HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH ΕΛΛΙΝΙΚΗ ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΗ ΚΟΙΝΟΣΗΣΑ ΑΓΙΑ ΣΡΙΑΔΟ

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1 THUNDER BAY BULLETIN HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH ΕΛΛΙΝΙΚΗ ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΗ ΚΟΙΝΟΣΗΣΑ ΑΓΙΑ ΣΡΙΑΔΟ 651 Beverly Street, Thunder Bay, ON, P7B 6N2 Telephone: (807) June/July 2011 Volume 7 Issue 6 JUNE 12: PENTECOST 12 ΙΟΥΝΙΟΥ: ΠΕΝΤΗΚΟΣΤΗ 1

2 THUNDER BAY BULLETIN Published monthly. Editor(s): Rev. Fr. Nikolaos Tambakis PARISH PRIEST: Rev. Fr. Nikolaos Tambakis; 106 Essex Court, Thunder Bay, Ontario, P7A 7N6 # (807) cellular; # (807) office Church holytrinity@tbaytel.net; Fr. Nikolaos ntambakis@hotmail.com Website: Office hours: by appointment HELLENIC COMMUNITY PRESIDENT: ACHILLES STATHOPOULOS # (807) HOME; (807) MOBILE VICE PRESIDENT: TOM MARINIS # (807) HOME; (807) MOBILE SECRETARY: LISA BOOTE # (807) HOME TREASURER: TAX MILIONIS # (807) HOME; (807) MOBILE ASST. TREASURER: VACANT BOARD MEMBERS: ANDY KARANASOS, NICK MILIONIS, TIMO KAROUTAS, TED FRISKY, PETER SAITES, IRENE BINIARIS, PETER KOUKOS. RELIGIOUS AND LEGAL AUTHORITIES HIS EMINENCE METROPOLITAN SOTIRIOS - GREEK ORTHODOX METROPOLIS IF TORONTO (CANADA), 1 PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW WAY (86 OVERLEA BOULEVARD),TORONTO, ONTARIO M4H 1C6; TELEPHONE: (416) ; FAX: (416) ; METROPOLIS@GOCANADA.ORG; WEBSITE: EMBASSY OF GREECE - 80 MACLAREN STREET; OTTAWA, ONTARIO K2P 0K6; TELEPHONE: (613) ;FAX: (613) ; WEBSITE: CONSULATE GENERAL OF GREECE BLOOR STREET E, SUITE 1800, TORONTO, ONTARIO M4W 3L4 ; TELEPHONE (416) ; FAX: (416) ; WEBSITE: GREEK TOURIST OFFICE (TORONTO) BAY STREET, TORONTO, ONTARIO M5R 3K8; TELEPHONE: (416) ; FAX: (416) ; GRNTO.TOR@SYMPATICO.CA BOARD OF DIRECTORS (L TO R): TED FRISKY, PETER KOUKOS, IRENE BINIARIS, NICK MILIONIS, TOM MARINIS, ANDY KARANASOS, TAX MILIONIS, TIMO KAROUTAS, ACHILLES STATHOPOULOS, PETER SAITES, LISA BOOTE, WITH FR. NIKOLAOS TAMBAKIS (ABOVE) 2

3 HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH. 93 YEARS STRONG! Please join us for a commemorative luncheon after Divine Liturgy on Sunday, June 12 th in the Church Hall. 3

4 JUNE 12: PENTECOST After the Saviour's Ascension into the Heavens, the eleven Apostles and the rest of His disciples, the God-loving women who followed after Him from the beginning, His Mother, the most holy Virgin Mary, and His brethren-all together about 120 souls returned from the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem. Entering into the house where they gathered, they went into the upper room, and there they persevered in prayer and supplication, awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit, as their Divine Teacher had promised them. In the meanwhile, they chose Matthias, who was elected to take the place of Judas among the Apostles. Thus, on this day, the seventh Sunday of Pascha, the tenth day after the Ascension and the fiftieth day after Pascha, at the third hour of the day from the rising of the sun, there suddenly came a sound from Heaven, as when a mighty wind blows, and it filled the whole house where the Apostles and the rest with them were gathered. Immediately after the sound, there appeared tongues of fire that divided and rested upon the head of each one. Filled with the Spirit, all those present began speaking not in their native tongue, but in other tongues and dialects, as the Holy Spirit instructed them. The multitudes that had come together from various places for the feast, most of whom were Jews by race and religion, were called Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and so forth, according to the places where they dwelt. Though they spoke many different tongues, they were present in Jerusalem by divine dispensation. When they heard that sound that came down from Heaven to the place where the Disciples of Christ were gathered, all ran together to learn what had taken place. But they were confounded when they came and heard the Apostles speaking in their own tongues. Marveling at this, they said one to another, "Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?" But others, because of their foolishness and excess of evil, mocked the wonder and said that the Apostles were drunken. Then Peter stood up with the eleven, and raising his voice, spoke to all the people, proving that that which had taken place was not drunkenness, but the fulfillment of God's promise that had been spoken by the Prophet Joel: "And it shall come to pass in the last days, that I shall pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and daughters shall prophesy" (Joel 2:28), and he preached Jesus of Nazareth unto them, proving in many ways that He is Christ the Lord, Whom the Jews crucified but God raised from the dead. On hearing Peter's teaching, many were smitten with compunction and received the word. Thus, they were baptized, and on that day about three thousand souls were added to the Faith of Christ. Such, therefore, are the reasons for today's feast: the coming of the All-holy Spirit into the world, the completion of the Lord Jesus Christ's promise, and the fulfillment of the hope of the sacred disciples, which we celebrate today. This is the final feast of the great mystery and dispensation of God's incarnation. On this last, and great, and saving day of Pentecost, the Apostles of the Saviour, who were unlearned fishermen, made wise now of a sudden by the Holy Spirit, clearly and with divine authority spoke the heavenly doctrines. They became heralds of the truth and teachers of the whole world. On this day they were ordained and began their apostleship, of which the salvation of those three thousand souls in one day was the comely and marvelous first fruit. 4

5 12 ΙΟΥΝΙΟΥ: ΠΕΝΤΗΚΟΣΤΗ Μεηά ηελ αλάιπςη ηνπ σηήξνο ζηνπο νπξαλνύο, νη έλδνμνη Απόζηνινη θαη ινηπνί καζεηαί ηνπ, θαζώο θαη νη ζενθηιείο γπλαίθεο πνπ από ηελ αξρή ηνλ είραλ αθνινπζήζεη, ε Παλαγία Παξζέλνο Μαξία ε Μεηέξα ηνπ θαη νη αδειθνί ηνπ, όινη καδί ςπρέο ίζακε 120, γύξηζαλ από ην όξνο ησλ Ειαηώλ ζηελ Ιεξνπζαιήκ θαη, κπαίλνληαο ζην ζπίηη όπνπ έκελαλ, αλέβεθαλ ζην ππεξών, δειαδή ηνλ απάλσ όξνθό ηνπ θαη εθεί, πξνζθαξηεξώληαο κε πξνζεπρή θαη δέεζη, πεξίκελαλ ηελ επηζηξνθή ηνπ Αγίνπ Πλεύκαηνο, ζύκθσλα κε ηνπ ζείνπ δηδαζθάινπ ηελ ππόζρεζε. Εθεί ζην κεηαμύ, εμέιεμαλ θαη ηνλ Μαηζία θαη ηνλ ζπλαξίζκεζαλ κε ηνπο έλδεθα Απνζηόινπο. Καηά δε ηε ζεκεξηλή Κπξηαθή, δεθάηε κελ εκέξα κεηά ηελ Αλάιεςη, πεληεθνζηή από ην Πάζρα, ηγ ηόηε ηνπ Ματνπ, πεξί ηελ Σξίηε ώξα ηεο εκέξεο από ηελ αλαηνιή ηνπ ειίνπ, μαθληθά έγηλε ηέηνηνο ήρνο απν ηνλ νπξαλό θαηεξρόκελνο, όπσο όηαλ πλέε δπλαηόο άλεκνο, θαη γέκηζε όιν ην ζπίηη όπνπ θαζόληαλ νη Απόζηνινη κε ηνπο ινηπνύο. Επζύο κεηια ηνλ ήρν, θάλεθαλ γιώζζεο πύξηλεο, πνπ δηακεξίζζεθαλ θαη θάζεζαλ πάλσ ζηνλ θαζέλα. Καη όινη νη εθεί έγηλαλ πλεπκαηέκθνξνη θαη άξρηζαλ λα ιέλε, όρη ζηε κεηξηθή ηνπο γιώζζα, αιιά ζε άιιεο γιώζζεο θαη δηαιέθηνπο, όπσο θαη ν, ηη ηνπο ππαγόξεπε ην Πλεύκα ην Άγην. Σόηε ηα πιήζε πνπ είραλ ζπξξεύζεη γηα ηελ ενξηή από δηαθόξνπο ηόπνπο, Πάξζνη θαη Μήδνη θαη Ειακίηαη, θιπ., Ινπδαίνη κελ όινη ην γέλνο θαη ηε ζξηζθεία, έηζη δε νλνκαδόκελνη από ηνλ ηόπν όπνπ, δηεζθνξπηζκέλνη από πνιύλ θαηξό, είραλ γελλεζή θαη αλαηξαθή ν θαζέλαο, απηνί, ιέγσ, νη ηόζσλ δηαιέθησλ εηεξόγισζζνη Ινπδαίνη πνπ θαηά ζεία νηθνλνκία βξέζεθαλ ηόηε ζηελ Ιεξνπζαιήκ αθνύνληαο εθείλν ηνλ ήρν λα θαηεβαίλε από ηνλ νπξαλό εθεί πνπ ήζαλ νη Μαζεηαί ηνπ Χξίζηνπ, έηξεμαλ όινη γηα λα κάζνπλ ηη άξαγε είρε ζπκβή. Αιιά έκεηλαλ εθζηαηηθνί όηαλ ήιζαλ θαη άθνπζε ν θαζέλαο ηνπο Απνζηόινπο λα κηινύλ ηε κεηξηθή ηνπ δηάιεθην. Καη ζαπκάδνληαο έιεγαλ, «Μα δελ είλαη όινη απηνί πνπ κηινύλ έηζη Γαιηιαίνη; Καη πσο αθνύκε ν θαζέλαο λα καο κηινύλ ζην δηάιεθην ηνπ ηόπνπ καο;». Άιινη δε από ηε πνιιή ηνπο κσξία θαη θαθία, ίζσο δε πάιη νη ηπθινί Γξακκαηείο θαη Φαξηζαίνη, ριεπάδνληαο ην ζαύκα, έιεγαλ ηνπο Απνζηόινπο κεζπζκέλνπο. Σόηε ζηάζεθε ν Πέηξνο κε ηνπο άιινπο έλδεθα Μαζεηάο θαη πςώλνληαο ηε θσλή δεκεγόξεζε ελώπηνλ όισλ απνδεηθηηθά, ιέγσληαο όηη ην γεγνλόο εθείλν δελ ήηαλ απνηέιεζκα κέζεο, αιιά ήηαλ ε εθπιήξσζηο ηεο ππνζρέζεσο ηνπ Θενύ, πνπ δόζεθε κε ηνλ Πξνθήηε Ισήι: «Καη έζηαη ελ ηαηο εζράηαηο εκέξαηο, εθρέσ από ηνπ Πλέπκαηόο κνπ επί πάζαλ ζάξθα θαη πξνθεηεύζνπζηλ νη πηνί πκώλ θαη αη ζπγαηέξεο πκώλ...» (γ 1). Καηόπηλ θεξύηηεη ηνλ Ναδσξαίν Ιεζνύ θαη κε πνιιά απνδείρλεη όηη απηόο είλαη ν Κύξηνο, ν Χξηζηόο, πνπ νη κελ Ινπδαίνη ζηαύξσζαλ, ν δε Θεόο ηνλ ήγεηξε εθ λεθξώλ. Μεηά απ απηό, πνιινί θαηαλύρζεθαλ θαη έρνληαο απνδερζή ηνλ ιόγν βαπηίζζεθαλ θαη πξνζηέζεθαλ ηελ εκέξα εθείλε ζηελ πίζηη ηνπ Χξηζηνύ ςπρέο έσο ηξείο ρηιηάδεο. Ιδνύ όιν ην ζέκα ηεο παξνύζεο ενξηήο. Σελ έιεπζη δειαδή ηνπ Παλαγίνπ Πλεύκαηνο ζηνλ θόζκν, ηελ πξαγκαηνπνίεζη ηεο ππνζρέζεσο ηνπ Ιεζνύ Χξηζηνύ θαη ηελ εθπιήξσζη ηεο ειπίδνο ησλ ηεξώλ ηνπ Μαζεηώλ ενξηάδνπκε ζήκεξα. Απηή είλαη ε κεζένξηνο θαη ηειεπηαία ενξηή ηνπ κεγάινπ κπζηεξίνπ ηεο ελζάξθνπ νηθνλνκίαο ηνπ Θενύ. Καη απηή ηελ εζράηε θαη κεγάιε θαη ζσηήξην εκέξα ηεο Πεληεθνζηήο, νη Απόζηνινη ηνπ σηήξνο, νη πξώελ αγξάκκαηνη θαη αθαηάξηηζηνη ςαξάδεο, έρνληαο γίλεη ζνθνί θαηά Θεόλ κνλνκηάο από ην Άγην Πλεύκα, ζενιόγεζαλ ζαθώο ηα νπξάληα δόγκαηα θαη έγηλαλ νη θήξπθεο ηεο αιεζείαο θαη όινπ ηνπ θόζκνπ νη δηδάζθαινη. Απηή ηελ εκέξα άξρηζαλ ηελ απνζηνιή ηνπο, ηεο νπνίαο ν σξαίνο θαη ζαπκάζηνο πξώηνο θαξπόο ππήξμε ε απζήκεξνλ ζσηεξία ηξηζρηιίσλ ςερώλ. 5

6 PENTECOSTARION 2011 The 50 days of Pentecost are from (Pascha) April 24 th to (Sunday of Pentecost) June 12 th. June 2 (Thursday) June 5 June 12 The Ascension of Our Lord Sunday of the Holy Fathers Sunday of Pentecost NO fasting from Sunday of Pentecost until the Sunday of All Saints. June 19 Sunday of All Saints Apostles Fast begins on June 20 for 9 days. Note that these are general rules for fasting. Speak to your spiritual father or priest as to what is best for you! ΠΕΝΣΗΚΟΣΑΡΙΟΝ 2011 Οη 50 εκέξεο ηεο Πεληεθνζηήο είλαη από ην Πάζρα (24 Απξηιίνπ) έσο ηε Κπξηαθή ηεο Πεληεθνζηήο (12 Ινπλίνπ). 2 Ινπλίνπ (Πέκπηε) Η Αλάιεςηο ηνπ Κπξίνπ 5 Ινπλίνπ Κπξηαθή ησλ Αγίσλ Παηέξσλ 12 Ινπλίνπ Κπξηαθή ηεο Πεληεθνζηήο Όρη λεζηεία από ηελ Κπξηαθή ηεο Πεληεθνζηήο έσο ηε Κπξηαθή ησλ Αγίσλ Πάλησλ. 19 Ινπλίνπ Κπξηαθή ησλ Αγίσλ Πάλησλ Η λεζηεία ησλ Αγίσλ Απνζηόισλ αξρίδεη 20 Ινπλίνπ θαη θξαηεί θαη ηειεηώλεη εφέτος 28 Ινπλίνπ (9 εκέξεο). εκεηώζηε πσο απηνί είλαη γεληθνί θαλόλεο γηα ηελ λεζηεία. πδεηείζηε κε ηνλ πλεπκαηηθόλ ζαο ε κε ηνλ Ιεξέα ζαο γηα ην ηη είλαη πηό θαηάιιειν γηα ηελ πεξίπησζε ηεο πγείαο ζαο. A GREAT BIG THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED OUT AT FOLKLORE FESTIVAL 2011!!! 6

7 ΠΡΟΓΡΑΜΜΑ ΙΕΡΩΝ ΑΚΟΛΟΤΘΙΩΝ - ΙΟΤΝΙΟΤ 2011 ΠΕΜΠΣΗ 2 +ΣΗ ΑΝΑΛΤΨΕΩ. ΑΓΙΟΤ ΝΙΚΗΦΟΡΟΤ ΠΑΣΡ. ΚΩΝΣΑΝΣΙΝΟΤΠΟΛΕΩ. ΟΡΘΡΟ 9:15ΠΜ, ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΣΟΤΡΓΙΑ 10:15ΠΜ. ΚΤΡΙΑΚΗ 5 +ΚΤΡΙΑΚΗ ΣΩΝ ΑΓΙΩΝ ΠΑΣΕΡΩΝ ΣΗ Α ΟΙΚΟΤΜΕΝΙΚΗ ΤΝΟΔΟΤ. ΟΡΘΡΟ 9:00ΠΜ, ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΣΟΤΡΓΙΑ 10:30ΠΜ. ΑΒΒΑΣΟΝ 11 +Δ ΨΤΧΟΑΒΒΑΣΟΝ. ΑΓ. ΑΠΟΣΟΛΩΝ ΒΑΡΘΟΛΟΜΑΙΟΤ ΚΑΙ ΒΑΡΝΑΒΑ. ΟΡΘΡΟ 9:00ΠΜ, ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΣΟΤΡΓΙΑ 10:15ΠΜ. ΚΤΡΙΑΚΗ (ΠΡΩΙ) 12 +ΚΤΡΙΑΚΗ ΣΗ ΑΓΙΑ ΠΕΝΣΗΚΟΣΗ. ΟΡΘΡΟ 9:00ΠΜ, ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΣΟΤΡΓΙΑ ΚΑΙ ΑΡΣΟΚΛΑΙΑ 10:30ΠΜ. ΚΤΡΙΑΚΗ (ΒΡΑΔΤ) 12 +ΣΟΤ ΑΓΙΟΤ ΠΝΕΤΜΑΣΟ. ΜΕΓΑ ΕΠΕΡΙΝΟ 7:00ΜΜ. ΔΕΤΣΕΡΑ 13 +ΣΟΤ ΑΓΙΟΤ ΠΝΕΤΜΑΣΟ. ΟΡΘΡΟ 9:00ΠΜ, ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΣΟΤΡΓΙΑ 10:15ΠΜ ΚΤΡΙΑΚΗ 19 +ΚΤΡΙΑΚΗ ΣΩΝ ΑΓΙΩΝ ΠΑΝΣΩΝ. ΑΓΙΟΤ ΘΑΔΔΑΙΟΤ ΑΠΟΣΟΛΟΤ. ΟΡΘΡΟ 9:00ΠΜ, ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΣΟΤΡΓΙΑ 10:30ΠΜ. ΚΤΡΙΑΚΗ 26 +B ΚΤΡΙΑΚΗ ΜΑΣΘΑΙΟΤ. ΑΓ. ΔΑΒΙΔ ΕΝ ΘΕΑΛΟΝΙΚΗ. ΟΡΘΡΟ 9:15ΠΜ, ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΣΟΤΡΓΙΑ 10:30ΠΜ Ο Π. ΝΙΚΟΛΑΟ ΘΑ ΕΙΝΑΙ Ε ΔΙΑΚΟΠΕ ΑΠΟ 28 ΙΟΤΝΙΟΤ ΜΕΧΡΙ 19 ΙΟΤΛΙΟΤ. Ε ΠΕΡΙΠΩΗ ΑΝΑΓΚΗ ΝΑ ΠΑΡΕΣΕ ΣΗΕΛΦΩΝΟ ΣΟ ΠΡΟΕΔΡΟ Α. ΣΑΘΟΠΟΤΛΟ. ΙΟΤΛΙΟΤ 2011 ΚΤΡΙΑΚΗ 24 + Σ ΚΤΡΙΑΚΗ ΜΑΣΘΑΙΟΤ. ΑΓΙΑ ΧΡΙΣΙΝΗ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΜΑΡΣΤΡΟ. ΟΡΘΡΟ 9:15ΠΜ, ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΣΟΤΡΓΙΑ 10:30ΠΜ ΠΕΜΠΣΗ 28 + ΑΓΙΑ ΕΙΡΗΝΗ ΧΡΤΟΒΑΛΑΝΣΟΤ. ΑΓ. ΠΡΟΧΟΡΟΤ ΚΑΙ ΝΙΚΑΝΔΡΟ. ΟΡΘΡΟ 9:15ΠΜ, ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΣΟΤΡΓΙΑ 10:15ΠΜ ΚΤΡΙΑΚΗ 31 + Ζ ΚΤΡΙΑΚΗ ΜΑΣΘΑΙΟΤ. ΠΡΟΕΟΡΣΙΑ ΠΡΟΟΔΟΤ ΣΙΜΟΤ ΣΑΤΡΟΤ. ΟΡΘΡΟ 9:15ΠΜ, ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΣΟΤΡΓΙΑ 10:30ΠΜ 7

8 SCHEDULE OF DIVINE SERVICES - JUNE 2011 THURSDAY 2 +ASCENSION DAY. ST. NIKEPHOROS OF CONSTANTINOPLE. ORTHROS 9:15A.M., DIVINE LITURGY 10:15 A.M. SUNDAY 5 + SUNDAY OF THE HOLY FATHERS OF THE FIRST ECUMENICAL SYNOD. ORTHROS 9:15A.M., DIVINE LITURGY 10:30 A.M. SATURDAY TH SATURDAY OF THE SOULS. STS. BARTHOLOMEW AND BARNABAS THE APOSTLES. ORTHROS 9:15A.M., DIVINE LITURGY 10:15 A.M. SUNDAY(MORNING) 12 +SUNDAY OF PENTECOST. ORTHROS 9:15A.M., DIVINE LITURGY AND BLESSING OF THE LOAVES. 10:30 A.M. SUNDAY(EVENING) 12 +GREAT VESPERS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 7:00P.M. MONDAY 13 +MONDAY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. ORTHROS 9:00A.M., DIVINE LITURGY 10:15A.M. SUNDAY 19 +SUNDAY OF ALL SAINTS. ST. THADDEUS THE APOSTLE. ORTHROS 9:15A.M., DIVINE LITURGY 10:30 A.M. SUNDAY ND SUNDAY OF MATTHEW. ST. DAVID OF THESSALONICA. ORTHROS 9:15A.M., DIVINE LITURGY 10:30 A.M. FR. NIKOLAOS WILL BE ON HOLIDAYS FROM JUNE 28 TO JULY 19. IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, CALL PRESIDENT ACHILLES STATHOPOULOS (INFORMATION ON PAGE 2). JULY 2011 SUNDAY TH SUNDAY OF MATTHEW. ST. CHRISTINA THE GREAT MARTYR. ORTHROS 9:15A.M., DIVINE LITURGY 10:30 A.M. THURSDAY 28 +ST. IRENE CHRYSOVALANTOU. STS. PROCHORUS & NIKANOR. ORTHROS 9:15A.M., DIVINE LITURGY 10:15 A.M. SUNDAY TH SUNDAY OF MATTHEW. FOREFEAST OF THE PROCESSION OF THE HOLY CROSS. ORTHROS 9:15A.M., DIVINE LITURGY 10:30 A.M. 8

9 What is the meaning of cutting someone's hair when they get baptized? As with any liturgical action, its meaning can best be discovered by studying the prayer which accompanies the action. In the Euchologion (the book containing the texts of all the Sacraments and special blessings), we find the following two prayers which accompany the tonsure (that's what this ritual cutting of the hair is called): Prayer #1 "O Master, Lord our God, who didst honour man with Thine own image, fashioning him with a rational soul and a comely body (that the body might serve the rational soul); for Thou didst set the head in superiority, and didst endow it with the greater number of senses, which, nevertheless, impede not one another; and Thou didst cover the head with hair that it be not injured by the changes of the weather, and, according to need, didst join together all its members, that by all of them it might render thanks unto Thee, the Great Artisan: Do Thou Thyself, O Master, Who, by Thy chosen vessel, the Apostle Paul, hast commanded us to do all things to Thy glory, bless Thy servant (Name) who is come to make the first offering by the cutting of the hair of his (her) head, and with his (her) Sponsor; and grant unto them all that they may exercise themselves in Thy law, and do those things that are acceptable unto Thee. For Thou art a merciful God, and the Lover of mankind... Amen." Prayer #2 "O Lord our God, Who, through the fullness of the baptismal font, hast, by Thy goodness, sanctified them that believe in Thee: Do Thou bless the child here present, and may Thy blessing come down upon his (her) head. And as by Samuel the Prophet Thou didst bless David the King, so also bless the head of Thy servant (Name) by the hand of me, a sinner, visiting him (her) with Thy Holy Spirit, that he (she) may increase unto maturity, and in the grey hairs of old age may send up glory unto Thee, and may see the good things of Jerusalem all the days of his (her) life. For unto Thee are due all glory, honour and worship... Amen." After these two prayers, the priest cuts the hair of the newly baptized (actually little snippets of it are cut from the brow, the nape of the neck and above each ear -- forming, as it were, the Sign of the Cross on the head of the newly baptized), saying, "The servant of God (Name) is shorn in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." The hair is then either burned in the baptismal candle or censer, or is placed in the baptismal font. Looking at the prayers, we find that the tonsure is the very first offering made to God by the newly baptized. It is his (her) first gift/sacrifice made in thanksgiving to God and to His glory after becoming His child by adoption through the grace of Holy Baptism. And, when you think about it, what else does a person have to offer that is really his except his hair? Everything else which we may possess (money, talent, strength, etc.) comes to us from God as His gifts to us. And in those instances when we offer such to Him, we merely offer unto Him what is already His ("Thine own of Thine own we offer unto Thee...")! Remove from me all that has come to me from God -- strip me naked (as we all are when we are baptized!), take from me my wealth, my talents, take ALL my earthly possessions -- take even my health, my ability to see, to hear, to speak, and what am I left with that I can offer to God as a concrete symbol of my love for Him and my thanksgiving to Him? My hair. Secondly, we find that the tonsure brings a blessing upon the one who is tonsured in the same way as a blessing came upon the holy Prophet, King and Psalmist David through the hands of the holy Prophet Samuel when he "took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward" (I Samuel 16:13). So now, after a looooooooong (but important) introduction I can answer your question thusly: The tonsure is the symbol of both AN OFFERING of the newly baptized TO GOD and A BLESSING of the newly baptized FROM God. COMING UP IN JULY, THE GREEK BOOTH WILL BE AT: FRIDAY, JULY 8 UNTIL SUNDAY, JULY 10, VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! MARK YOUR CALENDARS! 9

10 OUR MEMBERS So far only 79 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 May 31, 2011: 1. Mr. Gavriil Aspropotamitis 2. Mrs. Jenny Biniaris 3. Mrs. Katerina Biniaris 4. Mr. Anthony Biniaris 5. Mr. George Biniaris 6. Mrs. Toni Biniaris 7. Mrs. Athena Blieske 8. Mrs. Lisa Boote 9. Mr. Costa Chimbakis 10. Mrs. Helen Chimbakis 11. Mr. Bill Comminos 12. Mrs. Tarja Comminos 13. Mr. George Comminos 14. Mr. Peter Comminos 15. Mr. Andrea Comminos 16. Mrs. Nitsa Comminos 17. Mr. Darko Dimitrijevic 18. Mrs. Bayba Frattolin 19. Mrs. Tara Giardetti 20. Mr. Peter Giardetti 21. Mrs. Sheila Glymitsas 22. Mrs. Samantha Graca 23. Mr. Andy Karanasos 24. Mrs. Lori Karanasos* 25. Mr. Nick Koukos 26. Mrs. Joyce Koukos 27. Mr. Ray Leino 28. Mrs. Virginia Leino 29. Mr. Chris Lent 30. Mrs. Joanne Lent 31. Mr. George Lotsios 32. Mr. Jack Lotsios 33. Mrs. Effie Lotsios 34. Mrs. Helen Machairas 35. Mrs. Dolores Maki 36. Mr. Taxios Milionis 37. Miss Georgina Mellas 38. Mr. Tom Mellas 39. Mrs. Smaragathe Mellas 40. Mrs. Tina Mellas 41. Mrs. Maria Mellas- Catanzaro 42. Mr. Paul Catanzaro* 43. Mr. Tom Marinis 44. Mr. Stamati Mellisis 45. Mrs. Angela Mellisis 46. Miss Bessie Melville 47. Mrs. Athina Morakis 48. Miss Maria Morakis 49. Mrs. Angie Palo 50. Helen Pantoulias 51. Peter Pantoulias 52. Mr. John Pantoulias 53. Mrs. Nikki Pantoulias 54. Mr. Tom Pavlou 55. Mrs. Rosa Pavlou 56. Mrs. Virginia Pazianos 57. Mr. Tom Pazianos 58. Mrs. Leila Pazianos 59. Mrs. Lola Saites 60. Mr. Andrew Sheare 61. Mrs. Cathy Sheare 62. Mr. Arty Soulias 63. Mrs. Rose Sourtzis 64. Mr. Spiro Sourtzis 65. Mr. Marino Spourdalakis 66. Mrs. Nora Spourdalakis 67. Mr. Achilles Stathopoulos 68. Mrs. Irene Stathopoulos* 69. Mr. Emilio Stefanidis 70. Mrs. Anja Stefanidis 71. Mrs. Jenny Theodore 72. Miss. Elaine Tsekouras 73. Mr. Harry Tsekouras 74. Mrs. Lily Tsekouras 75. Mr. Peter Vlotaros 76. Mrs. Christine Vlotaros 77. Miss Helen Vlotaros 78. Mr. Taki Vlotaros 79. Mrs. Ploumi Vlotaros Fr. Andreas Desypris (89 yrs.) with Fr. Nikoloas at the 2011 Clergy Laity Conference in Ottawa. 10

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13 George Comminos CFP, CIM RRSP Financial Advisor Investment Planning Amber Drive Life Insurance Thunder Bay, Ont. P7B 6M4 Tax Planning Tax Free Savings Plans Complimentary reviews Retirement Planning F: (807) RDSP Cell: (807) Estate Planning ext. 3 Health Insurance gcomminos@assante.com 13

14 Bess and Sheila want you to come join the fun at Bingo! TBA ALL BINGOS ARE AT THE C.L.E. LOCATION at 5:45 PM 14

15 THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: YOUR AD HERE. SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY. YOUR AD HERE. SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY. 15

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