The Voice of Saint George Dimhniaio Deltio Ths Ellhnikhs Orqodoxhs Koinothtas Agiou Gewrgiou

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1 Non-Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE Paid New Brunswick, N.J. Permit No. 379 Winter 2007 Volume 5 - Issue 1 A publication of the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint George Piscataway, New Jersey The Voice of Saint George Dimhniaio Deltio Ths Ellhnikhs Orqodoxhs Koinothtas Agiou Gewrgiou Φωνή βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, ἑτοιμάσατε τὴν ὁδόν Κυρίου (Ματθ. Γ.3) The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord (Matt. 3:3) By Very Reverend Alexander Kile, Archimandrite Saint George Greek Orthodox Church 1101 River Road Piscataway, NJ ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Phone: , Fax: WE ARE ON THE WEB: StGeorgePiscataway.org The Cephalonian Association of New Jersey "Saint Gerasimos" invites the entire community to Celebrate Greek Independence Day, on Sunday, March 25th, after the Divine Liturgy The program will include Doxology, folk songs and music and a reference to the historical events of the Greek struggle for independence The afternoon will close with a traditional fish with "skordalia" luncheon Free admission for all Inside this issue: Periecomena: Priest s Message 1 Mhnuma Ierea 1 President s Message 5 Mhnuma Proedrou 5 Sacraments 6 Philoptochos News 7-9 Sunday School News Festival News 12 Greek School News 13 St George Stewards HOLY LENT It is a time to discipline ourselves and to come closer to God by praying more than the ordinary. It is a season of 47 days, from Clean Monday to Saturday of Lazarus 40 days, and from Palm Sunday to Easter 7 days. It comes to us from Christ who was tempted for 40 days in the desert before starting to preach on earth about the Kingdom of God. In the desert Christ fasted, prayed and was tempted by the devil as the Evangelists, the Gospel writers, inform us. Our Holy Orthodox Church calls us to fast, to discipline ourselves, to go to confession, to clean our souls and through fast to clean our bodies. The church calendar, during this period, has more solemn services. The Great Compline Service is chanted every Monday. The special Pre-Sanctified Divine Liturgy is performed on Wednesdays. The pre- Sanctified Liturgy is a special Divine Liturgy that is celebrated only during Holy Lent. The Body and Blood of Christ, the Holy (Continued on page 3) SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY ÊÕÑÉÁÊÇ ÔÇÓ ÏÑÈÏÄÏÎÉÁÓ FEBRUARY 25, 2007 Μήνυμα του Ιερατικώς Προϊσταμένου Αρχιμανδρίτη Αλεξάνδρου Κιλέ Ο Σύλλογος Κεφαλονιτών Νέας Ιερσέης «Αγιος Γεράσιμος»προσκαλεί την παροικία στον Eορτασμό της Εθνικής μας Παλιγγενεσίας, την Κυριακή 25 Μαρτίου, μετά τη Θεία Λειτουργία Το πρόγραμμα θα περιλαμβάνει Δοξολογία, δημοτικά τραγούδια και μουσική, και μια αναφορά στα ιστορικά γεγονότα της επετείου Θα ακολουθήσει το πατροπαράδοτο γεύμα με μπακαλιάρο σκορδαλιά Είσοδος ελεύθερη για όλους PTO News Patriarchal Message Euaggelismos 20 New Testament Verses 21 Advertisements Financial Update 24 Stewardship Update 25 Schedule 26 Eortologio 27 ΝΗΣΤΕΙΑ ΚΑΙ ΠΡΟΣΕΥΧΗ Ἡ Νηστεία καί ἡ προσευχή ἀποτελούν τίς δύο πνευματικές δυνάμεις διά τήν ἀντίστασιν ἐναντίον τοῡ διαβόλου. Τό ἐπιβεβαιώνει ὁ λόγος τοῦ Κυρίου ὅτι «τοῦτο τό γένος τῶν δαιμονίων οὐκ ἐκπορεύται, εἰ μή ἐν προσευχῇ καί νηστεία» Ματθ. 17:24 Εἰς τήν ζωήν τῆς Ἐκκλησίας ἡ Νηστεία δέν εἶναι αὐτόσκοπος, ἀλλά μέσον ἐγκράτειας καί κίνητρον πνευματικῆς ἀνατάσεως καί κυριαρχίας τοῦ πνεύματος ἐπί τῆς σαρκός καί τῆς νεκρώσεως αὐτῆς πρός ὀρθοτέραν θεωρίαν τοῦ Θεοῦ καί τοῦ πνευματικοῦ διότι ἡ σάρξ ἀντιστρατεύεται πολλάκις εἰς τό πνεῦμα «ἡ γἀρ σάρξ ἐπιθυμεῖ κατά τοῦ πνεύματος» Γαλ. 5:17, ἡ δέ νηστεία ὁδηγεῖ εἰς τήν ἐγκράτειαν καί ὑποτάσει τή σάρκα εἰς τό πνεύμα. Ἡ νηστεία ὡς γνωστόν ἀποτελεί πανανθρώπινον ἔθιμον ὅλων τῶν λαῶν καί ὅλων τῶν ἐποχῶν, καί ἀπαντᾶ εἰς ὅλας τάς θρησκείας εἰς ἔνδειξιν θλίψεως ἤ εἰς προπαρασκευήν μεγάλων θρησκευτικῶν τελετῶν εἰς ἡμέρας καθωρισμένας διά προσευχήν καί ἐπίκλησιν τῆς Θείας Χάριτος. Ἡ Ἐκκλησία καθιέρωσε εὐθύς ἐξ ἀρχῆς τάς ἡμέρας καί τάς περιόδους τῆς νηστείας καί ἐθέσπισεν ἀρχαιόθεν τήν Νηστείαν τῆς Τετάρτης, διά τήν προδοσίαν τοῦ Ιούδα, καί τήν Νηστείαν τῆς Παρασκευής διά τόν Σταυρικόν θάνατον τοῦ Ἱησοῦ Χριστοῦ. Ἐν συνεχείᾳ ἐθέσπισε τήν Νηστείαν τῆς Ἁγίας καί Μεγάλης Τεσσαρακοστής, διά τήν προετοιμασίαν εἰς συμμετοχήν τοῦ Πάθους τοῦ Κυρίου καί τῆς Ἀναστάσεως εἰς τύπον καί εἰς ἀνάμνησιν τῆς σαρανταήμερου (Continued on page 4)

2 Page 2 Very Reverend Archimandrite Alexander Kile Saint George Greek Orthodox Church Ellhnikh Orqodoxh Ekklhsia Agiou Gewrgiou Parish Ministries ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑΣΤΙΚΟ ΕΟΡΤΟΛΟΓΙΟ Φεβρουάριος Μάρτιος 2007 Κυριακές Ορθρος 9 π.μ. Θ. Λειτουργία π.μ. Ακολουθία για το κατηχητικό Σχολείο π.μ. Καθημερινές Ορθρος 9 π.μ. Θ. Λειτουργία π.μ. ΦΕΒΡΟΥΑΡΙΟΣ Παρασκευή 2: Υπαπαντή Του Κυρίου Page 27 Parish Council Priest V.Rev. Alexander Kile President George Petrantonakis Vice President / Administration Lampros E. Bourodimos Vice President /Operations Dimitrios Zalokostas Secretary Petra Knox Treasurer Maria Kaouris Christodoulatos Members George Athanassopoulos Michael Dimitrakis Jim Exarhakis Panos G. Georgopoulos Anthony Kalogridis Demetrius Kambitsis Nick Kambitsis Elizabeth Kalatzis Manolakis George Rodoussakis Philoptochos Society St Barbara Eleni Andronikou, President Cantors and Choir G. Bilalis, Director Sunday School Elizabeth Kalatzis Manolakis, Director Greek School Panos G. Georgopoulos, Director Toula Karamarkos, Principal Sofia Amaxopoulos, Teacher Angeliki Papasavas, Teacher Chrisoula Plias, Teacher Katerina Kourtis-Gavalas, Teacher GOYA Eleftheria Fiotakis, President GOYA Advisors Eileen Stellakis Eleni Banis Jim Exarhakis George Hadjiloucas Maria Kaouris Christodoulatos Katerina Leftheris George Papagrigorakis Dimitrios Zalokostas Parent Teacher Organization Evie Georgopoulos, President JOY/HOPE Sophie Exarchakis Maria Kantilierakis Helen Sirimis Moms & Tots Sandy Kalogridis FOCUS Nick Kambitsis Senior Citizens Nickie Kopanakis Chairpersons of Permanent Committees Stewardship Katerina Leftheris Church Festival John Lyssikatos Michael Dimitrakis House and Grounds Anthony Kalogridis Memorial Dolores Stroumtsos Web Services Bill Fottis Voice Panos G. Georgopoulos Σάββατο 3: Αγίου Συμεών του Θεοδόχου Κυριακή 4: Του Ασώτου Υιού Σάββατο 10: Αγίου Χαραλάμπους Ιερομάρτυρος 1ο Ψυχοσάββατο Κυριακή 11: Κυριακή της Αποκρέω Η ικαία Κρίση του Θεού Σάββατο 17: Σάββατο της Τυρινής 2ο Ψυχοσάββατο Κυριακή 18: Κυριακή της Τυρινής και Εσπερινός Συγχωρήσεως ευτέρα 19: Καθαρά ευτέρα (Αρχή Νηστείας) Μέγα Απόδειπνο 6:00 μ.μ. Τετάρτη 21: Προηγιασμένη Θεία Λειτουργία 6:00 μ.μ Παρασκευή 23: Χαιρετισμοί της Θεοτόκου Ι. Σάββατο 24: Αγίων Θεοδώρων - 3ο Ψυχοσάββατο Κυριακή 25: Α Κυριακή Νηστειών - Κυριακή της Ορθοδοξίας ευτέρα 26: Μέγα Απόδειπνο 6:00 μ.μ. Τετάρτη 28: Προηγιασμένη Θεία Λειτουργία 9:00 π.μ. ΜΑΡΤΙΟΣ Παρασκευή 2: Χαιρετισμοί της Θεοτόκου ΙΙ. Κυριακή 4: Β Κυριακή των Νηστειών - Αγίου Γρηγορίου του Παλαμά ευτέρα 5: Μέγα Απόδειπνο 6:00 μ.μ. Τετάρτη 7: Προηγιασμένη Θεία Λειτουργία 9:00 π.μ. Παρασκευή 9: Χαιρετισμοί της Θεοτόκου ΙΙΙ. Κυριακή 11: Γ Κυριακή των Νηστειών Της Σταυροπροσκυνήσεως ευτέρα 12: Μέγα Απόδειπνο 6:00 μ.μ. Τετάρτη 14: Προηγιασμένη Θεία Λειτουργία 9:00 π.μ. Παρασκευή 16: Χαιρετισμοί της Θεοτόκου ΙV. Κυριακή 18: Κυριακή των Νηστειών - Κυρίλλου Ιεροσολύμων Special Thanks to all volunteers, Sunday School staff, Coaches, Greek Dance Instructors & Parents who support our church organizations and programs. This issue of the Voice of St George was prepared by V. Rev. Alexander Kile, Panos and Evie Georgopoulos, Dorothea Koutsoras, and the mothers of GOYA members and Greek School students. We encourage all of our community organizations & ministries to post their events in The Voice of St George. We remind you that events should be advertised a month in advance. So, information should be submitted one month prior to the issue in which it will appear, preferably by sending it via to StGeorgeVoice@comcast.net We thank you for your cooperation. The Voice of St George committee is responsible for collecting the material and for formatting, printing, binding and mailing the Voice issue; the committee does not edit the content provided by the individuals and organizations who contribute the material for the issue. Τετάρτη 21: Παρασκευή 23: Κυριακή 25: Τετάρτη 27: Σάββατο 31: Προηγιασμένη Θεία Λειτουργία 9:00 π.μ. Ακάθιστος Υμνος Ε Κυριακή των Νηστειών Ο Ευαγγελισμός της Θεοτόκου Εθνική Εορτή Προηγιασμένη Θεία Λειτουργία 9:00 π.μ. Σάββατο του Λαζάρου Πρόγευμα μετά τη Θεία Κοινωνία 9:00 π.μ.

3 Page 26 FEBRUARY ECCLESIASTICAL SCHEDULE OF SERVICES February - March 2007 Sundays, Matins 9 a.m. D. Liturgy a.m. Service for the Sunday School a.m a.m. Daily services Matins 9 a.m. D. Liturgy 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Friday 2: The presentation of our Lord Saturday 3: Saint Symeon the God Receiver Sunday 4: Sunday of the Prodigal Son Saturday 10: Saint Haralambos the Great Martyr 1st Saturday of Souls Sunday 11: Judgement Sunday Meatfare Sunday Saturday 17: 2nd Saturday of Souls Sunday 18: Cheesefare Sunday and Vespers of Forgiveness Monday 19: Clean Monday Great Compline 6:00p.m. Wednesday 21: Pre-Sanctified Divine Liturgy 6:00 p.m. Friday 23: Salutations to the Virgin Mary I. Saturday 24: Sunday 25: Monday 26: Wednesday 28: MARCH 3rd Saturday of Souls Saints Theodores 1st Sunday of Lent Sunday of Orthodoxy Great Compline 6:00 p.m. PreSanctified Divine Liturgy 9:00 a.m. Friday 2: Salutations to the Virgin Mary II. Sunday 4: 2nd Sunday of Lent Saint Gregory of Palamas Monday 5: Great Compline 6:00 p.m. Wednesday 7: Pre-Sanctified Divine Liturgy 9:00 a.m. Friday 9: Salutations to the Virgin Mary III. Sunday 11: 3rd Sunday of Lent Sunday of the Veneration of the Holy Cross Monday 12: Great Compline 6:00 p.m. Wednesday 14: Pre-Sanctified Divine Liturgy 9:00 a.m. Friday 16: Salutation to the Virgin Mary IV. Sunday 18: Wednesday 21: Friday 23: Sunday 25: Wednesday 28: Saturday 31: 4th Sunday of Lent Cyril of Jerusalem Pre Sanctified Divine Liturgy 9:00 a.m. The Akathistos Hymn 5th Sunday of Lent The Annunciation of the Theotokos Greek Independence Day Pre Sanctified Divine Liturgy 9:00 a.m. Saturday of Lazarus - Communion Breakfast 9:00 a.m. (Continued from page 1) Communion, is consecrated during the Liturgy of the previous Sunday and is kept on the right side of the Altar, left when you look to the altar. According to the canons, rules of the Church, during Lent except Saturday and Sunday and on March 25 the usual Divine Liturgies are not allowed to be performed. Therefore, we have the special Liturgy called the Pre-Sanctified that comes to us from the desert. St. James the disciple is the author of the Pre- Sanctified Liturgy. The reason of performing this D. Liturgy is that we can unite ourselves with Christ even during the weekdays at this Lenten Season. On Friday evenings we perform the Special Service to the Virgin Mary called Salutations. There are 4 stations, 4 Fridays and on the 5th Friday, we chant all the 4 stations together called the Akathist Hymn. This Hymn was called Akathist, because when it was first chanted in Constantinople in the Monastery of the Virgin Mary of Vlacherna no one sat down due to the respect and thanksgiving that the Virgin Mary saved the Queen City, Constantinople from the attack of the Avars in 610 A.D. All the daily services give us strength to continue our Lenten and spiritual odyssey of 40 days that we are tempted for different reasons because we fast, because we insist to live a pure Christian life. The Sundays also of the Holy Lent are very important, they By Very Reverend Alexander Kile, Archimandrite Page 3 are dedicated to different Saints and events that with their teaching we can encourage our personal salvation, through repentance and fast during Holy Lent. The first Sunday is dedicated to the Veneration of icons as a means of prayer. On this day we commemorate the VII Ecumenical Synod which brought back the veneration of the icons. The church reminds us with this event to use the tools of prayer for our salvation, which are the icons, the Holy Cross and the relics of the Saints. The second Sunday the Church brings us the life and the deeds of St. Gregory of Palamas, Archbishop of Thessaloniki around He introduced to the church the Jesus Prayer. He spent many years on Mount Athos exercising humility and prayer before becoming Archbishop. He performed many miracles during his life through the power of prayer. The church brings the memory of St. Gregory of Palamas to teach us to pray constantly and to keep clean our hearts and our minds from evil s work. That through constant prayer we also can perform miracles through our pure faith. The third Sunday is dedicated to the Veneration of the Cross. The church in the middle of Lent takes in procession the Holy Cross for those who fast to withdraw power in their Lenten pilgrimage. To remind us that from the Cross, Resurrection came, Victory came and Joy came. That is why on this Sunday we distribute flowers as a sign that the Resurrection is coming, continue fasting. The fourth Sunday the church remembers St. John of the Ladder and his dream. St. John was born in Palestine in 523 and at a young age he went and dedicated himself to the Mount Sinai Monastery. For 19 years he exercised asceticism and prayer. He lived in Tholan for forty years and prayed continuously. He wrote many articles, hymns and prayers which (Continued on page 6) VOICE OF ST GEORGE: CURRENT ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS AND A NOTE FROM THE VOICE COMMITTEE In this issue of the Voice of St George you can find updates on the budget of our church and on the status of the stewardship program (both as of December 31, 2006), as well as the proposed budget for 2007, on pages 24-25; also, articles on past and upcoming events, and announcements from our community organizations. We keep trying to improve the Voice and we count on you to provide information on the activities of your organizations and programs in a timely manner. We also appreciate all comments and suggestions that will help make the Voice more useful to the members of the St George community - send us to StGeorgeVoice@comcast.net. The Voice is produced entirely by volunteers who do the typesetting, the printing, the binding, and the mailing; still, we are responsible and apologize for any omissions, delays, and imperfections associated with this and any other (past and future) issue. Please help us make the next one better. Στο τεύχος αυτό του δελτίου μας μπορείτε να βρείτε μιά συνοπτική ενημέρωση γιά τον προϋπολογισμό της εκκλησίας μας και την πρόοδο του προγράμματος εκούσιας εισφοράς (μέχρι την 31η Δεκεμβρίου 2006), καθώς και τον προϋπολογισμό για το 2007, στις σελίδες Επίσης θα βρείτε άρθρα για πρόσφατες αλλά και γιά προγραμματισμένες εκδηλώσεις και γεγονότα, καθώς και ανακοινώσεις των οργανισμών της κοινότητάς μας. Συνεχίζουμε τις προσπάθειες μας γιά συνεχή βελτίωση του δελτίου μας. Το δελτίο αυτό είναι μέν αποτέλεσμα εθελοντικής εργασίας, από την σελιδοποίηση και την εκτύπωση έως την ταχυδρομική αποστολή, είμαστε όμως υπεύθυνοι και ζητούμε συγγνώμη γιά όποιες καθυστερήσεις, παραλείψεις, ή λάθη αναπόφευκτα γίνονται. Ζητούμε την κατανόηση και συνεργασία σας και ελπίζουμε ότι θα μας βοηθήσετε παρέχοντας έγκαιρα πληροφορίες σχετικά με τις δραστηριότητες και εκδηλώσεις των προγραμμάτων στα οποία συμμετέχετε. Προτάσεις και υποδείξεις, γιά το πως να κάνουμε αυτό το δελτίο πιό χρήσιμο σε σας, είναι πάντα ευπρόσδεκτες. Σας παρακαλούμε να στέλλετε στην ηλεκτρονική διεύθυνση StGeorgeVoice@comcast.net.

4 Page 4 Page 25 Από τον Ιερατικώς Προϊστάμενο Αρχιμανδρίτη Αλέξανδρο Κιλέ Κατάλυσις ἰχθύος γίνεται ἐπίσης: 1. Τήν 25η Μαρτίου Εὐαγγελισμός τῆς Θεοτόκου 2. Τήν Κυριακή τῆς Ὀρθοδοξίας 3. Τήν Κυριακή τῶν Βαΐων 4. Τήν 6η Αὐγούστου, Μεταμορφώσεως τοῦ Κυρίου Stewardship Update/Enhmerwsh gia thn Ekousia Eisfora (Continued from page 1) Νηστείας τοῦ Κυρίου εἰς τήν ἔρημον. Ἀντιστοίχως πρός αὐτήν ἐθέσπισεν ἐλαφροτέραν νηστείαν τοῦ Ἁγίου Σαρανταημέρου τῶν Χριστουγέννων, καθώς καί τῶν Ἁγίων Ἀποστόλων. Αὐστηρά δε νηστεία ἐθέσπισε διά τήν περίοδον τοῦ εκαπενταυγούστου διά τήν Μεγάλην ἑορτήν τῆς Κοιμήσεως τῆς Θεοτόκου. Τό Ὁρθόδοξο ἡμερολόγιον σήμερα ἔχει αὐτές τίς ἡμερομηνίες καί ἡμέρας διά νηστεία: 1. Μεγάλη Τεσσαρακοστή: Ἀρχίζει τήν Καθαρά ευτέρα καί τελειώνει τήν Παρασκευή τῶν Βαΐων. Σάββατον καί Κυριακή κατά τήν Μ.Τεσσαρακοστή, κατάλυσις οἴνου και ἐλαίου. 2. Μεγάλη Ἑβδομάδα. 3. Τετάρτη καί Παρασκευή ὅλον τόν χρόνον. 4. εκαπενταύγουστος 5. Σαρανταήμερον τῶν Χριστουγέννων. Κατάλυσις ἰχθύος μέχρι 17η εκεμβρίου πλήν Τετάρτης καί Παρασκευῆς. Ἀπό τήν 18η εκεμβρίου μέχρι τήν 24η εκεμβρίου αὐστηρά νηστεία (νερόβραστα). 6. Νηστεία Ἁγίων Ἀποστόλων: Ἁπό τήν ευτέρα μετά τήν Κυριακή τῶν Ἁγίων Πάντων μέχρι τήν 29η Ιουνίου. Κατάλυσις ἰχθύως πλήν Τετάρτης και Παρασκεύης η Σεπτεμβρίου: Αὐστηρά νηστεία * 8. 5η Ἰανουαρίου : Αὐστηρά νηστεία * 9. 29η Αὑγούστου: Αὐστηρά νηστεία* 10. Τό Μέγα Σάββατον μόνον ἐπιβάλεται αὐστηρά νηστεία, σέ κανένα ἄλλο Σάββατο τοῦ ἔτους. *Ἐάν οἱ τρεῖς τελευταίες αὐτές ἡμέρες συμπέσουν Σάββατο καί Κυριακή τότε γίνεται κατάλυσις οἴνου καί ἐλαίου. Κατάλυσις εἰς πάντα (δεν νηστεύομε): 1. Καθ ὅλην τήν ιακαινήσιμον ἑβδομάδα τοῦ Ἁγίου Πάσχα. 2. Καθ ὅλον τό δωδεκαήμερον τῶν Χριστουγέννων πλήν 5ης Ἰανουαρίου. 3. Κατά τήν πρώτην ἑβδομάδα τοῦ Τριωδίου ἀπό τήν Κυριακή τοῦ Τελώνου καί Φαρισαίου μέχρι τήν Κυριακή τοῦ Ἀσώτου Υἱοῦ. 4. Κατά τήν ἑβδομάδα τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύματος. 5. Τετάρτη καί Παρασκευή τηρείται νηστεία κατά ὁλόκληρο τό ἔτος, ἐκτός τῶν ἀνωτέρω περιπτώσεων τῶν ἑβδομάδων κατά τάς ὁποίας γίνεται κατάλυσις εἰς πάντα. Ὅλες τίς ὑπόλοιπες ἡμέρες τοῦ ἔτους γίνεται κατάλυσις εἰς πάντα. Ἔτσι, τό ζητούμενον τῆς Νηστείας εἶναι ἡ ἐγκράτεια τοῦ Χριστιανοῦ, ἡ πνευματική αὐτοκυριαρχία του καί ἡ ἐγρήγορσίς του, διά νά εἶναι πάντα ἔτοιμος πρός ἀντίστασιν εἰς τά ἔργα τοῦ διαβόλου καί τοῦ σαρκικοῦ φρονήματος. Συνοδεύεται πάντοτε μέ τήν Προσευχήν διά νά ὁδηγήση τόν Χριστιανόν εἰς τήν ταπείνωσιν, εἰς τήν μετάνοιαν καί εἰς τήν ἐμπιστοσύνην του πρός τόν Θεόν. ιά αὐτούς τούς λόγους, ἡ Νηστεία καί ἡ Προσευχή εἶναι ἀκριβώς ἡ πνευματική ἄσκησις, ἡ ὁποία ὁδηγεί εἰς τήν θέωσιν ὅπως διδάσκει ὁ Ἅγιος Πατήρ ἡμών, Ἅγιος Γρηγόριος Παλαμάς τοῦ ὁποίου ἡ μνήμη τιμάται τήν Β Κυριακή τῶν Νηστειών διότι εἶναι ὁ εἰσηγητής τῆς νοεράς προσευχῆς εἰς τήν ὀρθόδοξον πνευματικήν ζωήν καί ὁ τρόπος διά τῶν Ἁγιαστικών Μυστηρίων τῆς Ἑκκλησίας. Αὐτή ἡ πνευματική γυμνασία εἶναι ἡ ἀποχή ἀπό πάσης ἁμαρτίας καί κακίας, καί ἀποτελεῖ τήν πνευματικήν Νηστεία. ι αὐτό, ἡ Νηστεία καί ἡ Προσευχή πρέπει νά συνοδεύονται ἀπό τά καλά ἔργα τῆς εὐποιΐας καί τῆς ἀγάπης καί τήν ἀποχήν ἀπό πάσης ἁμαρτίας καί κακίας. Ἀλλιῶς χωρίς τήν διά βίου πνευματικήν Νηστείαν, ἡ νηστεία καταντά ὑποκρισία καί ἀνθρωπορέσκεια, πρός ἔνδειξιν τῆς δήθεν εὐσεβείας. Αὐτές δέν εἶναι οἱ προϋποθέσεις διά νά μεταλαμβάνει κανείς τῶν Ἀχράντων Μυστηρίων τοῦ Χριστοῦ. Ὁ Ἱερός Χρυσόστομος χαρακτηριστικά σημειώνει «τιμή γάρ νηστείας οὐχί σιτίων ἀποχή ἀλλ ἁμαρτημάτων ἀναχώρησις... Νηστεύεις; είξον μοι διά τῶν ἔργων αὐτών. Ποιών ἔργων φύσιν; Ἐάν ἴδης πένητα ἐλέησον. Ἐάν ἴδης ἐχθρόν καταλάγηθι. Ἐάν ἴδης φίλον εὐδοκιμούνατα μή βασκάνεις. Τί γάρ ὅφελος ὅταν μέν ὀρνίθων καί ἰχθύων ἀπεχθόμεθα, τούς δέ ἀδελφούς δαγκάνομεν καί τρώγομεν.» Ἡ Ἁγία μας Ἐκκλησία δέ εἰς τήν Ἀκολουθίαν τῆς Καθαρᾶς ευτέρας ψάλλει ἐπίκαιρα τό Τροπάριον περί τῆς ἀληθοῦς νηστείας, τῆς πνευματικῆς νηστείας: «Νηστεύσωμεν νηστείαν δεκτήν εὐάρεστον τῶ Κυρίω. Ἀληθής νηστεία ἡ τῶν κακῶν ἀλλοτρίωσις, ἐγκράτεια γλώσσης, θυμοῦ ἀποχή, ἐπιθυμιῶν χωρισμός, καταλαλιᾶς ψεύδους καί ἐπορκίας. Ἡ τούτων εὐθεία νηστεία ἐστίν ἀληθής καί εὐπρόσδεκτος.» Καλή Τεσσαρακοστή! Μέ ἐν Χριστῶ ἀγάπη Ὁ Ἱερατικῶς Προϊστάμενος Ἀρχιμ. Ἀλέξανδρος Κιλέ Please do not forget that your Church operates year-round and needs your support year-round. An integral part of the success of stewardship in the St George community is the participation of each member of this parish. We are aware that these are difficult times for many parishioners and yet the Church is here for you regardless if you choose to support it or not. If you have pledged and not paid, please do so before the end of the year. If you have not pledged at all, we encourage you to do so and soon! The Church needs your help and welcomes any and all pledges. We thank all parishioners who have pledged and we appreciate your continued support of the St George Greek Orthodox Church. His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America and the Saint Basil Academy Board of Trustees and Children Request the pleasure of your company at our Lenten Luncheon Sunday, March 4, 2007, 2:00 pm Terrace on the Park, Flushing Meadows, NY Donation $75.00 R.S.V.P to: Mr. Charlie Theokas

5 Page 24 Page 5 Financial Update/Oikonomikh Enhmerwsh President s Message/Mhnuma tou Proedrou On Sunday, January 21, 2007, we had our Annual General Assembly meeting and elected 7 members to the Board of Trustees. At this time I would like to welcome Demetrius Kambitsis, Jim Exarchakis and Nick Kambitsis as the three new members, and to thank Dorothea Koutsoras, Katerina Leftheris and Simos Kontos for their many years of service to the community. The newly elected Board of Trustees is as follows: President: George Petrantonakis, Vice-President Administration: Lampros Bourodimos, Vice-President Operations: Dimitrios Zalokostas, Secretary: Petra Knox, Treasurer: Maria Kaouris Christodoulatos, Trustees: George Athanasopoulos, Mike Dimitrakis, Jim Exarchakis, Panos Georgopoulos, Anthony Kalogridis, Demetrius Kambitsis, Nick Kambitsis, Elizabeth Kalatzis Manolakis, Perry Petsanas, George Rodoussakis. We would like to also thank George Athanasopoulos and Mike Dimitrakis for the wonderful meal they prepared on January 7 th, 2007 for the Epiphany Day Celebration Luncheon. Thank you again for a job well done. In this the third month of the New Year it is good to reflect upon the Lord s many blessings. We ask you to once again think about what you can afford to give to St. George. We hope that many of our parishioners will be able to give us a little more over and above their last year s stewardship commitment. We believe that this commitment by you our parishioners will enable us to prepare for the future of St. George. On Sunday, April 15 th we will again take part in the Greek Independence Day Parade in New York City and ask our parishioners and the organizations to be present and to march with us up 5 th Avenue. On May 18, 19 and 20 we are holding our Annual Festival. Again we ask all of our parishioners, young and old to come forward and volunteer their services. There is enough work for everyone. No one will be refused. To the newcomers of our community we would like to see you get involved. This is a good way to meet your fellow parishioners. I would like to thank you for re-electing me to the Board of Trustees. There is much work to be done for the progress and unity of our community. I will be asking some of our parishioners to serve on various committees. Please volunteer your services. In closing the Board of Trustees and I wish you a most Healthy and Joyous Lenten Season. George Petrantonakis, President Την Κυριακή, 21 Ιανουαρίου 2007, διεξάχθηκε η Γενική Συνέλευση της κοινότητάς μας όπου εξελέχθησαν 7 νέα μέλη για το Διοικητικό Συμβούλιο. Θέλω να καλωσορίσω τα τρία καινούργια μέλη, Δημήτρη Καμπίτση, Δημήτρη Εξαρχάκη και Νίκο Καμπίτση και να ευχαριστήσω την Δωροθέα Κουτσόρα, Κατερίνα Λευτέρη και Σίμο Κόντο για τα πολλά έτη υπηρεσίας τους στην κοινότητα μας. Η πρόσφατη εκλεγμένη επιτροπή του Διοικητικού Συμβουλίου είναι: Πρόεδρος: Γιώργος Πετραντωνάκης, Αντιπρόεδρος Διαχειρίσεων: Λάμπρος Μπουροδήμος, Αντιπρόεδρος Λειτουργικών: Δημήτρης Ζαλοκώστας, Γραμματέα: Πέτρα Knox, Ταμίας: Μαρία Καούρη Χριστοδουλάτου, και Επίτροποι: Γιώργος Αθανασόπουλος, Πάνος Γεωργόπουλος, Μανώλης Δημητράκης, Δημήτρης Εξαρχάκης, Αντώνης Καλογρίδης, Δημήτρης Καμπίτσης, Νίκος Καμπίτσης, Ελισάβετ Καλατζή Μανωλάκη, Παντελής Πετσανάς, και Γιώργος Ροδουσάκης. Με την ευκαιρία αυτή θέλω να ευχαριστήσω τον Γιώργο Αθανασόπουλο και το Μανώλη Δημητράκη για το θαυμάσιο γεύμα που προετοίμασαν στις 7 Ιανουαρίου 2007 για τον εορτασμό των Επιφανείων. Αυτός είναι ο τρίτος μήνας του Νέου Έτους και είναι καλό να σκεφθούμε τις πολλές ευλογίες του Θεού. Σας ζητούμε να προσπαθήσετε να αυξήσετε την ετήσια εισφορά σας, ώστε η ενορία μας να είναι σε θέση να καλύψει τα έξοδά της και τις διακονίες της. Ελπίζουμε ότι πολλοί από τους παροίκους μας είναι σε θέση να μας δώσουν λίγο περισσότερο επιπλέον από τον περασμένο χρόνο για την εκούσια εισφορά τους. Πιστεύουμε ότι αυτή η υπόσχεση, από σας τους παροίκους μας, θα επιτρέψει σε μας να προετοιμαστούμε για το μέλλον του Αγίου Γεωργίου. Στις 15 Απριλίου θα συμμετάσχουμε πάλι στην Ελληνική Παρέλαση, για την ημέρα της ανεξαρτησίας, στη Νέα Υόρκη και θα ζητήσουμε από τους παροίκους μας και όλους τους οργανισμούς να είναι παρόντες για να παρελάσουν όλοι μαζί στην 5η λεωφόρο. Στις 18, 19 και 20 Μαΐου θα γίνει το Ετήσιο Φεστιβάλ μας. Πάλι ζητάμε απ όλους τους παροίκους, μικρούς και μεγάλους να έρθουν και να προσφέρουν εθελοντικά τις υπηρεσίες τους. Υπάρχει αρκετή εργασία για όλους. Επιθυμούμε να δούμε και τους νεοφερμένους στην κοινότητάς μας να αναμιχθούν. Αυτό είναι ένας καλός τρόπος να συναντηθούν και να γνωρίσουν και άλλους συμπατριώτες και φίλους. Θέλω να σας ευχαριστήσω για την επανεκλογή μου στο Διοικητικό Συμβούλιο. Υπάρχει πολλή εργασία να γίνει για την πρόοδο και την ενότητα της κοινότητάς μας. Θα ζητήσω από μερικούς από τους παροίκους μας να εξυπηρετήσουν σε διάφορες επιτροπές. Παρακαλώ προσφέρετε εθελοντικά τις υπηρεσίες σας. Τέλος το Διοικητικό Συμβούλιο και εγώ σας ευχόμαστε μια υγιέστατη και χαρούμενη Σαρακοστή. Γιώργος Πετραντωνάκης Πρόεδρος

6 Page 6 Page 23 By Very Reverend Alexander Kile, Archimandrite (Continued from page 3) are used by the church today. All his works are called the Ladder of Virtues and are promoted by the church to support all those who are fasting continuously during the Great Lent. The fifth Sunday is dedicated to extreme humility and repentance. The church brings us the life of St. Mary of Egypt, for all of us to learn about her sins, her repentance, her humility, and her faith. St. Mary was from Egypt, at the age of 12 she left her parents and went to Alexandria where she lived in sin. Years later she went with a group of pilgrims to Jerusalem for the Feast Day of the Exaltation, there, too she sinned everyday. When the time came to go to the church for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross a strange force was pushing her away and was not permitting her to enter into the Temple. She understood the reason and she decided to repent seriously. After this decision she was able to enter into the Sepulchre and Venerate the real wood of the Holy Cross. After she had done that, she crossed the Jordan River and went to the inner parts of the desert where she lived the rest of her life by repenting seriously and praying for the sins that she had committed. During the end of her life she asked form Monk Zosema to receive Holy Communion, He brought her Holy Communion on Holy Thursday and then she peacefully died. So my beloved, the Holy Lenten Season is a state of preparation and purification through the commemoration of the Saints and the events and frequent prayer services our Holy Mother Church encourages us to deny all the comforts and leisure of life for forty days and dedicate ourselves to the teaching of our Lord. The mother Church invites her children, who are members of the Body of Christ through Baptism, to partake to the suffering of Christ before His Glorious Resurrection. By practicing love, forgiveness, prayer, fast, self control, humility, repentance for the salvation of our own soul. By practicing these virtues at the end we worthily celebrate His glorious Resurrection with clean heart and soul. Have a blessed Lenten Season With love in Christ The Pastor Very Rev. Alexander Kile ADVERTISEMENTS STATISTICS OF SACRAMENTS AND SERVICES ΣΤΑΤΙΣΤΙΚΗ ΤΩΝ ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑΣΤΙΚΩΝ ΠΡΑΞΕΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΙΩΝ Sacraments Baptisms Βαπτίσεις Chrismations Ιερόν Χρίσμα Weddings Γάμοι Orthodox Μεταξύ Ορθοδόξων Inter-Christian Μεταξύ Χριστιανών Divorces ιαζύγια Funerals Κηδείες Liturgies Sunday Matins and Divine Liturgies Όρθροι & Θείες Λειτουργίες τις Κυριακές Weekday Matins and Divine Liturgies Όρθροι & Θείες Λειτουργίες τις καθημερινές Various Church Services (Holy week included) ιάφορες Ακολουθίες Pre-Sanctified Liturgies Προηγιασμένες Λειτουργίες Vespers (St. George, Virgin Mary, Exaltation of Holy Cross, Pentecost, Christmas, St. Nektarios, St. Gerasimos) Εσπερινοί (Αγίου Γεωργίου, Της Παναγίας, Τιμίου Σταυρού, Χριστουγέννων, Αγίου Νεκταρίου, Αγίου Γερασίμου) Stelton Road - Piscataway, NJ

7 Page 22 Page 7 ADVERTISEMENTS Philoptochos News Nea ths Filoptwcou Restaurant Excellence in Greek cooking and hospitality 28 Woodbridge Rd, Highland Park, NJ tel. (732) JOURNEY TO PASCHA A series of publications and recordings on the Journey to Pascha experienced through music, hymnology, iconography and writings. Performed by the professional choral group Romeiko Ensemble, the virtuoso Psaltes Yiogos Bilalis and Konstantinos Bilalis, the chanting group Melodountes and the youth choir School-ikia from New York. Μή ἀποστρέψης... Turn not away Thy face Lazarus come forth! Λάζαρε δεῦρο ἔξω! The sin of the fig tree Τῆς συκῆς το ἔγκλημα From the Passion to the Resurrection Vol. I Ἀπο το Πάθος στήν Ἀνάσταση Α From the Passion to the Resurrection Vol. II Ἀπό το Πάθος στην Ἀνάσταση Β Who shall Raise Thee, O King? Τίς ἐγείρει Σε Βασιλεῦ; For information and orders please call (215) or romeiko@att.net With this first article of the New Year, The Ladies Philoptochos Society St. Barbara wishes all our parishioners a very happy and healthy new year filled with all of God s Blessings! It was a busy and outstanding ending to the year 2006 for the Philoptochos ladies! We met our National Philoptochos obligations, completed the sewing and distribution of the baby blankets, prepared and mailed the Community Christmas Card, baked and sold 100 pans of baklava, sold Christmas Bread and Vasilopites, celebrated our St. Barbara s holiday with an artoklasia following the Divine Liturgy and our annual St. Barbara Luncheon, visited the shut-ins of our community for both the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, and continued the monthly cooking for the homeless and Warming of America. Our ladies also delivered knitted hats, mittens, scarves, and boxes of cookies to the children at the Amandla Crossing which is a home in Middlesex County for homeless mothers and their children. Congratulations to all the chairladies of these many activities and all those who assisted for they all did an outstanding job! We continue our busy schedule as we begin the year At our January meeting, we invited the neighboring Philoptochos Societies as a way of getting to know our friends better and to hear of their activities. Five ladies from Trenton s Philoptochos Society visited with us. They were Fotini Floudas, President, Helen Hadjicostas, Mary Rodda, Sue Pantelides, and Helen Calagias. The ladies spoke to us of their activities and we responded with some of the activities we do. It was a most enjoyable afternoon socializing with all these gracious ladies. We look forward of repeating this activity in the future. Our Vasilopita took place on Jan. 14, 2007 with special guests representing St. Basil Academy (please read our article on the Vasilopita Celebration). On February 5 our Membership Luncheon was held in the Ahepa Hall. The entire community was invited to attend. Pres. Eleni Andronikou introduced Chairman of the Philoptochos Board Ann Ballas who welcomed everyone in attendance. The welcome was followed by a prayer by the Very Rev. Fr. Alexander Kile and Rev. Fr. Theodore Sideras. Fr. Kile announced to all that Fr. Sideras was celebrating the 40th anniversary of his ordination. We all wished him well and proclaimed him AX- IOS! Pres. Andronikou announced that Fr. Kile also had reason to celebrate since it happened to be his birthday. We all wished him well and presented him with a birthday cake followed by the singing of Happy Birthday. A delicious lunch was served to those in attendance. Many ladies enrolled as members of the Philoptochos. Any lady of our community who has not yet become a member may do so by calling our president Eleni Andronikou at Congratulations to chairladies Effie Bouziotis and Ann Ballas for a successful event. On February 25 (Orthodoxy Sunday) a Memorial Service for our deceased members will take place. On that same day, February 25, the Lenten Luncheon will also take place. The entire community is invited to this Lenten Luncheon immediately after the Divine Liturgy. The donations from the Lenten Luncheon will benefit Hellenic College/Holy Cross. Our next meeting will take place on February 24. We encourage all our members to check their calendars for the dates of our monthly meetings and to attend all our meetings. Also, let s start the new year right by paying all our past dues and the dues for this new year! In January, 2007, Archbishop Demetrios appointed our member Mrs. Evellyn Tsiadis as President of the Board of Trustees of St. Basil Academy in Garrison, NY. Our sincere congratulations and best wishes to Evellyn for much success in this new endeavor. Kai Se Anotera! Οur dear and beloved member Mary Rodis passed away in September, She will be greatly missed. May her memory be eternal. Our dear and beloved member and past corresponding secretary Frances Kourkounakis passed away on October 29, She will be greatly missed. May her memory be eternal. Our dear and beloved member Helen Dellas passed away on January 9, She will be greatly missed. May her memory be eternal.

8 Page 8 Page 21 Philoptochos News Nea ths Filoptwcou CHRISTMAS CARD NEEDY CASES FUND The Philoptochos Needy Cases Fund Committee extends its heartfelt thanks and deepest appreciation to the parishioners and organizations of the St. George Community for their generous donations to the Needy Cases Fund through their participation in the community Christmas Card of We also acknowledge the following donations that were not included in this year s Christmas Card: 1. Arthur and Jennie Gussis 2. Calliope & Ornulf Thoresen & Family 3. Anonymous In addition, we thank those parishioners from our community who took the time to investigate their company s Gift Matching Program and/or their United Way Program which resulted in a substantial benefit to the Needy Cases Fund. As a result, we strongly encourage those parishioners of the St. George community who may be eligible to help us through their company s Gift Matching Program, or their United Way Program, to utilize this wonderful opportunity. Indeed, the St. George Community will reap the benefits. Again, we thank you one and all, and pray that the new year will bring to your hearts and homes the Blessings of the Christ Child! Verses from the New Testament that will help us during the Lenten Season and all our lives Temptation of Jesus Luke 4:1-13, Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13 Questions about Fasting Luke 5:33-39, Matthew 9: Mark 2:18-22 Judging Others Matthew 7:1-5, Luke 6:37-42 Blessed are Those Luke 6:20-26, Matthew 5:1-12 We can Conquer Evil with Good Romans 12:21 Temptations are normal we cannot escape them I Corinthians 10:6-13 We can resist evil by putting on God s armor Ephesians 4:21-32 Christians must control their tongues James 3:2-12 Understand sin as coming from within you Matthew 12:33-35 Sin comes from the heart Matthew 15:10-20, James 1:12-21 Forgive those who sin against you Matthew 18:21-35 Forgive others so that God may forgive you Mark 11:25-26 Love is the new commandment John 13:34-35 Love is the greatest commandment Matthew 22:36-40 Love your enemies Matthew 5:43-48 Love fellow believers I Thessalonians 4:9, I Peter 3:8 Love is the key of all relationships Romans 13:8-10 Love is basic in service Galatians 5:13-15 Pray when you are alone Luke 6:12-13 Pray when you need to make major decisions I Thessalonians Jesus teaches about prayer Matthew 6:5-15, Luke 11:1-13 Remember to direct your United Way donation to the St. George Needy Cases Fund--United Way Reference Number The Sacrament of Confession is not man made but is God given. The New Testament talks about confession. Do not stop yourself from going to Confession. When was the last time you went to Confession? Confession is the greatest gift to a person s soul. It is one of the Seven Sacraments of our Holy Church. In order to receive Communion you have to fast and go to Confession to have your body and soul clean to put the body and blood of Christ in you. Here is what the New Testament days about Confession: Mathew 4:17, Luke 24:47, Matthew 18:18, Matthew 9:6, I John 1:9. Romans 6:18 and John 20: You are invited to attend the LENTEN LUNCHEON Sunday, February 25, 2007 After the Divine Liturgy in the Ahepa Hall Sponsored by The Ladies Philoptochos Society `St. Barbara Donations are Welcomed To Benefit Hellenic College/Holy Cross Seminary SUNDAY OF THE PRODIGAL SON (FEBRUARY 4 ) SUNDAY OF THE PHARISEE AND THE PUBLICAN ÊÕÑÉÁÊÇ ÔÏÕ ÔÅËÙÍÏÕ ÊÁÉ ÔÏÕ ÖÁÑÉÓÁÉÏÕ (ÁÑ Ç ÔÑÉÙÄÉÏÕ) (JANUARY 28)

9 Page 20 Page 9 ï åõáããåëéòìüò ôçò Èåïôüêïõ Η λέξις μυστήριο θα πει ανεξήγητο με την ανθρώπινη γνώση, πράγμα που δεν έχει η επιστήμη να δώσει εξήγηση. Γεγονός που δεν μπορεί να γίνει αλλά έγινε. Το μυστήριο του Ευαγγελισμού το προφήτευσαν πολλά χρόνια πριν οι προφήται της Παλαιάς ιαθήκης. Η δε λέξις Ευαγγελισμός θα πει το άγγελμα των καλών νέων, ειδοποίηση περί τα καλά νέα. Θεολογικώς η σημασία της εορτής του Ευαγγελισμού είναι η βάσις της σωτηρίας της ανθρώπινης φύσης που ήταν καταραμένη από την ανυπακοή του Αδάμ και της Εύας. Με τον Ευαγγελισμό έρχεται η σωτηρία σε κάθε άνθρωπο. ιότι κατεβαίνει ο Υιός του Θεού και γίνεται κατα φύσιν άνθρωπος, φοράει την ανθρώπινη φύση και την αγιάζει με την θεότητά Του και γίνεται όμοιος τω ομοίω. Ολη αυτή η πράξη είναι βασισμένη στο Ιερό Μυστήριο που νικά τους νόμους της φύσης. Η Παρθένος Μαρία μένει έγκυος χωρίς να γνωρίζει άνδρα και παρ όλον που είναι έγκυος παραμένει Παρθένος. Σημάδια εναντίον της ανθρώπινης φύσης αλλά «τα αδύνατα παρά ανθρώποις, δυνατά τω Θεώ.» Στο Ευαγγέλιο της Γέννησης καθαρά ο Ευαγγελιστής τυπώνει ότι ο Ιωσήφ κατά την ώρα του τοκετού γνωρίζει την Μαρία. Γεννάει η Παναγία με φυσικό τρόπο και πάλι μένει Παρθένος. Γι αυτό και οι υμνωδοί της Εκκλησίας ψάλλουν «Μυστήριον ξένον», διότι όλες αυτές οι πράξεις είναι ανεξήγητες με τον ανθρώπινο νου και την επιστήμη. Αγγελος Κυρίου ολόσωμος εμφανίζεται στην Παναγία Παρθένον Μαρία και της δίνει τα καλά νέα «ότι ο Θεός διάλεξε αυτήν από όλες τις γυναίκες του κόσμου για να γεννήσει σε ανθρώπινη φύση τον μονογενή Υιόν του Πατρός.» Γι αυτό το γεγονός θα τιμηθεί από ολόκληρον τον κόσμο και όλες τις γενεές που θα περάσουν από την γην. Ετσι η Παρθένος Μαρία γίνεται η γέφυρα για να κατεβεί ο Υιός του Θεού και να ενανθρωπισθεί στα σπλάχνα της και να τον γεννήσει σε ανθρώπνη φύση. Με την μυστηριώδη κυοφορία και γέννηση του Χριστού, αρχίζει η ιστορία της σωτηρίας του ανθρωπίνου γένους που ήταν στο σκοτάδι και υπό την σκιάν του θανάτου. Ο Αγγελος Κυρίου Γαβριήλ όχι μόνο δίνει τα καλά νέα στην Παναγία η οποία μένει έκπληκτη και δεν μπορεί να πιστεύσει την τιμή της επιλογής του προσώπου της από τον Πατέρα αλλά και από την ευσέβεια που την περιτύλιγε και τον τρόμο και έκσταση. Ο Θεός ο Πατήρ της έστειλε και την δύναμη του Αγίου Πνεύματος και φύτευσε στα σπλάχνα της τον ενανθρωπίσαντα Υιό Του για να γεννηθεί με τους κανόνες της φύσης. Από εκείνη την στιγμή γέννησε η Παναγία με την Χάριν του Αγίου Πνεύματος. Μυστήριο είναι διότι ο απερίγραπτος, ο αχώριστος, ο άναρχος σκήνωσε στην Παναγία και ενανθρωπίστηκε και γεννήθηκε ως άνθρωπος για να σώσει το γένος του ανθρώπου από τα δεσμά του διαβόλου. Βαθύ το νόημα, μυστηριώδη τα τελούμενα, σωτηριώδη τα απολαμβανόμενα του αποτελέσματος του Ευαγγελισμού. Οντως μεγάλο Μυστήριο, μεγάλη εορτή, όντως της σωτηρίας των ανθρώπων το κεφάλαιο. Ο Θεός τόσον αγάπησε τον άνθρωπο που έστειλε στη γη να ενανθρωπιστεί, τον μονογενή Του Υιό για να σώσει τον άνθρωπον. Ο Ευαγγελισμός, εκτός του σωτηριώδους μηνύματος, την επιλογή του Θεού της Παναγίας Μαρίας, μεταξύ όλων των γυναικών, συγχρόνως υψώνει το πρόσωπον της γυναίκας που γίνεται συνεργός στην σωτηρία ολόκληρης της ανθρωπότητος φέρνοντας στον κόσμο τον Υιό του Θεού σε ανθρώπινη φύση. Η εορτή του Ευαγγελισμού είναι μεγίστης σημασίας στην θεολογία του Χριστιανισμού υπό το πρίσμα της σωτηριολογίας του ανθρώπου, διότι είναι αρχή πάντων. Με αυτές τις σκέψεις ας ψάλλουμε τον ύμνο του Ευαγγελισμού και ας προσέξουμε τις λέξεις του ύμνου και δοξολογούντες τα Μυστήρια του Θεού, την Παναγία Παρθένον Μαρία την μητέρα όλου του κόσμου. Σήμερον τῆς σωτηρίας ἡμῶν τό Κεφάλαιον, καί τοῦ ἀπ αἰῶνος Μυστηρίου ἡ φανέρωσις ὁ Υἱός τοῦ Θεοῦ, Υἱός τῆς Παρθένου γίνεται, καί Γαβριήλ τὴν χάριν εὐαγγελίζεται. ιό καὶ ἡμεῖς σὺν αὐτῷ τῇ Θεοτόκῳ βοήσωμεν Χαῖρε Κεχαριτωμένη, ὁ Κύριος μετὰ σοῦ. Από τον Ιερατικώς Προϊστάμενο Αρχιμανδρίτη Αλέξανδρο Κιλέ VASILOPITA CELEBRATION THANK YOU TO THE ST. GEORGE COMMUNITY AND TO THE YOUNG ADULTS FROM ST. BASIL ACADEMY The Ladies Philoptochos Society St. Barbara extends its heartfelt thanks and deepest appreciation to the parishioners of the St. George Community for their participation and support to the community Vasilopita Celebration which took place on Sunday, January 14, Rev. Fr. Theodore Sideris opened our Vasilopita celebration with a prayer. This was followed with welcome messages from our co-chairladies Athanasia Delguercio and Sophie Exarchakis. President Eleni Andronikou introduced Mrs. Evellyn Tsiadis and Mr. Charles Theokas, two members of our community who have been appointed to St. Basil Board of Trustees by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios. Mrs. Tsiadis and Mr. Theokas arranged to have eight young adults, former residents of St. Basil Academy, to join us at this cutting of our Vasilopita. It was such a pleasure to see these young individuals--4 men and 4 women--who spoke of their life and experiences at the Academy. The one gentleman who spoke on behalf of the entire group was Joseph who lived at the Academy for 8 years. He is now a student at Boston College where he is studying ethics and the Middle East peace negotiation process. Other Academy representatives visiting us on Vasilopita Sunday included the following: Christopher is studying cinematology; Eliud was a resident at the Academy for 15 years and now is Philoptochos News Nea ths Filoptwcou PHILOPTOCHOS EASTER BREAD SALE March 31 and APRIL 1 an electrician s apprentice for Yorktown electric; Spiro and his 2 sisters lived at the Academy for 6 1/2 years and is now attending Dutchess Community where his focus is exercise science and sports medicine; Stella first went to the Academy at the age of 12, graduated from Hellenic College and is currently enrolled in a masters program at Long Island University; Stephanie lived at the Academy for 15 years and is currently in her first year of graduate school at Fordam University studying to be a guidance counselor; Christina was a resident at the Academy for 15 years is now a junior at La Salle University in Philadelphia where she is studying biology and hoping to go into the medical field, preferably dentistry; Sophia was a resident of the Academy for 10 years and is currently taking classes at Dutchess Community College and working for Serendipity Day care. We thank Mrs. Tsiadis, Mr. Theokas and all the young people for enlightening us on St. Basil Academy and giving us a memorable Vasilopita celebration. Congratulations to Sophie and Sia for chairing such a successful Vasilopita. Because of everyone s generosity, a sum of $1,200 will be sent to National Philoptochos for our obligation to the children of St. Basil Academy. Individuals who were unable to attend this annual event but would still like to make their donation, may do so by making their check payable to Ladies Philoptochos Society and mailing it to: Ladies Philoptochos Society--Vasilopita 1101 River Road Piscataway, NJ $ Order your breads early! Reserve June 3, 2007, for the Philoptochos June Luncheon

10 Page 10 Page 19 We are now midway through our school year. As of December 31, 2006 we had 42 new students register, bringing our total enrollment to 250 students. We have 67 volunteers working in our Sunday school program, 30 teachers, 21 student aides and 16 administrative and special projects staff members. We began the school year with our 1 st annual Parent and Teacher Orientation held on October 8. We thank all the parents who came to meet the teachers and to hear about what their children would be learning over the course of the school year. During the month of October the third grade sponsored the Sunday school s annual Trick or Treat for UNICEF drive. The students collected and sent $ to UNICEF. We thank the third grade teacher, Mrs. Irene Rompos, for organizing the drive and all our students and parents who supported it. Through the years the Sunday school has worked with our young people in scouting in their pursuit of special scouting honors. In 2006 we had two such individuals from our Sunday school. In November, our fourth grade sponsored the annual Thanksgiving Food drive. The food drive was organized by our fourth grade teacher s Aide, Miss Hannah Leftheris-Ringheim. Ten baskets of food were prepared. The Ladies Philoptochos donated turkeys and the baskets were delivered to the needy of our community. Hannah brought the remaining food to Elijaha s Promise a homeless shelter in New Brunswick. This project was part of a Feeding the Poor service theme Hannah was working on for her Girl Scout Gold Award. Hannah completed 70 hours of service on this project and will be receiving her Girl Scout Gold Award in the spring. The Sunday school is very proud of Hannah, we thank her and congratulate her on a job well done. Another teacher s aide, Mr. Nicholas Trohalides, was awarded scouting s highest honor of Eagle Scout on June 29, His project was to organize storage facilities for the Princeton Senior Resource Center. We have a summary of Nicholas s project and pictures of him receiving his award posted on our Sunday school bulletin board. The Sunday school is very proud of Nicholas and we congratulate him for his good work. Sunday School News Nea tou Kathchtikou Scoleiou We ended 2006 with our Annual Christmas Pageant. The students of the Sunday school sang exceptionally well this year in English and in Greek. The organ solos were beautifully played and the nativity dramatization and narration was perfect. We congratulate our students for a fine job. Kudos to our teachers: Mr. Paul Stevens, the eighth grade teacher, who coordinates the pageant every year and prepares the students; Mrs. Maggie Stavrianidis for her support in helping Paul prepare the eighth graders with their parts; and Mrs. Louise Lambros for her dedication in teaching our children the beautiful Christmas carols. Special thanks to the parents and to all those who stayed the extra 20minutes to support the children and their efforts. Next year we look forward to adding a few of the beautiful Nativity hymns and troparia of our church to the pageant. Coming into 2007 I am happy to report that our cleanup, inventory and curriculum review are completed. A list of some of the items needed follows at the end of this message. We ask for the community s support in providing for the needs of the Sunday school by donating directly to the Sunday school or supporting the many beautiful events organized by the PTO throughout the year. If you have any questions or would like to donate please contact me. Two big-ticket items on this list are white magnetic steel writing boards and bulletin boards for the classrooms. The Greek and Sunday schools have been in need of these items for many years. There are have 14 classes in total. We estimate a price of $800-$1500 to equip each class depending on the size of the class and its specific function. The five classes used for Sunday school and Greek school will need more bulletin boards. The classes on the first floor will need much less. The ninth grade, which holds class in the Library, and the Teen Rap class in the basement will need writing boards on wheels. Bulletin boards are needed inside and outside the classrooms. Presently, there are small cork strips on the walls. Every year the Greek school and Sunday school compete for space to showcase our children s work. Every year the teachers contend with not having a place to post educational materials which helps them teach our children. This should not be. Therefore we would like to begin raising funds to improve our classrooms. If we can raise the funds needed by June, the boards will be ordered and installed over the summer so that the Greek and Sunday school classes will be ready for our children in the next school year. We pray that individuals, families, and organizations will come forward and support our schools in this effort. As always gratitude and appreciation are extended to all who support the children and the mission of the Sunday school in our community. God bless, Elizabeth Kalatzis Manolakis Director, Sunday School Cathechetical Homily on the beginning of Holy and Great Lent (2007) B A R T H O L O M E W BY THE MERCY OF GOD ARCHBISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE, NEW ROME, AND ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH, TO THE PLENITUDE OF THE CHURCH, GRACE AND PEACE FROM OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, TOGETHER WITH OUR PRAYER, BLESSING AND FORGIVENESS The time has come which is the beginning of spiritual struggles. (Hymn of the Ainoi of the Cheese Fare Sunday) voluntary and hard-working spiritual struggle. The true nature of our spiritual struggle consists in aiming for the love of God as the object of our quest and desire; but at the same time also in aiming for the respective deprivation and abandonment of other lawful goods and desires so that our entire existence, soul and mind, can focus on our primary target. Therefore, fasting, which is one of the most important ascetic practices of Great Lent, does not express rejection of the blessed food, but on the contrary, voluntary deprivation of the repose that these foods offer to our body. The goal is two-folded: on the one hand for the soul to disengage from the exclusive interest in the I, and on the other hand for the body to become obedient and well-trained to the governing mind, namely to become an organ and not the sovereign of the human person. Beloved brothers and children in the Lord, It is with these words that the Sacred Hymnographer reminds us of our obligation to intensify our spiritual struggles for the benefit of our spiritual training and progress during this period of Holy and Great Lent which is about to begin. Humanity realized from ancient times that good things can only be acquired through hard work. Likewise did the Holy Fathers realize that in order to savor divine love, within which everything good, both eternal and temporal coexists, the contempt of repose is considered necessary, as Abba Isaac the Syrian says characteristically. And on the one hand, the material goods and commodities are what we humans pursue and acquire through great trouble, which we are usually ready for and willing to undergo. However, spiritual goods are offered to us by God, under the condition that first and foremost it is Him and His love that we seek in all honesty, and not the spirituals gifts themselves in a selfish manner for our own satisfaction, or our vainglory. The Lord Himself made it clear to us when He said that we ought to: seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you (Matt. 6:33). He also assured us that the person, who offers to give up his or her life for the love of God, will be the one who will save his or her life. Namely, the person, who magnanimously aims at the love of God the Father and does not pursue faint-heartedly the material, or spiritual gifts of God without Him, will be in the end the person who will enjoy both the love of God for which he strives for, as well as all the material goods, for which he does not strive for. For, my beloved children in the Lord, when we return to Him, our Father who is in heaven, who loves us and who desires only our blessedness, the giver and source of everything good, will give us everything good that we need, just like He did to the prodigal son when he returned to Him. The best robe, the fattened calf, the ring on our finger, the festive gathering, and most important of all, His paternal embrace. However, in order for us to return to His paternal embrace we must turn our backs to our sins, and most importantly to our selfishness, that Holy and Great Lent 2007 is represented by the carobs that the pigs are eating, proving + Bartholomew of Constantinople thus the honesty of our desire for the love of God through our Your fervent intercessor before God The goal of spiritual struggle is not the acquisition of virtues, or of any other strange abilities solemnly through human powers, as it is believed by those who belong to various humanistic circles. On the contrary, it is the expression of our desire to meet the person of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom everything is recapitulated, and though whom everything is derived. The Word of God, the Logos, preaches most clearly that without Him we cannot do anything, and the Hymnographer reminds us that unless the Lord constructs the house of virtues of the soul, we struggle in vain. Therefore, we Christians devote ourselves to the love of Christ, and we give up voluntarily many other kinds of love and devotion that are of secondary importance, so that we will become worthy of His presence in the house of our souls. When this is achieved, with the grace and blessing of God, then peace, joy, and perfect love will have settled permanently in our very existence. This is the very reason why spiritual struggle is practiced neither with depression, nor with ostentation, but with as much joy and secrecy, as possible. If there is the desire to show off, then the goal of the love of God is put aside and in its place enters self-contentedness; if there is depression and sorrow, the joy and the voluntary desire depart and the person who is fasting lives in a state of oppression and constraint, namely in a spiritual state that is not pleasing in the eyes of God. The spiritual struggle should be practiced with joy and its main goal should be to introduce our heart into the love and joy of God, though which every sorrow and vindictiveness, and every complaint and protestation against our fellow men and women is expelled from us. In its place we will then have the unshakable and great peace of God that will radiate all around us. May we all pass through the arena of Great Lent with spiritual struggles, so that we will be able to enjoy in all its fullness the joy of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, Whose Grace and rich Mercy be with all of you.