Η ΠΑΡΟΙΚΙΑ/PAROIKIA «ἄρα οὖν οὐκέτι ἐστὲ ξένοι καὶ πάροικοι ἀλλὰ ἐστὲ συμπολῖται τῶν ἁγίων καὶ οἰκεῖοι τοῦ θεοῦ»εφ 2:19

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1 ΙΕΡΑ ΑΡΥΙΕΠΙΚΟΠΗ ΑΤΣΡΑΛΙΑ ΙΕΡΟ ΝΑΟ ΑΓΙΟΤ ΓΕΩΡΓΙΟΤ ΒΡΙΒΑΝΗ GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AUSTRALIA CHURCH OF SAINT GEORGE 33 EDMONDSTONE STREET SOUTH BRISBANE PARISH PRIESTS:Father Dimitri Tsakas Father Anastasios Bozikis Telephone: Η ΠΑΡΟΙΚΙΑ/PAROIKIA «ἄρα οὖν οὐκέτι ἐστὲ ξένοι καὶ πάροικοι ἀλλὰ ἐστὲ συμπολῖται τῶν ἁγίων καὶ οἰκεῖοι τοῦ θεοῦ»εφ 2:19 so then you are no longer strangers and foreigners (paroikoi), but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God Eph 2:19 ΠΕΡΙΟΔΙΚΟΝ ΣΗ ΕΝΟΡΙΑ ΚΟΙΝΟΣΗ ΑΓΙΟΤ ΓΕΩΡΓΙΟΤ Μάρτιος / March 2012 DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Μάρτιος / March 15 VISIT FROM GERONTISSA MOTHER KAL- LISTHENI FROM THE MONAS- TERY OF PANAGIA GOR- GOEPIKOOS, GEELONG 7:30pm / ΔΠΗΚΔ- ΦΖ ΣΖ ΓΔΡΟΝ- ΣΗΑ ΚΑΛΛΗ- ΘΔΝΖ ΑΠΟ ΣΟ ΜΟΝΑΣΖΡΗ ΣΖ ΠΑΝΑΓΗΑ ΓΟΡ- ΓΟΔΠΖΚΟΤ 7.30κκ 25 A celebration of our Greek National Day 8:45am / Δνξηαζκόο ηεο Δπεηείνπ ηεο Δζληθήο καο γηνξηήο 8.45πκ 26 Visit by Father Damaskinos from Mount Athos, confessions from 11am- 6pm / ὁ ἐμ Ἁγίνπ Ὄξνπο Ἐμνκνιόγνο π. Γακαζθελόο ζά εὑξίζθεηαη εἰο ηόλ Ἱεξόλ καο Ναόλ δηά ηό Μπζηήξηνλ ηῆο Ἱεξᾶο Ἐμνκνινγήζεσο 11.00πκ 6.00κκ Priest s Message The Cost of Choosing Christianity The first three centuries of the Christian faith were marked by intermittent and bloody persecutions against those who chose to follow Christ. The Christians at that time were a small and widely despised minority with no social standing. And yet, conversions to Christianity were common. What is it that inspired people to become Christians under such circumstances and would we, under similar circumstances, make that choice? St Justin Martyr (ca. 150AD) claimed that it was the constancy, patience and business integrity that persuaded others to join them and change their ways. Tertullian (ca. 200AD) argued that the courage of the Christian martyrs that caused the conversion of the spectators. Some would be converted as a result of a Christian act of charity; others through experiencing a miraculous cure. Many would abandon worship of idols and a life of sin convinced that God would one day judge them. Whatever the reason, those who chose to become Christians not only risked social ostracism but had to begin a rigorous period of training and testing before they would be accepted into the Church. A person seeking to be baptised entered a period of instruction which lasted around three years, at least. During this time he was called a catechumen, was regarded as a Christian, and was expected to live a good life, even to the point of martyrdom, which would count as his baptism if it should come about. His lessons consisted primarily of moral instruction as to how a Christian should conduct himself. It was far more than a matter of a good and loving attitude, though that was certainly encouraged. Some things were completely banned by God s law eg all killing of human beings, including all kinds of abortion and infanticide (which was common at that time), participation in bloody sports in the arena and killing on military service. Fornication, adultery, homosexual and pederastic practices, and indeed all extra-marital sexual activity, was strictly forbidden. Worship of idols was banned in any form. This prevented Christians from participating in public life, sports, theatre etc where the gods were invoked. Integrity with money and the giving of alms were essential and commended the Christian faith in a world full of bribery. The catechumen was also taught regular prayer (three times a day) and how to fast on Wednesdays and Fridays in remembrance of Christ s betrayal and death. To be a Christian in those first centuries meant abandoning a former life of sin and embracing Christ in obedience, no matter what the cost. We are called to do no less than abandon a life of ease and sin to attain God s Kingdom. At times this may involve social ostracism, ridicule and exclusion, as it did back then. But as we enter the period of Great Lent, leading up to Pascha, we can take the courage and resolution of those early Christians as our example. They were faithful unto death because they had a hidden hope for eternity an eternity which we are invited to share.

2 Μήλπκα Ηεξέσο Σν Κόζηνο Δπηινγήο Υξηζηηαληζκνύ Οη ηξεηο πξώηνη αηώλεο ηεο Υξηζηηαληθήο πίζηεο ζεκαδεύηεθαλ από ζπνξαδηθέο θαη αηκαηεξέο δηώμεηο ελαληίνλ εθείλσλ πνπ επέιεμαλ λα αθνινπζήζνπλ ηνλ Υξηζηό. Οη Υξηζηηαλνί εθείλε ηελ επνρή ήηαλε κία κηθξή θαη πνιύ πεξηθξνλεκέλε κεηνςεθία ρσξίο θακία θνηλσληθή ζέζε. Καη όκσο, ν πξνζειπηηζκόο ζην ρξηζηηαληζκό ήηαλ πνιύ ζπλεζηζκέλνο. Ση ήηαλ απηό πνπ ελέπλεπζε ηνπο αλζξώπνπο λα γίλνπλ Υξηζηηαλνί, ππό ηέηνηεο ζπλζήθεο θαη εκείο, θάησ από παξόκνηεο ζπλζήθεο, ζα θάλακε απηή ηελ επηινγή; Ο Μάξηπξαο Άγηνο Ηνπζηίλνο ( 150κ.Υ. πεξίπνπ), ηζρπξίζηεθε όηη ήηαλ ε ζηαζεξόηεηα, ε ππνκνλή θαη επηρεηξεκαηηθή αθεξαηόηεηα πνπ έπεηζε ηνπο άιινπο λα ελσζνύλ καδί ηνπο θαη λα αιιάμνπλ ηνπο ηξόπνπο ηνπο. Ο Σεξηπιιηαλόο (200κ.Υ. πεξίπνπ ) ππνζηήξηδε όηη ήην ην ζάξξνο ησλ ρξηζηηαλώλ καξηύξσλ πνπ πξνθαινύζε ηνλ πξνζειπηηζκό. Μεξηθνί ζα κπνξνύζαλ λα πξνζειπηηζζνύλ θαηόπηλ κηαο ρξηζηηαληθήο πξάμεο θηιαλζξσπίαο. Άιινη, θαηόπηλ βηώζεσο κηαο ζαπκαηνπξγηθήο ζεξαπείαο. Πνιινί ζα κπνξνύζαλ λα εγθαηαιείςνπλ ηε ιαηξεία ησλ εηδώισλ θαη ηε δσή ηεο ακαξηίαο πεπεηζκέλνη όηη ν Θεόο κηα εκέξα ζα ηνπο έθξηλε. Όπνηνο θη αλ είλαη ν ιόγνο, όζνη επέιεμαλ λα γίλνπλ Υξηζηηαλνί, όρη κόλν θηλδύλεπαλ κε θνηλσληθό εμνζηξαθηζκό, αιιά ζα έπξεπε επίζεο λα αξρίζνπλ κία απζηεξή ρξνληθή πεξίνδν θαηάξηηζεο θαη δνθηκώλ πξηλ γίλνπλ δεθηνί ζηελ Δθθιεζία. Έλα άηνκν πνπ επηζπκνύζε λα βαπηηζηεί εηζέξρεην ζε κηα πεξίνδν δηδαζθαιίαο πνπ δηαξθνύζε πεξίπνπ ηξία ρξόληα, ηνπιάρηζηνλ. Καηά ηε δηάξθεηα απηήο ηεο πεξηόδνπ νλνκαδόηαλ θαηερνύκελνο. Σνλ ζεσξνύζαλ ρξηζηηαλό, θη αλακελόηαλ απ απηόλ λα δεη κηα θαιή δσή, αθόκε θαη λα θζάλεη θαη ζην ζεκείν ηνπ καξηπξίνπ, ην νπνίν αλ ζπλέβαηλε ζα εθιακβαλόηαλ ζαλ ην βάπηηζκά ηνπ. Σα καζήκαηά ηνπ απνηεινύληαλ θπξίσο από εζηθή θαζνδήγεζε, γηα ην πώο έλαο Υξηζηηαλόο ζα έπξεπε λα ζπκπεξηθέξεηαη. Ήηαλ θάηη πνιύ πεξηζζόηεξν από έλα δήηεκα κηαο θαιήο θαη ζηνξγηθήο ζπκπεξηθνξάο, αλ θαη απηή, ζίγνπξα ελζαξξπλόηαλ. Κάπνηα πξάγκαηα ήηαλ πιήξσο απαγνξεπκέλα, κε ην λόκν ηνπ Θενύ, π.ρ. όιεο νη δνινθνλίεο αλζξώπσλ, ζπκπεξηιακβαλνκέλσλ όισλ ησλ εηδώλ ακβιώζεσλ θαη παηδνθηνλία (πνπήηαλ θνηλό εθείλε ηελ επνρή), ε ζπκκεηνρή ζε αηκαηεξά αζιήκαηα ζηελ αξέλα θαη ζθνηώλνληαο θαηά ηελ ζηξαηησηηθή ζεηεία. Ζ πνξλεία, ε κνηρεία, νη νκνθπινθηιηθέο θαη παηδεξαζηηθέο πξαθηηθέο, θαη κάιηζηα θάζε εμσζπδπγηθή ζεμνπαιηθή δξαζηεξηόηεηα, απαγνξεπόληνπζαλ απζηεξά. Ζ ιαηξεία ησλ εηδώισλ, νπνηαζδήπνηε κνξθήο, απαγνξεπόηαλ. Απηό εκπόδηδε ηνπο Υξηζηηαλνύο λα ζπκκεηέρνπλ ζηε δεκόζηα δσή, ζηνλ αζιεηηζκό, ζην ζέαηξν θιπ, όπνπ επηθαινύληαλ νη ζενί. ε έλαλ θόζκν γεκάην δσξνδνθία ε ρξηζηηαληθή πίζηε επαηλνύζε απηνύο πνπ έίραλ αθεξαηόηεηα κε ηα ρξήκαηα θη έδηλαλ ειεεκνζύλε. Ο θαηερνύκελνο δηδαζθόηαλ επίζεο ηαθηηθή πξνζεπρή (ηξεηο θνξέο ηελ εκέξα) θαη πώο λα λεζηεύεη ηηο Σεηάξηεο θαη ηηο Παξαζθεπέο, ζε αλάκλεζε ηεο πξνδνζίαο θαη ηνπ ζαλάηνπ ηνπ Υξηζηνύ. Γηα λα είλαη θάπνηνο Υξηζηηαλόο ζ εθείλνπο ηνπο πξώηνπο αηώλεο, ζήκαηλε λα εγθαηαιείςεη κηα πξνεγνύκελε ακαξηνιή δσή θαη λα αγθαιηάζεη ηνλ Υξηζηό ζηελ ππαθνή, κε δίλνληαο ζεκαζία πνην είλαη ην θόζηνο. Καινύκαζηε θη εκείο λα θάλνπκε ην ιηγόηεξν, λα εγθαηαιείςνπκε ηε δσή ηεο επθνιίαο θαη ηεο ακαξηίαο γηα λα απνθηήζνπκε ηελ Βαζηιεία ηνπ Θενύ. Μεξηθέο θνξέο απηό κπνξεί λα ζπλεπάγεηαη θνηλσληθό εμνζηξαθηζκό, γεινηνπνίεζε θαη απνθιεηζκό, όπσο ζπλέβαηλε θαη ηόηε. Αιιά, όπσο εηζεξρόκαζηε ζηελ πεξίνδν ηεο Μεγάιεο Σεζζαξαθνζηήο, πνπ νδεγεί πξνο ην Πάζρα, κπνξνύκε λα ιάβνπκε ζαλ παξάδεηγκα ην ζάξξνο θαη ηελ απνθαζηζηηθόηεηα απηώλ ησλ πξώησλ Υξηζηηαλώλ.. Ήηαλ πηζηνί κέρξη ζαλάηνπ,επεηδή είραλ κηα θξπθή ειπίδα γηα ηελ αησληόηεηα - κηα αησληόηεηα πνπ θαινύκαζηε λα κνηξαζηνύκε.

3 THE AKATHIST HYMN TO THE MOST HOLY THEOTOKOS "Rejoice, unfading rose. Rejoice, the only one who budded forth the unfading apple. Rejoice, birth-giver of the aromatic balm of the King of all. Rejoice, O Bride unwedded, the world's salvation." The Akathist Hymn is a profound, devotional poem, which sings the praises of the Holy Mother and Ever-Virgin Mary. It is one of the most beloved services in the Orthodox Church. It was composed in the imperial city of Constantinople, "the city of the Virgin," by St. Romanos the Melodist, who reposed in the year 556. The Akathist Hymn has proven so popular in the liturgical life of the Church that many other hymns have been written following its format. These include Akathists to Our Lord Jesus Christ, to the Cross, and to many Saints. The Akathist hymn consists of praises directed to the Mother of God, beginning with the salutation of the Archangel Gabriel: "Rejoice." As the hymn is chanted all of the events related to our Lord's Incarnation pass before us for our contemplation. The Archangel Gabriel marvels at the Divine selfemptying and the renewal of creation which will occur when Christ comes to dwell in the Virgin's womb. The unborn John the Baptist prophetically rejoices. The shepherds recognize Christ as a blameless Lamb, and rejoice that in the Virgin "the things of earth join chorus with the heavens." The pagan Magi following the light of the star, praise Her for revealing the light of the world. The word "akathistos" means "not sitting," i.e., standing; normally all participants stand while it is being prayed. The hymn is comprised of 24 stanzas, arranged in an acrostic following the Greek alphabet. The stanzas alternate between long and short. Each short stanza is written in prose and ends with the singing of "Alleluia." Each longer stanza ends with the refrain: "Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded." The first part of the hymn is about the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary by the Angel. It describes Mary s surprise at the news, her visit to her mother and Joseph s doubts as to her innocence. The second part is about the birth of Christ, the worship of the Shepherds and Magi, the flight to Egypt and the visit to Saint Simeon in the Temple. In the third part the hymn directs our attention to the renewal of the world by Christ s coming, and the amazement of the Angels and the wise men at the sight of the Incarnation of God s Son. The fourth and the last part is once more a lyric and rhetorical appraisal of Virgin Mary, whom the poet adorns with the most beautiful of adjectives asking her to accept his poetical offering and to intercede for the salvation of human race from the earthly sin. Orthodox Christian Observance of the Akathist Hymn On the first four Fridays of Great Lent during the service of the Small Compline the Akathist Hymn is observed in the following order: The chanting of the nine Odes or Canon. The chanting of the Kontakion with censing ("Ti Ipermacho" - "O Champion General...").

4 The chanting by the priest of the first part of the stanzas on the first Friday, the second part on the second Friday, the third part on the third Friday and the fourth part on the fourth Friday. The chanting of the Kontakion with censing. Veneration of the Icon with the chanting of the Theotokion before the conclusion of the Compline Service. On the first Friday, the priest reads the Gospel of the day (John 15:1-7). On the fifth Friday of Great Lent the complete service is observed in the following order: The Troparion of the Saturday of the Akathist is chanted three times. The first part of the hymn is chanted. The first and third odes of the Canon are chanted. The Kontakion is chanted with censing. The second part is chanted. The fourth, fifth and sixth odes are chanted followed by the Kontakion with censing. The third part is chanted. The seventh, eighth and ninth odes are chanted followed by the Kontakion and censing. The fourth part is chanted. At the end of the 24th stanza, the celebrant chants the first verse of the first stanza: An archangel was sent...then continues the whole stanza. The Kontakion is chanted with censing followed by the veneration of the Icon of the Holy Mother of God with the chanting of the Theotokion. Kontakion (Plagal of the Fourth Tone) O Champion General, we your faithful inscribe to you the prize of victory as gratitude for being rescued from calamity, O Theotokos. But since you have invincible power, free us from all kinds of perils so that we may cry out to you: Rejoice, O Bride unwedded. (Translated by Father George Papadeas) Theotokion (Tone Three) Seeing the beauty of your Virginity, and how resplendently shone forth your chastity, amazed was Gabriel who cried to you thus, O Theotokos: What shall I present to you as a worthy encomium? What shall I address you as? At a loss and perplexed am I. As ordered, therefore, thus do I shout to you: Rejoice, O Maiden who are full of grace! (Translated by Hieromonk Seraphim Dedes) GOSPEL READING (READ ONLY ON THE FIRST FRIDAY) John 15: 1-7 The Lord said: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. if you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.

5 ORTHODOX BOOKSTORE LOCATED AT GOYA HOUSE 22 BROWNING STREET, WEST END 4101 OPENING HOURS : THURSDAY - 10AM 7PM FRIDAY - 10AM 6PM SATURDAY - 10AM 4PM MORE INFO PLEASE VISIT ===================================== LECTURE BY GERONTISSA MOTHER KALLISTHENI FROM THE MONAS- TERY OF PANAGIA GORGOEPIKOOS, GEELONG FINDING YOUR WAY IN LIFE THROUGH CHRIST (IN ENGLISH) 7:30PM THURSDAY 15th MARCH GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF SAINT GEORGE, SOUTH BRISBANE ================================== CHOIR PRACTICE FOR PASCHA Every Monday evening from 6:30pm to 8:00pm in the church of Saint George Open to all the congregation who wish to come and commit to learning the hymns of Lent and Holy Week Πξόβεο ρνξσδίαο γηα ην Πάζρα Κάθε Γεπηέξα βράδσ από ηης 6.00κκ έσο 8.00κκ μέζα ηην εκκληζία Για όζοσς επιθσμούν να έρθοσν για να μάθοσν ηοσς ιερούς ύμνοσς ηης Μεγάλης αρακοζηής και Μεγάλης Εβδομάδας Ζ ΔΛΛΖΝΗΚΖ ΔΠΑΝΑΣΑΖ 25ε Μαξηίνπ ηνπ 1821 Εοπηαζμόρ ηηρ Επεηείος ηηρ Εθνικήρ μαρ γιοπηήρ Κπξηαθή, 25ε Μαξηίνπ 2012 Ηεξόο Ναόο Αγίνπ Γεσξγίνπ από ηηο 8.45πκ Ο Δνξηαζκόο ζα ζπκπεξηιακβάλεη: Μεγάλη Εοπηαζηική Δοξολογία και Επιμνημόζςνη Δέηζη Καηάθεζη Σηεθάνων Σσολικό Ππόγπαμμα ΟΛΟΗ ΔΤΠΡΟΓΔΚΣΟΗ ΕΖΣΧ Ζ 25ε ΜΑΡΣΗΟΤ ηνπ 1821 ΕΖΣΧ Ζ ΔΛΛΑΓΑ! ================================= GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY 25th March 1821 A celebration of our National Day Sunday, 25 March 2012 Church of St George from 8.45am Celebration will include: Doxology Service in Church Memorial Service Wreath Laying Ceremony Greek School Programme Everyone is Welcome ================================= LENTEN SERVICES AT SAINT GEORGE Monday : Great Compline 5pm-6pm Tuesday: Great Compline 5pm-6pm Wednesday: Presanctified Liturgy 8am-9am Presanctified Liturgy 6pm-7:15am Thursday:Great Compline 5pm-6pm Friday: Xairetismoi to the Theotokos 7pm- 8:15pm Saturday: English Divine Liturgy 6pm- 7:15pm Sunday: Orthros and Divine Liturgy 7:30am 10:30am

6 Ο ΑΚΑΘΗΣΟ ΤΜΝΟ ηελ επίζεκε ιεηηνπξγηθή γιώζζα ε αθνινπζία απηή νλνκάδεηαη «Αθάζηζηνο Ύκλνο» ή κνλνιεθηηθά «Αθάζηζηνο» από ηελ νξζία ζηάζε, πνπ ηεξνύζαλ νη πηζηνί θαζ όιε ηε δηάξθεηα ηεο ςαικσδίαο ηεο. Έηζη θαη κε ηα ιόγηα θαη κε ηε ζηάζε ηνπ ζώκαηνο εθθξάδεηαη ε ηηκή, ε ηδηαίηεξε επιάβεηα, ε επραξηζηία πξνο εθείλε, πξνο ηελ νπνία απεπζύλνπκε ηνπο ραηξεηηζκνύο καο.είλαη δε ε αθνινπζία απηή ζηε ζεκεξηλή ιεηηνπξγηθή καο πξάμε εληεηαγκέλε ζην ιεηηνπξγηθό πιαίζην ηεο αθνινπζίαο ηνπ κηθξνύ απνδείπλνπ. Έηζη γίλεηαη θάζε Παξαζθεπή ζηηο ηέζζεξηο πξώηεο εβδνκάδεο ησλ Νεζηεηώλ, αθόκα θαη ηελ Παξαζθεπή ηεο Ε' Εβδνκάδνο, πνπ κεηά ηελ ηκεκαηηθή ζηηο ηέζζεξηο πξώηεο εβδνκάδεο ςαικσδία ηνπ, αλαθεθαιαηώλεηαη νιόθιεξνο ν ύκλνο. ηα κνλαζηήξηα, αιιά θαη ζηε ζεκεξηλή ελνξηαθή πξάμε θαη παιαηόηεξα θαηά ηα δηάθνξα Σππηθά, έρνπκε θαη αιιά ιεηηνπξγηθά πιαίζηα γηα ηελ ςαικσδία ηνπ ύκλνπ: ηελ αθνινπζία ηνπ όξζξνπ, ηνπ εζπεξηλνύ, ηεο παλλπρίδνο ή κηαο ηδηόξξπζκεο Θενκεηνξηθήο Κσλζηαληηλνππνιηηηθήο αθνινπζίαο, ηελ «πξεζβεία». όιεο απηέο ηηο πεξηπηώζεηο ζ έλα νξηζκέλν ζεκείν ηεο θνηλήο αθνινπζίαο γίλεηαη κηα παξεκβνιή. Ψάιιεηαη ν θαλώλ ηεο Θενηόθνπ θαη νιόθιεξν ή ηκεκαηηθά ην θνληάθην θαη νη νίθνη ηνπ Αθάζηζηνπ. Θα παξαηξέμσκε ην δηαθηινληθνύκελν, εμ άιινπ, ζέκα ηνπ ρξόλνπ ηεο ζπληάμεσο θαη ηνπ πνηεηνύ ηνπ Αθάζηζηνπ. Πνιινί θέξνληαη σο πνηεηαί ηνπ: ν Ρσκαλόο ν Μεισδόο, ν Γεώξγηνο Πηζίδεο, νη παηξηάξραη ηεο Κσλζηαληηλνππόιεσο έξγηνο, Γεξκαλόο ν Α, ν Θεξόο Φώηηνο, ν Γεώξγηνο Νηθνκήδεηαο (ηθειηώηεο), πνηεηαί πνπ έδεζαλ από ηνλ Ζ κέρξη ηνλ Θ αηώλα. Η παξάδνζηο παξνπζηάδεη κεγάιε αζηάζεηα θαη νη λεώηεξνη κειεηεηαί, ζηεξηδόκελνη ζηηο ιίγεο εζσηεξηθέο ελδείμεηο πνπ ππάξρνπλ ζην θείκελν, άιινη πξνηηκνύλ ηνλ έλα θαη άιινη ηνλ άιιν από ηνπο θεξνκέλνπο σο πνηεηάο ηνπ. Έλα ηζηνξηθό γεγνλόο, κε ην νπνίν ζπλεδέζε από ηελ παξάδνζη ε ςαικσδία ηνπ Αθάζηζηνπ, ζα κπνξνύζε λα καο πξνζαλαηνιίζε θάπσο ζηελ αλαδήηεζί καο: Η επί ηνπ απηνθξάηνξνο Ηξαθιείνπ πνιηνξθία θαη ε ζαπκαζηή ζσηεξία ηεο Κσλζηαληηλνππόιεσο ηελ 8 ε Απγνύζηνπ ηνπ έηνπο 626. Καηά ην πλαμάξην κεηά ηελ ιύζη ηεο πνιηνξθίαο εςάιε ν ύκλνο απηόο ζηνλ λαό ηεο Θενηόθνπ ησλ Βιαρεξλώλ, σο δνμνινγία θαη επραξηζηία γηα ηελ ζσηεξία, πνπ απεδόζε ζηελ ζαπκαηνπξγηθή δύλακη ηεο Θενηόθνπ, ηεο πξνζηάηηδαο ηεο Πόιεσο. Παηξηάξρεο ηόηε ήην ν έξγηνο, πνπ πξσηνζηάηεζε ζηνπο αγώλαο γηα ηελ άκπλα. Εύθνιν ήηαλ λα ζεσξεζε θαη πνηεηήο ηνπ ύκλνπ, αλ θαη νύηε σο πκλνγξάθνο καο είλαη γλσζηόο, νύηε θαη νξζόδνμνο ήην. Εμ άιινπ ν ύκλνο ζα έπξεπε λα ήηαλ παιαηόηεξνο, γηαηί αλ ήηαλ γξακκέλνο γηα ηελ ζσηεξία ηεο Πόιεσο δελ ζα ήηαλ δπλαηόλ παξά ξεηώο λα θάκλε ιόγν γη απηήλ θαη όρη λα αλαθέξεηαη ζε άιια ζέκαηα, όπσο ζα ηδνύκε πην θάησ. Η ςαικσδία όκσο ηνπ Αθάζηζηνπ ζπλδέεηαη από ηηο ηζηνξηθέο πεγέο θαη κε άιια παξόκνηα γεγνλόηα: ηηο πνιηνξθίεο θαη ηελ ζσηεξία ηεο Κσλζηαληηλνππόιεσο επί Κσλζηαληίλνπ ηνπ Πσγσλάηνπ (673), επί Λένληνο ηνπ Θζαύξνπ ( ) θαη επί Μηραήι Γ (860). Όπνηνο όκσο θαη αλ ήηαλ ν πνηεηήο θαη κε νπνηνδήπνηε ηζηνξηθό γεγνλόο από ηα αλσηέξσ θαη αλ ζπλεδέζε πξσηαξρηθά, έλα είλαη ην αλακθηζβήηεην ζηνηρείν, πνπ καο δίδνπλ νη ζρεηηθέο πεγέο, όηη ν ύκλνο εςάιιεην σο επραξηζηήξηνο σδή πξνο ηελ ππέξκαρν ζηξαηεγό ηνπ Βπδαληηλνύ θξάηνπο θαηά ηηο επραξηζηήξηεο παλλπρίδεο πνπ εηεινύλην εηο αλάκλεζηλ ησλ αλσηέξσ γεγνλόησλ. Καηά ηελ παξαηήξεζη ηνπ ζπλαμαξηζηνύ ν ύκλνο ιέγεηαη «Αθάζηζηνο», γηαηί ηόηε θαηά ηελ ζσηεξία ηεο Πόιεσο θαη έθηνηε κέρξη ζήκεξα, όηαλ νη, νίθνη ηνπ ύκλνπ απηνύ εςάιινλην, «νξζνί πάληεο» ηνπο ήθνπαλ εηο έλδεημηλ επραξηζηίαο πξνο ηελ Θενηόθν, ελώ ζηνπο νίθνπο ησλ άιισλ θνληαθίσλ «εμ έζνπο» εθάζελην. Γηαηί όκσο ςάιιεηαη θαηά ηελ Μεγάιε Σεζζαξαθνζηή; Οη ιύζεηο ησλ αλσηέξσ πνιηνξθηώλ δελ ζπλέπεζαλ θαη απηήλ. ηηο 8 Απγνύζηνπ ειύζε ε πνιηνξθία επί Ηξαθιείνπ, ηνλ επηέκβξην ε επί Πσγσλάηνπ, ζηηο 16 Απγνύζηνπ εσξηάδεην ε αλάκλεζηο ηεο ζσηεξίαο ηεο Πόιεσο επί Λένληνο Θζαύξνπ θαη ζηηο 18 Θνπλίνπ ειύζε ε πνιηνξθία επί Μηραήι ηνπ Γ. Με ηελ Μεγάιε Σεζζαξαθνζηή ζπλεδέζε πξνθαλώο εμ αηηίαο ελόο άιινπ θαζαξώο ιεηηνπξγηθνύ ιόγνπ: Μέζα ζηελ πεξίνδν ηεο Νεζηείαο εκπίπηεη πάληνηε ε κεγάιε ενξηή ηνπ Επαγγειηζκνύ ηεο Θενηόθνπ. Είλαη ε κόλε κεγάιε ενξηή, πνπ ιόγσ ηνπ πέλζηκνπ ραξαθηήξαο ηεο Σεζζαξαθνζηήο, ζηεξείηαη πξνενξηίσλ θαη κεζεόξησλ. Απηήλ αθξηβώο ηελ έιιεηςε έξρεηαη λα θάιπςε ε ςαικσδία ηνπ Αθάζηζηνπ, ηκεκαηηθώο θαηά ηα απόδεηπλα ησλ Παξαζθεπώλ θαη νιόθιεξνο θαηά ην άββαην ηεο Ε εβδνκάδνο. Σν βξάδπ ηεο Παξαζθεπήο αλήθεη ιεηηνπξγηθνύο ζην άββαην, ήκεξα πνπ καδί κε ηελ Κπξηαθή είλαη νη κόλεο ήκεξεο ησλ εβδνκάδσλ ησλ Νεζηεηώλ, θαηά ηηο νπνίεο επηηξέπεηαη ν ενξηαζκόο ραξκόζπλσλ γεγνλόησλ, θαη ζηηο όπνηεο, θαζώο είδακε, κεηαηίζεληαη νη ενξηέο ηεο εβδνκάδνο. Καζ σξηζκέλα Σππηθά ν Αθάζηζηνο εςάιιεην πέληε ήκεξεο πξν ηεο ενξηήο ηνπ Επαγγειηζκνύ θαη θαη άιια ηνλ όξζξν ηεο εκέξαο ηεο ενξηήο. Ο Αθάζηζηνο ύκλνο είλαη ην θνληάθην ηνπ Επαγγειηζκνύ, ν ύκλνο ηεο ζαξθώζεσο ηνπ Λόγνπ ηνπ Θενύ. Όηαλ ν Αθάζηζηνο ζπλεδέζε κε ηα ηζηνξηθά γεγνλόηα, πνπ αλαθέξακε, ηόηε ζπλεηέζε λέν εηδηθό πξννίκην, γεκάην δνμνινγία θαη ηθεζία, ην ηόζν γλσζηό «Σε ύπεξκάρσ». ηελ ππέξκαρν ζηξαηεγό, ε πόιηο ηεο Θενηόθνπ, πνπ ιπηξώζεθε ράξη ζ απηήλ από ηα δεηλά, αλαγξάθεη ηα ληθεηήξηα θαη παξαθαιεί απηήλ πνπ έρεη ηελ αθαηακάρεηε δύλακη λα ηελ ειεπζεξώλε από ηνπο πνηθίινπο θηλδύλνπο γηα λα ηελ δνμνινγή θξάδνληαο ην: «Χαίρε, νύμφη ανύμφευτε». Ο ύκλνο ςάιιεηαη θαη πάιη ζε ήρν πι. δ. Τὴ ὑπερμάχω στρατηγῶ τὰ νικητήρια, ὡς λυτρωθεῖσα τῶν δεινῶν, εὐχαριστήρια, ἀναγράφω σοὶ ἡ Πόλις σου, Θεοτόκε, ἀλλ' ὦς ἔχουσα τὸ κράτος ἀπροσμάχητον, ἐκ παντοίων μὲ κινδύνων ἐλευθέρωσον ἵνα κράζω σοί, Χαῖρε, Νύμφη ἀνύμφευτε.

7 HOLY COMMUNION The Mystery (sacrament) of the Holy Eucharist (Communion) is the central act in our life as a Church community. Our Lord asked His followers to remember Him by participation in the Eucharist where the transformation of bread and wine into His Body and Blood remains the greatest mystery of the Christian faith. Communion is given at every Divine Liturgy and at the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts (held mid-week during Lent). By partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ we come closer to union with God. During the Divine Liturgy the priest prays with the people for God the Father to send His Holy Spirit and make the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of His Son. The bread and wine are brought by the people to the Liturgy and symbolise our life which is offered to God. In return for the offering of our life God offers us His Son in Holy Communion. Through Communion we are united with God and each other. In this way we become the Body of Christ which is the Church. The common Cup of Holy Communion is what defines our unity as a Church. This emphasis on One Church in Christ is very important to the Orthodox and is in line with the Bible s teaching. In his Epistle to the Ephesians St Paul writes There is one Body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, Who is above all and through all and in all (Eph. 4:4-6) This unity resides in its fullness in the Orthodox Church. ONLY BAPTISED AND CHRISMATED ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS WHO SHARE THIS ONE FAITH AND ARE MEMBERS OF THE ONE BODY ARE PERMITTED TO TAKE HOLY COMMUNION IN THE ORTHO- DOX CHURCH. When we take Communion we are declaring our agreement with the Apostolic Faith of the Orthodox Church. If we take Communion outside the Orthodox Church then we are declaring our agreement with a different faith. ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS THEN ARE NOT PERMITTED TO TAKE COMMUNION OUTSIDE THE OR- THODOX CHURCH because this is a rejection of the Orthodox Faith and denies their membership of the Church. CONFESSION ΔΞΟΜΟΛΟΓΖΗ The sacrament of Confession is a very important part of leading an Orthodox Christian life. Everyone sins and needs someone with special authority to say you are forgiven. Christ new our psychological needs and established the sacrament of confession after the resurrection...peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you. When he has said this; He breathed on them, and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive the sins of any, they are not forgiven (John 20:21-22) During confession, you stand or sit with the Priest somewhere alone together, usually in front of an icon of Christ. The Priest is a witness, not a judge, and is required to keep everything confidential. You confess your sins with repentance, the Priest talks with you and offers advice and encouragement, and then you kneel while he prays for God to forgive your sins. It is important that you confess all sins and also that you find a Priest you feel comfortable with. Before Confession, you need to examine your life and judge it against Christ s teaching. To do this you need to be reading the Bible regularly and living the life of the church. Confession helps us to be accountable in our life and to receive feedback on our progress. On our own it is easy to rationalise sins and fall into great delusions. Frequency of Confession variers from person to person. It is not required before every holy Communion, but should occur regularly at some interval that you and your Pnevmatikos ( Spiritual Father the name given to the priest you confess to) are in agreement with. ======================================================================================= Τη Δεςηέπα 26η Μαπηίος ὁ ἐξ Ἁγίος Ὄποςρ Ἐξομολόγορ π. Δαμαζκηνόρ θά εὑπίζκεηαι εἰρ ηόν Ἱεπόν μαρ Ναόν διά ηό Μςζηήπιον ηῆρ Ἱεπᾶρ Ἐξομολογήζεωρ ἀπό π.μ. ἕωρ 6.00 μ.μ. On Monday the 26th of March, The Agioritikos Confessor Monk Father Damaskinos will Appear at our Church for the sacrament of Confession from 11:00am 6:00pm

8 SCRIPTURE READINGS AND MUSICAL TONES FOR SUNDAYS AND FEAST DAYS IN FEBRUARY DATE EPISTLE GOSPEL TONE MATINS GOSPEL 4 Heb John th 11 Heb :3 Mark 2: th 18 Heb. 4:14-5:6 Mark 8:34-9:1 7 7th 25 Heb. 2:11-18 Luke 1: th 1 Heb Mark th GUIDE TO FASTING FOR GREAT LENT Fasting is an integral and essential part of Orthodox Christian life. During Great Lent (27 th Feb. 15 April this year) we abstain from meat, dairy products, eggs, fish, wine and oil from Mondays to Fridays. Wine and oil are permitted on weekends (with the exception of Holy Saturday) because the Resurrection of Christ is celebrated on these days. On the Feast of the Annunciation (25 th March) and on Palm Sunday (8 th April this year) fish is permitted to be eaten in celebration of these great occasions. Please consult your spiritual father or a priest to help you apply these guidelines to your own spiritual struggle and situation. INFORMATION FOR MNIMOSINA (MEMORIAL CHURCH SERVICE) For information and details about ordering kollyva for the mnimosino service please call the GOC Administration on ph WE RE ON FACEBOOK LIKE OUR PAGE AT ST GEORGE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH, BRISBANE JOIN US AND RECEIVE REGULAR UPDATES ON CHURCH EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES ============================================================================================ Greek Orthodox Community of St George, Brisbane PO BOX 3620, South Brisbane, QLD 4101 Donation Form I would like to make a financial donation to: Please tick one of the following boxes. The Greek Welfare Gift Fund St George School Building Fund Estia Disability Group Qld Gift Fund Enclosed is my Cheque for the amount of $. Please debit my Credit Card: (Please tick) Visa MasterCard Amex Name on Card: Signature: Exp. Date: / Address: Post Code: Any donations over $2 are tax deductible THANKING YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT