Message from Father Demetri

Transcript

1 Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Norwich The Trinity Tribune April 2017 Edition Christ is in Our Midst! He is, was, and ever shall be! Message from Father Demetri Ο Χριστός ειναι ανάμεσα μας. Ήταν, ειναι και θα ειναιπαντοτινά. My Brothers and Sisters, Αδερφοί και Αδερφές μου, This year, 2017, April brings us the end of Great and Holy Lent, and leads us to Holy and Great Week all the way through the Resurrection of our Lord and God, Jesus Christ. The cross does not bring death, but life. The struggle of lent brings us closer to God. But what does this mean? And, what do we have in store for us in the future? It was through dying on the Cross that Christ confounded death and brought life to all creation. It was through accepting this human life and struggle, although our Lord was under no obligation too, that we mere mortals have a chance to taste eternal life. Through it all, God did everything to save His creation, and now it is up to creation to cling to God. Pascha, or Passover, has been redefined. Initially, the Hebrews celebrated the Passover as the passing over of the angel of death over their homes and only afflicting the firstborn sons in the homes of the Egyptians. This led to Pharaoh releasing the Hebrews to Moses and granting them their freedom from slavery and oppression. As the Hebrews fled Egypt, the Lord allowed Moses to part the Red Sea and cross over to escape the Egyptians, who wanted revenge for the loss of their firstborn sons. However, as stated above, Pascha has been redefined. For all of creation, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to become man and save us from a different form of slavery: sin, corruption, and death. From the fall of Adam and Eve, humanity has been bound to this harsh master and sin begat more sin, which led to death. But, through Christ, we are given our own chance to Passover. We just need to follow Him, and we can be freed from the oppression of sin, corruption, and death. We need not fear death, because through Christ, there is now hope in the resurrection. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, please, always keep Christ in our midst. Always strive to follow Him, even if we must traverse a desert for forty years or fast for forty days. The path He leads us to is the path of life and the water He provides for us will become in us a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life. Our God loves us and gives us an opportunity for redemption, we just need to follow Him with Faith, Love and Awe. With love in Christ, Fr DA Panteloukas Fr Demetri Φέτος, ο Απρίλιος μας φέρνει το τέλος της Σαρακοστής, την αρχή της Μεγάλης Εβδομάδας και την Ανάσταση του Κυρίου και Σωτήρα μας, Ιησού Χριστό. Η Σταύρωση δεν φέρνει τον θάνατο αλλα την ζωή. Ο αγώνας της νηστείας μας φέρνει πιο κοντά στον Θεό. Αλλα αυτο τι σημαίνει; τι έχει γραμμένο το μέλλον για μας; Πεθαίνοντας πάνω στον Τίμιο Σταυρό, ο Χριστος κατέρριψε τον θάνατο και έφερε την ζωή σε όλη την δημιουργία. Αποδεχόμενος την ανθρώπινη ζωή και την βιοπάλη, που δεν είχε καμία υποχρέωση να δεχθεί, έδωσε το δικαίωμα σε εμάς τους κοινους θνητούς να γευτούμε την αιώνια ζωή. Ο Θεός έχει κάνει τα παντα να σώσει την δημιουργία Του και εμεις σαν δημιουργία Του πρέπει να κάνουμε τα παντα για να μείνουμε κοντά Του. Το Πάσχα επαναπροσδιορίστηκε. Αρχικά, οι Εβραίοι, γιόρταζαν το Πάσχα ως το πέρασμα του αγγέλου του θανάτου πάνω απο τα σπίτια τους ο οποίος έπαιρνε ολους τους πρωτότοκους υιους των Αιγυπτίων. Αυτο οδήγησε τον Φαραώ να παραδώσει τους Εβραίους στον Μωϋσή και να τους ελευθερώσει απο την σκλαβιά και την καταπίεση. Στην εξοδο των Εβραίων, ο Κύριος έδωσε την δύναμη στον Μωϋσή να χωρίσει τα ύδατα της Ερυθράς Θάλασσας και να αποφύγουν την εκδικηση που ετοίμαζαν οι Αιγύπτιοι για τον χαμό των πρωτότοκων υιών τους. Αλλα όπως είπαμε, το Πάσχα αναπροσδιοριστηκε. Για όλο τον κόσμο, ο Θεός έστειλε τον Υιο Του, Ιησού Χριστό, στην γη ως θνητό άνθρωπο για να μας σώσει απο την κάθε είδος σκλαβιάς: την αμαρτία, την διαφθορά και τον θάνατο. Απο την πτώση του Αδάμ και της Ευας απο τον Παράδεισο, η ανθρωπότητα μαστιγωνετε απο τις απανωτες αμαρτίες που μας οδηγούν στον θάνατο. Μέσω του Χριστού όμως, μας δίνετε η ευκαιρία να διασχίσουμε και εμεις την έρημο μας και να Τον ακολουθήσουμε ώστε να απελευθερωθούμε απο την καταπίεση της αμαρτίας, της διαφθοράς και του θανάτου. Δεν χρειάζεστε να φοβόμαστε τον θάνατο γιατι μέσω του Χριστού έχουμε την ελπίδα της Ανάστασης. Γι'αυτο αδέρφια μου, πρέπει να κρατάμε παντα τον Χριστό ανάμεσα μας. Παντα να προσπαθούμε να Τον ακολουθούμε ακόμα και όταν χρειάζεται να περάσουμε 40 χρόνια περπατώντας στην έρημο, ή να νηστεψουμε για 40 μέρες. Το μονοπάτι στο οποίο μας οδηγεί, ειναι το μονοπάτι της ζωής και το νερό που μας ποτίζει θα γίνει πίδακας που θα μας ανεβάσει στην αιώνια ζωή. Ο Θεός μας αγαπάει και μας δίνει την ευκαιρία να λυτρωθούμε, απλά πρέπει να Τον ακολουθήσουμε με Πίστη, Αγάπη και Δέος. Με αγάπη εν Κυρίω, Πάτερ Δημήτριος. 1

2 April 2017 Edition 1, Απρίλιος, Σάββατο Πρωί Ανοίξτε Εξομολόγηση 4-6 μμ Μέγας Εσπέρινος 6 μμ 2, Απρίλιος, Κυριακή της Αγίας Μαρίας της Αιγυπτίας Όρθρος και Θεία Λειτοθργία 8:45πμ 3, Απρίλιος Δευτέρα Βράδυ Μέγα Απόδειπνο,6:30 μμ 5, Απρίλιος Τετάρτη Βράδυ ΩΡΑ Θʹ Προηγιασμένης, 6:30 μμ 7, Απρίλιος Παρασκευή Βράδυ Εσπέρινος 6:30 μμ 8, Απρίλιος Σάββατο του Λαζάρου Όρθρος και Θεία Λειτοθργία 8:30πμ βαϊων Πτυσσόμενος & Καθαρισμός του Βωμού μετά τη Θεία Λειτουργία 9, Απρίλιος, Κυριακή Όρθρος και Θεία Λειτοθργία - Κυριακή των βαϊων Κυριακή των Βαΐων Γεύμα Αμέσως μετά Υπηρεσιών Νυμφίος Υπηρεσία 5:00 μμ 10, Απρίλιος, Μεγάλη Δευτέρα Νυμφίος Υπηρεσία 6:00 μμ 11, Απρίλιος, Μεγάλη Τρίτη Νυμφίος Υπηρεσία 6:00 μμ Ύμνος της Κασσιανής 12, Απρίλιος, Μεγάλη Τετάρτη Μυστήριο του Αγίου Ευχελαίου Σημείωση: Μόνο μία υπηρεσία 13, Απρίλιος, Μεγάλη Πέμπτη Εσπερινή Λειτουργία του Αγίου Βασιλείου, 8:30 πμ Το Θείο Πάθος Υπηρεσία 6:00 μμ 14, Απρίλιος, Μεγάλη Παρασκευή Οι Βασιλικών Ωρών, 9:00 πμ Παιδική Ιερό/Διακόσμηση των Κουβουκλιων,10:00 πμ Εσπερινός (Αποκαθήλωση),3:00 μμ Υπηρεσία Θρήνοι (Εγκώμια) 7:00 μμ 15, Απρίλιος, Μεγάλη Σάββατο Εσπερινή Λειτουργία του Αγίου Βασιλείου, 10:00 πμ ΜΕΓΑΛΗ ΚΑΙ ΑΓΙΟ ΠΑΣΧΑ Υπηρεσία Προ-Ανάσταση, 11:00 μμ Η Ανάσταση Όρθρος και Θεία Λειτουργία 12 μεσάνυχτα 16,Απρίλιος,Κυριακή του Πάσχα Μέγας Εσπερινός της Αγάπης 23,Απρίλιος, Κυριακή του Αγίου Θωμά Κυριακή του Αγίου Θωμά 8:45πμ 30,Απρίλιος, Κυριακή των Μυροφόρων Όρθρος και Θεία Λειτοθργία 8:45πμ Church Services/Holy Week April 1, Saturday Evening Open Confession (1st come basis) 4-6 pm Great Vespers, 6:00 pm April 2, Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt Orthros and Divine Liturgy, 8:45 am April 3, Monday Evening Great Compline 6:30 pm April 5, Wednesday Evening 9th Hour /Presanctified Liturgy 6:30 pm April 7, Friday Evening Great Vespers, 6:30 pm April 8, Saturday of Lazarus Orthros / Divine Liturgy, 8:30 am Palm folding & Altar cleaning following Divine Liturgy April 9, Palm Sunday Orthros/Divine Liturgy 8:45am Palm Sunday Luncheon Immediately following Services Bridegroom Service, 5:00 pm April 10, Holy Monday Evening Bridegroom Service, 6:00 pm April 11, Holy Tuesday Evening Bridegroom Service, 6:00 pm / Hymn of the Kassiani April 12, Holy Wednesday Evening Sacrament of Holy Unction, 5:00 pm Note: Only one service April 13, Holy Thursday The Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil, 8:30 am The Holy Passion Service, 6:00 pm April 14, Holy Friday The Royal Hours, 9:00 am Children s Retreat/Kouvouklion Decorating, 10 am Vespers (Apokathelosis), 3:00 pm Service of Lamentations (Engomia), 7:00 pm April 15, Holy Saturday The Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil, 10:00 am GREAT AND HOLY PASCHA The Pre-Resurrection Service, 11:00 pm The RESURRECTION Matins and Divine Liturgy 12 midnight April 16, Sunday of Pascha The Great Vespers of Agape, 11:00 am April 23, Sunday of Thomas Orthros and Divine Liturgy, 8:45 am April 30, Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearers Orthros & Divine Liturgy 8:45 am 2

3 Strict Fast Wine and Oil Allowed Dairy, Eggs, and Fish Allowed Fish Allowed Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Open Confession (1st come basis) 4-6 pm 2 Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt Great Vespers 6:00 pm Saturday of Lazarus Orthros/Divine Liturgy 8:45AM 9 Palm Sunday Orthros/Divine Liturgy 8:45am Palm Sunday Luncheon Immediately following Services Bridegroom Service, 5:00 pm Great Compline 6:30 pm 10 Holy Monday Bridegroom Service, 6:00 pm 11 Holy Tuesday 9th Hour / Presanctified Liturgy 6:30 pm 12 Holy Wednesday Bridegroom Sacrament of Service, 6:00 Holy Unction pm / Hymn of the 5:00 pm Kassiani Note: Only one service The Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil 8:30 am The Holy Passion Service 6:00 pm The Royal Hours 9:00 am Children s Retreat/ Kouvouklion Decorating-10 am Vespers (Apokathelosis) 3:00 pm Service of Lamentations (Engomia) 7:00 pm Orthros / Divine Liturgy, 8:30 am Palm folding & Altar cleaning following Divine Liturgy Holy Thursday Holy Friday Holy Saturday The Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil 10:00 am GREAT & HOLY PASCHA The Pre- Resurrection Service11:00 pm The RESURRECTION Matins and Divine Liturgy 12 midnight 16 Fast Free EASTER Sunday 17 Fast Free 18 Fast Free 19 Fast Free 20 Fast Free 21 Fast Free 22 Fast Free The Great Vespers of Agape 11:00 AM 23 Fast Free Sunday of Thomas Orthros/Divine Liturgy 8:45AM 30 Sunday of The Myrrh-Bearers Orthros/Divine Liturgy 8:45AM 3

4 April 2017 Edition Presiding Priest Fr. Demetrios Panteloukas (609) Parish Council President: Maria Valkanos (860) Vice President: Peter Argiros Secretary: George Grossomanides Treasurer: John Grossomanides (401) Anna-Helene Grossomanides Amy Constantinou Eleftherios Mastorakis Stacy Bellas Violette Kostas Zarboutis Hon. Assistant Treasurer Joe Hominski Church Office Volunteers: Managing Volunteer: Anna-Helene Grossomanides Priscilla Lamons Cantors Steve Patsouris John Mastorakis Costas Zarboutis Philoptochos President: Geri Grossomanides St. Nicholas Ministry Stewardship Committee Chair: Peter Argiros Seeking Volunteers Outreach Committee: Priscilla Lamons GOYA Advisors: Michael Lamons Christos Stravroravdis GOYA Officers: President: Jesse Huber Vice-Pres: Noah Violette Secretary: Jamie Violette Treasurer: Joshua Huber Sgt at Arms: Ethan Grabil JOY Advisors: Virginia Argiros Priscilla Lamons Stacy Violette HOPE Advisors: Marianne Ghattas Sunday School: Stacy Violette Kristine Huber Anna-Helene Grossomanides Niki Provatas Altar Group Advisors: Larry Wyland John Grossomanides Children s Choir Advisors: Taso Dionisopoulos Library / Bookstore Ministry: Nellie Rodriguez Kay Booth Web Master Deena Patsouris Heely Paul Heely Please contact us on our new HTGOCNorwich@gmail.com Grecian Festival Committee Chair: Maria Valkanos AHEPA President: Peter Argiros Daughters of Penelope President: Anna-Helene Grossomanides Youth Ministries Director: Stacy Violette Co-Director: Kristine Huber 4

5 April 2017 Edition Parish Council News Holy Trinity Parish Council ( ) Congratulations to the Officers and Members Maria Valkanos - President Peter Argirios - Vice President George Grossomanides - Secretary John Grossomanides - Treasurer Stacy Bellas Violette - Member Amy Constantinou - Member Anna-Helene Grossomanides - Member Eleftherios Mastorakis - Member Konstantinos Zarboutis - Member Saturday of Lazarus, April 8, 2017 All are welcome to participate in Palm Folding & Cleaning of the Church and Altar Immediately following Church Services Good Friday Epitaphion Decorating & Retreat Immediately following church services Activities will include Decorating Epitaphion, Children s retreat and Lenten Meal. 5

6 April 2017 St Nicholas Ministry We are aware that St. Nicholas sought people in need to help and he chose to give freely. The goal of The Saint Nicholas Ministry is to help each other in a simple but impactful way by helping with a relatively simple task that may be difficult for someone in need. The Saint Nicholas Ministry is seeking volunteers to coordinate helping our elderly, sick, or pregnant families get a reprieve from some time consuming or tiring tasks such as: Cooking a meal and delivering it Shoveling Snow Mowing the lawn Pick up a small grocery order Contact Fr. Demetri for more information or the church office. St. Basil the Great Hardship Thanks to a generous contributions of many, we now have this fund to help any member who needs assistance with smaller expenses that are difficult to handle. Examples include: Heat Oil Gas Car insurance Groceries To apply, please contact Fr. Demetrios. To donate to it and to keep helping our brothers and sisters in need (as this will have its own standing balance that can be increased with donations) please specify on the form of payment and contact either Fr. Demetri, Amy Constantinou, or Peter Argiros. Looking for Volunteers for Soup Kitchen Please contact Fr. Demetrios if you are interested: More details to follow in the next bulletin. 6 Dear Holy Trinity, Our Annual Philoptochos Pascha Bake Sale is upon us. Please see below a copy of the Flyer/Order Form enclosed. We would greatly appreciate the support with baking, packing and distribution of the baked goods. Contact Maria Valkanos if your are able to assist. Baking and packing will take place the Week of April 10th and distribution on Palm Sunday. More details to be announced. ORDER FORM 2017 Ladies Philoptochos 15 th Annual Pascha Bake Sale Name: Phone: Number of Breads: X $8.00 PER BREAD = Number of Koulourakia : X $5.00 PER DOZEN = TOTAL : Order Deadline is April 3, 2017 Delivery Date is April 9, 2017 (Palm Sunday) To order call Maria Valkanos at home or cell or Submit Form to Church Office Please make Check Payable to: Holy Trinity Ladies Philoptochos

7 We encourage ALL CHILDREN through grade 12 to join us in the Church hall immediately following Holy Communion for religious education every Sunday. Anyone who would like to assist, please speak with Fr. Demetri or Stacy Violette. April 2017 Edition Congratulations to our Church School for their great work on the play about the Good Samaritan and the Oratorical Festival on Sunday March 12, News March 18, 2017 We had a great gathering today. Thank you to everyone who attended and we missed those who were unable to make it! Father Demetrios sat with us and guided us through the Ten Commandments and Confession. To bring it home to the children we had one child hold a large bag leather bag with a handle on each side and hold it on their back. We talked about the weight we carry around from sin and that confession forgives all those sins and makes us light as a kite! As we discussed each commandment the kids explained what each one meant and placed a heavy can in the bag held by the child that signified the weight that we carry with us when we break that commandment. We did that with each commandment adding a can to the bag for each one so you can imagine how HEAVY the bag became. Each child had an opportunity to hold the bag on their back to see how heavy it was and that this is how we feel as sin accumulates. This brings us to confession. Father explained that confession is private and they are in a no judgement zone and is totally private between him, God, and your child. If your child is 7 years old or older and they would like to go to confession with Father and you give your approval to do this, please contact Father to make an appointment. If they learn at an early age to go to confession, they will not be so intimidated later on in life and it will become a natural thing for them to do - especially during this Lenten season. Please have the discussion with your child. Noah Violette Anastasia Violette Zenovia Panteloukas Aprodite Panteloukas Manoli Toramanidis Dimitri Tormanidis Yianni Mastorakis Brandon Ghattas Holly Ghattas Charlie Clancy Our Dynamic G.O.Y.A is seeking donations to assist with their Toiletry drive to help those in need in the Norwich Community. Please consider making a donation or assisting in the distribution. Sunday of Orthodoxy May our LORD bless and strengthen each one of you as you love, instruct, and encourage your children, grandchildren, and godchildren in their Orthodox faith. "When your children are still small, you have to help them understand what is good. That is the deepest meaning of life." St Paisios the Athonite -Saint Paisos of Mt. Athos 7

8 April 2017 Edition BIBLE STUDY When: Thursdays at 7pm Where: Library Bring: Your bible and a smile Our Journey Through Lent Please join Father Demetrios on Sundays during Great Lent. We will begin with a Lesson followed by an open forum to ask question and seek support from our church family. Community Ministries Norwich Chapter #110 AHEPA News The Rose of New England Chapter 110 is glad to announce that this years AHEPA Sunday Date will be May 21, This year marks the 95th Anniversary of the organization which was founded in Atlanta, GA in 1922 by eight Greek-Americans. AHEPA Sunday will be a National Day in which every church in the USA and Canada will celebrate. In Norwich, we will do an Artoklasia for our living members and a Memorial Service for our deceased Brothers. AHEPA Chapter 110 has a very rich history and tradition from our seven Past District Governors and one Past Supreme President, to donations to the restoration of the Statue of Liberty and funding a dormitory room at St. Basil Academy, and most importantly raising over $500,000 for Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Norwich, CT and constructing three AHEPA Senior Citizen Apartments. This Chapter has been a cornerstone of the City of Norwich and the Holy Trinity Greek Church. We continue to look for any new and interested members please contact Peter Argiros if you would like an application. The Daughters of Penelope Lysandros Chapter #181 News As we prepare for the upcoming months, here is special news and events we would like to share. First, we will have homemade Lambathes for sell to benefit our church community of Holy Trinity on the weekends of April 1 st & -2 nd & April 8 th & 9 th. Secondly, we will be Cohosting with our Brother AHEPANS the New England Regional Convention at the Holiday Inn in Norwich, CT the weekend of May 5 th -7 th. Additionally, we will be having a Paint Escape Fundraising Event at the end of May to benefit our National Projects, so look for more details to follow soon. Lastly, we are still preparing to co -host a Fundraising Event with the Ladies Philoptochos Society to support our common causes and projects. The Daughters are continuously looking for new members and we would be happy to have you join us! For more information about the Daughters visit our National Website: daughtersofpenelope.org and or contact Anna -Helene Grossomanides at anna-helene@cox.net. 8

9 Irene s Family Restaurant and Café 58 Town Street Norwich, CT (860) Irenesfamilyrestaurant.com Kostas and Irene Marasiotis and Family Great Oak Pizza 704 West Thames Street Norwich, CT (860) Kilimos Family Sunset Pizza 425 Laurel Hill Avenue Norwich, CT (860) Christos, Maria, Dimitri & Yianni Valkanos Dimas Family Dr. John & Anna-Helene Grossomanides Town Pizza II A Family Restaurant 18 Kingstown Rd. Richmond, RI (401) Dafoulas Family AHEPA Rose of New England Chapter #110 Norwich, CT Daughters of Penelope Lysandros Chapter #181 Norwich, CT 9

10 Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church Palm Sunday Fish Luncheon Sunday, April 9, 2017 Immediately Following Divine Liturgy Baked Fish Served with: Rice Pilaf, Vegetable, Salad Bread & Butter, Dessert & Coffee Adults:$15 Special Meal offered for Children Children:$5 under 10 years old RSVP Church Office or no later than April 3, 2017: or 10