Voice of the Church. Fr. George L. Livanos, Protopresbyter Office Hours: Monday -Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Transcript

1 Voice of the Church All Saints Greek Orthodox Church 601 W. McMurray Road J Canonsburg, PA Office: (724) F FAX: (724) F Hall: (724) Volume 25 Number 8 Parish Web Site Fr. George L. Livanos, Protopresbyter frgeorge@allsaintscbg.org Office Address office@allsaintscbg.org Office Hours: Monday -Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. OUR MISSION IS TO GLORIFY OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST THROUGH OUR WORDS AND ACTIONS, ACCORDING TO THE HOLY TRADITIONS AND SACRED TEACHINGS OF OUR ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN FAITH. O God, when You come upon the earth in glory, the whole world will tremble. A river of fire will bring all before Your Judgment Seat and the books will be opened, and everything in secret will become public. At that time, deliver me from the fire which never dies, and enable me to stand by Your right hand, O Judge most just. JUDGEMENT SUNDAY (MEATFARE last day meat is permitted) February 23, 2014 Today we commemorate SS Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, and Proterious, Archbishop of Alexandria Tone 2 Eothinon 2 SCRIPTURE READINGS Orthros/Matins Gospel Mark 16:1 8 (page 61 in the Orthros Book) Divine Liturgy Epistle I Corinthians 8:8 13;9:1 2 (page 132 in Liturgy Book) Divine Liturgy Gospel Matthew 25:31 46 (page 133 in Liturgy Book) TRISAGION PRAYER SERVICE: (page 164 in Liturgy Book) Today s Trisagion Prayer Service is offered by Dr. Nicholas and Susan Loutsion and their children for his parents, the departed servants of God Archon George T. Loutsion, Sr. and Kula Loutsion and for The Very Rev. Archimandrite Andres Giron de Leon of blessed memory, founder of the Orthodox Church in Guatemala. May their memory be eternal. PRAYER CORNER: Your prayers are requested for the health and well being of Peter Alexas, Luke Blanock, Jim Boulis, Olga, Ioanna Maria and Paraskeve Condoleon, Mary Gardner, Eleanor Elizabeth Gray, Elizabeth Kouklakis, Angelo Pankas, and Earl Romesberg (step father of Mike Surunis), Parish Shut ins, our Armed Forces, those in Prison, who are ill, suffering and in need, and those serving the Lord from afar. Let us also keep in prayer the leaders of our Church and this country, and all of those whom each of you call to mind today. The Sacrament of Confession is a key component of the Lenten Journey. Fr. George is available for Confession so that you may prepare spiritually for this Lenten season. Please contact him directly to schedule an appointment

2 SERVICES AND EVENTS Welcome visitors and friends. We remind everyone that the Blessed Bread offered at the end of the Divine Liturgy may be received by all. Holy Communion is a Sacrament, however, and is only offered to Baptized/Chrismated Orthodox Christians in good standing. "Greet one another with a holy kiss" Romans 16:16 - σπάσασθε λλήλους ν φιλήματι γίå The kiss of peace is a traditional Christian greeting that has long been incorporated into Liturgical practice by the Orthodox Christian Church. Be mindful that during Liturgy, when 'Peace be with all is said, turn and greet one another with the holy kiss, an embrace or handshake and the words Christ is in our midst. This is a sign of peace; let peace be made in your conscience and offered with joy to your brothers and sisters in Christ Sunday GOYA Outback Steakhouse Fundraiser Dinner (South Hills Location) 11 a.m. 9 p.m. Tickets are $15 each See any GOYAn for yours Mon. Morning Prayer Service 8:30 a.m. Food Festival Preparation Stuffed Grape Leaves 9:00 a.m. Tues. Morning Prayer Service 8:30 a.m. Food Festival Preparation Stuffed Grape Leaves 9:00 a.m. Greek School 6:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. GOYA Basketball Practice 8:00 p.m. 9:15 Canonsburg Middle School Wed. Intro to Orthodoxy Class 6:30 7:30 p.m. Sat. Saturday of the Souls Liturgy 8:00 a.m. LOUTSION SPAGHETTI LUNCHEON: Today s delicious pasta meal ($6 per plate) is offered by Dr. Nicholas and Susan Loutsion and their family, in loving memory of Nick s beloved parents George and Kula Loutsion, Sr. IMPORTANT CONSECRATION NEWS: In preparation of the initial mailing for the Consecration, we ask that you kindly update the Parish Office if your address has changed. Also, there are still a number of liturgical items necessary for the Consecration of our beloved All Saints Church for which we are still seeking donors. If you are interested in contributing toward the cost of any of these items, please see Marcy Cadez for availability and cost information. CUSTODIAL HELP SOUGHT: All Saints Greek Orthodox Church is seeking qualified candidates for part time custodial position to work approximately 10 to 20 hours per week; schedule varies. Primary Job duties may include, but are not limited to, cleaning, maintenance, snow shoveling, grass cutting, lifting, event set up and disassembly. A full list of tasks, additional details and requirements will be available from the Personnel Committee. Candidates are asked to submit their resume via to: office@allsaintscbg.org subject line Personnel Committee. PAN RHODIAN SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Applications are now available for the Pan Rhodian 2014 college scholarships. Applications for the LOCAL Pan Rhodian Chapter Scholarships must be postmarked by June 30, Applications for the NATIONAL Pan Rhodian Scholarships must be postmarked by July 31, Anyone interested in either or both should contact Nick Scouloukas at

3 Alexas, Helen Alexas, Peter Andronas, Anastasia Andronas, Andrew and Dolly Andronas, Anthony Steven Andronas, Frank and Maureen Andronas, Steve and Elaine Bails, Tina Bardy, Nike Berg, David and Anna Bouloubasis, Sr., John Bowman, Audrey Burris, Gary and Pamela Burt, John and Krystle Cadez, Jeffrey and Marcy Clarke, Edward and Anne Coleman, Christopher and Stellani Collins, Matthew and Georgeann Contis, Evangeline Cossu, Maria Dafnos, Eugenia Diakakis, Anthony and Katy Dziak, John and Tula Eleamos, William and Gladys Flaskos, Kalliope Frazier, Dan and Darcy Gallagher, Jason and Deanna Gardner, Mary Georgeou, John and Mary Geyer, Lee and Dian Giameos, Freda Gillen, Michael and Beth Gregorakis, Gus Haines, Lisa Haniotakis, Anthony and Theresa Heon, Steve and Sophia Hnaras, George Kadamenos, George and Cheri Karafilis, Gus and Nancy Karras, Joyce Konstantinou, Loucas and Betty Kouklakis, Elizabeth Kouklakis, Patricia Kouklakis, Steve Kouklis, John Koupiaris, Foti and Sonia 2014 Stewards of All Saints Church Krenzelak, Brian and Angela Kusturiss, Alexandra Kusturiss, Michael and Maureen Lagonis, George and Angela Landgraff, Clark and Maureen Lemonakis, Manuel and Shirley Lemonakis, William Livanos, Fr. George and Pr. Dianthe Livanos, Maria Loris, George and Ann Loutsion, Dr. Nicholas and Susan Lucas, Peter and Esther Macek, Matthew and Nina Macek, Samantha MacBeth, Angela Mahramas, John and Jamie Mahramas, Sylvia Mahramus, Lucille Manolas, Rita Mantalis, George and Jean Mantalis, Gus and Rose Mantalis, Michael and Beth Marinelli, Jamie Markanich, John and Agnes Markiewicz, Marc and Tonya Markovich, Christine Maropis, Petro and Despina Matteo, Andrew and Margoth McCabe, Jack and Sandy McCabe, John and Karina McCracken, Jeffrey and Helen McCullough, Clarence and Sophia Migias, Harold and Lisa Migias, Mary Moniodes, Ann Moniodes, Chris and Peggy Moniodes, Gus and Donna Moniodes, Pamela Moniodes, Peter Oliver, Larry and Pia Oliver, Nicole Pandelos, Tasso and Dina Pankas, Alexandra Pankas, Dimitri Pankas, George and Amelia Pankas, John and Carole Pankas, Lynda Papas, Pauline Pelegrinelli, Brian and Tina Perryman, Stephen and Ramona Petros, Michael and Florence Pihakis, Manuel and Dolly Pihiou, Andrew & Ritsa Pihiou, Becky Pihiou, Chris N. Pihiou, Christina Pihiou, Eva Pihiou George Pihiou, George and Sylvia Pihiou, James and Renie Popovski, Vasko and Laura Rigas, Christopher Roumbakis, Mena Sarris, Athena Sarris, William and Jamie Scouloukas, Nick and Bessie Scoumis, Constantine Scoumis DiMeo, Elaine Sefer, Mark and Darcy Severyn, Margie Sideris, George and Fotini Skolikas, Photios Sofis, Phillip Soulakis, Alex and Patricia Spencer, Aryiro Spinnenweber, Louis Stamatakis, Paul and Helen Statheros, Dean and Vivian Stavropoulos, George and Jackie Surunis, Michael and Heidi Thomas, George and Jo Ann Toras, Jim and Christina Tselepis, Conrad and Leah Tsipras, Alex and Kalliope Velisaris, George Velisaris, Pete and Katina Vendetti, Victor and Doreen Ventrone, Mary Volas, Eric and Evelyn Zaimes, Dean Zanic, Evan and Dorothea Zikos, Dorothea

4 The Healing Mission of the Church Excerpts from a homily by the Metropolitan of Limassol, Athanasios, published in the Paraklisi magazine, March The main mission of the Church is to heal a person. In other words, when a person becomes part of the Church is healed if he follows the therapeutic regime which aims to assist him to return to the natural state which God gave him when He had created him. After the fall of our forefathers, our nature was corrupted. When man severed his relationship with the Lord after disobeying His command, all his mental and physical capacities were immediately corrupted and perverted; his mind turned away from its unbreakable communication with the Lord, which was his natural state, towards the creation and matter, passions and sin. From that moment sickness and perversion entered man s nature. This is the reality of the fall, the sin of the forefathers, namely the hereditary sickness which passes on from one generation to another because we are natural descendents of our forefathers. Thus, each man has inherited this condition of spiritual sickness; the perversion of his nature. Jesus Christ is called the New Adam, because He enters history at a certain point in time and accomplishes a mission. Christ s mission was not so much to hand over the Gospel, namely His teachings, neither to give us a book called Gospel, but to give us Himself. In other words, just as we have inherited the sickness of our nature through the first Adam, Jesus offers us Himself, so that through the baptism we unite with Him, become one with Him, and then through the Holy Eucharist we acquire the capacity to unite with Him organically and ontologically (actually). This means that the actual unity with the Body and Blood of Jesus flows into our being, into our soul and our body. This is the reason why we become children of God and why the Church exists. The Church would have no reason to exist if it did not administer the holy mysteries, particularly the mystery of the Holy Eucharist.The Church is not an institution aiming to increase its followers for various reasons. It is the place where man is healed spiritually and is given the

5 opportunity to unite with Jesus Christ. However, man needs to follow a certain therapeutic treatment called askesis. It entails obeying all of the Lord s commands handed over to us by Jesus in the Gospel. Jesus commands are the medication which treats our sickness. In fact, the Lord shouldn t have given us any commands since He had created us in His image; His commands are inherent in our nature and our conscience reminds us about them. Nevertheless, as the holy fathers say, the Lord did give us the appropriate medication to cancel out wickedness. A sick man goes to the doctor and receives a certain treatment, not because the doctor impinges on his freedom or his dignity, but because his advice if heeded, may cure him. If he doesn t follow the doctor s instructions his illness will persist and may even cause his death. In the same way the Lord s commandments act as a therapeutic treatment. There are many commands and on the outset it seems difficult for someone to remember and obey all of them. Nevertheless, the most essential command is one and has to do with our entire being. It is: you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with your entire mind and with all your strength. And it goes on You shall love your neighbor as yourself. This part is the result and the evidence of our genuine love towards the Lord. In other words, it is not possible for someone who does not love God, to love himself, his neighbor, nature or the rest of the creation. Therefore, all the commandments have a common mission; they converge on the love towards the Lord. This is the natural state of man; this is how the Lord created him, namely, to move towards the Lord with a loving force. This is easy to understand since as the Scriptures say The Lord is love. But we must appreciate that we are not moving towards an idea, namely love, but towards a person. The Church moves man towards a personal meeting with the specific, personal God. In other words, the Church is the place which develops man as a person and not as an individual (an individual means someone who is engrossed in his self). That is, it smashes his individualism, develops him as a person and turns him into someone who for the most part has a personal relationship with the Lord. This is also the main difference between the Orthodox Church and eastern religions which speak about a vague and faceless deity. This is the reason why prayer differs from meditation. Prayer is a personal motion towards a personal God; meditation is an impersonal God is love, it follows that man, who has been created in the image of God, is also love. This loving motion enables man to come out of his self and offer himself to another person, just as Jesus did when He emptied Himself. When man empties himself he meets the Lord in a loving union which is totally personal and totally fulfilling for man as a whole. Man s union with the Lord does not only take place on a mental, philosophical, metaphysical or psychological level. It is a perfect union at all levels. We ought to understand these things if we are to appreciate our true mission in this world. Therefore, by understanding the numerous commandments, we also understand why we ought to obey them. In other words, the Church is not the sum of certain commandments and laws but it is the place with a specific mission. The Saints of our Church, all the children of the Church who are indeed living children of God and of the Church, prove that what the Church says and promises is true. These people have followed the treatment offered by the Church and became the temple of the Holy Spirit and the chosen vessel of the Lord. Namely the Holy Spirit is present inside them. Indeed there are several such people who are experiencing the presence of the Holy Spirit inside their souls. They know what grace means. When dealing with the reality of our worship, along with all the preconditions and evidence presented by the lives of our saints, we are faced with the entire range of the spiritual struggle. In other words, we understand why all these things happen, why the commandments are given, why askesis and the spiritual regime are necessary and what happens with the presence of Jesus and with the existence of the Church. Thus we understand what will happen to us. The only matter which still needs to be resolved is how to practically begin the process of our relationship with God, how to find Him and how to taste all the things promised by the Church. The Lord does not discriminate. He does not offer His mercy to one but not to the other, neither does He give gifts to one but not to the other. There are no chosen ones for the Lord. The Lord gives to each one the same grace and the same love. It is man who regulates his relationship with the Lord. Man is free to love the Lord absolutely. One may love Him a lot, another very little and yet some may hate Him. motion from one man to another through the invocation of a vague deity. The personal motion towards the Lord presupposes that the Lord also moves towards man. Since

6 Nevertheless, one has to be aware of his own intentions; he ought to be able to say that he will remain steadfast in his faith even though the Lord sometimes seems to leave him alone in his struggles. In other words, one must never lose heart. He ought to recognize that this mission is not up to him but it is a task accomplished by the Lord. Jesus said to His disciples: You did not choose me, but I chose you (John 15, 16). The disciples may have offered their good intention, but unless the Lord was present with His grace to strengthen them, they could not have accomplished a single thing. Bearing in mind the Lord s presence we ought to wage our struggle with immense courage. One of the weapons the enemy uses is trying to prevent us from dealing with our sins and passions with courage and zeal. The Lord offers us a medicine to help us with this process. It is the medicine of repentance in the face of the Lord. This means that one ought to repent not as someone who feels guilty, but as one who is the son of the Lord. Neither any trespass nor the devil are able to take away from us the privilege of being children of the Lord. Thus we may stand before the Lord and say: Indeed, I have sinned; I have been misled. Nevertheless, I have not denied You and I am still seeking my deliverance. People ought not to be miserable inside the Church, because they have been called by the Lord to become gods through grace. This means that a person who lives the life of the Church becomes lord and not a miserable man. This is how the Lord makes him. The Saints, instead of feeling depressed, placed great emphasis on repentance because it made them feel children of the Lord. Repentance was like a life giving force which led them straight to the throne of their Father. In the Church there is no place for disappointment neither for backtracking, no matter what happens. Nevertheless, when someone begins his spiritual life, the enemy may succeed in stealing his soul and his heart, enslaving him into worldly matters and causing him to drop his first love towards the Lord. Therefore, let us not be enslaved by the affairs of this world despite all our responsibilities and duties. Our heart must only move towards the Lord. Teenagers whose lives are changed Teenagers who change the lives of others APPLY NOW FOR SUMMER 2014 The CrossRoad Summer Institute is an engaging 10-day program for high school juniors and seniors at Hellenic College Holy Cross, where students: Study Orthodox Christianity Pray as a community Form lifelong friendships Engage in service Prepare for their future Cross Road offers two sessions: Cross Road June: June 21 - July 1, 2014 Cross Road July: July 5-15, 2014 Application priority deadline is March 1, Apply online or download an application at or call for more information

7 The Church Year - Pre-Lent The Paschal season of the Church is preceded by the season of Great Lent, which is itself preceded by its own liturgical preparation. The first sign of the approach of Great Lent comes five Sundays before its beginning. On this Sunday the Gospel reading is about Zacchaeus the tax-collector. It tells how Christ brought salvation to the sinful man and how his life was greatly changed simply because he sought to see who Jesus was (Lk 19:3). The desire and effort to see Jesus begins the entire movement through lent towards Easter. It is the first movement of salvation. The following Sunday is that of the Publican and the Pharisee. The focus here is on the two men who went to the Temple to pray one a pharisee who was a very decent and righteous man of religion, the other a publican who was a truly sinful tax-collector who was cheating the people. The first, although genuinely righteous, boasted before God and was condemned, according to Christ. The second, although genuinely sinful, begged for mercy, received it, and was justified by God (Lk 18:9). The meditation here is that we have neither the religious piety of the pharisee nor the repentance of the publican by which alone we can be saved. We are called to see ourselves as we really are in the light of Christ s teaching, and to beg for mercy. The next Sunday in the preparation for Great Lent is the Sunday of the Prodigal Son. Hearing the parable of Christ about God s loving forgiveness, we are called to come to ourselves as did the prodigal son, to see ourselves as being in a far country far from the Father s house, and to make the movement of return to God. We are given every assurance by the Master that the Father will receive us with joy and gladness. We must only arise and go, confessing our self inflicted and sinful separation from that home where we truly belong (Lk 15:11-24). The next Sunday is called Meatfare Sunday since it is officially the last day before Easter for eating meat. It commemorates Christ s parable of the Last Judgment (Mt 25:31-46). We are reminded this day that it is not enough for us to see Jesus, to see ourselves as we are, and to come home to God as his prodigal sons. We must also be his sons by following Christ, his only-begotten divine Son, and by seeing Christ in every man and by serving Christ through them. Our salvation and final judgment will depend upon our deeds, not merely on our intentions or even on the mercies of God devoid of our own personal cooperation and obedience.... for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you took me in, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and in prison and you visited me. For truly I say to you, if you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me (Mt 25). We are saved not merely by prayer and fasting, not by religious exercises alone. We are saved by serving Christ through his people, the goal toward which all piety and prayer is ultimately directed. Finally, on the eve of Great Lent, the day called Cheesefare Sunday and Forgiveness Sunday, we sing of Adam s exile from paradise. We identify ourselves with Adam, lamenting our loss of the beauty, dignity and delight of our original creation, mourning our corruption in sin. We also hear on this day the Lord s teaching about fasting and forgiveness, and we enter the season of the fast forgiving one another so that God will forgive us. If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive you your trespasses (Mt 6:14-18). PLEASE BRING AN ICON ON SUNDAY, MARCH 9, 2014 FOR THE SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY PROCESSION OF THE HOLY ICONS

8 All Saints Heritage Dancers Group Practice Schedule Monday March 10, 17, 24 and 31 Monday April 7, 21 and 28 Monday May 5, 12 and 19 The Junior Group (children age 6 by May 1) will practice from 6 7 p.m. in the Parish Hall The Senior Group (children age 13 by May 1) will practice from 7 8 p.m. in the Parish Hall See Becky Pihiou for information Ψυχοσάββατο: να μην ξεχάσω... Ψυχοσάββατο. Μέρα ξεχασμένη για τους πολλούς του κόσμου. Ο θάνατος είναι άλλωστε για τη νοοτροπία της εποχής μας το τέρμα. Οι κεκοιμημένοι μάς πονούν, αλλά πρέπει να ζήσουμε. Να προχωρήσουμε. Και το μνημόσυνο είναι μόνο ατομική υπόθεση. Όταν συμπληρώνονται οι μέρες, οι σαράντα, ο χρόνος, θυμόμαστε. Πάμε στο ναό. Έρχονται και όσοι μας αγαπούν και όσοι αγαπούσαν τον κεκοιμημένο. Και φτάνει. Γιατί άραγε όλοι μαζί, να έχουμε δύο ημέρες το χρόνο στις οποίες να θυμόμαστε πάντας τους κεκοιμημένους. Έτσι δεόμεθα υπέρ μακαρίας μνήμης και αιωνίου αναπαύσεως πάντων των απ' αιώνος κεκοιμημένων ορθοδόξων χριστιανών, βασιλέων, πατριαρχών, αρχιερέων, ιερέων, ιερομονάχων, μοναχών, γονέων, προγονέων, πάππων, προπάππων, διδασκάλων, αναδόχων ημών εν τη πίστει Κι όμως. Στο ψυχοχάρτι του Σαββάτου των Απόκρεω, πριν την Κυριακή της ανάμνησης ότι θα έρθει η τελευταία Κρίση, όπως και το Σάββατο πριν την Πεντηκοστή, πριν την Κυριακή του ξεκινήματος της παρουσίας της Εκκλησίας στον κόσμο, αποτυπώνεται όχι μόνο η μνήμη, αλλά και η ελπίδα. Μνήμη ότι οι αγαπημένοι μας ουκ απέθανον αλλά κοιμώνται. Μνήμη ότι η αγάπη δεν νικήθηκε από το θάνατο. Ότι μπορεί ένα κομμάτι μας να έφυγε μαζί του, να τάφηκε στο χώμα, κι όχι μόνο από όσους γνωρίσαμε, αλλά και από όλους όσους έζησαν πολύ πριν από εμάς, απ' αιώνος, όμως τίποτε δεν τελείωσε. Επειδή Χριστός Ανέστη ο θάνατος εσκυλεύθη. Επειδή Χριστός Ανέστη θα βρεθούμε ξανά με όλους όσους προηγήθηκαν. Κοντά στον Θεό των πνευμάτων και πάσης σαρκός. Εν τόπω φωτεινώ και χλοερώ και αναψύξεως. Και δεν θα είναι η συνάντησή μας μόνο εν πνεύματι. Δικό μας και δικό τους. Θα έρθει η ώρα που το σώμα τους και το δικό μας θα βγούνε από τις κρύπτες του θανάτου. Και θα ενωθεί η συμφυΐα, σε έναν τρόπο αιώνιο και χωρίς μετατροπή. Όπου ο έσχατος εχθρός θα καταργηθεί. Και θα είναι η ύπαρξη συνάντηση με το Φως και την γλυκύτητα της ωραιότητος του προσώπου του Χριστού και των Αγίων Του. Η Εκκλησία που δεν θα είναι μόνο μια πρόσκληση ένταξης στο σώμα του Χριστού, αλλά το ίδιο το Σώμα από το οποίο δεν θα χρειαστεί να περιμένουμε. Προγευόμαστε αυτή την χαρά να είμαστε μέλη του Σώματος κάθε φορά που τελούμε την Θεία Λειτουργία. Αυτήν στην οποία πιστεύουμε και ζούμε το διαρκές παρόν της Βασιλείας του Θεού. Της συνάντησης ζώντων και κεκοιμημένων, αγίων και αμαρτωλών, μελίσματος και μη διαίρεσης, βρώσεως και μη δαπανήσεως εν τω Χριστώ. Μόνο που τα δύο αυτά Σάββατα νιώθουμε τους κεκοιμημένους πιο κοντά μας. Γιατί δεν είμαστε μόνο εμείς που έχουμε να θυμόμαστε. Αλλά όλο το σώμα του Χριστού. Και η μνημόνευση των ονομάτων, μακρόσυρτη υπό τον ήχο του «Κύριε ελέησον», μάς υπενθυμίζει ότι η αγάπη δεν είναι μόνο για τους οικείους και συγγενείς, αλλά για όλους που εν Χριστώ γίνονται οι κατεξοχήν οικείοι μας. Οι αδελφοί μας. Ας βρεθούμε το απόγευμα της Παρασκευής και το πρωί του Σαββάτου στο ναό της γειτονιάς μας. Μεγαλύτεροι και μικρότεροι. Πρέπει να ζήσουμε, αυτό είναι δεδομένο. Έτσι κι αλλιώς ο θάνατος για μας δεν είναι τέρμα, αλλά μια στάση και ένα πέρασμα, ένα Πάσχα. Τη στάση την περνάμε μόνοι μας, ακόμη κι αν έχουμε την ώρα του θανάτου κοντά μας αυτούς που μας αγαπούνε. Ο θάνατος είναι η προσωπική μας έξοδος, στην οποία κανείς δεν μπορεί να βοηθήσει, να καταλάβει, να συντροφεύσει. Μία ροπή όμως είναι η στάση. Και μπαίνουμε στο πέρασμα της ανάστασης. Συντροφευμένοι από όσους έχουν προηγηθεί και πρωτίστως όσους αγάπησαν το Θεό και τον άνθρωπο. Κι αυτοί θα μας οδηγήσουν στο να αναγνωρίσουμε Εκείνον που θανάτω τον θάνατον επάτησε. Ας Τον παρακαλέσουμε λοιπόν. Και των κεκοιμημένων μνημόνευσον Σωτήρ μου, εν δόξη όταν έλθης. Των δικών μας και όλων των ανθρώπων. Να συναντιόμαστε στην αγάπη Σου!