THUNDER BAY BULLETIN OCTOBER 26: ST. DEMETRIOS THE GREAT MARTYR 26 ΟΚΤΩΒΡΙΟΥ: ΑΓΙΟΥ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΥ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΜΑΡΤΥΡΟΣ ORTHROS 9.15AM; DIVINE LITURGY 10:15AM

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1 THUNDER BAY BULLETIN 651 Beverly Street, Thunder Bay, ON, P7B 6N2 Telephone/Fax: (807) October 2009 Volume 5 Issue 10 OCTOBER 26: ST. DEMETRIOS THE GREAT MARTYR 26 ΟΚΤΩΒΡΙΟΥ: ΑΓΙΟΥ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΥ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΜΑΡΤΥΡΟΣ ORTHROS 9.15AM; DIVINE LITURGY 10:15AM 1

2 THUNDER BAY BULLETIN Published monthly. Editor(s): Rev. Nikolaos Tambakis PARISH PRIEST: Rev. Fr. Nikolaos Tambakis 106 Essex Court, Thunder Bay, Ontario, P7A 7N6 # (807) cellular # (807) office/fax ntambakis@hotmail.com website: Office hours: by appointment HELLENIC COMMUNITY PRESIDENT: Harry Tsekouras 305 James Street N., Thunder Bay, Ontario, P7C 4T1 # (807) home VICE PRESIDENT: SECRETARY: CO-TREASURER: CO-TREASURER: Nick Milionis 146 Albany Street, Thunder Bay, Ontario, P7A 6Z5 # (807) home Harry Glymitsas 220 Angus Street, Thunder Bay, Ontario, P7A 2Y4 # (807) home Tom Marinis 358 Lark Street, Thunder Bay, Ontario, P7B 1P5 # (807) home Peter Koukos 416 Shuniah Street, Thunder Bay, Ontario, P7A 3A8 # (807) home BOARD MEMBERS: NICK KOUKOS, LOUIS PORT, TIMOLEON KAROUTAS, ACHILLEAS STATHOPOULOS, ANDY KARANASOS, MARIA MORAKIS. RELIGIOUS AND LEGAL AUTHORITIES HIS ALL HOLINESS ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW I # ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE Fax: RUM PATRIKHANESI, FENER HALIC ISTANBUL, TURKIYE HIS EMINENCE METROPOLITAN SOTIRIOS # (416) GREEK ORTHODOX METROPOLIS IF TORONTO (CANADA) Fax: (416) PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW WAY (86 OVERLEA BOULEVARD) greekomt@on.aibn.com TORONTO, ONTARIO M4H 1C6 EMBASSY OF GREECE # (613) MACLAREN STREET Fax: (613) OTTAWA, ONTARIO K2P 0K6 CONSULATE GENERAL OF GREECE # (416) BLOOR STREET E, SUITE 1800 Fax: (416) TORONTO, ONTARIO M4W 3L4 GREEK TOURIST OFFICE (TORONTO) # (416) BAY STREET Fax: (416) TORONTO, ONTARIO M5R 3K8 grnto.tor@sympatico.ca 2

3 Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church presents: SOUVLAKI DINNER (Souvlaki, Tzatziki, Mediterranean rice, Greek salad and pita) $10 Thursday, October 22, 2009 Take Out/Pickup only 4:00pm 6:30pm Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church 651 Beverly Street (at Balmoral) Tickets available at the door. Telephone:

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5 OCTOBER 26: ST. DEMETRIOS THE GREAT MARTYR Saint Demetrios was a Thessalonian, a most pious son of pious and noble parents, and a teacher of the Faith of Christ. When Maximian first came to Thessalonica in 290, he raised the Saint to the rank of Duke of Thessaly. But when it was discovered that the Saint was a Christian, he was arrested and kept bound in a bathhouse. While the games were under way in the city, Maximian was a spectator there. A certain friend of his, a barbarian who was a notable wrestler, Lyaeus by name, waxing haughty because of the height and strength of his body, boasted in the stadium and challenged the citizens to a contest with him. All that fought with him were defeated. Seeing this, a certain youth named Nestor, acquaintance of Demetrios', came to the Saint in the bathhouse and asked his blessing to fight Lyaeus single-handed. Receiving this blessing and sealing himself with the sign of the precious Cross, he presented himself in the stadium, and said, "O God of Demetrios, help me!" and straightway he engaged Lyaeus in combat and smote him with a mortal blow to the heart, leaving the former boaster lifeless upon the earth. Maximian was sorely grieved over this, and when he learned who was the cause of this defeat, he commanded straightway and Demetrios was pierced with lances while he was yet in the bathhouse, As for Nestor, Maximian commanded that he be slain with his own sword ΟΚΤΩΒΡΙΟΥ: ΤΟΥ ΑΓΙΟΥ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΜΑΡΤΥΡΟΣ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΥ Ο δε Άγηνο Δεκήηξηνο ήηαλ Θεζζαινληθεχο ηελ παηξίδα, επζεβψλ γνλέσλ γπηφο επζεβέζηαηνο, θαη δηδάζθαινο ηεο πίζηεσο ηνπ Φξηζηνχ. Έηζη, φηαλ ήιζε ν Μαμηκηαλφο ζηε Θεζζαινλίθε, ην 290, πξφζηαμε λα ηνλ ζπιιάβνπλ θαη ηνλ έξξημε ζηελ θπιαθή. Ελψ δηεμάγνληαλ αζιεηηθνί αγψλεο ζηελ πφιη, ν κελ Μαμηκηαλφο θαζφηαλ θαη ηνπο παξαθνινπζνχζε. Έλαο δε βάξβαξνο θίινο ηνπ θαη μάθνπζηνο παιαηζηήο, νλνκαδφκελνο Λπαίνο, θαπρφκελνο γηα ην αλάζηεκά ηνπ θαη γηα ηε ζσκαηηθή ηνπ δχλακη, εθφκπαδε ζην ζηάδην, πξνθαιψληαο ηνπο πνιίηεο λα δηαγσληζζνχλ καδί ηνπ θαη θαηαβάιινληαο φζνπο έξρνληαλ ζηα ρέξηα κ απηφλ. Απηά βιέπνληαο έλαο λεαξφο, νκνκαδφκελνο Νέζησξ, γλψξηκνο ηνπ Αγίνπ Δεκεηξίνπ, έξρεηαη ζ απηφλ, ζηε θχιαθε, δεηψληαο ηεο πξνζεπρέο ηνπ γηα ηε κνλνκαρία. Πήξε ηελ επινγία ηνπ Αγίνπ, πνπ ηνλ ζθξάγεζε κε ην ζεκείνλ ηνπ Σηαπξνχ, παξνπζηάδεηαη ζην ζηάδην θαη, ιέγνληαο: «Θεέ ηνπ Δεκεηξίνπ, βνήζα κε!», πηάλεηαη ζηα ρέξηα κε ην Λπαίν θαη θηππψληαο ηνλ θαίξηα πάλσ ζηελ θαξδηά, αθήλεη άςπρν ζηε γε ηνλ πξηλ κεγάιαπρν. Ο δε Μαμηκηαλφο ιππήζεθε πνιχ γη απηφ, ξψηεζε πσο ζπλέβεθαλ ηα πξάγκαηα θαη πξφζηαμε ακέζσο, ηνλ κελ Δεκήηξην λα ηξππήζνπλ κε ινγρηζκνχο ζηε θχιαθε πνπ βξηζθφηαλ, ηνλ δε Νέζηνξα λα ηνπ πάξνπλ ην μίθνο θαη λα ηνλ ζαλαηψζνπλ κε απηφ. 5

6 Getting to Know An Unknown God John Kapsalis Greek speaking people like to pride themselves on their rich cultural and historical heritage: democracy, medicine, literature, politics. The list is quite impressive. Actually, talk with some of my relatives and you ll soon be coerced to believe that Greeks invented just about every modern convenience imaginable from the computer to the cure for cancer. Needless to say, family get-togethers usually turn out to be quite lively. The one thing that Greeks are not given enough credit for though is the discovery of God. I know what you re thinking. Here we go again. Another egomaniacal Greek now trying to tell us that they re the ones that found God! Ridiculous, I agree. I know there s hyperbole here but let me explain. To Fill a God-shaped Hole When the apostle Paul traveled to Athens, he observed something that was taken for granted by Athenians: life revolved around gods and goddesses. Monuments, altars and temples adorned the whole city. Household gods in the form of little figurines were sold like souvenirs and treasured like little talismans. Yet something was desperately missing. There weren t enough gods to give relief from the daily anxieties of life. Knowledge and religion were flourishing, but so too were emptiness and an unquenchable thirst for a deity not made of stone and silver. What these Athenians needed was an unknown God. And St Paul knew exactly where to find him. You see Paul didn t go to Athens to see the sights, look at some buildings and maybe catch a show at the famous theatre. What he saw in Athens deeply disturbed him. All Paul could see were hollow lives longing to find another spirit to fill their God-shaped hole. And unlike us who travel the world and are intrigued by the junkyard of empty religion or the false gods of wealth and pleasure, Paul was determined to help these people. Paul wanted to show them a treasure worth dying for. So he went everywhere in the city talking, teaching, reasoning, pleading with anyone who would listen. In his movements about the city, Paul noticed something that would change the lives of not only the Athenians but also the whole world. Let s follow along with St Luke s account in the Book of Acts: So Paul, standing before the [high] council [of the city], addressed them as follows: [Athenians] I notice that you are religious in every way, for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: To an unknown God. This God whom you worship without knowing, is the one I m telling you about. He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn t live in man-made temples, and human hands can t serve his needs -for he has no needs. He himself gives life to everything, and he satisfies every need. For in him we live and move and exist (Acts 17:22-28 NLT). Wild and Unknown? You could almost imagine Paul, with his battered and bruised legs, jumping with a happy Eureka! This, finally, was the answer to everyone s prayers. The unknown God of the Athenians was the one true God. And Paul preached this unknown God to the Athenians and to people everywhere he went. This same unknown God is the one that Christians believe, worship, proclaim and die for. Whew! That takes care of that. But wait a minute. Who is this God? Who is this unknown God that has touched all of world 6

7 history? Who is this being for whom so much ink has been spilled trying to understand? Well, the answer is (and must be) essentially unknown. Yes I know, Scripture has revealed God to be the Lord of all creation, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I know that God IS. But there is still so much I don t know. This unknown God also chose to become a man and live among us, only to be spit upon, punched, ridiculed and violently killed all because He loves me. This unknown God has a love for me that is so consuming that it is almost fictional. He is the same God that becomes so painstakingly personal that he even controls every hair follicle that falls off my head, only to then hide from me over and over again. He is the God who stretches his hand to save me more times than I can count, while at times purposefully allowing me to suffer just when I feel strong. He dies for me because he loves me enough to want to make me a god, but then expects me to risk everything I have, my life included, telling others about it. So yes. God has revealed himself to me, but do I really know him? Who do you say that I am? In the Orthodox Christian church, there has always been a painful awareness that we ll never know this being we call God. We ll never understand the workings of this I Am who we know so little about. Really, there is an incapability for us to understand and express all that God is. All we can do is repeat the words of John of Damascus: God is infinite and incomprehensible and all that is comprehensible about him is his infinity and incomprehensibility. But wait! There is more. Throughout history this unknown God still chooses to give us glimpses of himself. And yes, they are mere glimpses. It isn t like God is playing peek-a-boo with us. But there is this sense that just when we think we know something more about him, he forces us to rethink everything and humbly say surely I spoke of things I do not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. For how can we know God? How can we know someone who even eternity cannot contain? In the book The Cloud of Unknowing, the anonymous author counsels us with this advice: Our intense need to understand will always be a powerful stumbling block to our attempts to reach God in simple love and must always be overcome. For if you do not overcome this need to understand, it will undermine your quest. It will replace the darkness which you have pierced to reach God with clear images of something which, however good, however beautiful, however godlike, is not God. Even so, there is this nagging feeling that there has to be yet more. Because right when I m doubting God invites me to come before him, to join in his embrace and to get to know him. And that s when I discover that the answer must lie elsewhere. And it does. But it doesn t lie in suddenly understanding the workings of a sovereign God. After all, we know more about what God is not than what he truly is. Rather it all boils down to love. The Fellowship of the Trinity In one of his short but beautiful letters, St John connected knowing God with love: Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love (1 John 4:7-8 NIV). Did you get that? Whoever does not love does not know God. All our inner yearnings can be fulfilled in this one line from St John. We can begin to get a foretaste of who this unknown God is if only we love each other. Not in some romantic, emotional way but with the same love that God showed us by sending Jesus Christ to die for us. Is this not what Jesus Christ, in his final hours here on earth, prayed for his disciples? Listen as he prayed that they might know the only true God: Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them (John 17:26 NIV). What Jesus is saying is that the more we love the more we get to know God. The more we get to know God the more we are drawn into the fellowship of the Trinity. There is something supernatural that happens when we love God. Something utterly unspeakable changes when we love each other the way the fellowship of the Trinity loves each other. We too will experience for each other the love that the Father has for the Son and the Son for the Father. And as we are drawn closer into this ring of fellowship we will get to 7

8 know a being so wonderful and joyful and loving and peaceful so indescribable that our whole existence will be stunned by the glory of this magnificent God. Suddenly, familiarity and friendship will replace doubt and the unknown. Listen to St Symeon the New Theologian burst into delight, as he was surprised with a foretaste of being before God: I cried and lived in an effable joy, to have seen You, You the creator of the universe. You judged me, the prodigal, worthy to hear your voice. And now I converse with you, the Master, as a friend to a friend. As a friend to a friend if only to live a moment like this with such a God. Maybe we won t know everything about this friend nor always understand him, but we will have a friend who will never desert us. We will have a friend who dies for us. St Paul showed the Athenians that their unknown God is more glorious than any trinket made of stone. God is a friend who dies to be with us. Paul experienced God s friendship and got a foretaste of God s glory, which is why he lived as he did. Read his letters. Everything he formerly held in such high esteem became for Paul like manure. How could it be otherwise? Nothing of importance in this life can matter after you experience God like Paul and Symeon did. Now wouldn t you also gladly give it all up if only to get to know this unknown God? John Kapsalis is a graduate of Holy Cross Seminary. O.P.A! Orthodox Parents Association celebrating the joy of parenting. Tuesday, October 20 nd, 6:00 7:30pm at the church. Subject: Internet Crimes and our Children Speaker: Det. Constable Sheri Heyder, Thunder Bay Police Service Parents do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4) COMMUNITY NEWS Congratulations to Katherine Meyer, who was awarded the 2009 Philoptochos Bursary for her university studies. God bless you and your educational endeavours! Congratulations also for Dolores Maki, Chrismated on August 30 th ; may the Lord guide her in her Orthodox journey through the intercessions of the Theotokos. Amen. 8

9 Episcopal Congregation Embracing Orthodox Faith July 9, 2007 (Daily Oklahoman) A new Orthodox Christian church is forming in north Oklahoma City. Mark Wallace, a former Charismatic Episcopal priest, is leading his former congregants through becoming an Orthodox Christian congregation. Wallace and many members of his former Holy Trinity Charismatic Episcopal Church are taking classes and attending services at St. Elijah Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church, N May. I have no doubt in my mind that Orthodoxy has something to offer in American life. It s the best kept secret, he said. Wallace said his journey toward Orthodox Christianity began last year when he became troubled by events within the International Communion of the Charismatic Episcopal Church, a denomination formed in 1992 that now claims close to 1,000 churches in 20 countries. Wallace, a graduate of Oral Roberts University, said he started Holy Trinity in 1996 as a Charismatic Episcopal Church. He said he disagreed with the denomination s bishop over doctrinal matters. Wallace, 53, said in December 2006 he contacted St. Elijah s pastor, the Rev. Constantine Nasr as he began exploring the possibility of becoming a part of the Orthodox Christian community. Nasr, 62, said he was happy to help Wallace and his congregation learn more about Orthodox Christianity. Nor was he surprised at Wallace s interest. Since the rise of TV evangelism and the collapse of TV evangelism, since all the liberalism in some of the denominations, the Church is shattered, he said. People want consistency. They want tradition. They want the sacraments. Through the Internet they have discovered the Mother Church and for many reasons are deciding to come back home to the ancient faith. Wallace said he was drawn to the Orthodox Christian Church because of its stability regarding doctrine, liturgy and church government. It s my conviction that the Orthodox Church is the church that Jesus started. There s no re-inventing the wheel, which is what I was doing with the other church. We were always changing, he said. Initially, Wallace called a meeting to discuss his thoughts about becoming a part of the Orthodox Christian faith community. The Holy Trinity congregation met Sunday evenings at Our Lord s Community Church. He said his idea was met with some healthy skepticism by some members of his congregation, and he expected that. In the end, about 52 of the church s 65 members decided to follow Wallace on the journey to Orthodox Christianity. They began taking classes at St. Elijah to learn the holy traditions and sacraments of the Orthodox Church. The congregation s last service under the Charismatic Episcopal umbrella was in late March. Nasr attended that service and said he was moved when Wallace gave up his Charismatic Episcopal priest vestments to signify that he was no longer a clergyman. He took off his vestments and collar piece by piece, Nasr said. We were all crying because this is like death to this community. Nasr said Wallace is a layman in the Orthodox church, but he continues with his congregation as a shepherd or leader. Wallace is enrolled in St. Stephen s House of Studies independent study courses and hopes to be ordained as a deacon and a priest in the Orthodox Christian Church. Nasr said Wallace s route to the Orthodox clergy will not take as long as it normally would because he is already seminary trained. Nasr said he hopes to see the congregation, which is to be called St. Andrew s Orthodox Christian Church, confirmed in the Orthodox Christian Church by Christmas. Wallace said former members of Holy Trinity participate in St. Elijah s matins service, a morning prayer service. Nasr said after their confirmation they will be be able to receive communion in the Orthodox Church. That will be a Christmas gift, he said. Wallace said he feels that he has found what many are seeking. One of the greatest problems we see is the rootlessness of Christians. They leave one church and go to another. They keep looking for something, and I think they are looking for their spiritual roots, he said. Everything they try has something good, but I would say the Orthodox Church provides a full expression of the Christian faith. 9

10 ΑΒΒΑ ΔΩΡΟΘΕΟΥ Η ΣΥΝΕΙΔΗΣΗ 'ηαλ φ Θεφο δεµηνχξγεζε ηφλ αλζξσπν, 'έβαιε µέζα ηνπ έλα ζείν ζπέξµα, ζάλ ελα είδνο ινγηζµνυ πηφ ζεξµνχ θαη θσηεηλνυ, λά ερεη ηή ζέζε ηεο ζπίζαο, γηά λά θσηίδεη ηφ λνπ θαη λά ηνπ δείρλεη λά μερσξίδεη ηφ θαιφ απφ ηφ θαθφ'. Απηφ νλνµάδεηαη ζπλείδεζε, θαη είλαη φ θπζηθφν λφµνη; ('Ιωαv. Χρυσ. Ρ. G. 49, ). Αχηφ είλαη ηά πεγάδηα πνχ άλνηγε φ 'Ιαθψβ, φπσο άθξηβψο είπαλ νη Παηέξεο, θαη ηά παξάρσλαλ νη Φηιηζηατνη (Γελ. 26, 15). Μ' απηφ ηφ λφµν, δειαδή µέ ηή ζπλείδεζε, ζπµµνξθψζεθαλ νη Παηξηάξρεο θαη νινη νη άγηνη πνχ εδεζαλ πξίλ απφ ηφ γξαπηφ λφµν θαη εχαξέζηενζλ ζηφ Θεφ. 'Επεηδή φκσο απηή παξαρψζεθε θαη θαηαπαηήζεθε απφ ηνχο αλζξψπνπο µέ ηελ πξννδεπηηθή εμάπισζε ηεο ακαξηηαο, ρξεηαζηήθαµε ην γξαπηφ λφµν, ρξεηαζηήθαµε ηνχο Αγίνπο Πξνθήηεο, ρξεηαζηήθαµε ηελ ελαλζξψπηζε ηνπ Ίδίνπ ηνπ Δεζπφηε µαο 'Ιεζνχ Φξηζηνχ, γηα λα ηελ μαλαθέξεη ζην θψο θαη λα ηελ αλαζηήζεη, γηα λα μαλαδψζεη δσή, µέ ηελ ηήξεζε ησλ άγησλ εληνιψλ ηνπ Θενχ εθείλε ηελ ζπίζα πνχ ήηαλ παξαρσµέλε. Τψξα ινηπφλ, είλαη ζην ρέξη µαο ε λα Τελ παξαρψζνπµε πάιη ε λα ηελ αθήζνπκε λα ιάµπεη θαη λα µαο θσηίδεη, αλ ζπµµνξθσλφµαζηε µέ ηηο ππνδείμεηο ηεο. Γηαηί φηαλ ή ζπλείδεζή µαο µαο ππαγνξεχεη λα θάλνπµε απηφ θαη άδηαθνξνυµε, θαη πάιη µαο ιέεη λα θάλνπµε εθείλν θαη δελ ην θάλνπµε, αιιά ζηαζεξά θαη αδηάθνπα ηελ θαηαπαηνχµε, έηζη ηε ζάβνπλε θαη δελ µπνξεί πηα λα θσλάμεη δπλαηά µέζα µαο, απφ ην βάξνο πνχ ηε ζθεπάδεη. φπσο αθξηβψο ην ιπρλάξη πνχ δίλεη ζαµπφ θψο, έηζη θαη απηή αξρίδεη λα µαο δείρλεη φιν πην ζνιά, φιν πην ζθνηεηλά ηα πξάγµαηα, φπσο ζπµβαίλεη θαη µέ ην ζνισµέλν απφ ηα πνιιά ρψµαηα λεξφ, πνχ δελ µπνξεί λα δεη θαλείο δηεζηξακκέλε δηάζεζε- θαη αξρίδεη λα θαηαθξνλετ θαη ηα κεγάια θαη βαξχηεξα, θαη λα θαηαπαηεί ηελ 'ίδηα ηε ζπλείδεζή ηνπ. Καη 'έηζη πξνρσξψληαο ζηγά-ζηγά θηλδπλεχεη λα πέζεη θαη ζε ηέιεηα αλαηζζεζία. Γη' απηφ, πξνζέμηε, αδειθνί κνπ, λα κελ ακειήζνπκε ηα κηθξά, πξνζέμηε λα κελ θαη αθξνλήζνπκε απηά ζαλ αζήκαληα. Δελ είλαη κηθξά, γηαηί απ' απηά ηξέθεηαη ή ςπρή, απ' απηά δεκηνπξγείηαη θαθή ζπλήζεηα. "Αο αγξππλήζνπκε, αο θξνληίζνπκε ηα ειαθξά,νζν είλαη αθφκε ειαθξά, γηα λα κελ γίλνπλ βαξηά. Καη ή πξφνδφο καο ζηελ αξεηή θαη ή ακαξηία, μεθηλάλε απφ ηα κηθξά θαη θαηαιήγνπλ ζε κεγάια είηε θαιά είηε θαθφ-. Γη' απηφ καο πξνηξέπεη φ Κχξην λα θπιάκε ηε ζπλείδεζή καο, ζαλ λα ζέιεη λα θάλεη θάπνηνλ Ιδηαίηεξα πξνζεθηηθφ θαη ηνπ ιέεη: «Πξφζεμε ηί θάλεηο, ηαιαίπσξε, μχπλα, δεκηνχξγεζε θαιέο ζρέζεηο κε ηνλ αληίπαιφ ζνπ, άζν αθφκα βξίζθεζαη ζην δξφκν καδί ηνπ». Καη πξνζζέηεη ην θφβν θαη ηνλ θίλδπλν πνχ 'έρεη ή ππφζεζε, ιέγνληαο «Μήπσο θάπνηε ζε παξαδψζεη ζηνλ θξηηή θαη φ θξηηήο ζηνπο ππεξέηεο θαη ζε βάινπλ ζηε θπιαθή». Καη ηί άιιν; «' Αιεζηλά ζνπ ιέσ, δελ ζα βγεηο απφ εθεί, κέρξηο φηνπ μεπιεξψζεηο θαη ηελ ηειεπηαία δεθάξα ηνπ ρξένπο ζνπ». Γηαηί ή ζπλείδεζε καο ειέγρεη, φπσο είπα, γηα ην θαιφ θαη γηα ην θαθφ, θαη καο ππνδεηθλχεη ηί λα θάλνπκε θαη ηί OXI. Καη απηή πάιη ζα καο θαηεγνξήζεη θαη ζηε κέιινπζα δσή. Γη' απηφ ιέεη: «Μήπσο θάπνηε ζε παξαδψζεη ζηνλ θξηηή θηι» Ή πξνζπάζεηά καο γηα λα θπιάμνπκε ηε ζπλείδεζή καο άγξππλε θαη λα ζπκκνξθσλφκαζηε κε ηηο ππνδείμεηο ηεο, παίξλεη πνιιέο θαη πνηθίιε; κνξθέο, Γηαηί πξέπεη λα ελεξγεί θαλείο «θαηά ζπλείδεζε» θαη πξφο ην Θεφ θαη πξφο ηνλ πιεζίνλ θαη πξφο ηα πξάγκαηα. Πξφο κελ ην Θεφ, γηα λα κελ θαηαθξνλετ ηηο εληνιέο Τνπ, θαη φηαλ δελ ηνλ βιέπεη άλζξσπνο θαη φηαλ θαλείο δελ απαηηεί ηίπνηα απ' απηφλ. Απηνο ελεξγεί «θαηά ζπλείδεζε» απέλαληη ηνπ Θενχ κπζηηθά. Να, ηί ζέισ λα πσ: ' Ακέιεζε ηελ πξνζεπρή, αλέβεθε ζηελ θαξδηά ηνπ «εκπαζήο ινγηζκφο» θαη δελ πξφζεμε θαη δελ πίεζε ηνλ εαπηφλ ηνπ αιιά ζπγθαηαηέζεθε. 10

11 Είδε ηνλ πιεζίνλ ηνπ λα ιέεη ε λα θάλεη θάηη θαη θαηά ηε θαληαζία ηνπ ηνλ ππνςηάζηεθε θαη ηνλ θαηάθξηλε. Καη κε ιίγα ιφγηα, ζε φζα γίλνληαη εζσηεξηθά, κπζηηθά, πνχ θαλέλαο δελ μέξεη, παξά κφλνλ φ Θεφο θαη ή ζπλείδεζή καο, ζ' απηά πξέπεη λα ζπκκνξθσλφκαζηε κε ηε θσλή ηεο ζπλεηδήζεσο. Απηφ ζεκαίλεη ην λα ηεξνχκε ηε ζπλείδεζή καο πξφο ην Θεφ Ή ηήξεζε ηεο ζπλεηδήζεσο πξφο ηνλ πιεζίνλ είλαη λα κελ θάλεη θαλείο ηίπνηα απνιχησο πνχ θαηαιαβαίλεη φηαλ ζιίβεη ε πιεγψλεη ηνλ πιεζίνλ, είηε κε έξγν, είηε κε ιφγν, είηε κε θάπνηα θίλεζε είηε κ' έλα βιέκκα - γηαηί κπνξεί θαλείο θαη κε κηα θίλεζε, φπσο πνιιέο θάξεο ιέσ, λα πιεγψζεη ηνλ πιεζίνλ, κπνξεί θαη κ' έλα βιέκκα. Καη κε ιίγα ιφγσ, φ άλζξσπνο κνιχλεη ηή ζπλείδεζή ηνπ κε φζα θαηαιαβαίλεη φηη θάλεη επίηεδεο γηα λα πξνθαιέζεη ινγηζκφ ζηνλ πιεζίνλ, επεηδή μέξε φηη ην θάλεη επίηεδεο γηα λα ηνλ βιάςεη ε λα ηνλ ζηελνρσξήζεη. Τν λα θπιάμεη ινηπφλ ηή ζπλείδεζε θαη λα κελ θάλεη θάηη ηέηνην, είλαη απηφ πνχ ιεκέ, «λα ελεξγεί θαηά ζπλείδεζε» πξφο ηνλ πιεζίνλ Να ελεξγεί θαλείο «θαηά ζπλείδεζε» πξφο ηα πιηθά πξάγκαηα ζεκαίλεη λα κελ θάλεη θαηάρξεζε θαλελφο πξάγκαηνο, λα κελ αθήλεη θάηη λα θαηαζηξαθεί ε λα πεηαρηεί. 'Αιιά θαη αλ αθφκα δεη θάηη πεηακέλν, λα κελ ην αγλνήζεη έζησ θαη αλ είλαη αζήκαλην, αιιά λα ην καδέςεη θαη λα ην βάιεη ζηε ζέζε ηνπ. Νά κελ ρξεζηκνπνηεί απξφζεθηα ηα ξνχρα ηνπ. Γηαηί, αο ππνζέζνπκε φηη κπνξεί λα θνξέζεη θαλείο ην ξνχρν ηνπ άιιε κηα ε δχν εβδνκάδεο θαη πεγαίλεη θαη ην βάδεη θαη ην πιέλεη, πξηλ ηεο ψξαο ηνπ, θαη ην Φζείξε. Καη αληί λα ην ρξεζηκνπνηήζεη άιινπο πέληε κήλεο ε θαη πεξηζζφηεξν, κε ην πιχλε-πιχλε ην παιηψλεη θαη ην αρξεζηεχεη. Καη απηφ γίλεηαη <<παξά ζπλείδεζε». Τν ίδην ζπκβαίλεη θαη κε ην ζηξψκα. Πνιέο θνξέο κπνξεί θαλείο λα βνιεπηεί κ έλα παπισκαηάθη θαη δεηάεη παρχ ζηξψκα. Άιινηε πάιηλ έρεη ηξίρηλν θαη ζέιεη λα ην αιιάμεη θαη λα παξεη άιιν θαηλνχξγην θαη φκνξθν απφ καηαηνδνμία ή απφ αθεδία. Μπνξεί λα αξθεζηεί κ έλα παιηφξνπρν θαη δεηάεη κάιιηλν θαη δεκηνπξγεί δεηήκαηα, άλ δελ ηνπ δψζνπλ. Αλ δε θαη αξρίζεη θαη πξνζέρεη ηνλ αδειθφ ηνπ θαη λα ιέεη«γηαηί απηφο έρεη απηφ θαη εγψ δελ έρσ;» Ε, απηφο είλαη καθάξηνο! Τφηε πξφθνςε! (Εδψ εηξσλεχεηαη ηνλ ηνηνχηνλ κνλαρφ).άιινηε πάιηλ απιψλεη θαλείο ην ξνχρν ηνπ ή ην ζθέπαζκά ηνπ ζηνλ ήιην θαη ακειεί λα ην καδέςεη θαη ην αθήλεη θαη θαίγεηαη. Καη απηφ είλαη «παξά ζπλείδεζε». Παξφκνηα θαη κε ηα θαγεηά. Μπνξεί θαλείο λα βνιεπηεί κε κηθξφ ιάραλν ε ιίγα φζπξηα ε ιίγεο Ειηέο, θαη δελ ην ζεθψλεη, αιιά δεηάεη άιιν θαγεηφ πην γεπζηηθφ θαη πην πνιπηειέο. 'ια απηά είλαη «παξά ζπλείδεζε»". Οη Παηέξεο φκσο ιελε φηη δελ πξέπεη φ κνλαρφο λ' αθήζεη πνηέ ηε ζπλείδεζή ηνπ λα ηνλ θαηαηπξαλλεί γηα νπνηνδήπνηε ζέκα. Πξέπεη ινηπφλ, αδειθνί κνπ, λ' αγξππλνχκε πάληνηε θαη λα θπιαγφκαζηε απ' φια απηά, γηα λα κελ πέζνπκε ζε θίλδπλν. Καη φ 'ίδηνο φ Κχξηνο καο ην πξνείπε, φπσο ην μαλάπακε. Θεφο λα δψζεη λα η' αθνχκε θαη λα ηα ηεξνχκε, γηα λα κελ καο θαηαθξίλνπλ νη ιφγνη ησλ Παηέξσλ καο. 'Ακήλ. ΝΗ ΑΓΗΝΗ ΔΗΣΑΛ ΠΛΑΗΠΘΖΠΖ ΡΖΠ ΑΚΑΟΡΩΙΝΡΖΡΑΠ ΡΩΛ ΘΑΗ ΓΛΩΟΗΕΑΛ ΡΝ ΒΑΟΝΠ ΡΖΠ ΘΑΡΑΘΟΗΠΖΠ ΘΑΗ ΘΔΩΟΝΠΑΛ ΑΡΖΛ ΒΑΟ ΑΚΑΟΡΖΚΑ. Ν ΑΓΗΝΠ ΓΩΟΝΘΔΝΠ ΓΑΕΖΠ ΙΔΓΔΗ: ΔΗΓΔΠ ΞΝΠΝ ΒΑΟ ΑΚΑΟΡΖΚΑ ΔΗΛΑΗ ΡΝ ΛΑ ΘΟΗΛΔΗ ΘΑΛΔΗΠ ΡΝΛ ΓΗΞΙΑΛΝ ΡΝ; ΞΑΟΣΔΗ ΒΑΟΡΔΟΝ ΑΞ ΑΡΝ; ΞΑΟΣΔΗ ΑΙΙΝ ΞΝ ΚΗΠΔΗ ΘΑΗ ΑΞΔΣΘΑΛΔΡΑΗ Ν ΘΔΝΠ ΞΔΟΗΠΠΝΡΔΟΝ; ΠΚΦΩΛΑ ΚΔ ΑΡΑ ΞΝ ΔΗΞΑΛ ΝΗ ΞΑΡΔΟΔΠ, ΝΡΗ ΓΔΛ ΞΑΟΣΔΗ ΣΔΗΟΝΡΔΟΝ ΑΚΑΟΡΖΚΑ ΑΞΝ ΡΝ ΛΑ ΘΟΗΛΔΗ ΘΑΛΔΗΠ; ΘΑΗ ΞΑΟΑΘΑΡΩ: ΡΗΞΝΡΑ ΑΙΙΝ ΓΔΛ ΝΟΓΗΕΔΗ ΡΝΛ ΘΔΝ ΞΔΟΗΠΠΝΡΔΟΝ ΝΠΝ ΡΝ ΛΑ ΘΑΡΑΙΑΙΔΗ ΘΑΛΔΗΠ Ζ ΛΑ ΘΑΡΑΘΟΗΛΔΗ Ζ ΛΑ ΔΜΔΡΔΙΗΕΔΗ ΡΝΛ ΞΙΖΠΗΝΛ. 11

12 Greece, the birthplace of democracy, said OXI (NO) to fascism and defended its birthright, despite overwhelming and unfavorable odds. On this particular day we give honor to the many men and woman who stood up to the fascist Mussolini, and this was no small thing to do. First of all, Mussolini had 44 million people, and Greece had 7 million. Italy had ten times the firepower of Greece in its army navy and air force, which had total air superiority, since Greece had only a small defensive force. The demands from Mussolini were sent to Prime Minister Metaxa. He gave Greece three hours to reply to his demands to surrender, and for the Italian troops to occupy Greece and raise the Italian Flag on top of the Parthenon. But Mussolini never even waited for Metaxas' reply. He had five heavily armed divisions of Italian soldiers moving from controlled Albania over the border into Greece. In the early hours of Oct 28th Metaxa gave his reply loud and clear: OXI (NO). The "OXI" cry has become a Hellenic battle cry that blooms defiantly every 28th of October. This cry of "OXI" is repeated by every Hellenic Community around the world, numbering more than ten million Greeks. Though the Italians out numbered the Greek soldiers by more than two to one, the Greeks astonished the Italian generals with their courage, their tenacity, and their limited artillery precision. The Greek forces had six mortars for each division against the invaders' sixty. Within four weeks of the invasion those Greeks drove the Italian army back into Albania and kept on going, continuing the pursuit until they were 60 kilometers into Albania which is known as Northern Epirus. By this time Mussolini had replaced his commanding generals several times and finally assumed command himself. He tried to rouse his troops to victory with speeches of the great legacy of the Romans, but the Greeks kept on pursuing and there was great concern that the Greeks would cross the Adriatic Sea and invade Italy. United States periodicals such as the Time and Life magazines carried cover stories about the Greeks and the history they were making in Europe. The Greeks and Greek-Americans in this country were respected and admired at school and work, because of these historic events. No free country around the world believed that Greece would survive the attack. As a small country Greece faithfully and courageously met her obligations to her allies with heroism and self-sacrifice. Greece suffered much more than other countries that were on the victorious Allied side. Greece lost the highest percentage of her population, about 12%, which means about one million people. That is why the world leaders of that time recognized the contribution of the Greeks. Mr. Churchill of England said "Today we shall say that the Greeks fight like heroes, but from now on we shall say that heroes fight like Greeks." All those who believe in freedom and democracy give honor to the heroes who died on October 28, 1940 which is 63 years ago. Let us all say a big OXI to wars, to terrorism and to hate, and a big "yes" to freedom, democracy and love. This is history, my friends. 12

13 SCHEDULE OF DIVINE SERVICES OCTOBER 2009 SUNDAY 4 +2 ND SUNDAY OF LUKE. ST. IEROTHEOS BISHOP OF ATHENS. ORTHROS 9:15AM, DIVINE LITURGY 10:30AM. SUNDAY 11 +HOLY FATHERS OF THE 7 TH ECUMENICAL SYNOD. ORTHROS 9:15AM, DIVINE LITURGY 10:30AM. SUNDAY 18 +ST. LUKE THE EVANGELIST. ST. MARINOS THE MARTYR. ORTHROS 9:15AM, DIVINE LITURGY 10:30AM. SUNDAY ΣΗ SUNDAY OF LUKE. STS. TABITHA, MARCIAN AND MARTYRIOS. ORTHROS 9:15AM, DIVINE LITURGY AND DOXOLOGY 10:30AM. MONDAY 26 +ST. DEMETRIOS THE MYRRH-BEARER. ORTHROS 9:15AM, DIVINE LITURGY 10:15AM. ΠΡΟΓΡΑΜΜΑ ΙΕΡΩΝ ΑΚΟΛΟΤΘΙΩΝ ΟΚΣΩΒΡΙΟΤ 2009 ΚΤΡΙΑΚΗ 4 +ΚΤΡΙΑΚΗ Β ΛΟΤΚΑ. ΑΓ. ΙΕΡΟΘΕΟΤ ΕΠΙΚΠΟΤ ΑΘΗΝΩΝ. ΟΡΘΡΟ 9:15ΠΜ, ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΣΟΤΡΓΙΑ 10:30ΠΜ. ΚΤΡΙΑΚΗ 11 +ΑΓΙΩΝ ΠΑΣΕΡΩΝ 7 Η ΟΙΚΟΤΜΕΝΙΚΟΤ ΤΝΟΔΟΤ. ΟΡΘΡΟ 9:15ΠΜ, ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΣΟΤΡΓΙΑ 10:30ΠΜ. ΚΤΡΙΑΚΗ 18 +ΑΓΙΟΤ ΛΟΤΚΑ ΕΤΑΓΓΕΛΙΣΟΤ. ΑΓΙΟΤ ΜΑΡΣΤΡΟ ΜΑΡΙΝΟΤ. ΟΡΘΡΟ 9:15ΠΜ, ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΣΟΤΡΓΙΑ 10:30ΠΜ. ΚΤΡΙΑΚΗ 25 +ΚΤΡΙΑΚΗ Σ ΛΟΤΚΑ. ΑΓ. ΣΑΒΙΘΑ, ΜΑΡΚΙΑΝΟΤ ΚΑΙ ΜΑΡΣΤΡΙΟΤ. ` ΟΡΘΡΟ 9:00ΠΜ, ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΣΟΤΡΓΙΑ ΚΑΙ ΔΟΞΟΛΟΓΙΑ 10:30ΠΜ. ΔΕΤΣΕΡΑ 26 +ΑΓΙΟΤ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΜΑΡΣΤΡΟ ΔΗΜΗΣΡΙΟΤ ΣΟΤ ΜΤΡΟΒΛΗΣΟΤ. ΟΡΘΡΟ 9:00ΠΜ, ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΣΟΤΡΓΙΑ ΚΑΙ ΔΟΞΟΛΟΓΙΑ 10:15ΠΜ. GREEK LANGUAGE CLASSES 2009 This year Mrs. Theodora Hatzis will be offering a course called Greek for Travelers at Confederation College. This course will provide beginner level learners planning to travel to Greek-speaking countries with words, expressions, questions, sentences and tips needed for specific situations such as greeting and introducing themselves to people. See page 28 of The Key. Course length: Tuesdays from October 26 to November 24, 2009; 7:00 9:00pm. Cost: $96.60 For additional information call or

14 OUR MEMBERS So far only 112 people have submitted their membership dues for We ask and encourage everyone to do so as soon as possible. Each member is indispensable for the well being and functioning of our parish. We thank all who have taken the time to submit their membership dues already as of September 30, 2009: 1. Mr. Gavriil Aspropotamitis 2. Mr. Steve Amorgianos 3. Mrs. Phyllis Amorgianos 4. Mr. Peter Avgeropoulos 5. Mrs. Joyce Avgeropoulos 6. Mr. Nick Balina 7. Ms. Cathy Biniaris 8. Mr. Anthony Biniaris 9. Mr. George Biniaris 10. Mrs. Toni Biniaris 11. Mr. Charlie Biniaris 12. Mrs. Irene Biniaris 13. Mrs. Katerina Biniaris 14. Mr. Bill Biniaris 15. Mrs. Dimitra Biniaris 16. Mrs. Athena Blieske 17. Mr. Michael Boote *** 18. Mr. George Callianteris 19. Mrs. Reena Callianteris 20. Mr. Tax Callianteris 21. Mr. Gus Chimbakis 22. Mrs. Helen Chimbakis 23. Mr. Jim Chronopoulos 24. Mr. George Comminos 25. Mr. Andre Comminos 26. Mrs. Nitsa Comminos 27. Mr. Bill Comminos 28. Mrs. Tarja Comminos 29. Mr. Peter Comminos 30. Mr. Paul Dowhos* 31. Mrs. Vicki Dowhos 32. Mrs. Bayba Frattolin 33. Mrs. Tara Giardetti 34. Mr. Peter Giardetti 35. Mrs. Sheila Glymitsas 36. Mr. Harry Glymitsas 37. Mrs. Toula Glymitsas 38. Mr. Bill Hatzis 39. Mrs. Stella Hatzis 40. Mr. Demetris Hatzis 41. Miss Debbie Hatzis 42. Mr. Jamie Hatzis 43. Mr. Ken Imperius 44. Mrs. Mary Imperius 45. Mr. Paul Imperius ** 46. Mrs. Christine Imperius ** 47. Mrs. Lisa Kahramanos 48. Mr. Andy Karanasos 49. Mrs. Lori Karanasos 50. Mr. Nick Koukos 51. Mrs. Joyce Koukos 52. Mr. Peter Koukos 53. Mrs. Tanya Koukos * 54. Mr. Ray Leino 55. Mrs. Virginia Leino 56. Mr. Christopher Lent 57. Mrs. Joanne Lent 58. Mr. Jack Lotsios 59. Mrs. Effie Lotsios 60. Ms. Dolores Maki 61. Mr. Stamatios Melissis 62. Mrs. Angela Melissis 63. Ms. Maria Morakis 64. Mr. Emmanuel Mousataos 65. Mr. Tom Marinis ** 66. Mr. Rob Mayer 67. Mrs. Theresa Mayer 68. Mrs. Helen Machairas 69. Mrs. Matina Mellas 70. Mr. Tom Mellas 71. Mrs. Smaragde Mellas 72. Ms. Georgina Mellas 73. Mrs. Bessie Melville 74. Mrs. Athina Morakis 75. Ms. Maria Morakis 76. Mr. John Pantoulias 77. Mr. Peter Pantoulias 78. Mrs. Helen Pantoulias 79. Mrs. Maria Pantoulias 80. Mrs. Nikki Pantoulias 81. Mr. John Pavlou 82. Mrs. Maria Pavlou 83. Mr. Tom Pavlou 84. Mrs. Rosa Pavlou 85. Mr. Costa Pazianos 86. Mrs. Virginia Pazianos 87. Mr. Jim Pazianos 88. Mr. Louie Port 89. Mrs. Dimitra Port 90. Mr. Steve Scollie * 91. Mr. Andrew Sheare 92. Mrs. Cathy Sheare 93. Mrs. Rose Sourtzis 94. Mr. Achileas Stathopoulos 95. Mrs. Irene Stathopoulos 96. Mr. Emilios Stefanidis 97. Mrs. Xeni Theodore 98. Mr. Andrew Todd *** 99. Mr. Constantine Tsekouras 100. Mrs. Jane Tsekouras 101. Ms. Elaine Tsekouras 102. Mr. Harry Tsekouras 103. Mrs. Lily Tsekouras 104. Mr. Gus Tsekouras 105. Mr. John Tsekouras 106. Mr. Ahileas Tsekouras 107. Mr. Paul Tsekouras 108. Mrs. Sylvia Tsekouras * 109. Mrs. Ploumi Vlotaros 110. Mrs. Athina Vlotaros 111. Miss Georgina Voulgaris 112. Mrs. Effie Voulgaris * Associate Membership ** Enhanced Membership *** Student Membership 14

15 August 30, 2009 Group picture with His Eminence Metropolitan Sotirios after Divine Liturgy. May God grant him many years. 15

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18 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! EVERYONE WELCOME! Wednesday, October 7, 2009 Saturday, November 14, 2009 ALL BINGOS ARE AT THE C.L.E. LOCATION at 5:45 PM 18

19 Thank you to our sponsors: YOUR AD HERE. SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY. 19

20 ORTHODOXY AROUND THE WORLD POLAND Memorial Service at Catacombs at Monastery of Annunciation of Mother of God and St. John the Theologian in Supraśl. 20