DORMITION OF THE VIRGIN MARY

Transcript

1 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 PUBLICATION DORMITION OF THE VIRGIN MARY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH 29 Central St., Somerville, MA, Tel.( 617) Fax (617) Web : office@dormitionchurch.org The Arrival of «AXION ESTIN» With the Grace of God, we were able to fulfill our vision of bringing to our Church the Holy Icon of Axion Estin. From now on, this spiritual treasure will be a token, to Heaven and earth alike, of our love and veneration of the Most Holy Mother of God. I would like to express my gratitude to his Eminence Metropolitan Methodios, who blessed my request for permission to bring a copy of the Holy Icon to the Dormition parish. In his Archpastoral status has blessed and enthroned it in the custom made, hand-crafted icon stand, a true ornament of our Church. Above all, I want to thank all of you who embraced this project with great zeal from the beginning, offering whatever each one of you could afford, be it money or sympathy. You, the people of New England, were the ones who brought the icon here. I must express my indebtedness to the Parish Council President, Vangelis Kechris, who worked diligently, exhibiting great zeal and dedication to our task. He successfully managed the intricate details of importing the icon and related items to the USA through Customs. Also, I want to thank all the members of the Parish Council who spent countless hours with us, offering their valuable advice, discussing the details of this important project and supporting it unanimously. Likewise, I thank the 100th Anniversary Committee, our Philoptochos, GOYA and all those who have offered to organize and assist during our Great Feast on the 23d and 24th of November. Rest assured that the Most Holy Mother of God, who accepts as a spiritual fragrance the zeal of our community and its people, will be openly exhibiting from now on her love and protection, not only for the parishioners of Somerville but for all the people of New England. I pray that she will be interceding to her Son, to save us from every calamity and affliction generated by the evil one. May the Holy Theotokos protect you and all the people on earth. Protopresbyter, Fr. Konstantinos Manetas

2 Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church 29 Central Street Somerville, MA Phone: (617) Fax: (617) PARISH PRIEST PROTOPRESBYTER REV. KONSTANTINOS MANETAS 2013 Parish Council President: Evangelos D. Kechris 1st Vice President: 2nd Vice President: Treasurer: Petros Tsourianis Diane Karavitis Anastasios Dres 100th Anniversary Chairperson Chanter Choir Director Organist Philoptochos Society Golden Club 2013 Parish Ministry Team Evelyn Galatis Gregory Evangelis Evelyn Czaja VACANT POSITION Irene Petsalis Mary Limberakis Church School Eleni Raschi Assistant Treasurer: Themis Caulfield Educational Committee Chairperson Diane Karavitis Church Office Monday Friday 9 a.m. 1 p.m. Mondays & Wednesdays 4 p.m. 6 p.m. If you would like to receive your Koinotis by instead of U.S. Postal Mail, please contact the church office Acting Secretary: Council Members: Nick Boulas Guy Bressette Phillip Dres Andy Galbadis Paul Loutraris Theodore Menounos Nick Sfikas Nikos Sfikas Kostas Tomadakis Carol Salvo Greek School Director PTO JOY/HOPE Building Committee Hall Rentals Elizabeth Hatzis John Stefanous/ Michael Ververis Georgia Ververis/ Trisha Stephanou Nick Boulas Teddy Menounos Koinotis Editor-in-chief Diane Karavitis Koinotis Greek Translator Evangelos Kechris

3 Η άφιξη του «ΑΞΙΟΝ ΕΣΤΙΝ» Με τη Χάρη του Θεού, εκπληρώθηκε το όραμά μας να φέρουμε στην Εκκλησία μας, την Αγία Εικόνα του Άξιον Εστίν. Από τώρα και στο εξής, αυτός ο πνευματικός θησαυρός θα αποτελεί ένα αιώνιο σύμβολο, τόσο στον ουρανό όσο και στη γη, της αγάπης και της λατρείας μας προς την Υπεραγία Θεοτόκο. Θα ήθελα να εκφράσω την ευγνωμοσύνη μου προς τον Σεβασμιώτατο Μητροπολίτη μας κ.κ. Μεθόδιο, ο οποίος συγκατατέθηκε στο αίτημά μου για να φέρουμε ένα αντίγραφο της Ιεράς Εικόνος στην ενορία της Κοιμήσεως. Είναι αυτός που με την Αρχιερατική του ιδιότητα θα την ευλογήσει και θα την ενθρονίσει στο χειροποίητο, Αγιορείτικου ρυθμού προσκυνητάρι, πραγματικό στολίδι της Εκκλησίας μας. Πάνω απ 'όλα, θέλω να ευχαριστήσω όλους εσάς που αγκαλιάσατε αυτό το έργο με μεγάλο ζήλο από την αρχή, προσφέροντας ό, τι ο καθένας θα μπορούσε να αντέξει, είτε επρόκειτο για χρήματα ή γιά την αγάπη του. Εσείς, οι πιστοί άνθρωποι της Νέας Αγγλίας, είσαστε αυτοί που συνεργήσατε να έρθει η εικόνα εδώ. Αισθάνομαι υποχρεωμένος ακόμη να εκφράσω την ευγνωμοσύνη μου στον Πρόεδρο του Ενοριακού Συμβουλίου, Βαγγέλη Κεχρή, ο οποίος εργάστηκε επιμελώς, επιδεικνύοντας αγάπη, μεγάλο ζήλο και αφοσίωση στο έργο μας. Αντιμετώπισε με επιτυχία τις περίπλοκες λεπτομέρειες της εισαγωγής της εικόνας και των συναφών ειδών στις ΗΠΑ μέσω του τελωνείου. Επίσης, θέλω να ευχαριστήσω όλα τα μέλη του Ενοριακού Συμβουλίου που πέρασαν αμέτρητες ώρες μαζί μας, προσφέροντας τις πολύτιμες συμβουλές τους, συζητώντας τις λεπτομέρειες του σημαντικού αυτού έργου και υποστηρίζοντας το ομόφωνα. Ακόμη ευχαριστώ την Επιτροπή γιά τον Εορτασμό των 100 Χρόνων, την Φιλόπτωχο, την GOYA και όσους καλούνται να φέρουν σε πέρας το Μεγάλο Πανηγύρι στις 23 και 24 Νοεμβρίου. Να είστε βέβαιοι ότι η Παναγία Μητέρα του Θεού, η οποία δέχεται σαν πνευματικό άρωμα τον ζήλο της κοινότητας μας και του λαού μας, θα επιδεικνύει ξεκάθαρα από εδώ και στο εξής την αγάπη και προστασία της, όχι μόνο για τους ενορίτες του Somerville, αλλά για όλους τους ανθρώπους στην Νέα Αγγλία. Προσεύχομαι να μεσιτεύει στον Υιό της, να μας σώζει από κάθε συμφορά και θλίψη που προέρχεται από τον πονηρό. Μακάρι η Αγία Θεοτόκος να προστατεύει εσάς και τον κόσμο ολόκληρο Πρωτοπρεσβύτερος, π. Κωνσταντίνος Μανέτας

4 A NOTE FROM OUR PARISH COUNCIL PRESIDENT My dearest parishioners, This is a historic time for our church and our community. We are preparing to welcome the Axion Estin Icon to our church for our parishioners, our community and the Orthodox faith. By the time you receive this Koinotis, the icon will already be here. Your great contributions and support were paramount for the realization of this vision. I would like to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart and on behalf of the community. I would also like to thank the 100 th Anniversary Committee, which is working intensively for the ceremonies of the Axion Estin Icon and Nick Boulas, the chair person of the House Ministry for his contributions preparing the area, which will host the icon. I, personally and our community are grateful to Fr. Konstantinos, presbytera Anna and their daughter Eleni. Father Konstantinos had the vision to bring the Axion Estin Icon to our church. He, personally did most of the fundraising and worked tireless for the purchase of the icon and all the complementary items. He supervised every step of the icon s creation and plating, making sure that all were the most appropriate for the most Holy Theotokos and the house of God. Thank you all very much. We are very blessed to have you Father and your wonderful family. We had a fabulous, fantastic, outstanding festival this year. We achieved record sales and profits. Years of hard work are paying off. Our festival grounds were filled with families and individuals enjoying our delicious foods, gyro and pastries and our service. They all seemed to have a great time. Thank you all for your hard work, dedication and support not only during the festival, but also the entire year. I would like to congratulate the chair persons, Andy Galbadis, Diane Karavitis, and Teddy Menounos, for an outstanding job. Thank you to the philoptochos ladies and their president, Irene Petsalis, for preparing the food for the festival and all those who served in the food line. One of the most difficult and demanding areas is timely food preparation during the festival. I would like to thank all our chefs, both in the kitchen and out on the grill, including Danny Kourafalos, Jimmy Boulas, Nikita Menounos, Stelio Sfikas and Tasi Sparages who were cooking the tasty food for our festival for three whole days. Both the kitchen and the grill did an outstanding job cooking the food timely and efficiently. Thank you, Tasi, for successfully managing the health inspection during our festival and Petro and Peter for your help. The philoptochos ladies did a fabulous job preparing, baking, and serving the pastries. Thank you, ladies, for an excellent job. I would like to thank all the members of the gyros team and especially Kosta Tomadakis for another outstanding performance this year. Their job is one of the most intense of the festival. The bar also had another record year, bravo to all those helping in the bar and captain Guy. Loukoumades had another great year. Thank you all, and especially the Tivinis families who also have donated all the ingredients for the loυkoumades. Goya kids did a fantastic job with kids activities, and they were profitable selling also marmalades that they made under the supervision of Presbytera Anna. Thank you All. Thank you to PTO, the altar boys and all those who helped in the raffle. Thank you to our Greek school director, Mrs. Haτzis, and teacher Nikoleta, for promoting the Greek School during the festival. Thank you to our treasurers, Taso and Cookie, and Diane for handling all the money during the festival. Thank you Carol, and the team running the food line registers. Thank you to Niko for helping in the Kitchen and Phill, Nick and Nick for your help in other areas. Thank you to Paul for taking every year a week of vacation to run the festival preparation. A special thanks to the entire parish council for their help, support, dedication, and hard work not only during the festival but for the entire year. We had two fundraising events in the last two months, the Ano Syros group performance on October 11 th, and the Basile Comedy night on November 9 th. Even though these events weren t financially very profitable, everyone who attended had a great time. We need to focus more on our ministries and make them more active and more effective. Please participate! Please join at least one ministry and select the one you believe you are capable of contributing the most based on your skills and talents. Please be involved and help us find better solutions to our problems. If you have an idea of creating a new ministry, please talk to either Father or me. The ministries will meet regularly, and their schedule will be posted in the Sunday bulletin. We are going to create a seven member Strategic Planning Ministry which will consist of the Priest, the President, 1 or 2 Parish Council members, 1 or 2 parishioners and 1 or 2 individuals outside our Church. The desirable characteristics of a good candidate will be: desire and commitment to serve the community, parish administration knowledge, understanding of parish dynamics, organizational skills and familiarity with planning and forecasting. This ministry will consist of two subministries, the Parish Development Ministry which will deal with stewardship, youth ministries and outreach and others and the Capital Development Ministry, which will deal with building improvements, endowment creations, and other financial issues. If you have any interest, please contact either father or me. Ι wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving, a Merry Christmas and enjoyable Holidays for you and your Families. God bless you all, Vangelis Kechris Parish Council President

5 ΚΑΙ ΣΤΑ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ... Αγαπητοί ενορίτες μου, Αυτή είναι μια ιστορική στιγμή για την Εκκλησία μας και την κοινότητa μας. Ετοιμαζόμαστε να υποδεχθούμε τήν θαυματουργή εικόνα του Άξιον Εστίν στην εκκλησία μας για τους ενορίτες μας, την κοινότητά μας, και την ορθόδοξη πίστη μας. Οταν θα λάβετε αυτό το τευχος όμως, η εικόνα θα είναι ήδη εδώ. Η μεγάλη συμβολή και υποστήριξή σας ήταν υψίστης σημασίας για την υλοποίηση αυτού του οράματος. Θα ήθελα να σας ευχαριστήσω όλους από τα βάθη της καρδιάς μου και εκ μέρους της κοινότητας μας.θα ήθελα επίσης να ευχαριστήσω την Επιτροπή Εορτασμού της 100ης επετείου η οποία εργάζεται εντατικά για τις τελετές της υποδοχής της Εικονας του Άξιον Εστίν και τον Nίκο Μπουλάς τον πρόεδρο της Διακονίας Κτιρίων για τη συμβολή του,στην προετοιμασία τον χώρου που θα φιλοξενήσει την εικόνα. Εγώ προσωπικά και η κοινότητά μας είμαστε ευγνώμων προς τον Πατερα Κωνσταντίνο, την Πρεσβυτέρα Άννα και την κόρη τους Ελένη. Ο Πατέρας Κωνσταντίνος είχε το όραμα να φέρει την εικόνα του Άξιον Εστίν στην εκκλησία μας. Έκανε προσωπικά το μεγαλύτερο μέρος της συλλογής κεφαλαίων. Εργάστηκε ακούραστα οχι μονο για την αγορά της εικόνας αλλα και όλων των άλλων συμπληρωματικών στοιχείων. Επέβλεψε κάθε βήμα της δημιουργίας και της επένδυσης της εικόνας, Φρόντισε ότι όλα ήταν τα πλέον κατάλληλα για την Υπεραγία Θεοτόκο και το Σπίτι του Θεού. Σας ευχαριστώ όλους σας πάρα πολύ. Είμαστε πολύ ευλογημένοι που σας έχουμε μαζι μας Πατέρα Κωνσταντίνε και την υπέροχη οικογένεια σας. Είχαμε ενα υπέροχο, φανταστικο και εξαιρετικό φεστιβάλ φέτος. Πετύχαμε ρεκόρ πωλήσεων και κερδών. Χρόνια σκληρής δουλειάς αποδίδουν καρπούς. Οι χώροι του φεστιβάλ μας γέμισαν με οικογένειες και άτομα που απόλαυσαν τα νόστιμα φαγητά μας, τον γυρο και γλυκά που τοσο φιλοξενα τους σερβίραμε. Όλοι φαίνονταν να έχουν μεγάλο κεφι και καλη διασκεδαση. Σας ευχαριστώ όλους για τη σκληρή δουλειά, αφοσίωση και την υποστήριξη σας, όχι μόνο κατά τη διάρκεια του φεστιβάλ, αλλά και για ολόκληρο το έτος. Θα ήθελα να συγχαρώ τους συνπροέδρους του Φεστιβαλ, Aνδρεα Γαλβαδη, Δήμητρα Καραβίτη, και Θεοδωρο Μενούνο, για μια εξαιρετική δουλειά. Ευχαριστώ τις κυρίες της Φιλοπτώχου και την Πρόεδρό τους, Ειρήνη Πετσάλης, για την προετοιμασία την τροφίμων για το φεστιβάλ και όλους εκείνους που υπηρέτησαν στο σερβίρισμα των φαγητών. Μια από τις πιο δύσκολες και απαιτητικές περιοχές είναι η έγκαιρη προετοιμασία των τροφίμων κατά τη διάρκεια του φεστιβάλ. Θα ήθελα να ευχαριστήσω όλους τους μαγείρους μας, τόσο στην κουζίνα οσο και έξω στη σχάρα, και ιδιαίτερα τον Διονύσιο Kouραφαλο, Δημήτρη Μπούλα, Nικήτα Μενούνο, Στέλιο Σφήκα και Τάσι Σπαράγγη. Τρεις ολοκληρες ημέρες μαγείρευαν τα νόστιμα φαγητά για το φεστιβάλ μας. Η κουζίνα και η ψησταριά έκαναν εξαιρετική δουλειά, μαγειρευοντας τα φαγητά εγκαιρα και αποτελεσματικά. Ευχαριστώ τον Τάσι, για την επιτυχή διαχείριση του υγειονομικου ελέγχου κατά τη διάρκεια του φεστιβάλ μας και τον Πέτρο και τον Παναγιώτη για τη βοήθειά τους σε αυτό. Οι κυρίες της Φιλοπτώχου έκανε μια υπέροχη δουλειά με την προετοιμασία, το ψήσιμο, και την πωληση των γλυκών. Σας ευχαριστώ, κυρίες, για την εξαιρετική σας δουλειά. Θα ήθελα να ευχαριστήσω όλα τα μέλη της ομάδας του γύρου και ιδιαίτερα τον Κώστα Τωμαδάκη για άλλη μια εξαιρετική απόδοση κατά το τρέχον έτος. Η δουλειά τους είναι μια από τις πιο έντονες του φεστιβάλ. Το μπαρ είχε άλλο ένα έτος ρεκόρ, μπράβο σε όλους εκείνους που βοηθούν στο μπαρ και στον Guy ως αρχηγό. Οι λουκουμάδες είχαν άλλη μια εξαιρετική χρονιά. Σας ευχαριστώ όλους, και ιδιαίτερα τις οικογένειες Tiβηνή που δώρισαν επίσης όλα τα υλικά για τις λουκουμάδες. Τα παιδιά του GOYA έκαναν φανταστική δουλειά με τις δραστηριότητες των παιδιών, και ειχαν κερδοφόρες πωλήσεις απο μαρμελάδες, που ειχαν γίνει υπό την εποπτεία της Πρεσβυτέρας Άννας. Ενα ευχαριστώ στα αγόρια του ιερου και όλους εκείνους που βοήθησαν στην λαχειοφορο αγορα. Ευχαριστώ την διευθυντρια του ελληνικού μας σχολείου, κ. Χατζή και την δασκαλα Νικολέτα, για την προώθηση του Ελληνικού Σχολείου κατά τη διάρκεια του φεστιβάλ. Ευχαριστούμε τους ταμίες, Τάσο και Cookie και την Δήμητρα, για το χειρισμό όλων των χρημάτων κατά τη διάρκεια του φεστιβάλ. Ενα ευχαριστώ στην Carol και την ομαδα του ταμειου. Ευχαριστω τον Νικο για την βοηθεια σου στην κουζινα και τον Phill, Nick and Nick για την βοηθεια σας. Eυχαριστω τον Paul που κάθε χρονο παιρνει μια εβδομάδα διακοπές για να επιβλεψει την προετοιμασία του φεστιβάλ. Ένα ιδιαίτερο ευχαριστώ σε ολόκληρο το ενοριακό συμβούλιο για τη βοήθειά του, την υποστήριξη, την αφοσίωση και τη σκληρή δουλειά, όχι μόνο κατά τη διάρκεια του φεστιβάλ, αλλά και για ολόκληρο το έτος. Είχαμε δύο εκδηλώσεις εράνου τους τελευταίους δύο μήνες, την ομάδα Άνω Σύρος στις 11 Οκτωβρίου, και την βραδιά κωμωδίας με τον Βασιλη στις 9 Νοεμβρίου. Αν και οικονομικά αυτές οι εκδηλώσεις δεν ήταν ιδιαίτερα κερδοφόρες, όλοι όσοι συμμετείχαν πέρασαν παρα πολυ ωραία. Πρέπει να συγκεντρωθούμε περισσότερο στις διακονίες μας και να τις κάνουμε πιο ενεργές και πιο αποτελεσματικές. Σας παρακαλώ συμμετάσχετε. Ενταχθειτε σε τουλάχιστον μια διακονια και να επιλέξετε αυτήν που πιστεύετε ότι είστε σε θέση να συμβάλλετε περισσότερο με βάση τις ικανότητες και το ταλέντο σας. Παρακαλούμε να συμμετάσχετε και να μας βοηθήσει να βρούμε καλύτερες λύσεις στα προβλήματά μας. Εάν έχετε μια ιδέα για τη δημιουργία μιάς νέας διακονίας, παρακαλούμε να μιλήσετε είτε στον πατέρα Κωνσταντινο ή μαζί μου. Οι Διακονίες θα συνεδριάζουν τακτικά, και το πρόγραμμά τους θα αναρτηθεί στο δελτίο της Κυριακής. Θα δημιουργήσουμε μια επταμελή ομάδα Διακονιας Στρατηγικού Σχεδιασμού η οποία θα αποτελείται από τον Ιερέα, τον Προέδρον, 1 ή 2 μέλη του Συμβουλίου, 1 ή 2 ενορίτες και 1 ή 2 άτομα εκτός της Εκκλησίας μας. Τα επιθυμητά χαρακτηριστικά ενός καλού υποψηφίου θα είναι: Η επιθυμία και η δέσμευση για την υπηρέτηση της κοινότητας, Διοίκητικές γνώσεις, κατανόηση της δυναμικότητας της ενορίας, οργανωτικές ικανότητες και εξοικείωση με τον σχεδιασμό και την πρόβλεψη. Αυτή η διακονια θα αποτελείται από δύο επιμέρους διακονίες, την διακονία Ανάπτυξης της Ενορίας η οποία θα ασχοληθεί με την επιστασία, τη διακονια νεολαίας και προβολής κ.λ.π., καθώς και την Διακονια Διαχηρισμου Κεφαλαιων, η οποία θα ασχοληθεί με βελτιώσεις στα κτίρια, και άλλα οικονομικά θέματα. Αν έχετε οποιοδήποτε ενδιαφέρον, παρακαλούμε επικοινωνήστε είτε με τον πατέρα Κωνσταντίνο είτε με μένα. Eυχωμαι σε όλους σας Καλη Ημερα των Ευχαριστιων, Καλά Χριστούγεννα και απολαυστικές διακοπές για εσάς και τις οικογένειές σας. Βαγγέλης Κεχρής Πρόεδρος Ενορίακου Συμβουλίου

6 Dearly beloved Parishioners of the Dormition Church Family, I gratefully thank our good Lord and His All-Holy Mother, the Theotokos, for having been assigned by his Eminence Metropolitan Methodios in Somerville. Among a dedicated and faithful group of people who are the carriers of our Faith and our Hellenic Heritage. Supported by a very able Parish Council, capably led by Vangelis Kechris. My desire now is to communicate with you and share the current status of some of our ministries and my thoughts about our future. PASTORAL MINISTRY We worship the Lord by having a Divine Liturgy three times a week. Once a month we have a night Liturgy, which is a Vigil. We also offer the Paraklesis Service every week. After each Paraklesis follows a spiritual teaching in Greek. Also we offer «Archondariki» (bible study), in English, every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month. The Axion Estin Icon will offer us a tremendous spiritual uplifting and it will evolve into a focal point of our faith. It will become a spiritual Lighthouse for all of New England. Reach-out to those in need is done in collaboration with the Philoptochos, who has generously supported the needy through the distribution of food cards, individual money giving and cooking for a local food bank once a month. The Philoptochos ladies, under the guidance of their President Irene Petsalis and former President Afroditi Tsourianis, are really deserving a standing ovation for all they offer and sacrifice of time, talent and treasure. I consider the Philoptochos role the most vital element of the Church s response to those in need. BUILDING PRESERVATION MINISTRY I am glad to report that this year the Church is protected by a new alarm system, which also makes it safer for the people who work in it late at night. Again, the Chapel of Aghia Aikaterina has finally gotten a very decent set of wood cabinetry and sink, next to the Holy Altar. The whole Chapel Altar area has now become appropriate for offering thanks to the Lord for all the gifts He keeps bestowing upon us. The Church buildings are aging and they need more and more maintenance, therefore the job of the building preservation ministry is so much important. Its leader Nick Boulas, and all its members, work very hard in order to fix the difficult problems that keep emerging. YOUTH MINISTRY You know the value I hold for your children. They are our future, our hope, without them this Parish will eclipse in the future. We must assure ourselves that our Community will have a future as well as a historical past. I strive hard to make it known to all involved that we must make our Church child-friendly. In the ministering of our Youth participate some very competent and dedicated members of our Parish, the youth Director, Eleni Raschi, the Education ministry members, led by Diane Karavitis and the very active PTO Ministry co-leaders Mike Ververis and John Stefanou. GOYA We have implemented the GOARCH model of the four circles. We had invited the Metropolis Camp Co- Director Chryssanthi Tiggas to assist us with her expertise and guide our steps into this transition. The new GOYA model has a deep educational focus to teach the youth not only about their Orthodox faith, but how to use it to guide them in their daily decisions. Our youth is learning about worship (leitourgia), witness (martyria), service (diakonia) and fellowship (koinonia) so that they will be able to develop their lives, faith and morals. They are led by GOYA advisers, G. Papayannis, P. Menounos and Zain Fanek. SUNDAY SCHOOL We started the new ecclesiastical year with a more complete curriculum for the 2nd and 3d grades, added books for each class, and added the teaching of basic Byzantine chanting to all levels. To this purpose we were blessed to be assisted by two very competent seminarians, Constantine Trumpower and Mike Oldegaard. GREEK SCHOOL I am very optimistic about the school s future, since we now have 40% more children than last year, but above all we have a very dedicated, energetic and devout school principal, Mrs. Elizabeth Hatzis, along with Greek language teachers Anna Konstantinoglou and Nikoletta Hatzis. Our school classrooms, thanks to the extensive work of renovation that was done last year, are the most beautiful environment where young children can grow in spirit. The role of Greek school is not only to teach the language of the forefathers, but to pass on the civilization and the Greek Spirit of three thousand years. SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM Under this Program our Parish awarded four $1000 scholarships to our deserving youth to aid them in pursuing higher education. Also this past summer, the church subsidized ten children for tuition expenses with $400 each, towards participation in the Metropolis Summer Camp in NH. METROPOLIS SUMMER CAMP Our Parish hosted the very successful Metropolis Summer Bible Camp for children, which is another step forward into our participation in the general Metropolis Ministries. CHILD PLAY-ROOM A few months ago we created an amusement room a play-room, where our youngsters were gathering while their parents were occupied with other important matter.

7 FR. KONSTANTINOS ADDRESS (CONT. FROM PAGE 6) BYZANTINE CHOIR MINISTRY I am happy to say that under the guidance of Director, Evelyn Czaja, our beautiful choir is mastering some new hymnology, which is of a more traditional orthodox origin. Our Choir provides an opportunity for everyone to participate in the liturgical life of the church. It is a ministry of service and glorification and you are encouraged to make your contribution to this important effort by joining in. Needless to say, that the most difficult part of our Sunday Liturgies, the Orthros hymnology, is ably and expertly handled by our Byzantine chanter Gregory Evangelis. ADULT FELLOSHIP MINISTRY- THE GOLDEN CLUB We are grateful to Mary Limberakis, Themis Caulfield, Vassiliki Efstathopoulos and the other Golden Club ladies, for the efforts they continue to exert in providing the adults of our Church with activities and ongoing programs, which enhance brotherhood and a sense of communion of being together. DISCUSSION Now, I want to further elaborate unto certain issues which I think are extremely important and which I want to share with you in a spirit of brotherhood and love. We must sit down and think about our role as a parish and about our future in the world. We must define who we want to be, Whom we want to imitate and reach. A Parish which worships our Lord Jesus Christ, should emulate on earth what He preached: the Kingdom of Heaven. When its members are unified then this parish can truly engage in Christian works, offering love and support to anyone who is in need. It is then that the vision of every parish comes true, which is to emulate the Kingdom of God, and become a culture overflowing with joy, peace and love, increasing in the Christian faith through the teachings of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. If we are the body and presence of Christ in the World then what is the Church s mission our Mission- in the world? Necessarily, it is the continuation of our Lord s ministry: Salvation, -ours and other peoples -. This mission statement of the Church is non negotiable and holds true for every parish in the world. If this mission statement is non-negotiable, then in a Parish there is: *No room for personal opinions *No room for activities distracting us from Christ Ministry of Salvation *An understanding of our role as Ministers and not as lay leaders (ministries -diakonies and not committees) In this salvation context then, the Parish Leadership takes on another role. The Parish Council with its faithful and hard working members changes in the way it functions, and becomes: *More productive *Less tiresome to its members *It attracts and engages many more parishioners in the ministry of the Lord The Archdiocese urges all Greek Orthodox Parishes to create a Ministry based Organization (MBO). In such a model a Parish is organized around its ministries. In a Ministry Based Organization, all ministries, programs and activities of the Parish are: *Delivered by the individual ministries *They are managed and coordinated by a partnership of the Priest, the Parish Council and a Council of Ministries (ministry leaders) *Each Ministry makes its own Strategic Planning The role of the Church community is to facilitate in an organized fashion the service to others. The Parish Council members role becomes not to micromanage the ministries, but rather to make sure that the ministries have all they need to function properly and effectively. The ministry leaders should be carefully selected from the laity for their strength and abilities and given authority and responsibility over a particular ministry. By adopting this new organizational model, it will be easier in the future for our Parish to: *Spiritually advance in the True Faith *Support its philanthropic mission which is to feed our Lord s brethren *Teach through example our fellow Americans the Orthodox Way to salvation *Pass on to the next generations the traditions of our rich Greek faith, heritage and culture *Renovate, preserve and hopefully expand its facilities Beloved, I call upon you to consider my thoughts. I call upon you to endorse the recommendations of the Archdiocese and to put them into practice. I call upon you to reflect upon our role as Christians who love our Lord Jesus Christ and want to live their lives according to His teachings. As wise people who are looking after their Salvation. I feel confident that you will come and join forces with us in transforming our Parish to an icon of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. With love in Christ, Fr. Konstantinos Manetas

8 Donations For Axion Estin Icon Without the donations of our beloved Parishioners, Family & Friends, it would not have been made possible to bring this miraculous icon into our Dormition Church. All donations received from August 1, 2013, through October 15, 2013 are reflected in this Koinotis. All other donations will be included in the next issue. Thank You! $20,000 William Galatis $ 8,000 James & Ifigenia Boulogiane $ 2,860 Memorial Donations Kalliope Sarmatzis \$ 2,500 Diane Karavitis $ 2,140 Donations In Memory of Phillip Lambrukos $ 2,000 Christos & Theodora Karavitis Evangelos & Marlene Kechris & Family $ 1,817 Charleton Trumpower $ 1,000 Anonymous Gregory & Patricia Evangelis Eleni Manetas Dionysios & Jeanette Kourafalos Fr. Konstantinos & Presvytera Anna Manetas Gardens of Gethsemane George Papayannis Anargyros & Margaret Sparages St. Catherine s Philoptochos Society Peter & Aphrodite Tsourianis Anastasios Tzanoudakis $ 723 Anastasia Tsolias $ 500 Nick & Helen Boulas Stelios & Dora Sfikas Konstantinos & Acrivi Vlahakis $ 350 Effie Mellos $ 300 Anastasios & Regina Dres & Family Toula Dres Stamatis & Constandina Eliadis Arthur & Eleni Gangas Marianthe Hamizithis Hatzis Electric Diane Koustenis Nickitas & Lambrini Menounos Nicholas & Kyriaki Tsaparlis $ 250 Harilaos Kourafalos Peter H. & Dawn & Kylie Kourafalos PTO Jack Toulopoulos Pamela Toulopoulos Michael & Georgia Ververis $ 200 James & Mary Boulas Guy & Joanna Bressette Choir Constantinos & Litsa Dardonis Phillipos & Sevasti Dres Andreas & Anna Galbadis Vasiliki Giannakopoulos Athanasios & Katina Maloutas Dorothea Liakou Dora Orphanos George Sfikas & Family Simon Simou John & Fotini Tivinis John & Evangelia Toufas $ 150 Anastasia Bonos Emmanuel & Irini Kalamaris Mary Paskos $ 100 Anonymous Alex & Katina Biliardis Antonios Biliardis Anastasia Bonos Anthoula Dragoumanos Lilian Gogos Maria Grigoriadis Penelope Karageorge Theodore & Pauline Karavakis Aspasia Kissas Christine Koustenis Irene Koustomiris Evangelia Manjoros Costas & Anna Moraitis Christos & Soultana Papavassiliou Evangelia Patsios Sevastos & Despina Petsalis Irene Petsalis Christos Poutahidis Robert & Carol Salvo & Family Aristidis Simopoulos Nick Sinodinos Themis & Irene Splagounias Mercina Stefanou George Tsardounis The following donors gave donations ranging from $1 to $99 Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous Stamatina Bales James & Maria Binieris Themis Caulfield Lui Sim Sarah Chiu Angeliki Eliadis Alexander & Janet Kamilaris Sophia Kemaris Stavroula Koustenis Lemonia Litopoulos Maria Prasinakis Pavlos Protopapas Andrew Rapsomanikis Isithoros & Anthoula Rozakis Richard & Sue Silva John & Patricia Stephanou Peter Vezeridis Maria, Eleni, Chrissoula Vrotsos Thank You! Thank You!