Come to Church for Healing Ελάτε στην Εκκλησία γιά Θεραπεία

Transcript

1 Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Churc h of Washington, DC 13th Sunday of Matthew August 30, 2015 Come to Church for Healing Ελάτε στην Εκκλησία γιά Θεραπεία The Holy Mysterion of Anointing with Oil will be administered Wednesday, September 2nd, 2015 at 6:00pm. Το Μυστήριο του Αγίου Ευχελαίου θα γίνει την Τετάρτη, 2 Σεπτεμβρίου στις 6:00μμ

2 THE MISSION OF THE STS. CONSTANTINE & HELEN GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF WASHINGTON DC in Silver Spring, Maryland is to proclaim the Gospel of Christ, to teach and spread the Orthodox Christian faith, to energize, cultivate and guide the life of the Church according to the Orthodox Christian faith and Sacred Tradition. The Church sanctifies the faithful through the Divine Worship, especially the Holy Eucharist and other Sacraments, building the spiritual and ethical life of the faithful in accordance with the Holy Scriptures, Sacred Tradition, the doctrines and canons of the Ecumenical and local Synods, the canons of the Holy Apostles and Fathers of the Church and of all other Synods recognized by the Orthodox Church, as interpreted by the Great Church of Christ in Constantinople. The Church serves as a beacon, carrier and witness of the message of Christ to all persons, through Divine Worship, preaching, teaching and living the Orthodox Christian faith. 2

3 YMNOI THΣ ΗΜΕΡΑΣ Ἀπολυτίκιον Ἀναστάσιμον /Ἠχος δʹ Τὸ φαιδρὸν τῆς Ἀναστάσεως κήρυγμα, ἐκ τοῦ Ἀγγέλου μαθοῦσαι αἱ τοῦ Κυρίου Μαθήτριαι, καὶ τὴν προγονικὴν ἀπόφασιν ἀπορρίψασαι, τοῖς Ἀποστόλοις καυχώμεναι ἔλεγον Ἐσκύλευται ὁ θάνατος, ἠγέρθη Χριστὸς ὁ Θεός, δωρούμενος τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος. Τοῦ Προδρόμου/Ἦχος βʹ Μνήμη Δικαίου μέτ' ἐγκωμίων, σοὶ δὲ ἀρκέσει ἡ μαρτυρία τοῦ Κυρίου Πρόδρομε ἀνεδείχθης γὰρ ὄντως καὶ Προφητῶν σεβασμιώτερος, ὅτι καὶ ἐν ῥείθροις βαπτίσαι κατηξιώθης τὸν κηρυττόμενον. Ὅθεν τῆς ἀληθείας ὑπεραθλήσας, χαίρων εὐηγγελίσω καὶ τοῖς ἐν ᾍδῃ, Θεὸν φανερωθέντα ἐν σαρκί, τὸν αἴροντα τὴν ἁμαρτίαν τοῦ κόσμου, καὶ παρέχοντα ἡμῖν τὸ μέγα ἔλεος Aπολυτίκιον Αγ. Κωνσταντίνου & Ελένης Τοῦ Σταυροῦ σου τὸν τύπον ἐν οὐρανῷ θεασάμενος, καὶ ὡς ὁ Παῦλος τὴν κλήσιν οὐκ ἐξ ἀνθρώπων δεξάμενος, ὁ ἐν βασιλεύσιν, Ἀπόστολός σου Κύριε, Βασιλεύουσαν πόλιν τὴ χειρί σου παρέθετο ἣν περίσωζε διὰ παντὸς ἐν εἰρήνῃ, πρεσβείαις τῆς Θεοτόκου, μόνε Φιλάνθρωπε. Aπολυτίκιον Αγ. Ανδρέα Ὡς τῶν Ἀποστόλων Πρωτόκλητος, καὶ τοῦ Κορυφαίου αὐτάδελφος, τὸν Δεσπότην τῶν ὅλων Ἀνδρέα ἱκέτευε, εἰρήνην τὴ οἰκουμένη δωρήσασθαι, καὶ ταὶς ψυχαὶς ἡ μῶν τὸ μέγα ἔλεος. Κοντάκιον/Ἠχος δʹ Ἰωακεὶμ καὶ Ἄννα ὀνειδισμοῦ ἀτεκνίας, καὶ Ἀδὰμ καὶ Εὔα, ἐκ τῆς φθορᾶς τοῦ θανάτου, ἠλευθερώθησαν, Ἄχραντε, ἐν τῇ ἁγίᾳ γεννήσει σου αὐτὴν ἑορτάζει καὶ ὁ λαός σου, ἐνοχῆς τῶν πταισμάτων, λυτρωθεὶς ἐν τῷ κράζειν σοι Ἡ στεῖρα τίκτει τὴν Θεοτόκον, καὶ τροφὸν τῆς ζωῆς ἡμῶν. 3 HYMNS OF THE DAY Resurrectional Apolytikion/Mode 4 When the women Disciples of the Lord had learned from the Angel the joyful message of the Resurrection and had rejected the ancestral decision, they cried aloud to the Apostles triumphantly: Death has been despoiled, Christ God has risen, granting His great mercy to the world. For the Forerunner/Mode 2 The memory of the just is observed with hymns of praise; for you suffices the testimony of the Lord, O Forerunner. You have proved to be truly more ven'rable than the Prophets, since you were granted to baptize in the river the One whom they proclaimed. Therefore, when for the truth you had contested, rejoicing, to those in Hades you preached the Gospel, that God was manifested in the flesh, and takes away the sin of the world, and grants to us the great mercy. Apolytikion of Sts. Constantine & Helen Having seen the image of Thy Cross in Heaven, and like Paul, having received the call not from men, Thine apostle among kings entrusted the commonwealth to Thy hand, O Lord. Keep us always in peace, by the intercessions of the Theotokos, O only Friend of man. Apolytikion of St. Andrew As first of the Apostles to be called, O Andrew, brother of him (Peter) who was foremost, beseech the Master of all to grant the world peace and our souls great mercy. Kontakion/ Μode 4 Both Joachim and Anna from their sterility's stigma, and Adam and Eve from their mortality's ruin have been set free, O immaculate Maid, by your holy nativity. For this do your people hold celebration, redeemed from the guilt of transgression as they cry to you, "The barren one bears the Theotokos, the nourisher of our Life."

4 Ο ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΟΣ Στα Νεα Ελληνικα Πρὸς Κορινθίους α' 16:13-24 Μενετε άγρυπνοι και προσεκτικοί. Σταθήτε στερεοί και ακλόνητοι εις την πίστιν. Δειχθήτε άνδρες γενναίοι παρέτε δύναμιν και ισχύν. Ολα όσα λέγετε και κάνετε ας γίνωνται με αγάπην. Σας παρακαλώ δε, αδελφοί, και δια το εξής ακόμη γνωρίζετε την οικογένειαν του Στεφανά, ότι είναι οικογένεια που πρώτη αυτή από όλην την Αχαΐαν επίστευσεν στον Χριστόν και έταξαν τον εαυτόν τους εις την υπηρεσίαν των Χριστιανών. Σας παρακαλώ, λοιπόν, να υποτάσσεσθε και σεις εις τέτοιους εκλεκτούς Χριστιανούς και εις καθένα, ο οποίος συνεργεί και κοπιάζει στο έργον του Κυρίου. Χαίρω δε, διότι είναι παρόντες εδώ ο Στεφανάς και ο Φουρτουνάτος και ο Αχαϊκός, οι οποίοι ανεπλήρωσαν εις αρκετόν βαθμόν την στέρησιν της ιδικής σας παρουσίας. Διότι ανέπαυσαν το πνεύμα μου με τας πληροφορίας που μου έφεραν, και πιστεύω ότι θα αναπαύσουν και το ιδικόν σας πνεύμα με την επιστολήν, που θα σας φέρουν. Να αναγνωρίζετε την αξίαν των και να εκτιμάτε τους τοιούτους Χριστιανούς. Σας στέλνουν αδελφικούς χαιρετισμούς αι Εκκλησίαι της Ασίας. Σας χαιρετούν πολύ εν Κυρίω ο Ακύλας και η Πρίσκιλλα μαζή με τους πιστούς, οι οποίοι συναθροίζονται στο σπίτι των. Σας χαιρετούν όλοι οι αδελφοί. Ασπασθήτε ο ένας τον άλλον με το άγιον φίλημα της αγάπης. Οχαιρετισμός αυτός εγράφη με το χέρι εμού, του Παύλου. Εάν κανείς δεν αγαπά με όλην του την ψυχήν και την δύναμιν τον Κυριον Ιησούν, ας είναι χωρισμένος από την Εκκλησίαν και τον Χριστόν. Ο Κυριος θα έλθη και θα τον κρίνη όπως του Η χάρις του Κυρίου Ιησού Χριστού είθε να είναι μαζή σας πάντοτε. Η αγάπη μου, η εν Χριστώ Ιησού, είναι και θα είναι με όλους σας. Αμήν. ΤΗΕ EPISTLE St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 16:13-24 BRETHREN, be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. Now, brethren, you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints; I urge you to be subject to such men and to every fellow worker and laborer. I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicos, because they have made up for your absence; for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such men. The churches of Asia send greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. All the brethren send greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. If any one has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen. 4

5 ΤΟ ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΟΝ Στα Νεα Ελληνικα Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 21:33-42 Ακούστε και άλλην παραβολήν ένας άνθρωπος οικοδεσπότης εφύτευσε αμπέλι και ύψωσε γύρω από αυτό φράκτην και έσκαψε μέσα εις αυτό πατητήρι και δεξαμένην και έκτισε πύργον, δια να μένουν οι εργάται και οι φύλακες ενοικίασε αυτό εις γεωργούς και ανεχώρησε εις άλλην χώραν. Οταν δε επλησίασε ο καιρός του τρυγητού, έστειλε τους δούλους του στους γεωργούς, δια να πάρουν τους καρπούς που εδικαιούτο. Οι δε γεωργοί, μοχθηροί και άπληστοι, συνέλαβαν τους δούλους και άλλον μεν έδειραν, άλλον δε εφόνευσαν, άλλον δε ελιθοβόλησαν. Παλιν ο οικοδεσπότης έστειλε άλλους δούλους περισσοτέρους από τους πρώτους και έκαμαν εις αυτούς τα ίδια. Υστερα δε έστειλε προς αυτούς τον υιόν του λέγων Οι άνθρωποι αυτοί θα εντραπούν τουλάχιστον το παιδί μου. Οι γεωργοί όμως, όταν είδαν τον υιόν, είπαν μεταξύ των Αυτός είναι ο κληρονόμος ελάτε, ας τον φονεύσωμεν και ας καταλάβωμεν οριστικά πλέον ημείς την κληρονομίαν του. Και αφού τον συνέλαβαν, τον έβγαλαν έξω από το αμπέλι και εκεί τον εφόνευσαν.(κακοί γεωργοί, οι πνευματικοί άρχοντες του Ισραήλ, ασεβείς και αχάριστοι προς τον οικοδεσπότην, εξεμεταλλεύοντο την άμπελον, δηλαδή τον Ιουδαϊκόν λαόν, εκακοποιούσαν και εφόνευον τους προφήτας, που έστελλε ο Θεός, και τέλος θα εφόνευαν με σταυρικόν θάνατον τον υιόν του Θεού, τον Χριστόν, έξω από την Ιερουσαλήμ, δια να μείνουν ανενόχλητοι εκμεταλλευταί της αμπέλου του Θεού). Μετά την διήγησιν της παραβολής ηρώτησε τους αρχιερείς και πρεσβυτέρους του λαού ο Χριστός όταν λοιπόν έλθη ο κύριος του αμπελώνος, τι θα κάμη στους γεωργούς εκείνους; Και αυτοί του απήντησαν τόσον κακοί που υπήρξαν, κακώς θα τους εξολοθρεύση και θα εμπιστευθή εις άλλους γεωργούς τον αμπελώνα, οι οποίοι θα δώσουν εις αυτόν τους καρπούς εις τας καταλλήλους εποχάς. Λεγει εις αυτούς ο Ιησούς ουδέποτε λοιπόν εδιαβάσατε εις τας Γραφάς λίθον, δηλαδή εμέ, τον οποίον απέρριψαν ως ακατάλληλον οι κτίσται, σεις οι οικοδόμοι του λαού, έγινε ακρογωνιαίος λίθος εις την πνευματικήν οικοδομήν του Θεού, δηλαδή εις την Εκκλησίαν, η οποία έγινε παρά του Θεού και είναι αξιοθαύμαστη στους οφθαλμούς μας; ΤΗΕ GOSPEL The Gospel of Matthew 21:33-42 The Lord said this parable, "There was a householder who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country. When the season of fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants, to get his fruit; and the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first; and they did the same to them. Afterward he sent his son to them, saying 'They will respect my son.' But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.' And they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" They said to him, "He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons." Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures: 'The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner; this was the Lord's doing, and it was marvelous in our eyes?'" 5

6 Συμβολον Της Πίστεως Πιστεύω εἰς ἕνα Θεόν, Πατέρα, Παντοκράτορα, ποιητὴν οὐρανοῦ καὶ γῆς, ὁρατῶν τε πάντων καὶ ἀοράτων. Καὶ εἰς ἕνα Κύριον Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν, τὸν Υἱὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ τὸν μονογενῆ, τὸν ἐκ τοῦ Πατρὸς γεννηθέντα πρὸ πάντων τῶν αἰώνων φῶς ἐκ φωτός, Θεὸν ἀληθινὸν ἐκ Θεοῦ ἀληθινοῦ, γεννηθέντα οὐ ποιηθέντα, ὁμοούσιον τῷ Πατρί, δι' οὗ τὰ πάντα ἐγένετο. Τὸν δι' ἡμᾶς τοὺς ἀνθρώπους καὶ διὰ τὴν ἡμετέραν σωτηρίαν κατελθόντα ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν καὶ σαρκωθέντα ἐκ Πνεύματος Ἁγίου καὶ Μαρίας τῆς Παρθένου καὶ ἐνανθρωπήσαντα. Σταυρωθέντα τε ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν ἐπὶ Ποντίου Πιλάτου, καὶ παθόντα καὶ ταφέντα. Καὶ ἀναστάντα τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρα κατὰ τὰς Γραφάς. Καὶ ἀνελθόντα εἰς τοὺς οὐρανοὺς καὶ καθεζόμενον ἐκ δεξιῶν τοῦ Πατρός. Καὶ πάλιν ἐρχόμενον μετὰ δόξης κρῖναι ζῶντας καὶ νεκρούς, οὗ τῆς βασιλείας οὐκ ἔσται τέλος. Καὶ εἰς τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ Ἅγιον, τὸ Κύριον, τὸ ζωοποιόν, τὸ ἐκ τοῦ Πατρὸς ἐκπορευόμενον, τὸ σὺν Πατρὶ καὶ Υἱῷ συμπροσκυνούμενον καὶ συνδοξαζόμενον, τὸ λαλῆσαν διὰ τῶν προφητῶν. Εἰς μίαν, Ἁγίαν, Καθολικὴν καὶ Ἀποστολικὴν Ἐκκλησίαν. Ὁμολογῶ ἓν βάπτισμα εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν. Προσδοκῶ ἀνάστασιν νεκρῶν. Καὶ ζωὴν τοῦ μέλλοντος αἰῶνος. Ἀμήν. The Nicene Creed I believe in one God, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages. Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten not created, of one essence with the Father through Whom all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And He rose on the third day, according to the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge the living and dead. His kingdom shall have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Creator of life, Who proceeds from the Father, Who together with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, Who spoke through the prophets. In one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the age to come. Amen. Κυριακή Προσευχή Πάτερ ἡμῶν ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς, ἁγιασθήτω τὸ ὄνομά σου. Ἐλθέτω ἡ βασιλεία σου. Γενηθήτω τὸ θέλημά σου, ὡς ἐν οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς. Τὸν ἄρτον ἡμῶν τὸν ἐπιούσιον δὸς ἡμῖν σήμερον. Καὶ ἄφες ἡμῖν τὰ ὀφειλήματα ἡμῶν, ὡς καὶ ἡμεῖς ἀφίεμεν τοῖς ὀφειλέταις ἡμῶν. Καὶ μὴ εἰσενέγκῃς ἡμᾶς εἰς πειρασμόν, ἀλλὰ ρῦσαι ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ τοῦ πονηροῦ. The Lord s Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. ΕΥΧΕΣ ΠΡΟ ΤΗΣ ΘΕΙΑΣ ΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΑΣ Πιστεύω, Κύριε, και ομολογώ ότι συ ει αληθώς ο Χριστός, ο Υιός του Θεού του ζώντος, ο ελθών εις τον κόσμον αμαρτωλούς σώσαι, ων πρώτος ειμί εγώ. Έτι πιστεύω, ότι τούτο αυτό εστί το αχράντον Σώμα σου και τούτο αυτό εστί το τίμιον Αίμα σου. Δέομαι ουν σου, ελέησόν με και συγχώρησον μοι τα παραπτώματά μου, τα εκούσια και τα ακούσια, τα εν λόγω, τα εν έργω, τα εν γνώσει και αγνοία, και αξίωσόν με ακατακρίτως μετασχείν των αχράντων σου μυστηρίων, εις άφεσιν αμαρτιών, και εις ζωήν αιώνιον. Αμήν. Ιδού βαδίζω προς Θείαν Κοινωνίαν, Πλαστουργέ, μη φλέξης με τη μετουσία, Πυρ γαρ υπάρχεις τους αναξίους φλέγον. Αλλ ουν κάθαρον εκ πάσης με κηλίδος. Του Δείπνου σου του μυστικού, σήμερον, Υιέ Θεού, κοινωνόν με παράλαβε, ου μη γαρ τοις εχθροίς σου το 6

7 μυστήριον είπω, ου φίλημα σοι δώσω, καθάπερ ο Ιούδας, αλλ ως ο Ληστής ομολογώ σοι. Μνήσθητι μου Κύριε, εν τη βασιλεία σου. Θεουργόν Αίμα φρίξον, άνθρωπε βλέπων, Άνθραξ γαρ εστί τους αναξίους φλέγων, Θεού το Σώμα, και θεοί με, και τρέφει, Θεοί το πνεύμα, τον δε νουν τρέφει ξένως. Έθελξας πόθω με Χριστέ, και ηλλοίωσας τω θείω έρωτι, αλλά κατάφλεξον πυρί αϋλω τας αμαρτίας μου, και εμπλησθήναι της εν σοι τρυφής καταξίωσον, ίνα τας δύο σκιρτών μεγαλύνω, Αγαθέ, παρουσίας σου. Εν ταις λαμπρότησι των αγίων σου, πως εισελεύσομαι ο ανάξιος; Εάν γαρ τολμήσω συνεισελθείν εις τον νυμφώνα, ο χιτών με ελέγχει. Ότι ουκ έστι του γάμου, και δέσμιος εκβαλούμαι υπό των Αγγέλων, καθάρισον, Κύριε, τον ρύπον της ψυχής μου, και σώσον με, ως φιλάνθρωπος. Δέσποτα φιλάνθρωπε, Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ, ο Θεός μου, μη εις κρίμα μοι γένοιτο τα Άγια ταύτα, δια το ανάξιον είναι με, αλλ εις κάθαρσιν και αγιασμόν ψυχής τε και σώματος, και εις αρραβώνα μελλούσης ζωής και βασιλείας. Εμοί δε το προσκολλάσθαι τω Θεώ αγαθόν εστί, τίθεσθαι εν τω Κυρίω την ελπίδα της σωτηρίας μου. Του Δείπνου σου του μυστικού, σήμερον, Υιέ Θεού, κοινωνόν με παράλαβε, ου μη γαρ τοις εχθροίς σου το μυστήριον είπω, ου φίλημα σοι δώσω, καθάπερ ο Ιούδας, αλλ ως ο Ληστής ομολογώ σοι. Μνήσθητι μου Κύριε, εν τη βασιλεία σου. PRAYERS BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION I believe, Lord, and I confess, that You are truly the Christ, the Son of the living God, Who came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the first. Moreover, I believe that this is Your immaculate Body, and that this is Your precious Blood. Wherefore, I pray to You: have mercy on me, and forgive me my transgressions, those voluntary and involuntary, those in word, those in deed, those in knowledge and those in ignorance; and make me worthy to partake of Your immaculate Mysteries without condemnation, for the remission of sins and life everlasting. Amen. Behold, I approach for divine Communion; Creator, burn me not as I partake; For You are Fire, which burns the unworthy. But, rather, cleanse me from every impurity. Of Your Mystical Supper, Son of God, receive me today as a communicant; for I will not speak of the Mystery to Your enemies; nor will I give You a kiss, as did Judas, but like the thief I confess You: Remember me, Lord, when You come into Your Kingdom! Be awe-stricken, O man, beholding the deifying Blood; For it is a lighted Coal that burns the unworthy. The divine Body both deifies and nourishes me; It deifies the spirit, and wondrously nourishes the mind. You have smitten me with yearning, O Christ, and by Your divine zeal You have changed me; but burn away my sins with immaterial Fire, and make me worthy to be filled with delight in You; that, leaping for joy, O good One, I may magnify Your two comings. Into the brilliant company of Your saints, how shall I the unworthy enter? For if I dare to enter into the bridal chamber, my garment betrays me, for it is not a wedding garment, and I shall be bound and cast out by the Angels; Lord, cleanse my soul of pollution, and save me, for You love mankind. Master, Who loves mankind, Lord Jesus Christ my God, do not let these Holy Things be to me for judgment because of my unworthiness, but rather may they be for the purification and sanctification of soul and body, and as a pledge of the life and Kingdom to come. For it is good for me to cleave to God, to put my hope of salvation in the Lord. Of Your Mystical Supper, Son of God, receive me today as a communicant; for I will not speak of the Mystery to Your enemies; nor will I give You a kiss, as did Judas, but like the thief I confess You: Remember me, Lord, when You come into Your Kingdom! Remember me, Master, when You come into Your Kingdom! Remember me, Holy One, when You come into Your Kingdom! 7

8 40-DAYS BABY BLESSING For your convenience we are letting you know that you can make an appointment to church your baby on the 40th day after its birth, no matter what day that might be. There is no reason that you have to inconvenience the mom and the baby, waiting in the back of the Narthex until the priest is available on a Sunday ONLY. Make an appointment to come to church when it is convenient for you at a time that will not disrupt the baby's routine. ANY day you would like. 9am through 6pm by appointment. Bring the entire family or come just with your husband and the baby. Whatever you want. No waiting no inconvenience. More private time with the priest to talk about the future baptism if you wish. Call the office for an appointment. PRAYER LIST If you would like us to remember you or your loved one in our prayers, please contact the church office. Constantine, Andreas, Pavlos, Elena, Elaine, Presbytera Flora, Louis, Fr. Peter, Kathy, Kalliope, Chris, John, Georgia, Dean, Bill, Sylvia, Zenon, Danielle, Delores, Demetrios, Maria, Harry, Katy, Irini and Gabriel. PRAYER FOR A SICK PERSON Heavenly Father, physician of our souls and bodies, who have sent Your only-begotten Son and our Lord Jesus Christ to heal every sickness and infirmity, visit and heal me Your servant from all physical and spiritual ailments through the grace of Your Christ. Grant me patience in this sickness, strength of body and spirit, and recovery of health. Lord, You have taught us through Your word to pray for each other that we may be healed. I pray that You heal me as Your servant and grant me the gift of complete health. For You are the source of healing and to You I give glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. FUTURE MEMORIALS Mrs. Joanna Markatatos-Kaskasian September 6, Day Memorial Mrs. Evangeline Haris September 27, Years 8

9 SAINTS AND FEASTS Moses the Prophet & Godseer-September 4 The Prophet Moses-whose name means "one who draws forth," or "is drawn from," that is, from the water-was the pinnacle of the lovers of wisdom, the supremely wise lawgiver, the most ancient historian of all. He was of the tribe of Levi, the son of Amram and Jochabed (Num. 26:59). He was born in Egypt in the seventeenth century before Christ. While yet a babe of three months, he was placed in a basket made of papyrus and covered with pitch, and cast into the streams of the Nile for fear of Pharaoh's decree to the mid-wives of the Hebrews, that all the male children of the Hebrews be put to death. He was taken up from the river by Pharaoh's daughter, became her adopted son, and was reared and dwelt in the King's palace for forty years. Afterward, when he was some sixty years old, he fled to Madian, where, on Mount Horeb, he saw the vision of the burning bush. Thus he was ordained by God to lead Israel and bring it out of the land of Egypt. He led Israel through the Red Sea as it were dry land and governed the people for forty years. He wrought many signs and wonders, and wrote the first five books of the Old Testament, which are called the Pentateuch. When he reached the land of Moab, he ascended Mount Nabau, on the peak called Phasga, and there, by divine command, he reposed in the sixteenth century before Christ, having lived for some 120 years. The first two Odes of the Old Testament, "Let us sing to the Lord" and "Attend, O heaven, and I will speak," were written by him. Of these hymns, the first was chanted by the shore of the Red Sea as soon as the Israelites had crossed it; the second, in the land of Moab, a few days before his repose. The Holy High Priest Aaron was the elder brother of the Holy Prophet Moses. He was appointed by God to serve as the spokesman of Moses before the people, and also before Pharaoh, in Egypt. Afterwards, in the wilderness, he was called to the ministry of the high priesthood, as narrated in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers in the Old Testament. The name Aaron means "enlightened." Zacharias the Prophet & Righteous Elizabeth, parents of St. John the Baptist-September 5 According to the opinion of many Fathers of the Church, based on an ancient tradition, this is the Zacharias whom, as our Lord said, the Jews slew between the temple and the altar (Matt. 23:35), first, because even after the Virgin Mary gave birth, he continued to refer to her as virgin and number her among the virgins; second, because Zacharias' son John was not found during the slaughter of the Innocents, since the elderly Elizabeth had taken him and carefully hid him while he was yet an infant, in an unnamed place somewhere in the desert, where, according to the Evangelist, "the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel" (Luke 1:80). When the child was not found, his father was slain by Herod's command. 9

10 Coming Soon!! Monthly Meeting of Parent s Night w/fr. Michael All about Orthodox Christian Parenting - A Rx for peace and mind" Philoptochos News: Our first general meeting will be held today in the church hall immediately following the Divine Liturgy! Please join us! We are collecting back to school supplies (pencils, notebooks, lined paper, pens, rulers, etc.) for the National Center for Children and Families for the entire month of September. Please drop off supplies on Sunday at St. Andrew's Hall. Greek Language Ministry: The first day of classes is tomorrow, Monday August 31st at Rosa Parks Middle School, Olney Mill Road, Olney, MD, 4:30pm-6:30p.m. Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, Greek Language Ministry A unique model for educating our children providing high quality Hellenic education affordable for all families! As stewards of our Church, we have a responsibility to inspire in our children the spiritual and cultural values of our Greek Orthodox heritage so that they can be model members of our Greek Orthodox Church. That is a right for all our children, not a privilege. Our program is open to all families tuition fees are the same regardless of church affiliation. Come see what the excitement is all about and be part of something no other Greek Orthodox Church offers its children. GOYA: GOYA Basketball Practice will begin on Wednesday, 9/2/15 at Argyle Middle School, 2400 Bel Pre Road, Silver Spring, MD from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. All GOYANS please join us!! Festival Volunteers: Calling on all ladies and gentlemen of our beloved community of Saints Constantine and Helen! This year's fall festival is fast approaching and your baking skills are needed! Yes guys, you too! The fall festival committee is calling on all bakers and non bakers to get ready to bake! Don't know what to bake?? No problem. Please reach out to Mrs. Harriet Maroules at and or Mrs. Nina Alexiou at They are experts at baking and will be able to help you to help the church!" Communion Wine: If you are interested in purchasing Commandaria Wine only for the church, please contact the church office at (240) for more information. To keep things consistent we use Commandaria wine for Holy Communion. We appreciate your expression of love for Him in providing us with this particular wine. May God continue to bless you always! Confession: Father Michael is available for confession at your convenience. Please call on his cell phone at (301) or fm@papouli.net for an appointment. Save The Date: Taverna Night -"Nikos Nite" on Sunday, October 18, More information to follow. Please mark your calendars! 10

11 Prot. No BARTHOLOMEW By God s Mercy Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch To the Plenitude of the Church Grace, Peace and Mercy From the Creator, Sustainer and Governor of All Creation Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ All of creation is renewed by the Holy Spirit, returning to its original state. (Anavathmoi, First Tone) Blessed are you, Lord, who alone daily renew the work of your hands. (Basil the Great) Brother concelebrants and blessed children in the Lord, As everyone knows, September 1st of each year has been dedicated at the initiative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and recently also by the Roman Catholic Church as a day of prayer for the protection of the natural environment. On this day, we especially beseech the supreme God to gladden His creation so that human life therein may be joyful and fruitful. This prayer includes of course the petition that the inevitable natural climate changes may occur and be permitted within tolerable levels both for human survival and for the planet s sustainability. Nonetheless, we humans whether as individual groups or collectively behave contrary to this very request. For we suppress nature in such a manner that unforeseeable and undesirable changes occur to the climate and environment, which are negatively affected in their normal functions with consequent implications for life itself. The cumulative result of actions by particular individuals as well as by corporate and state activities with a view to reforming the natural environment so that it might produce more resources for those who take advantage of it only leads to the destruction of creation, which was created good by God and thus functions in a balanced way. Those of us who appreciate the danger of climate change that is only increasing by day for our planet as a result of human actions raise our voice to highlight this crisis and invite everyone to explore what could be done so that life is not lost for the sake of greed. (United Nations Declaration) Therefore, as Ecumenical Patriarch, we have expended years of efforts to inform the faithful of our Church and all people of good will about the grave risks deriving from growing (ab-)use of energy resources, which threatens increasing global warming and threatens the sustainability of the natural environment. Orthodox Christians have learned from the Church Fathers to restrict and reduce our needs as far as possible. In response to the ethos of consumerism we propose the ethos of asceticism, namely an ethos of self-sufficiency to what is needed. This does not mean deprivation but rational and restrained consumption as well as the moral condemnation of waste. So if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content (1 Tim. 6.8), as the 11

12 Lord s Apostle urges us. And after the multiplication of the five loaves and the satisfaction of five thousand people, excluding women and children, Christ Himself ordered His disciples to collect the remainder so that nothing would be lost. (John 6.12) Unfortunately, contemporary societies have abandoned the application of this commandment, surrendering to wastefulness and irrational abuse to satisfy vain desires of prosperity. However, such conduct can be transformed for the sake of creating resources and energy by more appropriate means. Brothers and sisters, children in our common Lord and Creator, Human beings have destroyed creation through greed by focusing exclusively on this earth and its earthly benefits, which we endeavor to increase constantly, like the rich fool in the Gospel parable. (Luke ) We ignore the Holy Spirit, in whom we live and move and have our being. This signifies that the response to the ecological crisis can only be successfully realized in the Holy Spirit, through whose grace our human efforts are blessed and all creation is renewed, returning to its original state, as it was created and intended by God namely, very good. This is why the responsibility of humanity, as God s co-creator endowed with free will, is immense for any proper response to the ecological crisis. This earth resembles an immense pile of filth. (Pope Francis, Laudato Si, 2015) And impurity implies more than simply material things; it primarily includes spiritual things. There are the impurities that essentially stem from the passionate thoughts of humanity. With firm faith in the Pantokrator and Creator of all creation, we Orthodox Christians are called to carry out the work of an evangelist and missionary with regard to the protection of creation. That is to say, we are called to rekindle the joyful gospel message to the modern troubled world and awaken the sleeping spiritual nature of a humanity diversely and multifariously distressed in order to convey a message of hope, peace and true joy the peace and joy of Christ. This is what we believe and proclaim from the most holy Apostolic and Patriarchal Ecumenical Throne. And we invite everyone to soberness of life, purification of passionate thoughts and selfish motivations, so that we may dwell in harmony with our neighbors and with God s creation. Finally, we pray with Basil the Great, who extolled the nature of things : Blessed are you, Lord, who alone daily renew the work of your hands. Blessed are you, Lord, who created light and darkness, distinguishing between them from each other. Blessed are you, Lord, who created all things and constructed the shadow of death by blackening the day into night. Blessed are you, Lord, who created humankind in your image and likeness, who made the day for the work of light and the night for human nature to rest... (Psalter and Prayer Book, Pantokrator Monastery, Mt. Athos, 2004) This is our message, conviction and exhortation to you all: Let us stand well; let us stand in awe before God s creation. May the grace and boundless mercy of our Lord, the Creator of all creation, both visible and invisible, be with you all and with the whole world, now and to the endless ages. Amen. September 1, Bartholomew of Constantinople Fervent supplicant of all before God 12

13 Ἀριθμ. Πρωτ Β Α Ρ Θ Ο Λ Ο Μ Α Ι Ο Σ ΕΛΕῼ ΘΕΟΥ ΑΡΧΙΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΟΣ ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΟΥΠΟΛΕΩΣ, ΝΕΑΣ ΡΩΜΗΣ ΚΑΙ ΟΙΚΟΥΜΕΝΙΚΟΣ ΠΑΤΡΙΑΡΧΗΣ ΠΑΝΤΙ Τῼ ΠΛΗΡΩΜΑΤΙ ΤΗΣ ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑΣ ΧΑΡΙΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΙΡΗΝΗΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΛΕΟΣ ΠΑΡΑ ΤΟΥ ΔΗΜΙΟΥΡΓΟΥ, ΣΥΝΤΗΡΗΤΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΚΥΒΕΡΝΗΤΟΥ ΠΑΣΗΣ ΤΗΣ ΚΤΙΣΕΩΣ ΚΥΡΙΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΘΕΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ ΗΜΩΝ ΙΗΣΟΥ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥ *** Ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι πᾶσα ἡ κτίσις καινουργεῖται, παλινδρομοῦσα εἰς τὸ πρῶτον» (Ἀναβαθμοὶ Α ἤχου). «Εὐλογητὸς εἶ, Κύριε, ὁ μόνος ἀνακαινίζων τὴν ποίησιν τῶν ἔργων σου καθ ἑκάστην ἡμέραν»[1] (Μέγας Βασίλειος). Ἀδελφοὶ συλλειτουργοὶ καὶ τέκνα εὐλογημένα ἐν Κυρίῳ, Ὡς εἶναι γνωστόν, ἡ 1η Σεπτεμβρίου ἑκάστου ἔτους ἔχει ἀφιερωθῆ πρωτοβούλως ὑπὸ τοῦ Οἰκουμενικοῦ Πατριαρχείου -προσφάτως δὲ καὶ ὑπὸ τῆς Ρωμαιοκαθολικῆς Ἐκκλησίας- εἰς τὴν προσευχὴν διὰ τὴν προστασίαν τοῦ φυσικοῦ περιβάλλοντος. Κατ αὐτήν, παρακαλοῦμεν ἰδιαιτέρως τὸν Ὕψιστον ὅπως φαιδρύνῃ τὴν δημιουργίαν Του ὥστε νὰ εἶναι εὐχάριστος καὶ καρποφόρος ἡ ἐν αὐτῇ διαβίωσις τοῦ ἀνθρώπου. Ἐντὸς αὐτοῦ τοῦ αἰτήματος περιλαμβάνεται ἀσφαλῶς καὶ ἡ παράκλησις ὅπως αἱ ἀναπόφευκτοι φυσιολογικαὶ κλιματικαὶ ἀλλαγαὶ συμβαίνουν καὶ ἐπιτρέπωνται ἐντὸς τῶν ὁρίων τῆς ἀντοχῆς, τοῦ μὲν ἀνθρώπου πρὸς ἐπιβίωσιν αὐτοῦ, τῆς δὲ φύσεως πρὸς ἀειφορίαν αὐτῆς. Ἐν τούτοις, ἡμεῖς οἱ ἄνθρωποι εἴτε κατὰ ἓν μέρος τῆς ἀνθρωπότητος, εἴτε ἐνίοτε καὶ ἐν τῷ συνόλῳ αὐτῆς, συμπεριφερόμεθα ἀντιθέτως πρὸς τὸ αἴτημα τοῦτο. Καταπιέζομεν τὴν φύσιν κατὰ τρόπον ὥστε νὰ ἐπέρχωνται ἀπρόβλεπτοι καὶ ἀνεπιθύμητοι κλιματικαὶ καὶ περιβαλλοντικαὶ ἀλλαγαί, δυσμενεῖς διὰ τὴν κανονικὴν λειτουργίαν αὐτῆς καὶ ὡς ἐκ τούτου καὶ διὰ τὴν ζωήν μας. Τὸ δὲ ἀθροιστικὸν ἀποτέλεσμα τῶν ἐνεργειῶν ἐπὶ μέρους ἀνθρωπίνων προσώπων ἀλλὰ καὶ ἄλλων ἐκτεταμένων ἰδιωτικῶν καὶ κρατικῶν προσπαθειῶν πρὸς ἀναμόρφωσιν τοῦ φυσικοῦ περιβάλλοντος, εἰς τρόπον ὥστε νὰ παράγῃ περισσότερα ἀγαθὰ διὰ τοὺς ἐκμεταλλευομένους αὐτό, ἔχει ὡς μόνον ἀποτέλεσμα τὴν καταστροφὴν τῆς ἐναρμονίως λειτουργούσης καλῆς λίαν δημιουργίας τοῦ Θεοῦ. Ὅσοι ἀντιλαμβανόμεθα τὸν διογκούμενον καθημερινῶς κίνδυνον τῆς κλιματικῆς ἀλλαγῆς εἰς τὸν πλανήτην μας, ἕνεκα ἀνθρωπίνων ἐνεργειῶν, ὑψοῦμεν φωνὴν ἐπισημάνσεως αὐτοῦ καὶ προσκαλοῦμεν ἅπαντας νὰ μελετήσωμεν τί εἶναι δυνατὸν νὰ πράξωμεν «διὰ νὰ μὴ ἐξαφανισθῇ ἡ ζωή, χάριν τοῦ πλούτου» (Διακήρυξις Ὀργανισμοῦ Ἡνωμένων Ἐθνῶν). Ὅθεν, ἡμεῖς, ὁ Οἰκουμενικὸς Πατριάρχης καταβάλλομεν ἀπὸ ἐτῶν προσπαθείας ἐνημερώσεως τῶν πιστῶν τῆς Ἐκκλησίας μας καὶ ὅλων τῶν καλοπροαιρέτων ἀνθρώπων περὶ τῶν μεγάλων κινδύνων τοὺς ὁποίους συνεπάγεται 13

14 ἡ ηὐξημένη (κατά)-χρῆσις τῶν ἐνεργειακῶν πηγῶν, ἡ ὁποία ἐπαπειλεῖ μεγάλην κλιματικὴν ἀλλαγὴν καὶ θέτει εἰς κίνδυνον τὴν ἀειφορίαν τοῦ φυσικοῦ περιβάλλοντος. Οἱ Ὀρθόδοξοι Χριστιανοὶ ἐδιδάχθημεν ὑπὸ τῶν Πατέρων τῆς Ἐκκλησίας νὰ περιορίζωμεν κατὰ τὸ ἐφικτὸν τὰς ἀνάγκας μας. Εἰς τὸ ἦθος τοῦ καταναλωτισμοῦ ἀντιτάσσομεν τὸ ἦθος τῆς ἀσκητικότητος. Ἓν ἦθος αὐτοπεριορισμοῦ τῶν ἀναγκῶν εἰς τὸ ἀπαραίτητον. Τοῦτο δὲν συνεπάγεται στέρησιν ἀλλὰ τὴν ἐκλογίκευσιν τῆς καταναλώσεως καὶ τὴν ἠθικὴν καταδίκην τῆς σπατάλης. «Ἔχοντες δὲ διατροφὰς καὶ σκεπάσματα, τούτοις ἀρκεσθησόμεθα» (Α Τιμ. ς 8), μᾶς προτρέπει ὁ Ἀπόστολος τοῦ Χριστοῦ. Ὁ ἴδιος ὁ Χριστὸς μετὰ τὸν πολλαπλασιασμὸν τῶν πέντε ἄρτων καὶ τὸν χορτασμὸν ἐξ αὐτῶν πέντε χιλιάδων ἀνδρῶν, ἐκτὸς γυναικῶν καὶ παιδίων, ἔδωκεν ἐντολὴν νὰ περισυλλεγοῦν τὰ περισσεύματα «ἵνα μή τι ἀπόληται» (Ἰωάν. ς 12). Ἀτυχῶς, αἱ σύγχρονοι κοινωνίαι ἐγκατέλιπον τὴν ἐφαρμογὴν τῆς ἐντολῆς ταύτης, ἐπιδοθεῖσαι εἰς τὴν σπατάλην καὶ τὴν ἄλογον χρῆσιν πρὸς ἱκανοποίησιν κενοδόξων αἰσθημάτων εὐμαρείας. Αἱ συμπεριφοραὶ αὗται δύνανται ὅμως νὰ ἀλλαγοῦν πρὸς ἐξοικονόμησιν πόρων καὶ ἐνεργείας διὰ τῆς καταλλήλου ἀγωγῆς. Ἀδελφοὶ καὶ τέκνα ἐν τῷ κοινῷ Δημιουργῷ Κυρίῳ ἡμῶν, Οἱ ἄνθρωποι εἴμεθα οἱ καταστροφεῖς τῆς κτίσεως μὲ τὴν ἀπληστίαν μας, μὲ τὴν προσήλωσίν μας εἰς τὴν γῆν, εἰς τὰ ἐπίγεια ἀγαθά, τὰ ὁποῖα προσπαθοῦμεν συνεχῶς νὰ αὐξήσωμεν, ὡς ὁ «ἄφρων πλούσιος» τοῦ Εὐαγγελίου. Λησμονοῦμεν τὸ Ἅγιον Πνεῦμα, ἐν τῷ Ὁποίῳ καὶ ζῶμεν καὶ κινούμεθα καὶ ἐσμέν. Τοῦτο σημαίνει ὅτι ἡ ἀντιμετώπισις τῆς οἰκολογικῆς κρίσεως δύναται νὰ ἐπιτευχθῇ συντετονισμένως, πάντοτε ὅμως ἐν Ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι, διὰ τῆς Χάριτος τοῦ Ὁποίου εὐλογοῦνται αἱ ἀνθρώπινοι προσπάθειαί μας καὶ πᾶσα ἡ κτίσις καινουργεῖται καὶ παλινδρομεῖ εἰς τὸ πρῶτον, ὡς ἐδημιουργήθη «καλὴ λίαν» ὑπὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ. Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ἡ εὐθύνη τοῦ συνδημιουργοῦ καὶ προικισθέντος διὰ τοῦ αὐτεξουσίου ἀνθρώπου εἰς τὴν ἀντιμετώπισιν τῆς οἰκολογικῆς κρίσεως εἶναι μεγάλη. Ἡ γῆ ὁμοιάζει μέ «γιγαντιαῖον σωρὸν ἀπὸ ἀκαθαρσίαν» (Πάπας Ρώμης Φραγκῖσκος, Ἐγκύκλιος 2015). Καὶ αἱ ἀκαθαρσίαι αὐταὶ δὲν εἶναι μόνον ὑλικαί, ἀλλὰ πρωτίστως πνευματικαί. Εἶναι ἀκαθαρσίαι προερχόμεναι ἐν τῇ οὐσίᾳ ἀπὸ ἐμπαθῆ νοήματα τοῦ ἰδίου τοῦ ἀνθρώπου. Ἡμεῖς ὅμως, οἱ Ὀρθόδοξοι Χριστιανοί, μὲ βεβαίαν τὴν πίστιν πρὸς τὸν Δημιουργὸν πάσης τῆς κτίσεως καὶ Παντοκράτορα Κύριον, καλούμεθα νὰ ἐπιτελέσωμεν καὶ εἰς τὸ θέμα τῆς προστασίας πάσης τῆς κτίσεως ἔργον εὐαγγελιστοῦ, ἔργον ἀποστολικόν: νὰ ἀνα ζωπυρώ σωμεν, δηλαδή, τὴν χαρμόσυνον εὐαγγελικὴν ἀγγελίαν εἰς τὸν σύγχρονον ταραγμένον κόσμον καὶ νὰ ἀφυπνίσωμεν τὴν ὑπνώτ τουσαν πνευματικὴν φύσιν τοῦ πολλαπλῶς, πολυμερῶς καὶ πολυτρόπως δοκιμαζομένου ἀνθρώπου καὶ νὰ μεταδώσωμεν μήνυ μα ἐλπίδος καὶ εἰρήνης καὶ πραγματικῆς χαρᾶς τῆς εἰρή νης καὶ τῆς χαρᾶς τοῦ Χριστοῦ. Ταῦτα φρονοῦντες καὶ ταῦτα πρεσβεύοντες, καὶ διακηρύττοντες τὴν ἀλήθειαν ταύτην ἀπὸ τῶν βαθμίδων τοῦ Ἁγιωτάτου Ἀποστολικοῦ καὶ Πατριαρχικοῦ Οἰκουμενικοῦ Θρόνου, καλοῦμεν πάντας εἰς ἐγρήγορσιν νοός, εἰς ἀπαλλαγὴν ἐμπαθῶν λογισμῶν καὶ συμφεροντολογικῶν κινήσεων, ὥστε νὰ ζῶμεν ἐν ἁρμονίᾳ πρὸς τὸν πλησίον καὶ μὲ τὴν λίαν καλῶς δημιουργηθεῖσαν ὑπὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ κτίσιν, καὶ εὐχόμεθα καὶ προσευχόμεθα μετὰ τοῦ «τρανώσαντος τὴν φύσιν τῶν ὄντων» Βασιλείου τοῦ Μεγάλου: «Εὐλογητὸς εἶ, Κύριε, ὁ μόνος ἀνακαινίζων τὴν ποίησιν τῶν ἔργων σου καθ ἑκάστην ἡμέραν εὐλογητὸς εἶ, Κύριε, ὁ κτίσας φῶς καὶ σκότος καὶ διακρίνας αὐτὰ ἀπ ἀλλήλων εὐλογητὸς εἶ, Κύριε, ὁ ποιῶν πάντα καὶ μετασκευάζων, ἐκτρέπων σκιὰν θανάτου καὶ ἡμέραν εἰς νύκτα συσκοτάζων εὐλογητὸς εἶ, Κύριε, ὁ ποιήσας ἄνθρωπον κατ εἰκόνα σὴν καὶ ὁμοίωσιν, ὁ ποιήσας ἡμέραν εἰς ἔργα φωτός, καὶ νύκτα εἰς ἀνάπαυσιν τῆς ἀνθρωπίνης φύσεως...»[2]. Τοῦτο εἶναι τὸ μήνυμά μας, αὐτὴ εἶναι ἡ πεποίθησίς μας, αὐτὴ ἡ προτροπή μας πρὸς πάντας: Στῶμεν καλῶς, στῶμεν μετὰ φόβου, ἐνώπιον τῆς δημιουργίας τοῦ Θεοῦ. Ἡ δὲ τοῦ Δημιουργοῦ πάσης τῆς κτίσεως, ὁρατῆς καὶ ἀοράτου, Κυρίου ἡμῶν Χάρις καὶ τὸ ἄπειρον Αὐτοῦ Ἔλεος εἴησαν μετὰ πάντων καὶ μετὰ τοῦ κόσμου παντός, νῦν καὶ εἰς τοὺς ἀπεράντους αἰῶνας. Ἀμήν.,βιε Σεπτεμβρίου α + Ὁ Κωνσταντινιουπόλεως διάπυρος πρὸς Θεὸν εὐχέτης πάντων ὑμῶν [1] Ψαλτήριον μετὰ τροπαρίων καὶ εὐχῶν, ἔκδοσις Ἱ. Μ. Παντοκράτορος, Ἅγ. Ὄρος 2004, σελ [2] Ἔνθα ἀνωτέρω. 14

15 Protocol 143/15 September 1, 2015 Beginning of the Ecclesiastical Year Day for the Protection of our Natural Environment No. To the Most Reverend Hierarchs, the Reverend Priests and Deacons, the Monks and Nuns, the Presidents and Members of the Parish Councils of the Greek Orthodox Communities, the Distinguished Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Day, Afternoon, and Church Schools, the Philoptochos Sisterhoods, the Youth, the Hellenic Organizations, and the entire Greek Orthodox Family in America Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, On this Feast of the Indiction which marks the beginning of the New Ecclesiastical Year, we are led by our beloved Ecumencial Patriarchate in observing the Day for the Protection of our Natural Environment. The relationship of our commemoration and observance is significant due to the changing of the seasons, our agrarian heritage in relation to marking time, and the strong foundations of our worship and theology in the relationship of our Creator to His creation. We affirm this in the hymns of this day as we sing, In wisdom You have wrought all things and have established proper times and seasons for our lives (Praises of Orthros), and Author and head of all creation, under whose power lie all times and seasons, O compassionate Lord: crown the cycle of this year with Your generous blessings (Exapostilarion of Orthros). It is in the divine act of our creation that our relationship to the created order is revealed. Through the power and grace of the Creator bringing all things into existence and in His creation of humankind in His image, we see our unique role as stewards of all that God has made. As Adam and Eve were created and placed in the garden to tend and keep it (Genesis 2:15), we have the responsibility to care for and protect His creation. As man and woman were directed by God to be fruitful and multiply and to have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth (Genesis 1:28), we have the authority to manage the created order prayerfully and respectfully to sustain life and to address human and environmental needs. We must also affirm in our relationship with God that through His wisdom and our creative potential, we are able to sustain and protect the natural environment while addressing the environmental challenges and stresses of technological innovation, economic forces, population growth, and natural disasters. Created in God s image as stewards of the natural order, we are witnesses of the goodness of creation. He saw that all He created was very good (Genesis 1:31), and He established and sanctified time through the order and process of creation (Genesis 2:3). Our awareness of this inherent goodness in all that God has made is known first in our relationship with Him. We also marvel at the beauty, complexity, and function of creation, recognizing divine origin, purpose, and goodness. We proclaim the Gospel, guiding all to the revelation of God s grace through Christ. We offer a ministry of hope and transformation, as we help others find healing, assurance, and salvation in Him. Through the prayers and liturgical life of the Church, we journey through each day, each week, the full cycle of the year and our lives toward the glorious fulfillment of time and eternal life in communion with God. As we commemorate this Feast may we commit our time to the feasts and observances of the Church, to a daily life of prayer and communion with God, and to sustaining our spiritual lives through the disciplines of our faith. May we also affirm that we are created and called as stewards of the created order. From our relationship and communion with God, may we offer a witness of the goodness of His creation and the sanctity of life. With paternal love in Christ, DEMETRIOS Archbishop of America 15

16 Ἀριθ. Πρωτ. 143 / 15 1 Σεπτεμβρίου 2015 Ἀρχή τοῦ Ἐκκλησιαστικοῦ Ἔτους Ἡμέρα Προστασίας τοῦ Φυσικοῦ Περιβάλλοντος Πρός τούς Σεβασμιωτάτους καί Θεοφιλεστάτους Ἀρχιερεῖς, τούς Εὐλαβεστάτους Ἱερεῖς καί Διακόνους, τούς Μοναχούς καί Μοναχές, τούς Προέδρους καί Μέλη τῶν Κοινοτικῶν Συμβουλίων, τά Ἡμερήσια καί Ἀπογευματινά Σχολεῖα, τίς Φιλοπτώχους Ἀδελφότητες, τήν Νεολαία, τίς Ἑλληνορθόδοξες Ὀργανώσεις καί ὁλόκληρο τό Χριστεπώνυμον πλήρωμα τῆς Ἱερᾶς Ἀρχιεπισκοπῆς Ἀμερικῆς. Προσφιλεῖς Ἀδελφοί καί Ἀδελφές ἐν Χριστῷ, Στήν Ἑορτή τῆς Ἰνδίκτου, ἡ ὁποία σηματοδοτεῖ τήν ἀρχή τοῦ Νέου Ἐκκλησια-στικοῦ Ἔτους, καθοδηγούμεθα ἀπό τό προσφιλές καί σεβάσμιό μας Οἰκουμενικό Πατριαρχεῖο νά τιμήσουμε τήν Ἡμέρα γιά τήν Προστασία τοῦ Φυσικοῦ Περιβάλλοντός μας. Ἡ σχέση τοῦ ἑορτασμοῦ τῆς Ἰνδίκτου μέ τήν Ἡμέρα τοῦ περιβάλλοντος εἶναι σημαντική λόγῳ τῆς ἀλλαγῆς τῶν ἐποχῶν, τῆς ἀγροτικῆς κληρονομιᾶς καί τῶν ἰσχυρῶν θεμελίων τῆς λατρείας μας καί τῆς θεολογίας ἀναφορικά πρός τίς σχέσεις τοῦ Δημιουργοῦ μας μέ τά δημιουργήματά Του. Ἐπιβεβαιώνουμε αὐτή τή στάση μέσα ἀπό τούς ὕμνους τῆς ἡμέρας αὐτῆς καθώς ψάλλουμε ἐν σοφίᾳ ἐποίησας καιρούς ἡμῖν καί χρόνους προσθέμενους (Αἴνοι Ὄρθρου) καί Δημιουργέ Παντοκράτορ... τό παρόν ἔτος τοῦτο ὡς ἀγαθός εὐλογήσας φύλαττε ἐν εἰρήνῃ (Ἐξαποστειλάριον Ὄρθρου). Στήν θεϊκή πράξη τῆς δημιουργίας μας ἀποκαλύπτεται ἡ σχέση μας μέ τήν δημιουργηθείσα τάξη. Διά τῆς δυνάμεως καί χάριτος τοῦ Δημιουργοῦ μας ὁ Ὁποῖος ἔπλασε τά πάντα καί τήν ἀνθρωπότητα κατ εἰκόνα Του, ἀνακαλύπτουμε τό μοναδικό ρόλο μας ὡς διαχειριστῶν ὅλων ὅσα ἔπλασε ὁ Θεός. Ὅπως ὁ Ἀδάμ καί ἡ Εὔα ἐπλάσθηκαν καί τοποθετήθηκαν στόν κῆπο γιά νά ἐργάζονται καί νά φυλάσσουν αὐτόν (Γένεσις 2:15), ἔτσι κι ἐμεῖς ἔχουμε τήν εὐθύνη νά φροντίζουμε καί νά προστατεύουμε τή δημιουργία Του. Ὅπως ὁ ἄνδρας καί ἡ γυναίκα ἐπῆραν ἐντολή ἀπό τόν Θεό νά αὐξάνωνται καί νά πληθύνονται καί νά ἄρχουν τῶν ἰχθύων τῆς θαλάσσης καὶ τῶν πετεινῶν τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ πάντων τῶν κτηνῶν καὶ πάσης τῆς γῆς καὶ πάντων τῶν ἑρπετῶν τῶν ἑρπόντων ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς (Γένεσις 1:28), ἔτσι ἔχουμε κι ἐμεῖς τήν ἐξουσία νά διαχειριζόμεθα τήν δημιουργηθείσα κτίση μέ φροντίδα καί σεβασμό γιά τήν διατήρηση τῆς ζωῆς καί τήν κάλυψη τῶν ἀνθρωπίνων καί περιβαλλοντικῶν ἀναγκῶν. Πρέπει ἐπίσης νά ἐπιβεβαιώνουμε στή σχέση μας μέ τόν Θεό τό γεγονός ὅτι διά τῆς σοφίας Του καί διά τοῦ δημιουργικοῦ δυναμικοῦ μας, εἴμεθα σέ θέση νά διατηροῦμε καί νά προστατεύουμε τό φυσικό περιβάλλον ἐνῶ ἀντιμετωπίζουμε περιβαλλοντικές προκλήσεις καί πιέσεις τεχνολογικῶν καινοτομιῶν, οἰκονομικῶν δυνάμεων, αὐξήσεως τοῦ πληθυσμοῦ καί φυσικῶν καταστροφῶν. Πλασμένοι κατ εἰκόνα Θεοῦ ὡς διαχειριστές τῆς φυσικῆς τάξεως, προσφέρουμε τήν μαρτυρία τῆς ἀγαθότητος τῆς κτίσεως. Καὶ εἶδεν ὁ Θεὸς τὰ πάντα, ὅσα ἐποίησε, καὶ ἰδοὺ καλὰ λίαν (Γένεσις 1:31), Ἡ συνειδητοποίηση ἐκ μέρους μας αὐτῆς τῆς ἐγγενοῦς ἀγαθότητος σέ ὅλα ὅσα ἔπλασε ὁ Θεός φαίνεται πρωτίστως στή σχέση μας μαζί Του. Θαυμάζουμε ἐπίσης τήν ὡραιότητα, πολυπλοκότητα καί λειτουργία τῆς κτίσεως, ἀναγνωρίζοντας τήν θεϊκή προέλευση, τόν σκοπό καί τήν ἀγαθότητα. Κηρύσσουμε τό Εὐαγγέλιο, ὁδηγῶντας ἅπαντας στήν ἀποκάλυψη τῆς χάριτος τοῦ Θεοῦ μέσῳ τοῦ Χριστοῦ. Προσφέρουμε διακονία ἐλπίδος καί μεταμορφώσεως, καθώς ὁδηγοῦμε ἄλλους στήν ἴαση, ἀσφάλεια καί σωτηρία δι Ἐκείνου. Διά τῆς προσευχῆς καί τῆς λειτουργικῆς ζωῆς τῆς Ἐκκλησίας, ταξιδεύουμε κάθε ἡμέρα, κάθε ἑβδομάδα, στή διάρκεια ὁλοκλήρου τοῦ κύκλου τοῦ ἔτους καί οἱ ζωές μας ὁδεύουν πρός τήν ἔνδοξη πλήρωση τοῦ χρόνου καί τήν αἰώνια ζωή σέ κοινωνία μέ τόν Θεό. Καθώς ἑορτάζουμε αὐτή τήν Ἑορτή, ἄς ἀφιερώνουμε τό χρόνο μας στίς ἑορτές καί τήν πράξη τῆς Ἐκκλησίας, στήν καθημερινή ζωή προσευχῆς καί κοινωνίας μέ τόν Θεό καί στή διατήρηση τῆς πνευματικῆς ζωῆς μας διά τῶν κανόνων τῆς πίστεώς μας. Ἄς ἐπιβεβαιώνουμε ἐπίσης ὅτι ἔχουμε πλασθεῖ καί χρισθεῖ διαχειριστές τῆς δημιουργηθείσας τάξεως. Ἀπό τή σχέση καί κοινωνία μας μέ τόν Θεό, ἄς προσφέρουμε μαρτυρία τῆς ἀγαθότητος τῆς κτίσεώς Του καί τῆς ἱερότητος τῆς ζωῆς. Μέ πατρική ἐν Χριστῷ ἀγάπη, ὁ Ἀρχιεπίσκοπος Ἀμερικῆς Δημήτριος 16

17 A Prayer read by a priest over couples wanting to become pregnant.. O Lord our God, you created man in your image and likeness and established him as the king of creation. And so that he would not be alone on the earth, you took one of his ribs and formed woman who you gave to him as a helper fit for him. And you told them "Be fruitful and multiply, and have dominion over the earth," this giving them the gift of procreation. Through your first miracle at the wedding at Cana of Galilee, you affirmed the lawful union in marriage and child-bearing therefrom are, indeed, in accordance with your divine will and purpose. Yet, on many occasions, faithful couples like Abraham and Sara, Jacob and Rachel, Zacharias and Elizabeth, and Joachim and Anna were without children. But when they came to you in prayer and supplication, you responded mercifully to them, answered their prayers, and rewarded their patience and trust in you with one or more children. In like manner, your servants [Name] and [Name] who were joined in matrimony in your holy name, O Lord, in order to fulfill your will, have not as yet been blessed with child. Therefore, with profound humility and utmost faith and trust in you, they pray to You and supplicate you and ask of You, if it be your will, to be gracious and merciful to them, to remove their pain and sorrow, and to bless them with fair offspring at a time pleasing to you. Yes, Lord our God, accept the petitions of me, your unworthy servant (the priest), and bring to your servants [Name] and [Name] joy and peace by granting them their request and blessing them with a child. For you alone are merciful and compassionate, and to you we ascribe glory and thanksgiving and worship, to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. 17

18 What Ever Happened to the Holy Altar of Hagia Sophia After 1453? According to legend, after the fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans in 1453, three Venetian ships fled the city filled with various relics to avoid their capture by the Turks, but the third which carried the Holy Altar of Hagia Sophia, sank into the waters of Bosphorus in the Marmara region. Since then, in the exact area of the sinking, the sea is always calm and serene, no matter what weather conditions are prevailing in the area. This phenomenon is testified by modern Turkish scientists, who have attempted at various times to discover the cause of this strange phenomenon, but due to the muddy composition of the seabed, their efforts have been fruitless. In the book by Dorotheos of Monemvasia titled A Chronicle from the Creation of the World Up to 1629 (1781), we read: "The Venetians took the most wondrous and famous Holy Altar of Hagia Sophia, the much valued and most beautiful, out of the Temple and onto a ship, and as they set sail and headed for Venice, O the miracle! Near the island of Marmara the ship opened and out fell the Holy Altar into the sea, sinking where it remains today, and this is obvious and testified by many, for that entire area, when there is a storm, and the waves of the sea become fearsome, there is calmness in the place where the Holy Altar is and the sea remains undisturbed. And they go there with boats, to take water from that part of the sea where the Holy Altar is, and it smells of a wonderful fragrance, from holy myrrh and other fragrances." The father of Greek folklore, Nicholas Politis ( ), writes about the incident: "The day the City was taken, the Holy Altar was placed on a ship, to take it to France in order to not fall into the hands of the Turks. But there in the Sea of Marmara, the ship opened and the Holy Altar sank to the bottom. In that spot the sea is like oil, no matter how much of a sea storm is taking place around it. And this spot is always known by the calmness which is always there and the fragrance coming from it. Many have even been made worthy to see it in the depths of the sea." It could be just another myth that has managed to survive for centuries in the hearts of the Greeks. But according to the local Turks of Istanbul today, this spot in the sea remains a real unexplained phenomenon. Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos. 18

19 The Importance of Studying Scripture Reading, studying and meditating on the Scriptures are all a normal part of the life of any Christian. The Scriptures do not merely teach us about God, but bring us into a relationship with the Holy Trinity. More than inform us, they form our hearts, souls and minds so that we can love God and fulfill His commandments. For many Christians the commandments found in the Bible are nothing more than a list of do s and don ts. At their best, they tell us the minimal expectations God has for his creation. But in Jewish tradition the commandment embodied much more than this. It was a gift of God given to his people so that they could openly display their love and devotion to him. Fulfilling a commandment is like offering flowers to a new-found love; though the lover is following a social convention the deed springs from a far deeper font. (Gary A. Anderson, The Genesis of Perfection, p 150) We are seeking a relationship with the God who has revealed Himself through Jesus Christ our Lord. The Scriptures bear witness to Christ. Because the scriptures clearly reveal the will of God and provide unfailing guidance toward salvation, according to St. Symeon, they are to be studied with utmost diligence and to be obeyed with absolute care not only by scholars, but by all Christians: We need great soberness, great zeal, much searching of the divine Scriptures. The Savior has (said), Search the Scriptures (Jn. 5:39). Search them and hold fast to what they say with great exactitude and faith, in order that you may know God s will clearly from the divine Scriptures and be able infallibly to distinguish good from evil (Heb. 5:14).Nothing is so conducive for saving us as the following of the divine precepts of the Savior.[ ] His reliance on and use of scripture to critique the prevailing view and practice of the ongoing religious tradition as viewed and lived by clerics, monks, theologians, state officials, and lay people alike. To put it in another way, St. Symeon s bold and prophetic call for radical renewal within the Church, a highly controversial position that in part led to his condemnation and lengthy exile by ecclesiastical authorities, had to do with nothing less than his view that the truth of the apostolic gospel had been swallowed up in an ocean of religious formalism unable to bear the words of a prophetic and evangelical voice. (Theodore G. Stylianopoulos, Encouraged by the Scriptures: Essays on Scripture, Interpretation and Life, pp 38-39) 19

20 Bible Study of Proverbs The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:18 Not long ago, I was around thousands of people in different environments, watching a multiday volleyball tournament, visiting attractions and theme parks. I m a people-watcher by nature and having opportunity to sit closely with people, wait in lines, and gather in crowds, I had lots of time to observe others. Boiling down my observations into two categories, here s what I noticed most: 1) Spouses saying unkind things to one another, and 2) Parents verbally belittling their children. I m sure these observations don t reveal anything new or surprising, but they occurred so frequently that I couldn t escape noticing. People can be quite nasty to one another. Since it doesn t take intelligence to be critical, let me suggest one relational principle that has helped me, I realize that this is easier said than done, but it is as simple as this: don t say everything you think! I understand that holding your tongue takes self-control and a degree of humility, but the results are amazing! When someone triggers an emotion in you and you want to react with a verbal dagger don t. When someone injures your pride and you want to say something that will be a zinger comeback and put the other person in his or her place don t. When someone exhausts your patience and a strong reaction will make you feel better don t. I have a quick wit and a propensity for sarcasm, and with this amazing combination of skills, I create some really strong statements that no one hears but me. Why? Because as a spouse and parent, I ve learned that I don t need to say everything that I think. When I slip up and allow the statements to escape my mouth, I end up wounding others, triggering more reactions, demeaning those I love, heightening tension levels, and create negative memories. Words are always powerful. But misguided words hurt and they hurt deeply. As today s Scripture points out, using reckless words is like stabbing another with a sword. In almost every instance, it s best to keep the sword in its scabbard. Try this today: don t say everything you think! Just because you think it, doesn t mean you have to say it. Not all words must be spoken. GOING DEEPER: 1. Under what circumstances do you find it most difficult to avoid saying what you think? 2. What actions can you take to become more successful at not saying everything you think? FURTHER READING: Proverbs 10:19; Proverbs 15:4; Ephesians 4:29 20

21 STEWARDSHIP Bless His Heart, Sometimes, He Just Don't Get It (Without Mirrors We Often Get Pronouns Wrong - An Everyday Christmas Message) By Bill Marianes1 A Southern phrase I love says: Bless his heart, sometimes, he just don t get it. I love that it starts with a blessing. Indeed, generally, when someone starts by blessing your heart, get ready for the other shoe to drop. I have heard this phrase a lot, so I started to wonder about the pronoun. Is it just he we re talking about who is so dense or blind or in the darkness that he doesn t get it? Or might the pronoun be too narrow? Might it really be me or I or we who doesn t get it. OK, let s start at the beginning. In the beginning God made heaven and earth Then God said Let there be light ; and there was light. The first recorded words of God in Genesis 1:1, 3 were his creation of the light. So essentially everything begins in darkness and then God brings the light. A short time later in Genesis 1:26, we get to the big pronoun moment in the creation story: Then God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. Wait. What? Why didn t our Father, the creator of everything, say I will make men in My image and likeness? Who is this Us and Our? The Orthodox Study Bible (page 5) teaches us: The Holy Trinity also made man. God the Father is speaking to God the Son (St. John Chrysostom), and He uses the personal pronouns Us and Our. These pronouns indicate the three distinct Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit Man is not one in nature with the Holy Trinity. But he was made in the image and likeness of the Holy Trinity; and he was made male and female. Therefore, the dignity of each man and each woman is this image and likeness. (emphasis added) To make clear that Christ was there at the beginning, we learn from John 1:1-2: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. And, of course, the Word and the He is the eternal Son of God. He didn t just appear in the New Testament on the day we now celebrate as December 25th. He was actually there at the beginning, and has been there for all times, and will be there forever and ever. So there we are. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, whose birth we now commemorate and celebrate on a specific day in December actually made a referenced appearance from the 21

22 beginning of all times. In so doing, even Holy Scripture challenges us to rethink pronouns, not only in the context of creation, but in the context of calling and ultimately judgment. 2 We often realize that when we look in the mirror, we can visibly see ourselves and how others see us. Yet there is a deeper dimension of who we are. That which is unseen by others in our hearts, or unknown to them because we keep it a secret. We choose to keep some of ourselves in the darkness. In John 1:5 we learn: And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. The word comprehend meant both understand and overcome. (Orthodox Study Bible, page 1421) Perhaps, one of the messages of the celebration of Christ s birth on this earth, is to truly let the light overcome the darkness in our lives. So what does Christ being with God from the beginning, and us letting the light shine, have to do with the title of this stewardship sound bite of the proverbial him that sometimes just doesn t get it? In Matthew 7:1-3 we learn, Judge not, that you not be judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? (I love the modern day image of a plank in one s eye, even though the obviously the contextual meaning is different.) Instead of judging what the other guy doesn t get, let s take a brief moment to explore what we/i/me/you might not get. Christmas is a time of peace, love, family and sharing. It is a season of celebration. But what are we celebrating? (No, I will not devolve into a diatribe about the unspiritual and unhealthy preoccupation with gift giving instead of focusing on Christ s birth. You ve got that, right?) Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who was with us from the beginning, on one historic day came down to be with us in person to teach, to preach and to reach. So how are we doing with that? Have we taken the time to get what he asked us to learn and do? Have we prayerfully reflected on all of the many gifts our Father has given to each of us and consider sharing them with others? Have we contemplated the unimaginable good that we are capable of accomplishing, if only we stopped worrying about what the other guy didn t get and instead focused on the light we can bring into this world? What if Christmas was every day? What if we could daily re-create the great feelings of love, and peace, and joy and helpfulness that we experience during the Christmas season? What if every day, we changed our pronouns of judgment of the other guy, and instead looked into the mirror at who we were, and reflected on what God has called us to do, and then just got on about doing it? Indeed, we could become living icons of Christ s presence every day of the year and every day of our all too short lives on this earth. While our Lord has been with us since the beginning of time, we have the unique opportunity to use the occasion of his human birth to re-commit to making a difference. You see, I believe that stewardship is what you do with all of the gifts God gave you. What you do with them every day of your life. It s all about you, so don t worry about what others do, or don t do, 22

23 with their gifts. Instead, let us focus constantly and consistently on giving thanks, and daily celebrate our Lord s continued presence. And with His help, we will conquer the darkness that exists in our world today. So my brothers and sisters, I want to give you a Christmas gift today and every day of your life. Actually, I want to help you give yourself and everyone around you a daily Christmas gift. Just look 3 into the mirror of your soul and see who you are and what you are good at, which is likely what you have been called to do. And then find someone else with whom you can share the light. Your light. And the Light of the world. Just as we are told that a star lit the night and brought the faithful to celebrate a new birth, let your light shine to celebrate Christ s life every day. Live your stewardship calling and what God has called you to do. So let s just flip those pronouns around and, bless your heart, just get on with truly celebrating Christ s birth and presence each and every day. The only thing standing in the way of every day being Christmas day is you, and me, and not that other guy or gal. To help you with this task, let me humbly suggest that you take your favorite image of Christmas and place it all around you. On your mirror at home. Below your computer screen at work. Next to your speedometer in your car. As the screen saver on your cell phone. Not just one day or month. Instead, keep Christmas alive every day. And in so doing keep Christ alive in your life just as he has been alive and in our midst since the beginning. Merry Christmas every day and may God bless you on your journey as you discover and live your stewardship calling. My prayer for you is that you SOTPAETJ (stay on The Path and enjoy the journey). God bless. 1 By day, Bill Marianes is a partner in the Atlanta office of a large international law firm. By calling, he is a stewardship evangelist who seeks to inspire people and Parishes to live their stewardship callings. To learn more about how you and your Parish can better live your respective stewardship callings and improve your stewardship ministries, visit his free stewardship resource You can watch his Igniting the Flame of True Christian Stewardship program, learn about strategic planning as an invaluable Parish process and tool, and view other extensive materials that help Parishes reorganize themselves to become ministry-based and stewardship driven, and re-energize the faithful to live their true Christian stewardship callings. You can contact Bill at Bill@stewardshipcalling.com or sotpaetj@gmail.com. Copyright Bill Marianes

24 Stewards as of August 28, 2015 ( 309 Steward Cards) The following names are of families who love their God and have renewed their Commitment to the Church Ministries of Sts. Constantine & Helen. Stewardship pamphlets are available in the Narthex of the Church, or you may contact the Church office, and we will gladly send one by mail! Mr. & Mrs. Harry Adams Mr. & Mrs. Nikolaos Aggelis Miss Alexandra Aiken Miss Marina Aiken Mr. & Mrs. John Alexiou Ms. Janis Anderson Mrs. Pauline Andrakakos Anonymous Mr. Marinos Apostolopoulos Mrs. Hazel Iris Aravanis Mr. & Mrs. Haralambos Athanasakis Mr. Emmanuel Atsalinos Mr. Achilles Basiliko Ms. Marie Bedard Mr. & Mrs. George Bergeris Mr. Nicholas Bergeris Mrs. Pauline Bergeris Mrs. Bessie Bezantakos Mr. & Mrs. John Binford Miss Victoria Binford Mr. & Mrs. Lambros Bizbikis Mr. & Mrs. John Bokas Mrs. Anna Bouboulis Mrs. Efstathia Bourdosis Mr. & Mrs. George Bourzikos Mr. Stelios Callas Mrs. Helen Calles Mr. Anthony J. Calomeris Ms. Maria Calomeris Mrs. Pauline Calomiris Mr. Thomas Calomiris Mr. & Mrs. James R. Campbell Ms. Kathy Campoli Mr. & Mrs. George A. Caperones Mr. & Mrs. George W. Caperones Mr. Nick Caviris Mr. & Mrs. George Chahalis Mrs. Helen Chanakas Mr. & Mrs. Peter Chapin Ms. Sofia Chatos Mr. & Mrs. James P. Cheakalos Mr. & Mrs. John T. Cheakalos Mrs. John W. Cheakalos Mr. & Mrs. Paul Cheakalos Miss Alexia Christian Mr. & Mrs. Michael Christian Mrs. Katherine Chronopoulos Mr. & Mrs. Charles Clifton Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Courtis Mr. & Mrs. Spero Courtis Mr. & Mrs. Pete Dakoulas Mr. & Mrs. Robert Davis Mr. & Mrs. Jim Deligianis Miss Georgia Dialektakos Mr. & Mrs. Demetrios Dialektakos Mr. George D. Dimopoulos Mr. Kostas Dionisopoulos Mr. & Mrs. Theodore Dizelos Ms. Agapi Doulaveris Mr. & Mrs. Vasilios Doulaveris Father & Mrs. Michael Eaccarino Mr. & Mrs. Kevin Eisenacher Ms. Georgia Ferentinos Mr. & Mrs. Max Ferentinos Mr. & Mrs. Metaxas K. Ferentinos Mrs. Sophia Ferentinos Mrs. Geneva Foster Mr. & Mrs. Peter Fotos Mr. Christo Foundas Mrs. Barbara Frangou Mr. & Mrs. George Galiachatos Mr. & Mrs. David Gamzon Mr. & Mrs. Christos Georgakopoulos Mr. & Mrs. Pete Georgallas Ms. Anna Georgallas Mr. & Mrs. George Georgiou Ms. Demetra Georgopoulos Mr. & Mrs. Demetrios Georgopoulos Mr. & Mrs. Sarantos Georgopoulos Miss Anastasia Gerohristodoulos Mr. & Mrs. Chris Gerohristodoulos Mr. George Gerohristodoulos Miss Sophia Gerohristodoulos Mr. & Mrs. Panagiotis Glekas Ms. Xenia Hajicosti Mr. & Mrs. George Haramis Mr. George Haris Mr. & Mrs. Michael Harrison Mrs. Paraskevoula Hays Mrs. Esther Heras Mr. & Mrs. Chris Hondros Mr. & Mrs. Gus Ioakim Ms. Patricia E. Jenkins Mrs. Maria Kafarakis Mr. & Mrs. Phillip Kafarakis Mr. Bill Kalamoutsos Mrs. Eleni Kalamoutsos Mr. & Mrs. George Kalargyros Mrs. Coula Kaleyias Mr. & Mrs. Anastasios Kaldis Miss Angeleke Kaldis Mr. Spiros A. Kaldis Mr. & Mrs. Spiros Kaldis Miss Anna Karadimas Mr. Athanasios Karadimas Mr. & Mrs. Spiros Karadimas Mr. & Mrs. John Karagiannis Mr. & Mrs. Erman Karakaya Mr. & Mrs. George Katsafanas Mr. & Mrs. Demetrios Kavadias Mr. & Mrs. Gabriel Kavadias Mrs. Vaso Kavadias Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Kavadias Ms. Theodora Kavadias 24

25 Stewards as of August 28, 2015 ( 309 Steward Cards) The following names are of families who love their God and have renewed their Commitment to the Church Ministries of Sts. Constantine & Helen. Stewardship pamphlets are available in the Narthex of the Church, or you may contact the Church office, and we will gladly send one by mail! Mrs. Kalliopi Kavoures Mr. & Mrs. Curtis Keith Mr. & Mrs. Nick P. Kokonis Mr. & Mrs. Nick Kontos Mr. & Mrs. Steve Kontos Mrs. Maria Koskinas Ms. Olympia Koskinas Mr. & Mrs. Demetre Koutras Mr. & Mrs. Demetre Koutras. Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Ernest Koutras Mr. & Mrs. George A. Koutras Mrs. Voula Koutris Mr. & Mrs. John Koutsouli Ms. Anastasia Kyritsopoulos Ms. Catherine Kyritsopoulos Mr. & Mrs. George Ladany, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Nickolas Lalekos Mr. & Mrs. Apostolos Lappas Mr. Dimitrios Lappas Miss Maria Lappas Mr. & Mrs. Spiro Levantis Ms. Georgia Lindroth Ms. Anna Magoulas Ms. Paula Magoulas Mr. & Mrs. Bryan Magrum Mr. & Mrs. Dimitrios Manolios Mr. & Mrs. Athanasios Mantzouranis Mrs. Athanasia J. Mantzouranis Mr. Constantine G. Mantzouranis Mr. George A. Mantzouranis Mr. & Mrs. George C. Mantzouranis Mr. George J. Mantzouranis Mr. & Mrs. James M. Mantzouranis Mr. & Mrs. John A. Mantzouranis Mr. & Mrs. John G. Mantzouranis Mr. & Mrs. Michael G. Mantzouranis Mrs. Theano Mantzouranis Mrs. Ernest A. Mantzouris Ms. Sophie Manus Ms. Stella Manus Mr. Christos Marafatsos Mr. Dimitrios P. Marafatsos Mr. & Mrs. George Marafatsos Mr. & Mrs. Petros Marafatsos Mr. & Mrs. Petros G. Marafatsos Mr. Georgios Marinos Mr. & Mrs. Ioannis Markatatos Mr. Alex & Dr. Despina Markogiannakis Mr. & Mrs. George Markopoulos Mr. & Mrs. John Markos Mr. & Mrs. Cleon Marlas Mr. & Mrs. Efrem Maroules Mrs. John S. Maroules Mrs. Aspasia P. Martinis Mr. & Mrs. Gregory Mathis Mrs. Terpsie Matrakas Mr. & Mrs. Theodore G. Matrakas Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas Matthews Mr. & Mrs. Josif Mavridis Miss Cassiane Mavromatis Miss Cornelia Mavromatis Mr. Elias Mavromatis Mr. Jacob Mavromatis Mr. & Mrs. Louis Mavromatis Miss Eleni Mayes Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Mayes, III Mr. Joseph C. Mayes, IV Ms. Marianthy Mendez Mr. & Mrs. Richard Mercado Ms. Alexandra Michaels Ms. Sylvia Michael Mr. Constaninos J. Mihailidis Mr. & Mrs. John Mihailidis Miss Vasilki Mihailidis Mr. Louis Mikedes Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Morton Mr. George Moshogianis Mr. & Mrs. Manuel Moshogianis 25 Mr. & Mrs. James Moshovitis Mr. Efstratios Mourtzanakis Ms. Georgia Nasios Ms. Maria Nasios Mr. & Mrs. Sotirios Nasios Ms. Zoe Nasios Mr. & Mrs. Costas Nathenas Ms. Pelagia Nathenas Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Nixon Mr. & Mrs. Michael O Donnell Mr. Patrick O Donnell Mr. & Mrs. Demetri Paidas Mr. & Mrs. Dimitrios Panagoulias Ms. Anastasia Panos Mrs. Litsa Pantazes Mr. Dimitrios Papaloizos Mr. & Mrs. Stavros Papaloizos Dr. & Mrs. Theodore Papaloizos Mr. & Mrs. Panagiotis Papanastasiou Mrs. Konstadina Papoulias Mr. & Mrs. James Pappas Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas P. Pappas Mr. & Mrs. Charles Papuchis Mr. & Mrs. Nikolaos Paschalidis Mr. & Mrs. Constantinos Paspalis Mr. & Mrs. John Passas Mr. & Mrs. Harry Perrus Mr. & Mrs. James Perrus Mr. & Mrs. Robert Perry Mr. & Mrs. Spyros Petropoulos Mr. Michael Pittas Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas Pittas Mrs. Barbara Pollos Ms. Stella Marafatsos-Prokopic Mr. & Mrs. Charilaos Psallidas Ms. Angela Rakis Mr. & Mrs. Nick Rakis Mr. & Mrs. Athanasios Raptis

26 Stewards as of August 28, 2015 ( 309 Steward Cards) The following names are of families who love their God and have renewed their Commitment to the Church Ministries of Sts. Constantine & Helen. Stewardship pamphlets are available in the Narthex of the Church, or you may contact the Church office, and we will gladly send one by mail! Mr. Anastasios Recachinas Mr. & Mrs. Andrew A. Recachinas Mr. & Mrs. Andrew J. Recachinas Mr. & Mrs. George Recachinas Miss Eleni Retzos Mrs. Helen Retzos Miss Christina Romas Mr. & Mrs. George Romas Miss Maria Romas Mr. & Mrs. Spyros Rozakis Mr. & Mrs. Christos Sakkos Mr. & Mrs. Ted Sakkos Mrs. Demetra Santorios Mr. & Mrs. Max Schindler Mrs. Litsa Sekas Ms. Sophia Severino Mrs. Angeliki Sideris Miss Gianoula Sideris Mr. & Mrs. George Sideris Miss Georgia Sideris Miss Theodora Sideris Mr. & Mrs. Lloyd Siegel Mr. George Siozios Mr. Paulos T. Siskos Mr. & Mrs.Vasilis Skaltsas Mr. & Mrs. Harry Solomos Mr. & Mrs. George Sourvinos Mr. & Mrs. Pete T. Spiropoulos Miss Maria Stamos Mr. & Mrs. William Stamos Mr. Sokratis Stassinos Mr. & Mrs. John P. Stathes Mr. & Mrs. Kostas Stathes Mr. & Mrs. Paul Stathes Mrs. Athena Strates Ms. Panagiota Strats Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Straub Miss Viktoria Taradouki Mr. & Mrs. Peter Themistokleous Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Themistos Ms. Elizabeth M. P. Thomas Mr. & Mrs. Bernard Thornberg Mr. & Mrs. Charles Tiches, II Mrs. Louis J. Tiches Mr. Louis J. Tiches, II Mr. & Mrs. Stamatios Tiches Mr. & Mrs. Angelo Tompros Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Triantis Mr. & Mrs. Timothy Trischuk Mr. & Mrs. Peter Tsahalis Miss Maria Tsigas Mrs. Helen D. Tsintolas Mr. & Mrs. George Tsioros Mr. Stelios Tsioros Mr. & Mrs. Demetrios P. Tsipianitis Mr. Panayioti Tsipianitis Mr. Konstantinos Tsonis Mr. & Mrs. Bill Tzamaras Mr. & Mrs. Avgerinos Vakalopoulos Mr. Xenofon Vakalopoulos Mrs. Jo Ann Valiotis Mr. & Mrs. Constantine Vithoulkas Mr. Spiros Vithoulkas Miss Alexandra Ward Mr. & Mrs. Dennis Ward Mr. & Mrs. Anton Wasef Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Wells Mr. David Wooten Mr. George Xeron Mr. Peter E. Yakas Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Yeonas Mr. & Mrs. George Yfantis Mr. Chirs Yfantis Ms. Vasso Yfantis Mrs. Soula Zavras Mr. & Mrs. Paul R. Zayas Mr. & Mrs. Petros Zervas Mrs. Anastasia Zibragos Mr. & Mrs. Constantine N. Zuras Ms. Matina N. Zuras Mrs. Voula N. Zuras We have received 309 Steward Cards which equals $310, pledged to date- Thank You! Our Stewardship Goal for 2015 is $400,000.00!!! $90, TO REACH OUR GOAL! LET S DO THIS!!! 26

27 GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA 8-10 East 79th St. New York, NY Tel: (212) Fax: (212) Protocol Number 01/15 January 1, 2015 Feast of Saint Basil and New Year Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 19:14) To the Most Reverend Hierarchs, the Reverend Priests and Deacons, the Monks and Nuns, the Presidents and Members of the Parish Councils of the Greek Orthodox Communities, the Distinguished Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Day, Afternoon, and Church Schools, the Philoptochos Sisterhoods, the Youth, the Hellenic Organizations, and the entire Greek Orthodox Family in America Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, On this blessed Feast of Saint Basil and the beginning of the New Year, our honored tradition is to offer prayers and support for the sacred ministry of our beloved Saint Basil Academy. For seventy years this institution of our Holy Archdiocese has offered the love of Christ, the comfort of His presence, and the healing power of faith to children, youth, and families in need. Serving Orthodox children from throughout the United States, Saint Basil Academy continues to provide a caring and spiritual environment where they are able to grow, learn, and achieve. This vital mission of Saint Basil Academy, carried out by the directors, staff, trustees and benefactors, is in keeping with our Lord s command to let the children come to me. This is accomplished through this ministry by bringing the love of Christ to those in need. Everything that is offered for the children and youth at Saint Basil s is offered in the name and presence of Christ. In daily care, in counseling and teaching, in recreation, and in worship, the students encounter Christ and His abundant and comforting love. Saint Basil Academy is also a place where the lives of the children and youth are guided in Christ. On the beautiful campus, in a nurturing environment of prayer and grace, they are led in the path of truth and love. They are shown the blessings of the life in Christ, how to follow His will and to find strength and assurance in His promises. They see the hope, joy, and power in a life of faith and a lifelong relationship with Him. This sacred work was also the focus of the patron saint of the Academy, Saint Basil. For the sick, orphans, travelers, and many others in need, he offered an encounter with Christ by taking His love to them. For others he guided them in truth and love through teaching and preaching, as a faithful and caring pastor, to their Savior and Redeemer. This is also our calling today. In our support for Saint Basil Academy, we are led by our Ladies Philoptochos Society and our local Philoptochos chapters in collecting an offering and in the celebration of the cutting of the Vasilopeta. We are also led by Christ and by the example of Saint Basil to fulfill the command of our Lord and let the children come to me. In your ministry in the parish and in your daily life in Christ, you are called to offer Him and guide others to an encounter with the Lord that will lead to abundant and eternal life. On this day may we offer our prayers and generous support for Saint Basil Academy. May we strengthen this vital work to children and youth in fulfilling the request of our Lord and in honoring the legacy of all who have established and supported this ministry in the past seventy years. May you also receive the abundant and rich blessings of our Lord at the beginning of this new year as we offer Him glory and honor unto the ages of ages! With paternal love in Christ, DEMETRIOS Archbishop of America GREEK LANGUAGE SCHOOL MINISTRY 27

28 The More You Know Visitation Fr. Michael invites himself to visit with you in the comfort and convenience of your own home, To have you share your journey of the past here in our community, To have Father Michael share with your entire family the Nea Zoe/New Life Building Ministry to date and to understand the path that has brought us to where we are, To share opportunities of decorating God s Holy Temple with Iconography and artifacts, To offer opportunities for your family to help further the completion of this holy calling from God. My dearest brothers and sisters, I was told that many of you are asking about pricing. First of all these are not products that we buy. These are opportunities to externally and physically manifest your love for God and to honor/memorialize a loved one. I do not want to reduce such a holy, personal and precious moment in your life by advertising prices for these HOLY things as they do in the marketplace for common goods. The iconography, artifacts and Building Components are all adorning God's Holy Temple. If you are interested in donating an icon, church furniture or part of our building, please call Fr. Michael for a private appointment to discuss and explore the many possibilities of expressing your love. Fr. Michael on his cell phone or Fr. Michael: fm@papouli.net to set-up a home visit. May God continue to bless you and His church community of Saints Constantine and Helen of Washington, DC 28

29 St. Kosmas Aitolos Bookstore BOOKSTORE HOURS: Monday thru Friday 10am-4pm Orthodox Christian Parenting: Cultivating God s Creation 29 ***Official Resource Book of all Catechists and Youth Workers *** By: Archimandrite Athanasios Mitilinaios Gardeners know that in order for a tree to be healthy and develop strong roots, it must be watered deeply and fed well while young. Later, when the inevitable storms come, the strong roots will be deep enough to prevent the tree from blowing over. If the roots are shallow, the tree will be lost. In the sacrament of holy marriage we hear: Your children will be like olive shoots around your table (Psalm 128:3). A verdant and fruitbearing olive tree requires cultivation, and all the more does the raising of our children. If we teach them all we can about their faith as early as possible, giving them spiritual roots that are strong and run deep, then when they face the world their faith will not blow away like seedlings in a storm. This book is especially designed for busy Orthodox Christian parents. It is the fruit of the labors of many pooled resources: Scripture, holy fathers, clergy, clergy families, monastics, and Orthodox parents. In the end, our children are the fruit of God's grace and our labors. If we spiritually tend to them in their youth, we will have nurtured their potential to grow into amazing, faithful, fruitful, even holy Orthodox Christians. Let us work diligently when they are young and the harvest will be plentiful. The cost for this book is: $25.00

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31 HIGH SCHOOL GOYA MINISTRY Where:?????????? Your house!!!!!!!!!! See dates below that you can volunteer to host a Bible Study. Starting when????? Mondays: 7pm to 8pm 2015 September 14, 21, & 28 October 5, 12, 19 & 26 November 7, 16 & 30 December 1, 7 & January 11, 18, & 25, February 8, 15, 22 & 29 March 7, 21 & 28 April 4, 11 & 18 Required Version for all GOYAns Please stop by our bookstore and pick one up!! 31

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34 THANK YOU!! An anonymous donor has made a donation in memory of Mr. Nickolaos Pantazes for the Youth of our Church, who are NOW!, not the future of the Church!! 34

35 Greek Dance Ministry Kick-off BBQ Today!! After 3000 years of Greek Dance Tradition, Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church of Washington, DC, continues the journey! Please join us today, immediately following the Divine Liturgy at our new church property (701 Norwood Rd, Silver Spring, Maryland) for some fun and fellowship to kick-off our new dance year! On the patio outside our Chapel come and find out what Greek Dance Ministry means to, for and by our youth 35

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39 Friends of Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church of Washington, DC Please join us for a fabulous evening at the Sheraton Premier Tysons on Saturday, September 19th, featuring ELLI KOKKINOU from Greece! All proceeds will be donated to our Nea Zoe Building Ministry Fund. FOR MORE INFO CALL: DC/METRO AREA: BALTIMORE: TOLL FREE: BUY YOUR TICKETS ONLINE: 39

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