Τιμηηικά παπεςπέθηκε η Δ/νίρ Εςαγγελία Νύκηαπη. Σηην ζςνεδπίαζη παπεςπέθηκε και ο Σεβ/ηορ Μηηποπολίηηρ Ανηινόηρ κ.κ. Πανηελεήμυν, ο οποίορ ζςνεσάπη όλερ ηιρ κςπίερ για ηην ανάλητη ηυν ιεπών καθηκόνηυν ηοςρ και εςσήθηκε «καλή δύναμη ζηην επιηέλεζη ηος έπγος ηος Θεού». PHILOPTOCHOS SOCIETY On Monday, 27 th June, 2011, the new Administrative Committee of the Philoptochos Society of St. Theodore took place. The meeting was presided by Mrs Maria Kapsalis, President. The following attended: Mrs Maria Kapsalis - President, Mrs Argyro Alexiou -Secretary, Mrs Urania Manessis -Treasurer, Mrs Elaine Michaelidis Ass. Treasurer and Mrs Stella Higgs member. Miss Evangelia Nyktari was also present as an honoring guest. His Eminence Metropolitan Panteleimon congratulated the new Council members for their election and prayed for strength and good health to realize the work of God. The Philoptochos is dedicated to philanthropy in the service of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Please consider joining and supporting this truly rewarding and spiritual cause.

5 Page 5 ΜΕΓΑ ΑΡΥΙΕΡΑΣΙΚΟ ΕΠΕΡΙΝΟ & ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΣΟΤΡΓΙΑ ΠΡΟ ΣΙΜΗΝ ΣΩΝ ΑΓΙΩΝ ΠΡΩΣΟΚΟΡΤΦΑΙΩΝ ΑΠΟΣΟΛΩΝ ΠΕΣΡΟΤ & ΠΑΤΛΟΤ ΣΗΝ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΚΟΙΝΟΣΗΣΑ FREDERICK MD. Την Τπίηη, 28 Θοςνίος, 2011, ο Σεβ/ηορ Μηηποπολίηηρ Ανηινόηρ κ.κ. Πανηελεήμυν, πποζκληθείρ από ηον Αιδεζ. π. Αναζηάζιο Κοςζούλα, σοποζηάηηζε ζηον Μέγα Απσιεπαηικό Εζπεπινό ηυν ππορ ηιμή ηυν Αγίυν Ππυηοκοπςθαίυν Αποζηόλυν Πέηπος & Παύλος ηηρ Ελληνικήρ Κοινόηηηαρ ηος Frederick (920 West 7 th Street, Frederick, MD 21701), ζςμπαπαζηαηούμενορ από ηοςρ Αιδεζ. π. Κοζμά Καπαβέλλα, Γενικό Απσιεπαηικό Επίηποπο (και Θεπ. Πποφζη. Αγ. Κυν/νος & Ελένηρ), Πανοζιολ. Απσιμ. π. Κυνζηανηίνο Μοπάλη (Θεπαη. Πποφζη. Καθεδπικού Ναού Εςαγγελιζμού Baltimore), Αιδεζ. π. Δημήηπιο Ανηώκα (Θεπ. Πποφζη. Αγ. Γευπγίος Bethesda), Rev. Fr. Lou Noplos, Rev. Fr. Duane Johnson, Rev. Fr. Stephen Gousios, Αιδεζ. π. Αναζηάζιο Κοςζούλα,. HIERARCHAL VESPERS & DIVINE LITUR- GY IN HONOR OF THE HOLY APOSTLES Ss PETER & PAUL AT THE GREEK COMMU- NITY OF FREDERICK MD On the 28 th June, 2011, His Eminence Metropolitan Panteleimon of Antinoes was invited by the Rev. Fr. Anastasios Kousoulas, to preside the Great Vespers and Divine Liturgy for the Ss Peter and Paul of the Greek Orthodox Community in Frederick (920 West 7 th Street, Frederick, MD 21701). His Eminence was assisted by Rev. Fr. Cosmas Karavellas, General Vicar, Very Rev. Fr. Dean Moralis (Dean of Annunciation Cathedral- Baltimore), Rev. Fr. Dimitrios Antokas (of St George-Bethesda), Rev. Fr. Lou Noplos, Rev. Fr. Duane Johnson, Rev. FR. Stephen Gousios, Rev. Fr. Anastasios Kousoulas. Τον Σεβ/ηο ζςνόδεςαν ο κ. Γεώπγιορ Κολλάπορ και ο κ. Γεώπγιορ Ζώηο. His Eminence was accompanied by Mr. George Kollaros and Mr. George Zoto.

6 Page 6 August 2011 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat th Sunday of Matthew 1 Dormition Fast Begins Forefeast of the Transfiguration 12 6 Divine Liturgy 9 am Transfiguration of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Fish permitted) th Sunday of Matthew Great Vespers & Engomia 7 pm 21 10th Sunday of Matthew 28 11th Sunday of Matthew 15 Dormition of the Theotokos 22 Apodosis of the Dormition of the Theotokos 29 Beheading of St. John the Prophet & Baptist (strict fast) Apodosis of the Dormition of the Theotokos St. Phanourios (We bring Phanouropittes)

7 Page 7 Αύγουστος 2011 Κυ Δε Σρ Σε Πέ Πα ά 1 ΝΗΣΤΕΘΑ ΟΡΘΡΟ & ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΣΟΤΡΓΙΑ 9 πμ ΜΕΓΑ ΠΕΡΙΝΟ ΜΕΣΑΜΟΡΥΩΗ ΣΟΤ ΩΣΗΡΟ (ΚΑΣΑΛΤΗ ΙΦΘΤΟ) 7 8η Κυριακή του Ματθαίου η Κυριακή του Ματθαίου ΕΓΚΩΜΙΑ 15 ΚΟΙΜΗΗ ΣΗ ΘΕΣΟΚΟΤ η Κυριακή του Ματθαίου 28 11η Κυριακή του Ματθαίου 22 ΜΕΓΑ ΕΠΕΡΙΝΟ 29 ΑΠΟΣΟΜΗ ΣΙΜΙΑ ΚΕΥΑΛΗ ΠΡΟΥΗΣΟΤ ΙΩΑΝΝΟΤ (ΑΤΣΗΡΗ ΝΗΣΕΙΑ) 23 ΑΠΟΔΟΗ ΚΟΙΜΗΗ ΣΗ ΘΕΟΣΟΚΟΤ ΜΕΓΑ ΕΠΕΡΙΝΟ 27 ΑΓΙΟΤ ΥΑΝΟΤΡΙΟΤ (ΥΕΡΝΟΤΜΕ ΥΑΝΟΤΡΟΠΙΣΣΕ)

8 We re on the Web! Volume 3, Issue 8 Stewardship If you have not already done so, please submit your pledge form indicating your membership amount. The financial level at which you arrive should be a spiritual expression of gratitude and love to God for all you have received. We have extra forms in the church narthex for your convenience.. Safeway s escrip program is a *FREE*, *easy* way for you to support St. Theodore s school programs! St. Theodore s member# Contact the church office or Nora Presti for more information. Every purchase counts, so sign up today! Page 8 Stewardship donation form is now online For those for whom it may be convenient, there is an online Stewardship pledge form on the Church s website main page please see, in the center column, under Church Office Hours, the link: Stewardship Note: Newsletter Submissions If you would like to submit any articles, pictures, or news for our monthly newsletter, please submit them to the church office by the 20th of the month. Making Arrangements for Sacraments & Home Blessings Please call the Church Office, or directly to the parish president, Mr. John Maroulis, to schedule Weddings and Baptisms at least 3 months in advance, and for Artoclasies, Trisagia, Memorial Services as well as home blessings at least 2 weeks in advance. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated. St. Theodore the General Greek Orthodox Church 7101 Cipriano Road Lanham, MD Phone: Fax: