THE FORERUNNER «ΟΠΡΟΔΡΟΜΟΣ»

Transcript

1 THE FORERUNNER «ΟΠΡΟΔΡΟΜΟΣ» September 2011 Volume 9, Issue 9 A monthly publication of Saint John the Baptist Hellenic Orthodox Church Έναμηνιαίοενημερωτικόδελτίοτης ΕλληνικήςΟρθοδόξουΕκκλησίας τουαγίουιωάννουτουβαπτιστού 15 Union Park Street, Boston, MA Tel.: Parish Priest: Protopresbyter Dr. George D. Dragas

2 The Forerunner September 2011 page 2 Metropolis of Boston Message from His Eminence A New Beginning The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to preach the glad tidings to the poor, to heal the broken at heart, to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, to comfort all who mourn (Isaiah, 61:1-2) These words of the Prophet Isaiah recorded also in the Gospel of St. Luke (4,18-19) compel us at the beginning of the Ecclesiastical Year to refocus our personal lives and our ministries in our Metropolis and our Parishes. Let us ask ourselves, do we believe the Spirit of the Lord is upon us (me)? Sadly, it seems that everything we believe to be true and moral, whatever is pleasing to God and beneficial to our Parishes and our fellow human beings has fallen by the wayside. We seem to have lost our Christian Orthodox Phronema and our missionary spirit. Many of us are unaware of Orthodox Christian Ecclesiology, i.e., what is the Church, what is its purpose.what is our place in the Church as clergy and laity. Things aren t what they used to be. Religion is looked upon by many as irrelevant. Our youth is growing up in a world that has totally rejected traditional ideals. Life, nourished in dignity, honesty, goodness and righteousness is, for many, passé. Orthodoxy, for many is inherent. Jesus felt the Spirit of the Lord upon Him as He read from the Book of Isaiah in the Temple. It is this same Spirit which we receive when we are baptized and chrismated and when we pray. It is this spirit which distinguishes us as Orthodox Christians that must be engraved in our

3 The Forerunner September 2011 page 3 consciences and interwoven into a new understanding of Christian life and experience. As we begin the new Ecclesiastical Year on September 1, I pray it be a year acceptable of the Lord (Luke 4.19) a year inspired with a fresh spirit, ennobled by new fervor. May it be a year of new commitment, written upon our hearts and souls and signed in our consciences. We need to be restored as individuals, as Parishes and a Metropolis. We must reject what is egotistical, hypocritical, clever-minded and dishonest, inconsistent and irrelevant. The beginning of the new Ecclesiastical Year affords us the opportunity for an honest self-evaluation. We must examine the past and honestly assess our present and our future. Let s be frank, do we have the courage to look into the mirror of reality, and take those decisions necessary to clearly define who we are as a Church and what our roles and responsibilities are in that Church? Do we have the courage to ask ourselves---clergy and laity---if, in fact, we see ourselves as individuals anointed to preach the glad tidings to the poor and heal those who are broken hearted? Do we dare ask whether we care for those in our neighborhoods and throughout the world that are mired in hopeless poverty, hunger and homelessness? Have we done anything to heal their hearts, broken by our indifference? Has our ministry in the Church helped those held in the bondage of sin to free themselves? If, the answer to these questions is no, then the next question must be, what are we going to do about it? Let us resolve on September 1 to reach out and embrace all those who, for various reasons, have left our Parishes and are not active in the life of our Church. Let us rekindle the spark of Orthodox missionary fervor in our communities and throughout the world. May the new church year be blessed with much spiritual growth for our Parishes and Metropolis, its clergy and laity! With Episcopal love, M E T H O D I O S Metropolitan of Boston September 1, 2011

4 The Forerunner September 2011 page 4 ARCHIEPISCOPAL ENCYCLICAL FOR THE ECCLESIASTICAL NEW YEAR Protocol 150/11 September 1, 2011 Beginning of the Ecclesiastical New Year Day for the Protection of our Natural Environment In wisdom You have wrought all things and have established proper times and seasons for our lives. (Hymn of the Orthros Service) To the Most Reverend Hierarchs, the Reverend Priests and Deacons, the Monks and Nuns, the Presidents and Members of the Parish Councils of the Greek Orthodox Communities, the Distinguished Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Day, Afternoon, and Church Schools, the Philoptochos Sisterhoods, the Youth, the Hellenic Organizations, and the entire Greek Orthodox Family in America Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, On this day, September 1, we begin this new ecclesiastical year in the blessed anticipation of the saving and wondrous works that will be accomplished by God in the days and months before us. Each new annual cycle of worship and ministry in our Orthodox Faith offers opportunities for our spiritual growth, for transformation in the lives of those who find faith and hope, for fellowship with one another as brothers and sisters in Christ, and for compassionate service offered to those in need. This day marks the passing of the times and seasons of our lives in relation to our commemorations and observances in the Holy Church of Christ. It is a reminder to us that the days and years are not meaningless units of time through which we wander without purpose or hope. It is a day that affirms the interrelationship of chronological and sacred time, of the physical world and the spiritual realm, of the temporal and the eternal, of the earthly and the heavenly. On this day we proclaim the great wisdom of God for bringing all things into existence. In His wisdom God has also established the times and seasons of our lives, and this day, marking the beginning of a new ecclesiastical year, guides us in understanding the significance of this. In the natural cycle of the seasons of the year, we see the great wisdom of God as Provider and Sustainer of creation. In the annual commemorations of our Orthodox Faith, we are connected to events and revelations in time and history that offer truth and meaning to our lives. Each day we have the opportunity to reflect on our past, contemplate the present, and move forward into the future in faith and hope toward the restoration of all of the created order and the fulfillment of life in eternal communion with God. As we begin a new ecclesiastical year, we also observe September 1 as the Day for the Protection of our Natural Environment. As guided by our Ecumenical Patriarchate, this observance helps us to be witnesses of God s wisdom through our love and care for the created order and through our intense activities related to basic elements of our physical world: earth, water, air, plants and animals. On this day and each and every day may we consider and know that our lives are created and sustained in the wisdom of God and will be fulfilled through His love for us. May we also be faithful to share this with others so that they find the meaning of the times and seasons of their lives in communion with God. He offers to all of us an abundant life today, tomorrow, and for eternity. With paternal love in Christ, DEMETRIOS Archbishop of America

5 The Forerunner September 2011 page 5 Metropolis of Boston Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America ΑReflection From the President of the Boston Clergy Brotherhood Dear Faithful, As President of the Clergy Brotherhood of Saint Andrew, I take this opportunity to greet you as we enter upon a new Ecclesiastical Year. Each month we will offer words of inspiration and nourishment to help us grow as a Christian and as a body of believers. The clergy of the Metropolis, along with Metropolitan Methodios, work to build spiritual oases of communities that are Spirit filled based upon the model of the Church found in the Book of Acts. The Church found within the pages of the Book of Acts provides the ingredients of a Spirit filled Church. The early Church persevered in listening to the Apostles teaching, in fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in prayer. Awe of the majesty of God through sings and wonders filled every soul! There was togetherness and care for each other through their distribution of goods and possessions. They gathered in one accord, in sincerity of heart, praising God and, in return, finding favor amongst the community they lived in. In all of this, the Lord added countless people to the Church! Today, we are the stewards of the early Church. Like the first Christians, we strive to continue in. Learning and listening to the Word of God and the teaching of Faith. We continue in Fellowship as brothers and sister united in Christ, receiving Christ in prayer and sacramental living. We gather in Prayer, as the first Christians did, to seek fellowship with the Creator of all. We continue to be a reverent Church, living in the world in awe, knowing that it is God who is the creator of all. We strive to be a Church where things happen, where there are continued Signs and Wonders! a Church where people outside of our doors see the face of God; A Church that shares and cares, showing responsibility for each other through acts of mercy to those who are suffering; A Worshipping Church that touches the souls of all who enter so that one can truly experience heaven on earth; Most importantly, a Church where people are drawn into fellowship and Communion with God! Is this possible? Yes, for the above characteristics are about a loving, caring spirit filled community of believers. As we begin the New Ecclesiastical New Year, let us continue growing into Spirit filled communities blessing and praising God! In the Lord s Service, Fr. Dean A. Panagos, President, Brotherhood of Saint Andrew Proistamenos, Saint Sophia Church in New London, CT

6 The Forerunner September 2011 page 6 The Feast of the Birth of the Theotokos A landmark and a signpost Your Birth, O Theotokos, has filled the whole world with joy Βy the Late Metropolitan Nikodemos of Patras, translated by Fr. George Dion. Dragas The Birth of the All-holy Theotokos is a landmark in the work of the Divine Economy, for the salvation of the world through Christ. What God promised to the protoplasts in the beginning and later to the Patriarchs, and announced through the Prophets, concerning the coming of the Messiah, including the sealing of the Old Testament, is already found, in the person of the All-holy Theotokos, because through her Birth the presence of the Savior of the world definitively draws near. It is His Mother who is born, and who, after a while, will conceive as man the Son of God. The Birth of the Theotokos is also a conspicuous signpost in the work of redemption, because it marks the beginning of the New Testament.

7 The Forerunner September 2011 page 7 After this conspicuous signpost there is a series of many other successive and innumerable signposts to the redemption through Christ which takes in every human being. This is why the Theotokos brings the joy of salvation to the whole world. So we sing: Your Birth, O Theotokos, has filled the whole world with joy. And so we declare that the parameters of this joyful message are universal and ecumenical. Confronted with this message, what ought to be the personal interest of each one of us? The Old Testament records that before the destruction of human beings by the terrible deluge, God warned through Noah about the approaching peril. And so, through the construction of Noah s Ark, which lasted 120 years, human beings were warned that they could only be saved by entering into that Ark. Nevertheless, some made fun of this and others remained indifferent. All of them remained outside the Ark and suffered death. The Ark typifies the Theotokos. Her Birth brings to the world a forewarning that Salvation is reserved for those who will enter the Ark of Grace. We should not remain outside the Ark of Salvation. What use is to any human being if all others are saved through Jesus Christ and he/she remains outside Salvation? Christ and the Theotokos as His Mother and our Mother show us the Ark of Salvation and call us to enter and secure ourselves in the Church and in the grace which is in Christ Jesus. The life which is according to Christ and is generally sacramental and sanctifying is the life that leads to that signpost (the personal, so to say, signpost of salvation), which awaits each one of us, so that we may personally enter the region of Grace and of the kingdom of heaven. The Mother of the Savior of the world All the Feasts of the Theotokos are focused on the personality of the All-holy Theotokos. Her most holy person dominates their content and the Church praises Her, while the faithful ask for Her mediation and motherly protection. On the other hand each one of these Feasts of the Theotokos which are interspersed throughout the yearly cycle, has its own particular message to the world. What is the message of today s Feast of the Birth of the Theotokos?

8 The Forerunner September 2011 page 8 1. The sacred hymn-writer expresses this with the words: Today the grace begins to produce fruit by manifesting to the world the Mother of God. This is a great, a greatest event. The grace and good-will of God to send God s Onlybegotten Son as Savior of the world prepares prior to it the All-holy Mother. It prepares a select and graceful person who will be worthy to become mother to the Son of God, to give birth to Him as a babe, to feed Him as an infant, to hold Him as a child in her bosom, to stand beside Him as a mother throughout His earthly life. It would be totally unrelated to Christian perception, in respect to the salvation through Christ, to ask and to wonder why Christ had to be born of a woman and to have a mother. Certainly, as God he has the ability to manifest Himself to the world as, indeed, He appeared in the Old Testament in various ways. Again He could come to be in the form of man (Phil. 2:8) from heaven, appearing as a mature man, without having to be born of a woman and to go through the life of an infant. These ways, however, would be unrelated to the economy and plan of God. What, then, was the plan of God? As it was foreannounced mainly by the prophet Isaiah, The Virgin will conceive and bear a Son, and she will give Him the name Emmanuel (Matthew 1:23). In this way, then, a child was born to us, and a son was given to us (Isaiah 9:6). 2. The reason why the Savior of the world, Christ, the Son of God, had to be born as a man from a woman has a more intimate relation with the salvation of the world through Him. Humanity would see God in the midst of it in the person of Jesus Christ (II Cor. 4:6). It would see and hear the unapproachable God becoming approachable to humanity and to share its life (From the Acathist) and, subsequently, suffering as man on the Cross, but also saving as God through the resurrection the human race (the humanity assumed from His All-holy Mother). So, the Savior of human beings ought to be perfect God and perfect Man, i.e. God-man, as indeed our Lord Jesus Christ is. As God, He has no mother, but is begotten from His heavenly Father. As man, however, He has no father, but was born from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man. A vivid depiction of Christ the Savior in the Old Testament, that of Melchizedek, priest and king of the city of Salem, on the days of Abraham the Patriarch, appears as without a father, without a mother and without a genealogy (Hebr. 7:8). He too, as a simple man, had a father and a mother and a genealogy. Their names, however, are not mentioned in the Old Testament, and so Melchizedek appears as if he is

9 The Forerunner September 2011 page 9 without a father, without a mother and without a genealogy. And so, he comes to be a fore-print (a living type) of Christ, who truly was without a father as man and without a mother as God and without a generation as the Logos who is without beginning along with the Father and the Spirit. 3. And the Logos became flesh and tabernacled among us. The Son of God took up human flesh; was enfleshed as man within the belly of His All-holy Mother. It was from her that He assumed the human nature and united it to His own person (hypostasis). This is why the Son of God, who was without a mother, had to have a mother. So that His birth as man might be accomplished, and He would be a perfect man, a man like us but without sin. His human nature was not derived from the will of flesh, nor from the will of a man, but from God (John 1:13), since was born without a father, a virgin mother who was unwedded. The Lord assumed the human substance from His All-holy Mother in a general manner, i.e., not as a specific human being, but as an impersonal human nature. It was the entire human existence like a unified whole that was united with Him, who from then on was a God-man. Think, my fellow-christian, how important this is for you. You too are as well as those who received Him (John 1:12) and acknowledged Him as their God and Savior united with Christ. He is your head. He is your salvation. He assumed you as He assumed all of us into an indissoluble union with Him. And He grants to you as He grants to all the believers and pious Christians free salvation and eternal life. May we all, as cells existing potentially in the human substance which the Lord assumed from His human Mother, be found dwelling in Him and He in us for ever in the kingdom of heaven, where Christ entered as forerunner for us and raised us with Him and made us sit with Him in the heavenly places (Hebr. 6:20 and Ephes. 2:6).

10 The Forerunner September 2011 page 10 ΗΕΟΡΤΗΤΗΣΓΕΝΝΗΣΕΩΣΤΗΣΘEOTOKOY ΤουαοιδήμουΜητροπολίτουΠατρώνκυρούΝικοδήμου 1. Ορόσημοκαισταθμός «ΗΓέννησησου, Θεοτόκε, χαράεμήνυσεπάσητηοικουμένη». Ορόσημοστοέργοτηςθείαςοικονομίας, γιατηνσωτηρίατουκόσμουμέσωτου Χριστού, είναιη γέννηση τηςυπεραγίας Θεοτόκου. Ό,τιαπό την αρχή υποσχέθηκεοθεόςστουςπρωτοπλάστους, καιστηνσυνέχειαστουςπατριάρχες, καιανακοίνωσεμέσω τωνπροφητών, για τονερχομό του Μεσσία, ήδη, σφραγιζομένηςτηςπαλαιάςδιαθήκης, βρίσκεταιστοπρόσωποτηςπαναγίας, με τηνγέννησητηςοποίας, είναιοριστικόότιπλησιάζειηπαρουσίατουσωτήρα στονκόσμο. ΓεννιέταιηΠαναγίαΜητέραΤου. Καιμετάαπόλίγοθακυοφορήσει ωςάνθρωπο τονυιό του Θεού. Σταθμόςπεριφανήςη Γέννησή τηςστο απολυτρωτικόέργο. ΗκαινήΔιαθήκηαρχίζειμεαυτήν. Αλλάμετάαπότονπεριφανήτούτοσταθμό, ησωτηρίαμέσωτουχριστούέχει καιάλλεςαλλεπάλληλεςκαιαναρίθμητεςστάσειςγιαναπεριλάβειτονκαθένα άνθρωπο. Καιεμάςβεβαίως. Γι αυτόηπαναγίαφέρνειτηνχαράτηςσωτηρίας σεόλοντονκόσμο(«πάσητηοικουμένη»). Γι αυτόψάλλουμε, «ΗΓέννησήΣουΘεοτόκε, χαράεμήνυσεπάσητηοικουμένη». Οικουμενικήκαιαιώνια, λοιπόνείναιηδιάστασητου χαρμόσυνουτούτου μηνύματος. Απέναντισ αυτότομήνυμα, ποιόθαπρέπειναείναιτοπροσωπικόενδιαφέρον τουκαθενόςαπόεμάς; ΗΠαλαιάΔιαθήκηαναφέρειότιπριναπότοναφανισμό των ανθρώπων από τον φοβερό «κατακλυσμό», ο Θεόςμέσω του Νώε ειδοποίησεγιατονερχόμενοκίνδυνο. ΚαιμέσωτηςκατασκευήςτηςΚιβωτούτου Νώε, πουδιήρκησε120 χρόνια, πληροφορούντανοιάνθρωποιότιθασωθούν μόνοόσοιμπουνμέσασεεκείνητηνκιβωτό. Αλλά, άλλοικορόιδευαν, καιάλλοι έμεναναδιάφοροι. Γι αυτόκαιέμεινανέξωαπότηνκιβωτόκαιπέθαναν.

11 The Forerunner September 2011 page 11 Η ΚιβωτόςαπεικονίζειτηνΠαναγία. Η Γέννησήτηςφέρνειστονκόσμοτο προμήνυμαότιησωτηρίαεπιφυλάσσεταισεόσουςθαπερικλείσειηκιβωτόςτης Χάριτος, ηεκκλησία. Αςπροσέξουμε, λοιπόνναμηνμείνουμεέξωαπότηνκιβωτότηςσωτηρίας. Τιθα ωφελήσειτονάνθρωπο, εάνόλοιοιάλλοισωθούνμέσωτουιησούχριστού, και εκείνοςμείνειεκτόςτηςσωτηρίας; ΟΧριστόςκαιηΠαναγίαωςΜητέραΤουκαι δικήμαςμητέρα, μαςδείχνουντηνκιβωτότηςσωτηρίας, τηνεκκλησία, καιμας καλούνναμπούμεκαιναασφαλιστούμεμέσασ αυτήν, δηλ. «εντηχάριτιτηεν ΧριστώΙησού». ΗκατάΧριστόνζωή, πουείναικαιμυστηριακήκαιαγιαστικήενγένει, είναιη οδόςπουοδηγείστονσταθμόεκείνο(στοατομικό, τρόποςτουλέγειν, ορόσημο σωτηρίας), το οποίον αναμένειτον «καθένα από εμάς», για να βρεθεί προσωπικάμέσαστηνπεριοχήτηςχάριτοςκαιτηςβασιλείαςτωνουρανών. 2. ΗΜητέρατουΣωτήρατουκόσμου ΌλεςοιθεομητορικέςγιορτέςεστιάζονταιστηνπροσωπικότητατηςΠαναγίας Θεοτόκου. ΔεσπόζειηαγιότατημορφήτηςκαιυμνείταιαπότηνΕκκλησία, ενώοι πιστοίτηνπαρακαλούμεγιατιςπρεσβείεςτηςκαιτηνμητρικήτηςπροστασία. ΚαθεμίαόμωςαπότιςγιορτέςτηςΠαναγίας, πουείναιδιάσπαρτεςσεόλητην διάρκειατουχρόνου, έχεικαιτοδικότηςιδιαίτερομήνυμαπροςτονκόσμο. Ποιο είναιτομήνυματηςσημερινήςγιορτήςτηςγεννήσεωςτηςθεοτόκου; 1. Οιερόςυμνογράφοςτοδιατυπώνειμετιςλέξεις: «Σήμερονκαρπογονείηχάρις καίαπάρχεταιεμφανίζουσα τω κόσμω Θεού Μητέρα». Μεγάλο, μέγιστο γεγονός! ΗχάριςκαιηευδοκίατουΘεούεμφανίζουνστονκόσμοτηνΜητέρα τουσωτήρα. ΟΎψιστοςΘεός, γιαναστείλειτονμονογενήτουυιόωςσωτήρα στονκόσμο, προετοιμάζειπροηγουμένωςτηνπαναγίαμητέρα. Ετοιμάζειμια εκλεκτήκαικεχαριτωμένηύπαρξη, πουθαείναιάξιαναγίνειμητέρατουυιού τουθεού, νατονγεννήσειωςβρέφος, νατονθηλάσειωςνήπιο, νατονκρατήσει στηναγκαλιάτηςωςπαιδί, καινατουσυμπαρασταθείμητρικάστηνδιάρκεια όληςτηςζωήςτουστηνγη.

12 The Forerunner September 2011 page 12 Θαήταντελείωςάσχετηπροςτηνχριστιανικήαντίληψη, σχετικάμετηνσωτηρία τουανθρώπινουγένουςμέσωτουχριστού, ηερώτησηκαιηαπορίαγιατίο Χριστόςέπρεπεναγεννηθείαπόγυναίκακαιναέχειμητέρα. ΩςΘεόςέχει βέβαιακάθεδυνατότηταναεμφανιστείστονκόσμο όπωςεμφανίστηκεστην ΠαλαιάΔιαθήκη μεδιάφορουςτρόπους. Ακόμηθαμπορούσεναγινόταν «σχήματιωςάνθρωπος» (Φιλιπ. Β 8) απότονουρανό, μετηνεμφάνισηώριμου άντρα, χωρίςναδιέλθειαπότοστάδιοτηςγέννησηςκαιτηςνηπιακήςηλικίας. ΑλλάαυτοίοιτρόποιθαήτανάσχετοιμετηνοικονομίακαιτοσχέδιοτουΘεού. ΠοιολοιπόνήταντοσχέδιοτουΘεού; Όπωςπροαναγγέλθηκεκυρίωςαπότον προφήτηησαΐα, «ηπαρθένοςενγαστρίέξεικαιτέξεταιυιόν, καικαλέσειτο όνομααυτούεμμανουήλ» (Ματθ. Α 23). Μεαυτότοντρόποπροαναγγέλειο προφήτηςότι«παιδίονεγεννήθηημίν, υιόςκαιεδόθηημίν» (Ησ. Θ 6). 2. ΟλόγοςγιατονοποίοοΣωτήραςτουκόσμου, οχριστός, ουιόςτουθεού, έπρεπεναγεννηθείωςάνθρωποςαπόγυναίκαέχειαμεσότερησχέσημετην σωτηρίατουκόσμουμέσωαυτού. Ηανθρωπότηταθαέβλεπεμέσωαυτήςτον Θεό«εντωπροσώπωΙησούΧριστού» (Β Κορ. Δ 6). Θαέβλεπεκαιθαάκουγε «τοναπρόσιτοωςθεό... προσιτόπάσιάνθρωπο, ημίνσυνδιάγοντα» (Ακαθ. Ύμνος), καιστησυνέχεια«πάσχονταωςάνθρωπο» επίτουσταυρού, αλλάκαι «σώζοντα, ως Θεό» δια τηςαναστάσεως το ανθρώπινο γένος(δηλ. το «πρόσλημμα» εκτηςπαναγίαςμητέραςτου). ΈπρεπελοιπόνοΣωτήραςτωνανθρώπωνναείναιΘεόςκαιάνθρωποςτέλειος, τ.ε. Θεάνθρωπος, όπωςκαιπράγματιείναιοκύριοςμαςιησούςχριστός. Καιως Θεός, δενέχειμητέρα, αλλάγεννάταιαπότονεπουράνιοαυτούπατέρα«προ πάντωντωναιώνων». Ωςάνθρωπος, όμως, δενέχειπατέρα, αλλάγεννήθηκε«εκ ΠνεύματοςΑγίουκαιΜαρίαςτηςΠαρθένουκαιενανθρώπησε». Μιαζωντανή απεικόνησητουσωτήραχριστούστηνπαλαιάδιαθήκη, ομελχισεδέκ, ιερέαςκαι βασιλιάςτηςπόληςσαλήμ, επίτωνημερώντουπατριάρχηαβραάμ, εμφανίζεται ως«απάτωρ, αμήτωρ, καιαγενεαλόγητος» (Εβρ. Ζ 8). Καιαυτόςαπότηνμια, ως απλός άνθρωπος είχε και πατέρα και μητέρα και γενεαλογία. Δεν μνημονεύονται, όμως, τα ονόματά τουςστηνπαλαιά Διαθήκη, καιέτσι παρουσιάζεταιως«απάτωρ, αμήτωρ, καιαγενεαλόγητος» για να αποτελεί προτύπωση (ζωνπρότυπο) τουχριστού, οοποίοςήτανόντως«απάτωρ» ως

13 The Forerunner September 2011 page 13 άνθρωπος, και«αμήτωρ» ωςθεός, και«αγενεαλόγητος» ωςσυνάναρχοςλόγος πατρίκαιπνεύματι. 3. «ΚαιοΛόγοςσαρξεγένετοκαιεσκήνωσεενημίν». ΟΥιόςτουθεούέλαβε σάρκαανθρώπινη ΣαρκώθηκεωςάνθρωποςμέσαστηνκοιλιάτηςΠαναγίας Μητέραςτου. Απόαυτήνπροσέλαβετηνανθρώπινηφύσηκαιτηνσυνένωσεμε τηθεϊκήτουυπόσταση. ΝαγιατίέπρεπεναέχειμητέραοαμήτωρΥιόςτουθεού, καιναπραγματοποιηθείαπόαυτήνηκατάσάρκαγέννησητουωςανθρώπου, τελείουανθρώπουκαιομοίουπροςεμάς, αλλάχωρίςαμαρτίες. Ηανθρώπινή τουφύσηδενπροήλθε«εκθελήματοςσαρκός, ουδέεκθελήματοςανδρός, αλλ εκθεού» (Ιων. Α 13), εφ όσονγεννήθηκεαπάτωρ, εκμητρόςπαρθένουκαι απειρογάμου. Προσέλαβεαπό την παναγία Μητέρα Του ο Κύριος την ανθρώπινη ουσία γενικά όχιδηλ. ένα συγκεκριμένο άνθρωπο, αλλά την ανθρώπινηφύσηαπρόσωπη τηνπανανθρώπινηύπαρξηωςενιαίοσύνολο, το οποίοενώθηκεμαζίτου, ωςθεανθρώπουπλέον. Σκέψουαδελφέμουχριστιανέ, πόσησημασίαέχειαυτόγιασένα. Είσαικαισυ όπωςκαι«όσοιέλαβαναυτόν» (Ιων. Α 12) καιτοναποδέχθηκανωςθεόκαι ΚύριοκαιΣωτήρατους ενωμένοςμετονχριστό. Εκείνοςείναιηκεφαλήσου. Αυτόςείναιησωτηρίασου. Σεπροσέλαβε όπωςπροσέλαβεκαιόλουςμας σε μιααδιάρρηκτηένωσημαζίτου. Καισουχαρίζει όπωςχαρίζεικαισεόλους τουςπιστούςκαιευσεβείςχριστιανούς δωρεάντηνσωτηρίακαιτηναιώνια ζωή. Είθεδεόλοιεμείς, ωςκύταρα, ενυπάρχονταδυνάμειειςτηνανθρώπινη ουσίαπουπροσέλαβεοκύριοςαπότηνπαναγίαμητέρατου, ναβρεθούμεγια πάντακαινα«μένωμενεναυτώ καιαυτόςενημίν» ειςτουςαιώναςεντη βασιλείατωνουρανών, όπου«πρόδρομοςυπέρημώνεισήλθεοχριστός» και μας«συνήγειρεκαισυνεκάθισεεντοιςεπουρανίοις» (Εβρ. Σ 20, Εφεσ. Β 6).

14 The Forerunner September 2011 page 14 His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios announces the date for the Metropolis of Boston Clergy and Laity assembly To the Rev. Clergy and Faithful in the Metropolis August 2, 2011 Beloved Brethren, Please reserve the date of Saturday, October 1 on your schedules so that you can attend the Metropolis of Boston Clergy and Laity assembly which will take place at the Maliotis Center on the campus of our seminary. I have invited personnel from our Archdiocese to join us that day to make presentations on the theme The Ministries of our Church: Archdiocese Metropolis and Parishes. In addition to members of the Parish Council and Philoptochos, lay leaders from all parishes are cordially invited to join and participate in this day long program whose purpose is to share information concerning the ministries of our Archdiocese, Metropolis and Parishes. More information including the program is forth coming. Please address any questions or proposed agenda items to my office at your earliest convenience. With Episcopal love, M E T H O D I O S Metropolitan of Boston

15 The Forerunner September 2011 page 15 METROPOLIS OF BOSTON CLERGY-LAITY CONFERENCE Saturday, October 1, 2011 ARRIVAL & REGISTRATION 9:00 AM OPENING PRAYER WELCOME & KEYNOTE ADDRESS His EMINENCE METROPOLITAN METHODIOS A R C H D I O C E S A N M I N I S T R I E S: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES STEWARDSHIP, OUTREACH AND EVANGELISM RELIGIOUS EDUCATION MARRIAGE AND FAMILY MINISTRIES PARISH DEVELOPMENT PHILOPTOCHOS MINISTRIES M E T R O P O L I S M I N I S T R I E S: YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT MINISTRIES THE METROPOLIS OF BOSTON CAMP THE ST. METHODIOS FAITH AND HERITAGE CENTER THE RETREAT HOUSE THE PHILOXENIA HOUSE ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE REPORTS CLOSING AND PRAYER 4:00 PM GREAT VESPERS AT HOLY CROSS CHAPEL 5:00 PM

16 The Forerunner September 2011 page 16 GREEK ORTHODOX METROPOLIS OF BOSTON ΙΕΡΑΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΙΣΒΟΣΤΩΝΗΣ September 1, 2011 To the Rev. Clergy and Faithful in the Metropolis of Boston My Brothers and Sisters in the Household of God, I am saddened to announce that Sophia Nibi has decided to retire on September 1st. Back in April just a few days after I assumed responsibilities as Bishop in Boston, Fr. Dean Paleologos suggested I meet Sophia whom he recommended to become the secretary of the Diocese. When Sophia asked me what she would be responsible for, I responded EVERYTHING. Indeed, Sophia has been more than a secretary. She has literally administered the Diocese (now Metropolis) for more than 27 years, working tirelessly 24 hours per day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year. Earlier this year, Sophia was blessed with a granddaughter when her daughter, Theresa, adopted a delightful one year old little girl. Sophia wants to spend more time with her family, enjoy her granddaughter, and pursue her hobbies of reading and writing. She will remain an active part of our Metropolis family, and be involved in our Philoxenia House ministry and our St. Methodios Faith & Heritage Center and its programs. As we begin the new Ecclesiastical year, I pray God bless Sophia and her family with every heavenly gift. With Episcopal love, M E T H O D I O S Metropolitan of Boston

17 The Forerunner September 2011 page 17 GREEK ORTHODOX METROPOLIS OF BOSTON ΙΕΡΑΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΙΣΒΟΣΤΩΝΗΣ September 1, 2011 To the beloved Priests and Parishioners of Parishes in the Metropolis of Boston My Brothers and Sisters in the household of God, his past weekend hurricane Irene devastated cities and towns throughout New England. Countless homes and businesses remain without electricity. A number of our parishes were forced to cancel services and many parishioners were stranded at airports and roads, far from families and friends. Indeed, this catastrophic hurricane will be proven to be one of New England s costliest catastrophes in our nation s history. Days after, hundreds of brethren are focused on cleaning debris, restoring power, trying to repair flooded roads and bridges and helping stranded people. I encourage our communities to reach out and assist not only our parishioners, but all our neighbors and friends during this difficult time. I join you in praying that God will comfort all who have suffered. With Episcopal love, M E T H O D I OS Metropolitan of Boston

18 The Forerunner September 2011 page 18 ΚΟΙΝΟΤΙΚΑ ΝΕΑ ΤΟ ΦΕΣΤΙΒΑΛ ΤΗΣΚΟΙΝΟΤΗΤΑΣΜΑΣ ΠΛΗΣΙΑΖΕΙ!!!!!!!!! ΠαρασκευήκαιΣαββατοκύριακο16-18 Σεπτεμβρίου2011. Ελάτενα απολαύσετενόστιμαελληνικά φαγητά καιγλυκίσματα, ελληνική μουσική, πλούσιααγοράκαιπροπάντωντηνελληνικήψυχικήζεστασιά. ΖητούμεεθελοντέςσεδιάφοραπόσταγιανακάνουμετοφετινόΦεστιβάλακόμη πιοεπιτυχέςαπότοπερσινό. ΠροσφέρετεεθελοντικάεργασίαπριναπότοΦεστιβάλ: I. Πουλήστε, αγοράστεκαιεπιστρέψτεόλουςτουςλαχειοφόρουςλαχνούς πουέχουνταχυδρομηθείστοσπίτισας. Ελάτεναπάρετεεπιπλέον λαχνούςανμπορείτενατουςπουλήσετε. II. Βοηθήστεστοναβρεθούνδωρεές, προσφορέςκαιδωρητέςγιατο Φεστιβάλ. III. ΒοηθήστεστηνδιαφήμισητουΦεστιβάλτοιχοκολλώνταςαφίσες. IV. ΠροσκαλέστετηνοικογένειασαςκαιτουςφίλουςσαςστοΦεστιβάλ. ΠροσφέρετεεθελοντικάεργασίακατάτηδιάρκειατουΦεστιβάλ: I. Βοηθήστεστηνπαρασκευήτουφαγητού. II. Βοηθήστεστοψήσιμοκαισερβίρισματουφαγητού III. Βοηθήστε να ετοιμάσουμε το χώρο πριν το Φεστιβάλ καινα καθαρίσουμεμετάτοφεστιβάλ. ΚαικυρίωςελάτεστοΦεστιβάλγιανααπολαύσετεκαλόφαγητό, μουσικήκαιτην παρέατηςοικογένειας, τωνφίλωνκαιτωνγνωστώνσας. Η Ενορίαμαςχρειάζεταιτηνβοήθειαόλωνμας.

19 The Forerunner September 2011 page 19 ΑNAΚΟΙΝΩΣΗΤΗΣΦΙΛΟΠΤΩΧΟΥΤΟΥΑΓ. ΙΩΑΝΝΟΥ: ΠΡΟΣΚΛΗΣΗ ΣΤΑΜΕΛΗΤΗΣΦΙΛΟΠΤΩΧΟΥ Όποιακυρίαενδιαφέρεταιναβοηθήσειστηνπροετοιμασίατωνγλυκισμάτωνκαι τωνπιτώνγιατοφεστιβάλ, παρακαλούμενατηλεφωνήσειστηνπρόεδροτης Φιλοπτώχουκ. Ελευθερία Παντεκίδουστο ήστογραφείοτης Εκκλησίας. ΕΤΗΣΙΑΕΙΣΦΟΡΑΓΙΑΤΟ 2011 Υπενθυμίζουμεσταμέληκαιστουςφίλουςτηςκοινότηταςμαςπουδενέχουν αποστείλειτηνετήσιαεισφοράτουςνατοκάνουντοσυντομότεροδυνατό. Η ετήσιαεισφοράανάοικογένειαγιατο2011 είναι$350 (καιάνω!). ΕΥΧΑΡΙΣΤΟΥΜΕΘΕΡΜΑΟΛΟΥΣΓΙΑΤΗΝΣΥΝΕΧΗΥΠΟΣΤΗΡΙΞΗΤΗΣΕΝΟΡΙΑΣΜΑΣ Announcement from the Philοptochos of St. John Invitation to all Philoptochos members Any one interested in helping in the preparation of sweets or pitas for the festival, please call the Philoptochos President, Ms. Effie Pantekidis at or the church office STEWARDSHIP/MEMBERSHIP We kindly wish to remind all our members who have not yet sent their annual contribution to do so as soon as possible. We remind you that the annual contribution per family for 2011 is $350 or greater. WE THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUOUS SUPPORT OF OUR PARISH.

20 The Forerunner September 2011 page 20 COMMUNITY NEWS OUR FESTIVAL IS APROACHING Friday, Saturday & Sunday September 16-18, 2011, South End Greek Food Festival Come to enjoy homemade Greek food and pastry, Greek Music & the Bazaar, and above all the warmth of Greek friendship in our New Community Hall. Volunteers are needed in a number of areas to make this year s festival even more successful than last year s. Volunteer before the Festival: I. Sell, buy and return all Festival Raffle tickets mailed to you. Come pick up more tickets if you can sell them. II. Help secure donations and sponsors for the Festival III. Help us advertise the by putting up posters to local businesses and bulletin boards. IV. Invite family and friends to our Festival Volunteer during the Festival: I. Help us with the food preparation II. Help us to grill and serve during the Festival III. Help us set up before and clean up after the Festival And most importantly come to the Festival and enjoy good food, music and the company of family and friends.

21 The Forerunner September 2011 page 21 EΛΛΗΝΙΚΟΣΧΟΛΕΙΟΑΓΙΟΥΙΩΑΝΝΟΥΤΟΥΒΑΠΤΙΣΤΟΥΒΟΣΤΩΝΗΣ GREEK SCHOOL OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST OF BOSTON METROPOLIS OF BOSTON ΕΝΤΥΠΟ ΕΓΓΡΑΦΗΣΜΑΘΗΤΗ ΓΙΑΤΟ ΣΧΟΛΙΚΟ ΕΤΟΣ STUDENT REGISTRATION FORM FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR ΣτοιχείαΓονέων ΟνοματεπώνυμοΠατέρα/ Father s Name: ΟνοματεπώνυμοΜητέρας/ Μother s Name: Διεύθυνση/Address: Τηλέφωνο/ Telephone Number: Κινητό/Cell Phone Number: ΗλεκτρονικήΔιεύθυνση/ ΣτοιχείαΜαθητή ΌνομαΜαθητή/Student s Name: ΗμερομηνίαΓεννήσεως/Date of Birth: Τάξη/Grade: Emergency Contact: ΥπογραφήΓονέα Parent s Signature Ημερομηνία Date

22 The Forerunner September 2011 page 22 Saint John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church Presents ANNUAL GREEK FESTIVAL FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 TH SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 TH SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 TH 6PM TO 10PM NOON TO 10PM NOON TO 8PM Live Greek Music on Saturday and Sunday! Three days of food, music and fun on the grounds of Boston s Historic Greek Community. Rain or Shine. Come and enjoy a little bit of Greece in Boston. FEATURING CHURCH TOURS AND BAZAAR. Authentic Home-Made Greek Food: We will be serving all of your favorites, including roasted chicken, souvlaki and our specialty gyros, along with a great assortment of Greek pastries. 15 UNION PARK STREET IN THE HEART OF BOSTON S BEAUTIFUL SOUTH END FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL

23 The Forerunner September 2011 page 23 St. John the Baptist Hellenic Orthodox Church 15 Union Park Street Boston, MA South End s Annual Grecian Food Festival 2011 Friday, Saturday & Sunday September 16 th, 17 th & 18 th, 2011 ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITY Please support St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church s Grecian Food Festival by purchasing Advertisement Space on the Festival Placemats that will be put on every service tray utilized by festival patrons. $50.00 per advertisement Each advertisement will be the size of a business card Name Address City/State/Zip Phone Number Address Please include original copy of business card for printing purposes. Deadline to submit your advertisement is Friday, September 2nd, Vendor opportunities also available! Contact the church office for more information Thank you for your support!

24 The Forerunner September 2011 page 24 ΣΕΠΤΕΜ ΒΡΙΟΣ ΠΡΟΓΡΑΜΜΑ ΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΙΩΝ 4 Σεπτεμβρίου: 12ηΚυριακήτουΜατθαίου 8:00 π.μ.: Όρθρος 9:30 π.μ.: ΘείαΛειτουργία 7 Σεπτεμβρίου: Τετάρτη ΓΕΝΝΗΣΙΣΤΗΣΥΠΕΡΑΓΙΑΣΘΕΟΤΟΚΟΥ ΜΑΡΙΑΣ 8:30 μ.μ.- 10:30 μ.μ: Αγρυπνία(ΕσπερινόςκαιΘ. Λειτουργία) 11 Σεπτεμβρίου: ΚυριακήΠροτηςΥψώσεως 8:00 π.μ.: Όρθρος 9:30 π.μ.: ΘείαΛειτουργία 14 Σεπτεμβρίου: Τετάρτη ΥΨΩΣΙΣΤΟΥ ΤΙΜΙΟΥ ΣΤΑΥΡΟΥ 6:30 π.μ.: Όρθρος 7:30 π.μ.: ΘείαΛειτουργία 18 Σεπτεμβρίου: ΚυριακήΜετάτηνΎψωση 8:00 π.μ.: Όρθρος 9:30 π.μ.: ΘείαΛειτουργία 23 Σεπτεμβρίου: Παρασκευή ΣΥΛΛΗΨΙΣΤΙΜΙΟΥ ΠΡΟΔΡΟΜΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΒΑΠΤΙΣΤΟΥ ΙΩΑΝΝΟΥ 6:30 π.μ.: Όρθρος 7:30 π.μ.: ΘείαΛειτουργία 25 Σεπτεμβρίου: 1ηΚυριακήτουΛουκά 8:00 π.μ.: Όρθρος 9:30 π.μ.: ΘείαΛειτουργία

25 The Forerunner September 2011 page 25 SEPTEMBER SCHEDULE OF SERVICES September 4 th : 12th Sunday of Matthew 8:00 am.: Orthros 9:30 am.: Divine Liturgy September 7 th : Wednesday THE NATIVITY OF OUR MOST HOLY LADY THE THEOTOKOS AND EVER-VIRGIN MARY 8:30 pm - 10:30pm.: Virgil: Vespers and D. Liturgy September 11 th : Sunday before Holy Cross 8:00 am.: Orthros 9:30 am.: Divine Liturgy September 14 th : Wednesday THE ELEVATION OF THE VENERABLE AND LIFE-GIVING CROSS 6:30 am.: Orthros 7:30 am.: Divine Liturgy September 18 th : Sunday After Holy Cross 8:00 am.: Orthros 9:30 am.: Divine Liturgy September 23rd: Friday THE CONCEPTION OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST 6:30 am.: Orthros 7:30 am.: Divine Liturgy September 25 th : 1 st Sunday of Luke 8:00 am.: Orthros 9:30 am.: Divine Liturgy

26 SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST HELLENIC ORTHODOX CHURCH 15 Union Park Street, Boston, MA Tel: Web: Saint John the Baptist Hellenic Orthodox Church is a parish under the spiritual and ecclesiastical shepherding of His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios of Boston of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Parish Priest: Protopresbyter Dr. George Dion Dragas Cantors: Grammenos Karanos Pastoral Assistants: Elefterios Plevrakis Administrative Assistant: Greek School Teachers: Tatjana Haskaj Ladies Philoptochos Society Officers: Effie Pantekidis, President Elpida Kosmidis, Vice president Malamati Boukouvalas, Treasurer Theodora Spentzou, asst treasurer Anastasia Medrano, secretary Debbie Demos, advisor Parish Council Officers: Leonidas Moulis, President Kostas Georgopoulos, Vice President George Trichonas, Secretary George Boukouvalas, Treasurer Effie Treon, Assistant Treasurer Thomas Boukouvalas George Demos Theodore Ganopoulos Maria Kontos Chris Lagadinos Zachary Pantekidis Anthony Rollas Harry Treon Eleni Vidalis Maria Vidalis Honorary Parish Council Officers: George Hantis Vasilios Pesiridis Agamemnon Zygouras The Forerunner is a monthly publication. The deadline for submissions to each month s publication is the 15 th of the previous month. Please submit announcements/news and anything you find interesting to our church office by , mail or by calling «Ο Πρόδρομος» είναιέναμηνιαίοενημερωτικόδελτίο. Η προθεσμίαγιαδημοσίευσηστο ενημερωτικόδελτίοτουμηνόςείναιη15 η τουπροηγούμενουμήνα. Παρακαλούμεκαταθέστε οποιαδήποτενέα, ανακοινώσειςήό,τιάλλοθεωρείτεενδιαφέρονστογραφείοτηςεκκλησίας μέσω ταχυδρομείου, ηλεκτρονικούταχυδρομείουήπαίρνονταςτηλέφωνοστο

27 SEPTEMBER 14 THE ELEVATION OF THE HOLY CROSS Save, O Lord, Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance; grant Thou onto the faithful victory over adversaries; and by the power of Thy Cross do Thou preserve Thy commonwealth. 14 ΣΕΠΤΕΜΒΡΙΟΥ Η ΥΨΩΣΗ ΤΟΥ ΤΙΜΙΟΥΣΤΑΥΡΟΥ Σῶσον, Κύριε, τὸνλαόνσου, καὶεὐλόγησοντὴνκληρονομίανσου, νίκαςτοῖςβασιλεῦσι κατάβαρβάρωνδωρούμενος, καὶτὸσὸνφυλάτωνδιὰτοῦσταυροῦσουπολίτευμα.