4 Easter/Pascha Program. 6 Sunday School. 8 FDF Results & Photos. 12 Greek School (March 25th Special) Saint Anthony Greek Orthodox Church Newsletter

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1 The Voice of Saint Anthony Saint Anthony Greek Orthodox Church Newsletter March & April 2012 Volume 7, Number 2 (This was a message I wrote in I wanted to share it with you again because of its importance.) Kali Anastasi! I remember with great fondness the anticipation I felt the first time my parents allowed me to attend the midnight Anastasi (Resurrection) Service. This was quite a significant moment for me as a young boy because I had never been allowed to be awake past 9 PM. My parents made an exception because, as they explained to me, the Day of Christ's Resurrection is the greatest day of all! Of course, in order to attend the Service that night I was required to comply to all of my parents rules, including taking a long nap. I willingly accepted because of my great desire to be in Church to see for myself this glorious Service. I did not know what to expect, having only heard brief "grown-up" comments about the Service. Many people, in fact, may not know the symbolism of all that happens 4 Easter/Pascha Program 6 Sunday School 8 FDF Results & Photos 12 Greek School (March 25th Special) at midnight in the Church. Therefore, to better understand the key elements of this most important evening's Service, I wanted to devote this article to some explanations to make your experience a more memorable one. The hour preceding the actual Resurrection, when most people are arriving and the canters are chanting, is called the Vigil for the Holy Resurrection. The cantors normally chant the beautiful 50th Psalm and 9 Odes, which speak, again, of the ineffable Creator, various references to prophesies of Habakkuk, Isaiah, Jonah, and retell the story of the crucifixion. In the 9th Ode there are special words of consolation to the Theotokos for the loss of her beloved son. Through the music of these Odes, we are transported to the long anticipated moment of the Resurrection. Prior to midnight the entire Church is gradually darkened. Why is it dark? It is dark because this darkness symbolizes the darkness of the tomb of Christ. It also symbolizes the darkness of a person's life without God and the darkness of the evil which exists in the world. A person is lost in darkness, and can only truly survive with light. The reverberating message proclaimed, in the following hour, is that even though we are in darkness, there is also a Light, and with that Light we have life. "In Him (Christ) was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, And the darkness did not comprehend it." (John 1: 4-5) Continued on page 3...

2 ST. ANTHONY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH 778 S. ROSEMEAD BLVD. PASADENA, CA (626) Fax (626) CLERGY Rev. Fr. Peter Stratos Rev. Fr. Christos Kanakis ADMINISTRATION Alma Vorgias, Secretary Vicki Kades, Communications Sunday Services Orthos 9:00 am Divine Liturgy 10:00 am Church office hours: Monday Thursday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Friday 9:00 am to 12:00 Noon Closed on Saturday & Sunday Publication Reminder: The Voice of Saint Anthony deadline is the 10th of the preceding month. Please submit announcements electronically to Vicki Kades at St. Anthony's reserves the right to edit, alter or reject any content. Thank you to Stephanie Soewers for editing the monthly bulletin. Thank you to all that regularly contribute photos to the monthly newsletter: Judie Christopoulos, Vicki Kades, Maria Karras, and Esther Vavoulis. 2 PARISH COUNCIL Ted Vavoulis President John Buzas Vice-President Yvonne Riley Secretary John Patzakis Treasurer Tashia Vagenas - Assistant Treasurer Philip Ted Attalla, Chris Bicos, Jimmy Christodoulelis, Tom Grafos, Jim Hronas, Dean C. Pappas, Christos Siatras, Constantine Trigonis, John Vidalakis, Perry Vidalakis PAST PRESIDENTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE Andrew Demopoulos, Chairman LADIES OF PHILOPTOCHOS Fontaine Malisos CHOIR Jim Hronas SUNDAY SCHOOL Irene Albeck GOYA Esther Vavoulis JR. GOYA Presbytera Aida Stratos GREEK SCHOOL Anastasia McClain, Director GREEK DANCE Esther Vavoulis, President MOMS N TOTS Sophia Syrengelas VIPs Pantele Xanthos To any of our church groups, please go to our website and you will be able to contact us!

3 Father Peter s Message Continued From Page 1 Just before midnight the Paschal Candle, which represents Christ, the Light of the world, is illumined at the Holy Altar. At that very moment, the Royal Gates of the Sanctuary are opened representing the opened tomb of Christ, and the priest appears holding the light representing the Resurrected Christ. That Paschal Candle and the eternal flame on the Holy Altar are the only lights found in the darkened Church. The priest then proceeds out with his light and with great enthusiasm and joy proclaims, "Come receive the light from the unwaning light, and glorify Christ, Who is risen from the dead." The light is then passed on to the worshippers who receive light from the Paschal Candle, in turn passing the light to their neighbors, until eventually the entire Church is illumined with the new Light of the Resurrection. Through this symbolic act, each person in the Church proclaims that Christ is Risen; that through His Resurrection our darkness has been converted to light; our death has become light; our midnight has become the dawn of that glorious day approximately 2000 years ago. We have received Christ's victory over death. He has trampled it down both figuratively and literally. I can remember vividly, as a young child, seeing my darkened, quiet Church being transformed into a Church filled with light! I remember singing Christos Anesti over and over, and never tiring of the most wonderful hymn of all! I remember all the parishioners singing and making the Sign of the Cross with their candles ablaze! What a night it was! And the most important thing to remember is that all Anastasi Services have that same energy and lasting remembrance! Every year, after that first year, I have been filled with excitement, awe and anticipation. That feeling never fades. All we have to do is come and participate. I say, once again, thank you, Mom and Dad, for allowing me to experience the Resurrection of Christ from an early age. I greatly anticipate this year's Service with all of you, the wonderful parishioners of this church! Together we can make this year's Service one that we will never forget. Kali Anastasi Fr. Peter HOLY WEEK AND EASTER/PASCHA PROGRAM APRIL 7 -APRIL 15, 2012 PAGES 4 AND 5 Community Time Capsule We are asking our parishioners to contribute their memorabilia to a stainless steel time capsule that will be sealed into the structure of our new community center. We will be collecting photos and letters for inclusion so that the current life of our community will be rediscovered by a future generation. We encourage all members of the community to begin thinking about what they might want to add to this historic collection. You may want to include a greeting to those who may open the capsule many decades from now, memories of the St. Anthony community, as well as copies of family and community related photographs etc. No CDs or DVDs. All materials will be sealed in the capsule so they will not be returned (at least for many, many years). Community organizations are also asked to contribute their own memorabilia as well. Items must fit into a standard #10 business size envelope (4 1/8 x 9 ½ ). We would like all materials by May 1. For more information please contact Nikitas Tripodes NTripodes@aol.com,

4 HOLY WEEK AND EASTER/PASCHA P SATURDAY OF LAZARUS April 7 Orthros/Divine Liturgy 9:00 a.m. Holy Communion Breakfast and making palm crosses. PALM SUNDAY April 8 Orthros 9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy 10:00 a.m. Service of the Bridegroom 7:00 p.m. HOLY MONDAY April 9 Service of the Bridegroom 7:00 p.m. HOLY TUESDAY April 10 Service of the Bridegroom 7:00 p.m. HOLY WEDNESDAY April 11 Presanctified Liturgy 9:00 a.m. Sacrament of Holy Unction 6:00 p.m. HOLY THURSDAY April 12 Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil 8:00 a.m. The Service of Holy Passion 7:00 p.m. GOOD FRIDAY April 13 The Ninth Hour 10:00 a.m. The Descent from the Cross 3:00 p.m. The Lamentations 7:00 p.m. HOLY SATURDAY April 14 Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil 9:00 a.m. Vigil for the Holy Resurrection 11:00 p.m. Come Receive the Light 11:45 p.m. Holy Resurrection and Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom to follow. PASCHA/EASTER SUNDAY April 15 The AGAPE Service 11:00 a.m. 4

5 ROGRAM - APRIL 7 -APRIL 15, 2012 ΣΑΒΒΑΤΟΝ ΤΟΥ ΛΑΖΑΡΟΥ - 7 Άπριλίου Θεία Λειτουργία 9:00 π.μ. Θά άκολουθήση πρόγευμα διά τα παιδιά μας καί όλους τους πιστούς. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΤΩΝ ΒΑΪΩΝ - 8 Άπριλίου Ορθρος 9:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 10:00 π.μ. Άκολουθία τού Νυμφίου 7:00 μ.μ. ΜΕΓΑΛΗ ΔΕΥΤΕΡΑ Άκολουθία του Νυμφίου - 9 Άπριλίου 7:00 μ.μ. ΜΕΓΑΛΗ ΤΡΙΤΗ - 10 Άπριλίου Άκολουθία του Νυμφίου 7:00 μ.μ. ΜΕΓΑΛΗ ΤΕΤΑΡΤΗ - 11 Άπριλίου Θεία Λειτουργία τῶν Προηγιασμένων Δώρων Το Μυστήριον του Ιερού Ευχέλαιου 6:00 μ.μ. 9:00 π.μ. ΜΑΓΑΛΗ ΠΕΜΠΤΗ - 12 Άπριλίου Εσπερινή Λειτουργία του Μεγάλου Βασιλείου Άκολουθία των Παθών 7:00 μ.μ. 8:00 π.μ. ΜΕΓΑΛΗ ΠΑΡΑΣΚΕΥΗ - 13 Άπριλίου Ωρα Ενατη 10:00 π.μ. Άποκαθήλωσις 3:00 μ.μ. Ό Έπιτάφιος Θρήνος 7:00 μ.μ. ΜΕΓΑ ΣΑΒΒΑΤΟΝ - 14 Άπριλίου Εσπερινή Λειτουργία του Μεγάλου Βασιλείου Άκολουθία της Άναστάσεως 11:00 μ.μ Δεύτε Λάβετε Φως- Η ΑΝΑΣΤΑΣΙΣ 11:45 μ.μ Θεία Λειτουργία του Ιερού Χρυσοστόμου 9:00 π.μ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΤΟΥ ΠΑΣΧΑ - 15 Άπριλίου Εσπερινός τής Άγάπης 11:00 π.μ. 5

6 Sunday School (Religious Education) Come and See! What an awesome sight! Our new parish center is nearing completion. What a great year we will have in We will be the first Sunday school class to use the rooms, technology, and be regenerated after a year interruption in our program. The building committee has put great effort into making the classrooms functional as well as visually appealing. Myrrh Bearers (Myraforas) Myrrhbearing Women at the Tomb of Christ (Kizhi, Russia, 18th century). The Myrrh Bearers have been involved in several activities: collecting food for food banks in the area, collecting money to feed the hungry, helping distribute Forgiveness Service booklets, and participating in the service. Myrrh Bearers are young ladies eight to eighteen who are service oriented: supporting the church and charitable works. The goal is to provide hands-on experiences related to church and to perpetuate the teachings of the Orthodox faith, opportunities to participate in the liturgical life of the church by means of devotional services, sacraments, church calendar year and Divine Liturgy. Continue to read Old Testament stories to your young children, pray before meals and bring them to church. Older students should refresh themselves on the Twelve Major Feast Days of the church, the seven sacraments and their meanings, memorizing The Creed, reciting the Prayer of Saint Ephraim, learning the Troparion of Saint Anthony, reading the Bible, praying, and most importantly come to church on Sundays to worship and participate in Sunday school lessons presented by Father Peter and Father Christos. We know a great deal about the Twelve Apostles of Christ, but we know very little about the Myrrh- Bearing Women who were devoted to Christ equally as much the Apostles. They were with Jesus as he preached the message of salvation. They were with Him when He was taken down from the Cross. It was these women who came to anoint His Sacred Body and prepare It for burial. This is why the church refers to them as the Myrrh-Bearing Women. The second Sunday after Easter is dedicated to the memory of seven of the most devoted and courageous women. The Seven Myrrh-Bearing Women are Mary Magdalene, Salome, Mary the mother of James and Joses, the wife of Cleophas, Joanna, Susanna, Mary and Martha, sisters of Lazarus. These glorious ladies of the church remained steadfast in their faith. The Fathers of the Church consider them equal to the Apostles. Vacation Bible School 2012 Heroes of the Son-the Sequel LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION Mark your calendars Vacation Bible School July 30, 31, August 1 Monday-Wednesday, Thursday to be Announced 9:30 AM-12:30 PM 6 Adults and youth volunteer opportunities now available! Be a Hero for the Son

7 Sunday School Easter Activities Attitudes and practices taught by Pre-Lenten Gospels. Match the list of those attitudes and practices that a person can do to make him or herself new again. 1. HUMILITY Always remember that one day I will have to answer to God how I have treated others 2. REPENTANCE Follow the fasting rules of the church without grumbling. 3. AWARENESS OF GOD S JUDGMENT Give of what I have to help others. 4. ALMSGIVING Make up with someone who has hurt my feelings 5. FASTING Stop bragging and thinking I m better than others. 6. FORGIVENESS Feel sorry for the bad things I do and change my ways. Circle the Words that will help you to be healthy children Early to bed 27 candies an hour Watch where you walk Late nights Good food Watch TV 5 hours a day Exercise Eat fatty snacks Eat vegetables Play video games before doing homework Wash hands before eating Circle the words that show us how to have healthy souls. Control your mouth Forgiveness Stealing Help others Bad habits Have good friends Obey parents Be prepared for school Lying Pray Be loving and caring Whisper and gossip Sacraments 7

8 FDF (Folk Dance Festival) CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR DANCERS and their directors. In my opinion, this was one of the best years of dancing! Our performances were beautiful and we all had a great weekend of fellowship with our friends and family. A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone on the board who helped make this year a huge success. This was a difficult year considering we didn't have our hall and were renting various facilities to hold our practices. A special THANK YOU to all our VOLUNTEER directors that take so much time out of their busy schedules to research and learn dances that they teach our children. I think I can speak on behalf of all the families and say WE REALLY AP- PRECIATE what our directors do for our children and the community of St. Anthony. I hope that this FDF has inspired new families to become more involved and join this great ministry. There wil be a general assembly meeting on April 18, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. for new and returning families. For more information please evavoulis@aol.com. Dance practices are scheduled to begin the week of April 22, Again, congratulations to everyone, and as Father said at our Glendi, "ALL OUR DANCERS ARE WINNERS." Esther Vavoulis Dance Board President Special thank you to: Thank you to St. Steven Serbian Orthodox Church for allowing us to hold our Glendi in their hall. Thank you to the St. Anthony community for supporting our Folk Dance Glendi that took place at St. Steven's Serbian Orthodox church in February. Thank you to Zoe Vidalakis and Tanya Grafos for allowing two of our groups to practice in their ballet studio. Thank you to everyone that does what it takes behind the scenes to make this program possible for our children. You know who you are! Bouboukakia Division 3 Exhibition Directed by Vicki Kades, Katherine Vavoulis, Katerina Dupas & Mario Kefalas 8 George Dupas was presented with an FDF scholarship

9 Spitha 3rd Place Primary Directed by Christina Vavoulis & George Dupas Filarakia 3rd Place Juniors Directed by Teresa Vorgias, Stacy Athanasoulis, & Christian Balas Terpsichoreans Advanced Junior Directed by Olga Baroudos, Thanasi Baroudos Asterakia 3rd place Adv. intermediate Directed by Elleni Ioannou, Nikole Varvitsiotis & Nick Begakis 9

10 Mom s N Tots Our group meetings are coming to an end as we prepare for the move back into our new building! It's been tons of fun getting together with mommies and kiddos alike as we learned about our church and the world we live in through prayer, songs, stories, and crafts. The experience has been joyful as new friendships grew amongst the young children as they met weekly with their mommies/yiayias/caregivers. We will be having our end-of-year party and Easter/Spring celebration on Tuesday, April 3rd at the home of Diane & John Vidalakis. If you are interested in bringing your little ones and are not on our current contact list, please contact Sophia Syrengelas (sophiajammie@gmail.com) or Eleni Bicos (elenibicos@yahoo.com). Furthermore, if you would like to bring your child to Moms n' Tots classes in the fall, please us your contact information. We look forward to meeting lots of new kiddos when our program resumes in the fall! A special thanks to the Vidalakis Familiy for providing us with a space to hold classes during the construction on the new building. We look forward to continuing our program at St. Anthony in the fall! Save the Date!!!! Annual GOYA Volleyball Tournament May 19th at Huntington Middle School in San Marino Stewardship, Capital Campaign and Donations Weekly envelopes are now available in the church office. If you would like a box of envelopes for 2012, please contact Alma in the office. You can also find stewardship information on page 15 of this Newsletter. Parish Pay is an easy method to make donations to Saint Anthony Church. To sign up, please either visit the Parish Pay website at and enter our zip code on the left- hand side of the home page and select St. Anthony. Alternatively, the direct link to the St. Anthony sign-up page is: 10 Or you can call Parish Pay directly at (866) (1 866 PARISH 1), and have a customer service representative enroll you over the phone.

11 Philoptochos Our 2012 meetings have been well attended. At the Mallis home in January one could hear a pin drop during Chanel Boutakidis s presentation about Five Acres and its service to vulnerable children and their families. This wonderful organization is in our midst, and we have opportunities to help in a variety of ways. Chanel Boutakidis At the Kokoris home in February, Dr. Gordon Sasaki, a plastic surgeon practicing in Pasadena, educated us regarding nonsurgical ways of reducing wrinkles and eliminating fat. You can surmise this was a very interesting topic to women of all ages. Following his presentation, Dr. Sasaki stayed for fellowship and delicious (of course nonfattening) desserts. In addition, we were reminded to contact Irene Albeck at (626) to help serve dinner to the homeless at Union Station. Our members serve on the first Wednesday of each month. Membership dues are still being accepted. Stewardship begins at $50 and supports local, metropolis and national commitments. We welcome with open arms our newest member, Alexis Bante, formerly of St. Louis, and most recently from Houston. We had the pleasure of getting to know her at our last two meetings. We welcome ladies of all ages to our next meeting on April 25th, location to be announced. The program for the evening will focus on plant and flower arrangements. Please mark your calendars for a very worthwhile event, Kids n Cancer. Camp Agapi, at St. Nicholas Ranch, continues to host families with children dealing with cancer. This is possible because of the unselfish support of Philoptochos members and their families. Plan to attend the annual fundraiser on May 6th at the California Yacht Club in Marina del Rey. For more information visit Kidsncancer.org. May this Lenten Season be spiritually rewarding to you because of your love of Philoptochos and your support and generosity of the society s programs. Dr. Gordon Sasaki During our last meeting, our president, Fontaine Malisos, announced that funds from the Christmas Benefit have been distributed to Club 21 and the Pasadena Bad Weather Shelter. ANNUAL RECEPTION California Yacht Club May 6, 2012 Kidsncancer.org 11

12 Greek School Γλώσσα, Παιδεία, Ελευθερία /Language, Education, Freedom Γλώσσα, Παιδεία, Ελευθερία Το μήνυμα της 25ης Μαρτίου, επίκαιρο και οικουμενικό Μήγαρις έχω τίποτις άλλο στο νου μου πάρεξ ελευθερία και γλώσσα; ~ιονύσιος Σολωμός 25η Μαρτίου, γιορτή ευοίωνος και ελπιδοφόρα. Ο Ευαγγελισμός της Θεοτόκου αναγγέλει την πανανθρώπινη λύτρωση από τα δεσμά της αμαρτίας. Και το λάβαρο της Επανάστασης που υψώθηκε στην Αγία Λαύρα το 1821 κυματίζει τη λύτρωση του υπόδουλου Ελληνισμού από τα δεσμά της μακραίωνης δουλείας του. Πολλές οι συγκινήσεις και οι σκέψεις που ανακαλεί η ημέρα. Εδώ ας σταθούμε στην πεμπτουσία της εθνικής μας επετείου που είναι ο άρρηκτος δεσμός παιδείας, θρησκείας και ελευθερίας. Η Άλωση της Κωνσταντινούπολης το 1453 από τους Τούρκους δε σήμανε μόνο το τέλος της Βυζαντινής Αυτοκρατορίας αλλά και πνευματικό μαρασμό, που χρειάστηκε υπεράνθρωπες προσπάθειες για να αντιμετωπιστεί. Τον αγώνα αυτό ανέλαβε κατά κύριο λόγο η Εκκλησία και κατά δεύτερο απόδημοι Έλληνες, οι οποίοι είχαν συνειδητοποιήσει ότι η διατήρηση της πίστης, της γλώσσας και της εθνικής συνείδησης ήταν η απαραίτητη προϋπόθεση για την ιστορική συνέχεια και την αναγέννηση του Έθνους. Οι νάρθηκες των εκκλησιών και τα κελιά των μοναστηριών ήταν οι χώροι όπου παραδίδονταν κάποια στοιχειώδη μαθήματα στα ελληνόπουλα από κληρικούς και μοναχούς, τα θρυλικά Κρυφά Σχολειά. Μόλις το 17ο αιώνα άρχισαν κάποιες θετικές εξελίξεις στην Κωνσταντινούπολη, το εθνικό, θρησκευτικό και πνευματικό κέντρο του ελληνισμού. Τότε αναβαθμίστηκε η Μεγάλη του Γένους Σχολή και τα θεολογικά μαθήματα συμπληρώθηκαν με τη διδασκαλία των αρχαίων ελληνικών, της φυσικής, των μαθηματικών και της φιλοσοφίας. Αργά αλλά σταθερά, εξαπλώθηκε έκτοτε η ίδρυση σχολείων με την επίβλεψη, τη συνεισφορά και την οικονομική ενίσχυση της Εκκλησίας, των αποδήμων Ελλήνων και των εύπορων ελληνικών κοινοτήτων στην οθωμανική επικράτεια. Εκτός από την Κωνσταντινούπολη, όπου λειτούργησαν επίσης η Ελληνική Ιατρική Ακαδημία, η Πατριαρχική Μουσική Σχολή, η Εμπορική Σχολή της Χάλκης και η Θεολογική Σχολή, αρκετά εκπαιδευτήρια ιδρύθηκαν μέχρι το 19ο αιώνα σε διάφορες περιοχές της τουρκοκρατούμενης Ελλάδας. Τότε η ανοδική πορεία της ελληνικής εκπαίδευσης έφθασε στο αποκορύφωμά της με το φαινόμενο του Νεοελληνικού Διαφωτισμού, απότοκο του Ευρωπαϊκού Διαφωτισμού που άνθισε νωρίτερα στη Δύση. Στη συλλογική προσπάθεια για την αφύπνιση του Γένους έδωσαν το "παρών" όχι μόνον κληρικοί και σπουδασμένοι δάσκαλοι, αλλά και πολλοί Έλληνες που εργαζόταν στον ευρωπαϊκό χώρο και είχαν αποκτήσει ευρύτερη μόρφωση, εμπλουτισμένη με τα σύγχρονα επιτεύγματα του ευρωπαϊκού πολιτισμού: Άνθιμος Γαζής, Κύριλλος Λούκαρης, Αδαμάντιος Κοραής, Ευγένιος Βούλγαρης, Κωνσταντίνος Κούμας είναι μερικά από τα εξέχοντα ονόματα στη χορεία των Δασκάλων του Γένους. Νευραλγικός τομέας δραστηριότητας υπήρξε η ελληνόγλωσση συγγραφή και έκδοση: σχολικά βιβλία τυπώνονταν και μοιράζονταν δωρεάν στα υπόδουλα ελληνόπουλα, επιστημονικές εργασίες διεύρυναν τους ορίζοντες, εφημερίδες και επαναστατικά δημοσιεύματα πυροδοτούσαν 12 το αγωνιστικό πνεύμα και έφερναν την ελληνική υπόθεση στο φώς της ευρωπαϊκής επικαιρότητας. Στα Ιόνια νησιά ο Διονύσιος Σολωμός, ιταλοθρεμμένος αριστοκράτης, μαθαίνει με ζήλο την ελληνική γλώσσα: νοιώθει την ανάγκη να μιλήσει τη γλώσσα του λαού για να τραγουδήσει τον αγώνα της ελευθερίας και γίνεται ο εθνικός μας ποιητής με τον Ύμνο του. Πρωτεργάτες της παιδείας υπήρξαν πρόδρομοι και πρωτομάρτυρες του απελευθερωτικού αγώνα, πριν το 21: στην Αυστρουγγαρία και τις ηγεμονίες του Δούναβη ο Ρήγας Φεραίος σκόρπιζε το μήνυμα της ελευθερίας με τα φλογερά του συγγράμματα και ποιήματα, όπως ο περίφημος Θούριος. Στην υπόδουλη Στερεά και Ήπειρο ο απόστολος των γραμμάτων, ο Άγιος Κοσμάς ο Αιτωλός, περιόδευε τα χωριά και παρότρυνε τους ραγιάδες να χτίζουν σχολεία. Ο Πατροκοσμάς διέβλεπε ότι μόνο το παιδευμένο πνεύμα μπορεί να ποθήσει και να πετύχει την ελευθερία. Στις Διδαχές του συμβουλεύει τους γονείς να σπουδάζουν τα παιδιά τους Ελληνικά, τα οποία είναι η «γλώσσα της Εκκλησίας». Να σπουδάζετε και εσείς, αδελφοί μου, να μανθάνετε γράμματα όσον ημπορείτε. Και αν δεν εμάθετε οι πατέρες, να σπουδάζετε τα παιδιά σας, να μανθάνουν τα ελληνικά, διότι και η Εκκλησία μας είνε εις την ελληνικήν. Και αν δεν σπουδάσεις τα ελληνικά, αδελφέ μου, δεν ημπορείς να καταλάβης εκείνα οπού ομολογεί η Εκκλησία μας. Το όραμα της Απελευθέρωσης πρωτοφάνηκε στο ψαλτήρι του παπά, στην αίθουσα του σχολειού, στην πένα του διανοούμενου, στο επαναστατικό τυπογραφείο. Η αναβάπτιση του Ελληνισμού υπήρξε πρώτα γλωσσική και πνευματική, για να υλοποιηθεί στη συνέχεια και ως πολιτειακή ανεξαρτησία. Παράλληλα η σημασία της απελευθέρωσης και της ίδρυσης του Νέου Ελληνικού κράτους δεν περιορίστηκε στα στενά γεωγραφικά όρια της μικρής, νεόκοπης χώρας. Αντίθετα, κυοφορήθηκε στο κλίμα διεθνών πνευματικών εξελίξεων του 17ου και 18ου αιώνα, και πραγματοποιήθηκε στο ιστορικό πλαίσιο των κινημάτων αυτονομίας και δημοκρατίας που άλλαξαν ριζικά τον πολιτικό χάρτη της Δύσης από τη Γαλλική Επανάσταση και μετά. Και με αυτή ακριβώς την έννοια, ως ιστορικό επίτευγμα με σημασία επίκαιρη και οικουμενική οφείλουμε να προσλαμβάνουμε τη γιορτή της 25ης Μαρτίου σήμερα, στην εποχή της παγκοσμιοποίησης. Σε μέρες δύσκολες και απαισιόδοξες, όταν αρχές και ταυτότητες ρευστοποιούνται, εμείς παίρνουμε ελπίδα από αξίες διαχρονικές και από την ιστορική τους πραγμάτωση: είναι οι αξίες της παιδείας, που φέρνει γνώση και αυτογνωσία, που διασφαλίζει ελευθερία και αξιοπρέπεια, που διατηρεί τον ανθρωπισμό μέσα στην αχλύ του υλισμού και του εφήμερου κυνισμού. Μαριάννα Νικολαΐδου και Ελένη Τσαγγούρη για το Ελληνικό Σχολείο Αγίου Αντωνίου Νικόλαος Γκύζης, Αλληγορία της Ιστορίας Nikolaos Gyzis, Allegory of History (1892)

13 Language, Education, Freedom The message of Greek Independence Day (25 March 1821): contemporary and ecumenical I have nothing else in my mind but language and freedom ~Dionysios Solomos March 25 th, an auspicious and hopeful day of celebration. The Annunciation of the Theotocos proclaims the deliverance of humankind from the bonds of sin. And the banner of the Revolution that rose at the Monastery of Ayia Lavra on March , heralds the freedom of Hellenism from long centuries of Ottoman rule. The day evokes many feelings and thoughts; we choose here to reflect on the quintessence of this national celebration, namely the unbreakable link between language, religion, and freedom. The fall of Constantinople under the Turks in 1453 did not only mark the end of the Byzantine Empire but also the complete demise of Greek letters and education, a loss which took tremendous effort to repair. This heavy responsibility was undertaken primarily by the Church, followed by Greeks of the Diaspora who realized that historical continuity could by ensured and national resurrection achieved only by keeping alive the faith, language and ethnic consciousness. Clerics and monks would gather the children in church narthexes and monastery cells to teach them some elementary Greek from the liturgical books, in what came down to legend as the Secret School. It was only in the 17 th century that some positive developments started in Constantinople, the religious spiritual and ethnic centre of Hellenism. During that time the Great School of the Nation upgraded to university level and its curriculum expanded from the exclusive teaching of theology to include also ancient Greek, physics, mathematics, and philosophy. Slowly but steadily, the founding of schools became since widespread under the auspices and with support and funding by the Church, the Greek Diaspora and prosperous communities within the Ottoman Empire. Constantinople itself was graced with institutions such as the Greek Medical Academy, the Patriarchal Music School, the Commercial School of Chalke, and the School of Theology. Primary schools and upper-level educational centers were progressively established in many other occupied Greek regions, until the 19 th century. It was then that Greek education reached its climax in the context of the Greek Enlightenment, an intellectual descendant of the European Enlightenment that had already flourished in the West. The collective effort for ethnic awakening was shared not only by clergymen and erudite scholars, but also by many Greeks who worked in Europe and were widely exposed to the current achievements of European civilization: Anthimos Gazis, Kyrillos Loukaris, Adamantios Korais, Eugenios Voulgaris, Konstantinos Koumas, are some of those outstanding personalities. A crucial field of endeavor was the writing and publishing in Greek: textbooks were printed and distributed for free to poor schoolchildren in the occupied lands; scientific and scholarly works opened up new horizons of knowledge and thought; newspapers and revolutionary pamphlets circulated widely, raising the spirits of the oppressed and making the Greek cause known and relevant in the West. In the Ionian islands the poet Dionysios Solomos, Italian-raised aristocrat, applied himself zealously to learning Greek, to speaking the language of the people so as to be able to sing their fight for freedom. He composed the heroic Hymn to Freedom, the first two strophes of which became the Greek national anthem. Activists of education were also forerunners and first martyrs in the liberation fight, already before 1821: Rigas Feraios proclaimed freedom all over the Balkans and the Austrian Empire with his fervent writings, including the famous Thourios ( Battle Song ). Saint Kosmas the Aitolian, the apostle of letters, cris-crossed the occupied countryside in Sterea and Epirus, preaching to the enslaved populations to build schools. Father Kosmas sensed that only an educated mind is able to desire and achieve freedom. In his Teachings (Διδαχές) he advised parents to educate their children in Greek, which is «the language of the Church»: And you, my brothers, do study, do learn your letters as much as you can. And if you, fathers, have not learned, do educate your children to learn Greek, because our Church is also in the Greek language. And if you do not study the Greek, my brother, you cannot understand what our Church proclaims. The vision of Freedom first emerged at the priest s psalter stand, through the scholar s quill, in the schoolroom, in the revolutionary press. The reemergence of Hellenism was first and foremost a linguistic and spiritual renaissance before it materialized as political autonomy, too. The War of Independence and the foundation of the New Hellenic state were significant far beyond the narrow geographic boundaries of this small, newly-minted country. Indeed, the Greek liberation was gestated in the climate of international intellectual advancements from the 17 th century onward, and took flesh within the historical context of freedom and democracy movements which transformed the political map of the West since the French Revolution. It is in this very light that we must understand and appreciate the 25 th of March 1821 today: as a historical achievement with contemporary relevance and ecumenical significance in the era of globalization. In the present difficult times of pessimism, of fluid identities and everchanging principles, we can still find hope in time-proven values and in their historical fulfillment. These are the values of education, which brings knowledge and self-awareness, safeguards freedom and dignity, and sustains humanism amidst the haze of materialism and ephemeral cynicism. Marianna Nikolaidou and Eleni Tsaggouri for St. Anthony s Greek School 13

14 Stewardship (as of March 15, 2012) 14 Rev. Peter & Pres. Aida Stratos Rev. Christos & Pres. Jessica Kanakis Presvytera Maria Mylonas Adamopoulos, Peter A. & Virginia Adamson, Dina Akrotirianakis, Joseph N. & Sherese Akrotirianakis, Nicholas & Barbara Albeck, Irene Albeck, Mark Gregory Alex, Helen & Angelo Paravantis Ananiades, Constantine & Sapho Andros, Gus & Lorena Angelos, James & Sophia Anton, Gus & Helen Apostolos, Margo K. Aspiotes, Georgia Attalla, Philip "Ted" Balas, Dino & Argiro Julie Baliotis, Tina & Demetre Bannoura, Michale & Renee Gharib Becker, Brian & Connie Becronis, Christina Betinis, Harriet Bicos, Chris & Eleni Bicos, John & Allison Bissias, Peter N. Blaszcak, Frank & Georgia Bonorris, Pete & Donna Bottcher, Bob & Kelly Ann Bougdanos, Eugene & Elizabeth Boulgarides, Athena Bouras, Tom Athanasios Bowers, Teree & Connie Bozikis, Demetra Broussinos, Chris & Angeliki Burkard Jr., Frank J. & Penelope Buzas, John & Pamela Buzas, Nicholas & Danielle Caire, John & Terese Christodoulelis, Jimmy & Tanya Christodoulides, Loucas & Andri Christopoulos, Gus & Judie Christy, Angene Courlas, Angelos & Marianna Courlas, George & Georgia Dallas, Saterios & Athena Dallas, Gregory & Petra Damilatis, Dimitrios & Eleni Dean, Robert & Anastasia Demetriades, Demetrios & Elizabeth Demopulos, Andrew & Elizabeth Demopulos, Michael Demos, Anna Diamond, Anastasia Dimitrakopoulos, Panagiotis & Efterpi Dousis, Athanasios Drulias, Bill & Rosann Dupas, George & Katherine & Dupas, Theodore & Evangeline Efstathiou, Dean & Theodora Floutsis, Ted & Penny Fuerst, Jay & Nicolette Gallagher, Matthew & Eleni Gelt, Brian & Pana Giakas, Vasilike Giannoulis, Tony & Anna Gizas, Alexios & Lauren Gkantzounis, Georgios Grafos, Tom & Tania Grover, James & Maria Halias, John & Joanne Haralambos, Aliki, Haralambos, Anthony & Kathleen Haralambos, Tom & Page Harper, Chris & Stella Anguiano Horaites, James Horaites, Siestini Hronas, James W. & Maria Jacovides, Helen Johnsen, Robert & Eleni Kalambakas, Nick P. & Vivian Kalivas, Anastasia Kalivas, George & Elene Kallas, Mark & Debra Kamar, April Karagias, Tasos & Helen Karaioannoglou, Phaedon & Jeanne Karamaras John & Andriana Karatzas, Chris Karatzas, John & Mersina Karras, Maria & Demos, Nick Kasdagli, Demetra & Mark Nastri Katsafados, Pete & Theoni Katsas, Andreas & Asimina Kefalas, John & Evelyn Kefallinos, Nick & Vicki Kiotas, Alex & Stavroula Kirimis, George D. Kitridou, Rodanthi C. Kleinsasser, Ian Kleissas, Nick & Athena Kokoris, Nicholas & Maria Kolokotrones, James A. & Carolyn Koutsoukos, George & Lin Kundanis, Christine Kypreos, James & Maria Lakon, Peter P. & Valerie Lappas, Dino & Virginia Ledis, Stella & Rene Livanos, Parri Loutsos/Grajeda, Anna, Georgia & John Lucas, John S. & Anthia Lucas, Katherine Malahatis, Mike & Sofia Malina, Dorothea Malisos, Fontaine Manousadjian, Sonia Marshall, Robert Martin, Sam & Debbie McBride, Wendi & James McNulty, Chris & Jennie Mechalas, Bessie Messerotes, Vera Millward, Steve & Niki M. Mobayen, Syrus & Chrissa Moreno, Eva Elizabeth Mowrey, Robert D. Nichols, James & Joyce Nicolaidis, Nicolas Nunez, Angel & Alyssa Palamiotis, Thetis Panagiot, Harry & Anastasia Panagiotacopulos, Nick & Aliki Pappas, Peter & Cathy Pappas, Steven & Christine Pappas, Dean C. Pappas, Constantine & Hope Pastis, Arry & Leah Pastis, Gust & Vivian Patzakis, John & Andrea Pavlis, Eleftherios & Mary Pegadiotes, George S. & Maria Pegadiotes, Sam & Georgia Pegadiotes, Stan S. Perris, Georgia Petrossian, Rafic R. & Stacy Pla, Fernando & Thena Plumtree, Wayne & Martha Polychronis, Theodore & Eleftheria Polykandriotis, John & Ira Lu Poulos, Yiota Rellos, John Riley, Thomas & Evangelia Russo, Rebecca A. Sahpazis, Georgia Saigh, Mark & Mara R. Scolinos, Michael & Stephanie Siatras, Christos & Christiann Skandale, Elizabeth Skandale, Helen Skandale, Katherine Soewers, Randy & Stephanie Stavropoulos, Peter T & Theodora Stephens, Kenny & Maria Suchy, Raymond & Gregoria Tarazi, John & Ellie Tirado, Elizabeth Tisopoulos, Laki & Tara Treantafelles, Andrew & Georgia Treantafelles, George P. Treantafelles, George T. & Helen Treantafelles, Ioannis K. Treantafelles, Stan & Vivian Tripodes, Nikitas & Dena Tripodes, Steven G. Tsevdos, Alice Tsouvalas, John & Jenny Udria, Juan & Mary Uduji, Simona Vagenas, John & Georgia Vagenas, Alex & Tashia Varvitsiotis, Fotini Vavoulis, Ted & Esther Vidalakis, Perry & Zoe Vorgias, Zacharias & Alma Walker, Damian & Elizabeth Whisler-Nicolaidis, Maria Alicia Wood, Grant & Cindy Wooten, Mike & Rhea Xanthos, Lisa Xanthos, Pantele J. Yagjian, Michael & Anita Zarifes, Peter & Tina Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this stewardship list. Please forgive us if there are any errors or omissions. The printed list is from the date above. Any steward-ship additions or changes that were made after the above date will not be added or corrected in this issue.

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16 Saint Anthony s Greek Orthodox Church 778 South Rosemead Blvd. Pasadena, CA Return Service Requested Non-Profit US Postage PAID Arcadia, CA Permit No 390 HOLY WEEK AND EASTER/PASCHA PROGRAM APRIL 7 -APRIL 15 PAGES 4 AND 5