More than $3 million has been raised thus far.

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1 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2007 Vol. 72 No Faithful Respond to Archdiocese Appeal for Fire Victims in Greece NEW YORK In the wake of the devastating fires that struck Greece in late August, the Archdiocese established a Greek Fire Relief Fund and took other actions to assist the thousands of victims who have lost loved ones, their homes and belongings. Special trays were passed in early September with many thousands of dollars contributed to the fund. Archbishop Demetrios appointed a Special Committee of prominent Greek Americans to oversee and coordinate the collection and distribution of monies raised for the Relief Fund and also convened an emergency meeting of key advisors and staff members to mobilize the resources of the Archdiocese and the greater community to respond to the tremendous needs of the people in the devastated areas. On Aug. 27, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte briefed the Archbishop on steps the American government was taking to deal with the tragedy. The Archbishop appointed as special advisor Andrew Natsios, former director of the U.S. Agency for International Development (US Aid), the federal agency that administers economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide. Mr. Natsios has extensive experience in assisting beleaguered nations, most recently as President Bush s special envoy for Sudan. Publicity Campaign The Archdiocese also launched a major campaign to heighten the awareness of the general public to the devastation caused by this calamity. On Sept , the Archdiocese sponsored a full-page ad in the New York Times and USA TODAY with an appeal for contributions to the Relief Fund. The ad depicted a dramatic picture of the Winged Statue of Nike (Victory) which was threatened by the wildfires in Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympics. The ad also run in weekend editions of the Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times. Thus far, more than $3 million has been raised as thousands of persons have responded to the appeal. Of that amount, Mary Jaharis of New York and Mr. and Mrs. Alex Spanos of Stockton, Calif., each contributed $1 million. (See related story) Hundreds of catastrophic wildfires struck the western Peloponnesus, Euboea, the fringes of Athens and other parts of Greece for much of the last week in August, the worst fire catastrophe to strike Greece in more than a century. As a result more than 70 people lost their lives, more than 1,500 homes were destroyed and at least 4,000 people were left homeless. The worst of the fires were concentrated in the mountains of the southwestern More than $3 million has been raised thus far. Peloponnesus, the island of Euboea, Mt. Parnassos north of Athens, and other sites. Strong winds blew smoke and ash over the city, blackening the evening sky and turning the rising moon red. Countless individuals have shown their generosity in the wake of the disaster. In one recent example, Archbishop Demetrios said he received a call from an Archon and member of both Leadership 100 and Faith Endowment, who anonymously donated $400,000. Time and time again, I have been overwhelmed and deeply moved by the magnanimous generosity of this indi- page 2 $1.25 per copy Archbishop Demetrios Celebrates 40 years of Hierarchical Ministry NEW YORK The 40th anniversary of Archbishop Demetrios ordination to the episcopacy was celebrated with several events in September, beginning with an Archieratical Divine Liturgy at Holy Trinity Archdiocesan Cathedral on Sept. 15. The events coincided with the 8th anniversary of Archbishop Demetrios enthronement as the Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America. Those attending included more than 200 school children from Archdiocese parochial schools in the New York area. They greeted His Eminence upon his arrival at the cathedral and presented a program following the service in which they sang his acclamation and recited poetry. page 3 This image of Greece was captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA s Terra satellite on August 26. A line of fires stretches along the western coast of Greece s Peloponnesus Peninsula. FAMILY OUTREACH SUNDAY... 9 IONIAN VILLAGE EXPERIENCE Archbishop s Encyclical Archdiocese News , 6-8 Challenge Classifieds Ecum. Patriarchate Greek Section In Memoriam Letters Metropolises News Opinions Parish Profile People Survey Voice of Philoptochos... 26

2 2 A RCHDIOCESE NEWS SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2007 Archdiocese Mobilizes to Help Fire Victims in Greece page 1 vidual who has always shown himself to be a true Christian steward of the material blessings which he has received from the Almighty, the Archbishop reflected. He responds without reservation whenever and wherever a need has arisen and we are especially thankful to our Lord for having blessed our Archdiocese with such a steadfast and faithful communicants. He continued, We are witnessing unbelievable losses of lives and property but also of the livelihoods of countless individuals who will need assistance for many years to recover from this calamity the Archbishop said. Greece, the birthplace of democracy, the place where the Olympics Games were born, the cornerstone of Western Civilization is experiencing unprecedented destruction with over His Eminence felt it would be most helpful for these groups to meet and coordinate their efforts to better meet the needs of the victims. Fund committee In addition to His Eminence, who serves as chairman of the Greek Fire Relief Fund, committee members include: Michael Jaharis, vice-chairman of the Archdiocesan Council; Georgia Skeadas, national president of Philoptochos; George Behrakis, Leadership 100 Endowment Fund president; Dr. Anthony Limberakis, commander of the Order of St. Andrew; Peter Kikis, president of the Faith Endowment and Mr. Natsios. Contributions can be made at the Archdiocese website On Thursday, Sept. 20, the Archbishop attended a gathering in Washington organized by USAID of select guests and corporate participants of the BCLC (Business Civic Leadership Center) Corporate Citizenship Conference to discuss amongst other concerns, reconstruction efforts in the wildfire-affected areas in Greece. USAID is interested in fostering public-private alliances targeting reforestation and livelihood restoration and linking the private sector, the environmental NGOs and the Greek American community. Related Efforts Several U.S. ethnic groups also joined the effort to send emergency aid to Greek fire victims. AHEPA announced the creation of a coalition effort to raise emergency relief funding for those affected by the recent rash of wildfires throughout Greece. The coalition currently consists of the following national ethnic organizations: Armenian Americans The Armenian National Committee of America (left) A LARGE fire-fighting airplane drops water on the raging fires in the Ilia perfecture in Western Peloponnese. (bottom) THIS PRIEST holds up a gospel cover from the ashes of his church in the village of Greka in the Olympia area in Ilia. Italian Americans The National Italian American Foundation Jewish Americans B nai B rith International Serbian Americans Serbian Unity Congress These organizations are asking their members to make tax deductible donations through the AHEPA website (www. ahepa.org) into a special Emergency Greek Fire Relief Fund with 100 percent of the proceeds going directly to the people of Greece. IOCC on the ground Taking immediate action to provide humanitarian aid, International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), which operates under the auspices of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) also is providing relief supplies and technical assistance for the thousands of displaced villagers. As we mourn the loss of life and sympathize with those who have had to flee their homes, we are mobilizing our emergency response through our IOCC Athens office and coordinating with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, said IOCC Executive Director & CEO Constantine M. Triantafilou, who visited Greece to coordinate the relief effort. More than sixty people have lost their lives, others remain missing, and Greece s emergency response capabilities are stretched to their limits, said Despina Katsivelaki, IOCC head of office in Athens. These fires have devastated large areas of Greece, from the island of Euboea, 650,000 acres of forest and farmland (an area the size of Rhode Island) reduced to ashes. It is our sacred duty and obligation to offer whatever assistance we can at this most critical time. Contributions can be made by visiting the Archdiocese website at org. Aid to the fire victims has taken on other forms, in addition to the financial assistance. Parishes are holding clothing drives and donating other supplies. At Annunciation Church in Norfolk, Va., children ages 3 to 18 have made blankets to send to victims for the approaching winter. Meeting to coordinate Archbishop Demetrios also invited the heads of the major Greek American organizations, to a special meeting at the Archdiocese on Sept. 24 to compare notes on what their respective associations are doing regarding the disaster in Greece. While the Archdiocese has been at the forefront of the national effort to raise awareness and assistance for the people affected by the catastrophic fires, many groups have also undertaken their own endeavors. USPS ISSN Published bi-monthly except single issue in May, June, November and December by the Greek Ortho dox Archdiocese of America. Editorial and Business Offi ce: 8 East 79 th Street, New York, NY TEL.: (212) FAX (212) DIRECTOR & EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Stavros H. Papagermanos EDITOR: Jim Golding (Chryssoulis) PRODUCTION- ADVERTISING: Eleftherios Pissalidis ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT: Soula Podaras COLOR CORRECTION: Abel Montoya CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Nicholas Manginas Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY and at additional mailing offices. The Orthodox Observer is produced entirely in-house. Past issues can be found on the Internet, at: observer@goarch.org Articles do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America which are expressed in official statements so labeled. Subscription rates are $12 per year. Canada $ Overseas Air Mail, $55.00 per year. $1.50 per copy. Subscriptions for the membership of the Greek Orthodox Church in America are paid through their contribution to the Archdiocese. Of this contribution, $5.00 is forwarded to the Orthodox Observer. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: ORTHODOX OBSERVER, 8 East 79 th Street, New York, NY north of Athens to the Peloponnese in the south, she continued. Ms. Katsivelaki toured the communities of Zaharo, Andritsena, Olympia, Krestena and Pirgos, to determine the most immediate needs of the villagers. This is a terrible catastrophe, said Katsivelaki, I saw villages where there was nothing, nothing left, no homes, no olive groves, nothing. Katsivelaki. In addition, some 19 nations from Europe and the Middle East sent equipment and personnel to help battle the fires and assist victims. (See related story)

3 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2007 A RCHDIOCESE N E WS Archdiocese Celebrates Archbishop s 40 Years of Archieratical Service 3 page 1 Numerous hierarchs and more than 40 priests from around the country also attended. Participating hierarchs were Metropolitan Maximos of Pittsburgh, Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta, Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit, Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey, Bishop Dimitrios of xanthos, Bishop Andonios of Phasiane and Bishop Savas of Troas, who first read the congratulatory message of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and offered the homily. two clergy and presented the Archbishop with flowers and a bas-relief of the Kremlin churches. Archbishop Demetrios had visited Moscow in August 2000 for the consecration of Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow. Following the Liturgy and his meeting with the area school children, His Eminence proceeded to a reception in the Cathedral Center where he was greeted by members of the Greek and Cypriot diplomatic corps, invited guests and clergy and laity from throughout the United States. The Orthros and Divine Liturgy were broadcast live on the Internet and on Time Warner Digital Channel 509(NGTV). On Sept. 17, the actual date of His Eminence s ordination, the Archbishop presided at the divine liturgy at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Flushing, NY where he ordained to the priesthood deacon Thofanis Papantonis. Later on in the day a doxology and reception, attended by lay leaders of the Church, including Archdiocesan Council Vice Chairman Michael Jaharis, National Philoptochos President Georgia Skeadas, other dignitaries and Archdiocese staff ARCHBISHOP Demetrios celebrates Divine Liturgy with Hierarchs of the Arhcdiocese. MAYOR Bloomberg with Archbishop Demetrios at the Gracie Mansion reception. BISHOP Savas of Troas Commenting on the significance of the Archbishop s 40 years, Bishop Savas cited numerous biblical references to the number 40 from both the Old and New Testaments, including Jesus fasting in the wilderness 40 days before beginning His ministry and appearing to His disciples for 40 days following His resurrection, and many other examples. The bishop also cited the Archbishop s important role as a teacher during his career. His ordaining hierarchs recognized in him a teaching gift of exceptional brilliance, and set him apart to be a teacher of teachers, to oversee the ecclesiastical education of the clergy, Bishop Savas said. Over the course of the past 40 years, His Eminence has taught and continues to teach - hundreds of men who have gone or will go on to become teachers in their own right, both in Greece and closer to home, at Holy Cross School of Theology and Harvard University. I dare say that as many as one in five of the clergymen currently serving our Archdiocese, as well as many in other Orthodox Christian jurisdictions and others beyond the Orthodox fold, have been taught by His Eminence to love, as he himself so clearly loves, the secret things of God s wisdom hidden in the pages of Holy Scripture. In brief comments following the Liturgy, the Archbishop downplayed his accomplishments in terms of his length of service, saying instead that, The important thing is to serve God and that he was given the tremendous privilege to serve God, he said. All of us here are happy to have been part of this event. At the end of the service, Bishop Mercurius of Zaraisk, administrator of the Moscow Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, made a surprise visit and brought greetings from the chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate s Department for External Relations, Metropolitan Cyril of Smolensk and Kaliningrad. He was accompanied by members took place at the Church s headquarters on East 79th Street. Rounding out the events, on Sept. 25, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, hosted a reception for the Archbishop at Gracie Mansion, the official residence of the city s mayors. In a brief program at the event, Mayor Bloomberg called the Archbishop a good neighbor, true friend and moral compass and praised him for inspiring many people during the period following the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and taking the lead to restore St. Nicholas Church that was destroyed in the collapse of the Twin Towers so it can once again stand as a beacon of faith. The Mayor also cited His Eminence s reaching out to be a good neighbor to the citizens of Greece in need following the catastrophic fires in August. PHOTOS D. PANAGOS (below) NEW YORK Religious and Civic Leaders with Archbishop Demetrios at the Gracie Mansion Reception. (bottom) CHILDREN line-up to welcome the Archbishop. The reception was attended by many New York religious and political leaders including former Mayor David Dinkins, Roman Catholic Archbishop of New York Cardinal Edward Egan, Consul General of Greece Katerina Boura, Consul General of the Republic of Cyprus Andreas Panayiotou, Archbishop of the Armenian Church in the US Khajag Barsamian, Archbishop Cyril Aphrem Karim of the Syrian Orthodox Archdiocese, the Vatican s Apostolic Nuncio to the United Nations Archbishop Celestino Migliore and Bishop Stephen P. Bouman of the Evangelic Lutheran Church.

4 E C U M E N I C A L Orthodox Hierarchs from around the world gathered at the Phanar at the invitation of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for the annual Synaxis of Bishops on the occasion of the feast of the Indiction, the commencement of the ecclesiastical year on Sept. 1. Archbishop Demetrios together with members of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Archdiocese, participated in the synaxis. The Archbishop concluded his four-day visit to the Mother Church of Constantinople and returned from Istanbul Sept. 3. In the days before and during the synaxis, members of the worldwide ecumenical family had been expressing support and solidarity to His All Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch. On Aug. 27, the Conference of European Churches (CEC) expressed its strong support for the right of the Patriarch to use of the title Ecumenical. Two days later, a letter addressed to His All Holiness by the World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary, the Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, expressed the Council s whole-hearted appreciation of the authenticity and importance of the Ecumenical Patriarchate as an institution and the Ecumenical Patriarch as an office within the wider church world. The letter conveyed the WCC s firm support and reaffirmed His All Holiness Bartholomew's ecumenical standing while cherishing his leadership in the global ecumenical movement. After his return to the United States, Archbishop Demetrios issued the follow- SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2007 P A T R I A R C H A T E Synaxis of Bishops at Ecumenical Patriarchate for the Feast of the Indiction ILULISSAT, Greenland Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew led the 7th International Symposium on the Environment which took place aboard the motor ship Fram Sept. 6-12, in the Arctic and in particular in Greenland. The theme of this 7th Symposium was The Arctic: Mirror of Life. The water-based symposia have convened since 1995 in different bodies of water of the globe by Religion, Science and the Environment, a non-governmental organization based in Athens, Greece. and under the auspices of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission and Kofi Annan, former secretary-general of the United Nations. If all the ice of Greenland melts, the consequences for Greenland itself and for the whole world would be devastating, ing statement on these events: At a time when our beloved and Holy Ecumenical Patriarchate is facing strenuous challenges, it is heartening to see the strong worldwide support of the ecumenical movement. Their unswerving commitment to the historical, human, and religious rights and freedoms of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and the person of His All Holiness bear witness to the aspirations of all people for liberty and justice. Patriarch Leads Seventh International Symposium on the Environment in Greenland ECUMENICAL Patriarch Bartholomew leads participants in silent prayer for the protection of the evironment aboard the motor ship Fram sailing among the icebergs in the fiords of Ilulissat in Greenland. THE PATRIARCH on a boat observes the banks along the coast of Greenland. PHOTOS N. MANGINAS truly a biblical catastrophe, said Patriarch Bartholomew and continued: Scientists tell us that we have 10 years, maybe less to limit the emission of dangerous gases which cause the greenhouse effect and avert further warming of the planet. Humanity does not have the luxury to fight over economic, racial or religious differences. Humanity has to work as one and has to act now. There is already considerable damage to the Arctic ecosystem. With its direct influence over the whole planet, the Pole is a powerful icon of the interconnectedness of humanity. This interdependence is highlighted through scientific evidence, but also through human experience. Change in the Arctic is the result of human activity elsewhere, and is further exacerbated by the changing climate. The Arctic is no longer a pristine wilderness. Chemicals produced in industrialized nations are carried north by air and water currents, and the Arctic acts as the final sink where persistent organic pollutants are trapped. The traditional foods of indigenous people are now unsafe. There is also radioactive contamination. Leakage and waste from nuclear power plants from Western Europe is carried to the Arctic Ocean, where there are also some 120 decommissioned nuclear submarines. A wealth of information is available at

5 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE OF ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW TO ARCHBISHOP DEMETRIOS ON THE 40th ANNIVERSARY OF HIS ORDINATION TO THE EPISCOPACY Most Reverend Archbishop Demetrios of America, most honorable Exarch of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, most beloved brother and co-celebrant in the Holy Spirit of our Modesty: may the grace and mercy of the Lord God Almighty be with your Your most beloved Eminence. The auspicious anniversary of the completion of forty years since ordination of Your beloved Eminence to the episcopacy, and the eight years from your election and installation upon the Throne of the Holy Archdiocese of America moves our Modesty to express our warmest congratulatory wishes. You have been gifted by God with many spiritual gifts and rare erudition, but chief of all you have lived as a tireless laborer of tangible real love, virtue and philanthropy. Justly so, you have earned the love and respect of those who, during the forty-year period of your God-pleasing Episcopal ministry, have had the blessing to know Your Eminence from personal experience. For this reason, we gloryify our merciful Lord, Who has shown you forth as the head of the Holy Archdiocese in America, a model and example for the countless children of the Mother Church and for the plethora of our People, despite your desire to remain without notice. But the Lord looks upon the humility of His servants, as it states in the Scripture: Upon whom shall I look, except on him who is humble and tranquil, and who stands in awe of My words? (Isaiah 66:2). You have responded to this call with sacrifice, offering yourself to the service of the People of God in a land with many unique features and difficulties, working ceaselessly for the spiritual cultivation of the flock entrusted to you, guiding it to the salvific pastures of our Faith. It is because of your wise care that the cooperation between the clergy and the laity for the good of the Church has been decisively improved. You quickly established the much-desired peace, and united your Orthodox flock in the United States of America by your wise guidance. In your person, this flock found a true father and authentic shepherd, one who calls his own the sheep by name and leads them forth, in the example of Christ the Chief Shepherd, Who sacrificed His life for the sake of the sheep (St. John 10:1-11), and ever offers Himself as food and drink for the Faithful. You opened for them the door of unity, of love, and of peaceful conditions, by which, if anyone enters, he will be saved, and will go in and will go out and find pasture, becoming the good gatekeeper for all. And more than this, your paternal care for the progress and support of Greek Culture and Education throughout our Omogeneia, and through your upgrading of the role of the Greek Schools, the generous granting of scholarships, and your constant personal presence at the educational institutions of the Holy Archdiocese, have resulted in a hope-filled future dawning for our Orthodox Youth. For it is not possible for the youth to bear spiritual fruit unless they are watered from a tender age at the life-giving streams of Orthodoxy and our Culture. Your efforts established positive and harmonious relationships of cooperation, understanding, and tolerance with heterodox Christians, but also with believers of other religions. Your manifest selfless love toward all people, regardless of ethnic background or religious persuasion in one multicultural society has earned the esteem of all, and elevated the authority of the Orthodox Church as an institution, which is necessary for the unhindered realization of Her salvific work. For this reason, even the political authorities of the Country honored you, and in your person, the Mother Church. For all this, we owe glory to God Who has empowered you, and we wholeheartedly congratulate Your beloved Eminence. It is our prayer that the Great High Priest grant unto you length of days, many more years so that you may continue to bear fruit as you spend yourself for our brothers and sisters in the United States of America, in imitation of Christ. Moreover, at the time of the future recompense, may you enjoy the just wage of the good and faithful Steward and hear the voice of the Righteous Judge and Master we pray to hear: Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful over a little, I will set you over many; enter into the joy of your Lord! (Matthew 25:21). May His Grace, Blessing and ineffable Mercy, together with our brotherly love and esteem, and the laudation of the Mother Church be with Your beloved Eminence, forever. GRAND OPENING OFFER Visit our new branch at 1577 Northern Blvd. Hurry! These offers expire on 10/26/2007 so the sooner you open your account, the longer you ll enjoy the great rates. Celebrate with us and reach the top of the market! Money Market 5.25 * %APY Turn your savings into performance! 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6 Commissioned Icons for individuals and churches from the leading Iconographers in Greece, using egg tempera colors and 22k gold leaf Hundreds of high quality Icons to choose from in a variety of styles and sizes 15% off all orders over $150. Use discount code NH15 on our order form. Nineteen nations in Europe and the Middle East sent aid of Greece during the August conflagration in the form of firefighters, aircraft and equipment. The following is a list of those countries and their contribution to the fire fighting effort. (Source: MSNBC) Austria sent two army helicopters, a transport plane and 20 firefighters. Cyprus sent 11 firefighting vehicles, 55 firefighters and 29 civil defense personnel. The Czech Republic provided a helicopter with a five-member crew. Denmark sent six firefighting all-terrain vehicles for climbing steep slopes. Finland volunteered three helicopters and 25 firefighters. France provided four water-tanker planes and 60 specialist helicopter firefighters. Germany sent three CH-53 water-carrying helicopters. SEPTEMBER OCTOBER Athenagoras Human Rights Award NEW YORK The Order of St. Andrew, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of America have named Archbishop Demetrios as the recipient of the 2007 Athenagoras Human Rights Award. The Award will be presented on Saturday, Oct. 27, at the Archons' annual banquet at the Hilton Hotel in New York. The Order of St. Andrew is a dedicated and distinguished group of laymen, recognized as Defenders of the Faith, who have been granted the title of Archon by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. In announcing the award, Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis, national commander of the Order of St. Andrew, stated, Archbishop Demetrios of America exemplifies the very elements that constitute the Athenagoras Human Rights Award - humanity, humility, holiness, compassion and leadership. We will never forget his extraordinary personal care in the tragic aftermath of the 9-11 terrorist attacks Moreover, throughout his archiepiscopacy in America he has promoted and defended the dignity Following Archbishop Demetrios appeal for the Greek Fire Relief Fund, donations of $1 million came from two sources. Mary Jaharis of New York, wife of Archdiocesan Council Vice Chairman Michael Jaharis and Mr. and Mrs. Alex Spanos of Stockton, Calif., each made the $1 million donations. Mrs. Jaharis made her gift in memory of her parents, Ismene and George Spyros, who were from the Peloponnesus. While the town from which they came was not affected by the fires, Mrs. Jaharis was very moved and deeply saddened by the loss of lives and destruction left behind by the fires in neighboring towns. Mrs. Jaharis, in a note she sent to His Eminence informing him of her decision to make this gift, wrote When a disaster of this magnitude hits so close to home it has special significance. I could not stop watching the coverage of the fires and sanctity of the Apostolic Throne of St. Andrew, our beloved Ecumenical Patriarchate. On the occasion of his 40th Anniversary of his ordination to the Episcopacy and in thanksgiving for his 47 years in the priestly order of Melchizedek, he has demonstrated exemplary service to humankind as an Orthodox hierarch, theologian, statesman and biblical scholar, the Archons of the Order of St. Andrew are honored to bestow the 2007 Athenagoras Human Rights Award upon the spiritual leader of Greek Orthodox Christians in America, and Exarch of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, our beloved Archbishop Demetrios. Established in 1986, the Athenagoras Award honors Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras who served as Archbishop of the Americas for 18 years before being elected Ecumenical Patriarch in He was universally acknowledged as a visionary leader of Orthodoxy, numbering more than 250 million faithful worldwide, who worked for peace among Churches and people throughout his life. Two Major Gifts of $1 M for Greek Fire Relief Fund on TV and while it was painful to watch, I kept hoping and praying that it would all quickly end. My heart goes out to those affected by the disaster especially since most were hardworking farmers and many elderly who spent a lifetime working to earn a living and now all of that has been destroyed by the fires. How sad it must be for them to see the remains of their fire-gutted homes, and to gaze out over the hillside where their olives trees once stood and their sheep grazed, all of it now dust and ashes. In making his contribution to the fund, Mr. Spanos stated, We watched with heavy hearts the catastrophic fires and the destruction they left behind which affected thousands of people, their property and the beautiful countryside of Greece. I was greatly moved by the tragedy unfolding before my eyes and I know that every Greek American and every person was equally moved. 19 Nations Respond Aid Firefighting Efforts Hungary volunteered 18 firefighters, one doctor and two fire engines and backup equipment. Israel sent 55 firefighters. Italy provided a water-tanker plane. The Netherlands volunteered three firefighting helicopters and 27 crew members. Norway sent a firefighting helicopter. Portugal sent a tanker plane and six personnel. Romania provided an Mi-17 helicopter with a nine-man crew Russia sent two heavy firefighting helicopters, two Mi-8 helicopters and a multifunctional amphibian plane. Slovenia volunteered a water-carrying helicopter. Spain sent two tanker planes. Switzerland provided four water-carrying helicopters. Turkey volunteered a fire-fighting tanker plane. Lord the Lifegiver - Commissioned by Saint Demetrios Church in Jamaica, NY Miniature Icons, perfect for weddings, baptisms, and church bookstores info@religiousicons.com ph:

7 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2007 Archdiocese Finance Committee Implements New National Ministries Commitment Program NEW YORK The implementation phase of the New National Ministries Commitment Program, which the 2006 Nashville Clergy Laity Congress approved, began in July and has now been completed in all Metropolises of the Archdiocese, reports George Vourvoulias, Archdiocesan Finance Committee chairman. Each Metropolis now has a fully functional finance committee to support the chancellor and the Metropolitan with this new program. In late spring, the 2007 allocations under the new program had been finalized for all parishes throughout the country and work is well under way to complete the allocations for This new process will enable parishes to include actual allocation amounts in their annual budget process. The Financial Department of the Archdiocese reports that even though allocations for 2007 were late in reaching the parishes this year, the financial results are impressive and exceed last year s results of the same period. During the parish leadership meetings held at every Metropolis this past year, the Finance Committee was told of the great need for stewardship assistance from the majority of parish leaders they encountered. Responding to these requests and as part of Phase 2 of the planned restructuring of the Archdiocese Finance and Stewardship programs, Mr. Vourvoulias announced the revitalization of the National Stewardship Commission under the capable direction of Ron Harb of Little Rock, Ark. Mr. Vourvoulias commented, It is our intention to work with the Archdiocese Department of Stewardship Ministry to National Stewardship Commission Revitalized provide the needed materials, information, manuals and training necessary to assist all parishes within the Archdiocese in order to implement or improve their stewardship programs. We recognize that without financially healthy parishes across the nation we cannot have strong Metropolises and consequently a strong Archdiocese to support our National Ministries. Ron Harb serves as a member of the Archdiocesan Council, the Metropolis Council of Detroit and the Finance and Stewardship Committee of the Archdiocese. He is also an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Vourvoulias noted that Ron is a staunch advocate of stewardship, believing that true stewardship in the Orthodox Church is really a way of life. Speaking on the new initiative Mr. Harb said: The new National Stewardship Commission will work with the Archdiocese Ministries to raise the awareness and education of stewardship. We intend to utilize the ministries of our Archdiocese in the areas of technology, communications, development and stewardship in order to provide our parishes with the best possible stewardship resources available today. As soon as materials are available, members of the National Stewardship Commission will commence visits to the Metropolises to conduct stewardship training seminars with both clergy and lay leaders. The new 2008 stewardship campaign is being distributed to parishes this month and is also available on-line at www. goarch.org/en/archdiocese/departments/ stewardship/ Questions about stewardship resources can be ed to stewardship@goarch.org New Dispute Resolution Procedures Approved by the Clergy Laity Congress Many times disagreements arise within the Church, presenting the faithful, our clergy and our communities with significant challenges. St. Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians admonishes us: When any of you has a grievance against another, do you dare to take it to court before the unrighteous instead of taking it before the saints?... In fact, to have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you (I Corinthians 6:1,7). The 2006 Clergy Laity Congress in Nashville, in an attempt to address those disputes that involve ecclesiastical, theological, canonical and Church governance or property issues in the life of a parish and the broader Church community, proposed and approved dispute resolution procedures that govern the settlement of such disagreements in a manner befitting Orthodox Christians. These procedures were recently forwarded to and approved by the Ecumenical Patriarchate and are now part of the Regulations of the Archdiocese. While the procedures include mechanisms to settle grievances and mediate conflicts, they do not in any way displace the Holy Canons and Traditions. Rather, they serve as a supplemental authority, providing a sole and exclusive remedy for defined disagreements and conflicts, in order to preserve peace in the Church. The procedures include rules for appealing disagreements at the Parish, Metropolis and Archdiocesan levels. The resolution process is applicable to disagreements between parishioners within the same parish, individuals within two or more parishes of the same Metropolis, two or more priests, two or more parishes, or between chancellors, hierarchs, or other combinations of disputes that could arise among parties within the greater Church community. These procedures do not cover matters involving sexual misconduct, which are governed separately by the Archdiocese s Statement of Policy Regarding Sexual Misconduct by Clergy. The dispute resolution procedures also govern such topics as the recording of procedures, presentation of evidence, appeals processes and enforcement, as well as payment of fees and costs. As these procedures now become part of the Regulations that govern our Archdiocese, let us not forget another admonition of St. Paul which guides us towards forgiveness: Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, and if anyone has a complaint against another, just as Christ forgave you, so should you also forgive. And with all these things have love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ govern your hearts; for that end, you are called in One Body; and be thankful to Christ (Colossians 3:13-15). These new additions to the Regulations will be distributed to all parishes in the coming weeks and can be found on the Archdiocese website at org/en/archdiocese/documents/upr.asp Holy Cross Seminary Celebrates Annual Feast BROOKLINE, Mass. Archbishop Demetrios celebrated the Feast of the Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross at Hellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology Sept The Archbishop, who also serves as Board of Trustees chairman and is a former tenured professor, awarded promotions to seminarians during the Divine Liturgy. Metropolitan Methodios was in attendance. After the service, Archbishop Demetrios conducted the rassophoria, bestowing the outer robe to 19 Holy Cross seniors who will graduate in May His Eminence also performed the stavrophoria and bestowed crosses to 29 newly affirmed seminarians, men in undergraduate or graduate studies who have completed one year of candidacy. In addition, women enrolled in the Masters of Divinity program were also recognized. One woman beginning her final year and three women entering their ISTANBUL Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew received Nicholas Burns, U.S. under secretary of state for political affairs, at the Phanar, Sept. 18. The two men had a fruitful discussion in the Patriarchal office, following which Mr. Burns in a statement to the Press said: First of all, let me say that it is a great pleasure to be here, in Istanbul. I am looking forward to meetings tomorrow with the Turkish government, including the prime minister. It is the time when United States wants to strengthen its relationship with Turkey. As part of this visit I came today to pay respects to His All Holiness, Bartholomew. He is a very good friend of our country. He is a man who is very much respected in the United States. He has been given a special award in 1997 by the Congress of the United States. He is a man of peace and he is a champion of our environment D. PANAGOS second year were honored by receiving an icon from His Eminence. On Sept. 14 clergy, school officials, trustees, faculty, students and their families and worshippers from the Boston area, filled the chapel. The Divine Liturgy was followed by the Elevation of the Venerable and Life- Giving Cross service. Nine clergymen accompanied in procession the cross, set on a tray and surrounded by basil and flowers. The church resounded with the hymn of the day: O Lord, save your people. At the conclusion of services, faithful reverenced the cross and received a blessing and a sprig of basil from Archbishop Demetrios. The feast day also is traditionally the matriculation day at the school. This year s new students number 28 men and four women entering Holy Cross (some of whom are returning for a second degree) and 18 men and three women entering Hellenic College. Nicholas Burns Visits Ecumenical Patriarch N. MANGINAS and I express the great respect of our government for him and for the Patriarchate, and our hope is that the Patriarchate will continue the long tradition of 17 centuries of a vibrant community here. We obviously are profoundly grateful to the Turkish government for the fact that it has been a friend of the Patriarchate and we hope that it will continue in the years ahead. In answering a question about the problems facing the Patriarchate and the issue of Halki Mr. Burns said: We had a full discussion with His All Holiness. The issue of Halki is an issue that the United States for many, many years has supported its re-opening. But, I think that it is better to let the Turkish authorities and the Ecumenical Patriarchate have a private discussion on the specifics of that issue, because we are sure that with good will there could be progress.

8 Cantonis Chair of Byzantine Studies Inaugurated at HC/HC BROOKLINE, Mass. In addition to the beginning of an academic year at Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, this year s fall 2007 semester commenced with the opening of the Michael G. and Anastasia Cantonis Chair of Byzantine Studies. The Cantonis Chair of Byzantine Studies, only the second fully endowed academic chair at Hellenic College/Holy Cross, is the result of a generous donation by Michael and Anastasia Cantonis of Tarpon Springs, Fla. The gift (currently valued at $2.5 million) also provides additional resources for lectures, conferences, publications, research, and the development of a Byzantine studies program at Hellenic College. The Cantonis Chair inaugural event was held Sept. 12 at the Archbishop Iakovos Library and Learning Resource Center. Michael and Anastasia Cantonis Dr. Thomas Lelon, vice-chairman of the Board of Trustees, Archbihsop Demetrios, George Cantonis and Fr. Triantafilou. A reception in Dowd Hall, the central hall of the 100-year-old mansion that serves as the administration building, immediately followed the event. The evening was capped off with a private dinner in honor of the Cantonis family. The afternoon event began with an opening prayer offered by Archbishop Demetrios/ In his remarks, His Eminence noted the importance of the chair not only for Hellenic College and Holy Cross but also for the general progress of Byzantine Studies in North America. Fr. Nicholas Triantafilou, Hellenic College/Holy Cross president, spoke of the example of Christian stewardship the Cantonis family s gift represents. George M. Cantonis, son of Michael and Anastasia, represented the family at the event. He spoke of his parents dedication and hard work and his father s strong commitment to the Church demonstrated over the years. In her remarks, Hellenic College Dean Dr. Lily Macrakis thanked the search committee members and enumerated the steps needed for the election of a named chair candidate. Fr. Thomas FitzGerald, dean of Holy Cross, noted the institution s commitment to the importance and legacy of Byzantium in the history, theology, and praxis of the Church. Two lectures were offered during the afternoon. Dr. Alice-Mary Talbot, director SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2007 of Byzantine Studies at Dumbarton Oaks in Washington, the premier center for Byzantine studies in North America, discussed the history of Byzantine Studies in North America. Dr. Talbot said the Cantonis chair is welcome testimony to the support of the Greek American community for the study of the Byzantine empire, during whose 11centuries the Church came into being and fostered the creation of many of the glories of Byzantine civilization, in the arts, architecture, hymnography, liturgical rites, and hagiographical and theological texts. Dr. James C. Skedros, the inaugural holder of the Cantonis Chair, offered a presentation focusing on the influence of Byzantium on the Orthodox Church. Dr. Skedros discussed the close affinity between secular and religious in the Byzantine world. The line between religious and secular in Byzantium was not very thick and to differentiate between the rhythms of daily life and religious activity was not so simple a task for the Byzantines, he said. Michael Cantonis was born on the Dodecanese island of Simi and immigrated to the United States in Four years later, he established the Acme Sponge and Chamois Co. Inc., in New York, eventually moving the company to Tarpon Springs in A business leader, dedicated churchman, and philanthropist, Mr. Cantonis has financially supported various academic institutions including the Department of Greek Studies at the University of Florida in Gainesville. He is an archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and a former member of the HC/HC trustees and the executive committee. In 1988 he was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor

9 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2007 Who Will You Bring to Church? As Orthodox Christians we are aware of friends and relatives that have fallen away from active involvement in the Church. Few people wake up one day and decide to leave the Church. Most just slowly drift away, always intending to come back someday. by Fr. James Kordaris Jesus Christ calls upon us to engage in active outreach to these relatives and friends. Archbishop Demetrios of America refers to this calling as a particularly integral aspect of our Orthodox Christian identity that is worth our cultivating, cherishing and sharing. Family Outreach Sunday is a step in this direction. Family Outreach Sunday is a program developed by the Department of Outreach & Evangelism, in cooperation with the Ladies Philoptochos Society and the Center for Family Care at Saint Basil Academy, in which active parish members invite inactive relatives and Orthodox Christian friends for a special day of Christian fellowship and spiritual renewal, reinvigorating their Orthodox Christian faith, and making them aware of the need for Christ in their everyday life and their importance as individual members of the His body. National Philoptochos President Georgia Skeadas includes an outline of this program in her fall letter to the local chapters and encourages all to support and participate in Family Outreach Sunday efforts in their parishes. Mrs. Skeadas has described this initiative as a noteworthy program that the National Philoptochos Society wholeheartedly endorses and supports. Fr. Constantine Sitaras, director of the Center for Family Care at St. Basil Academy, has praised Family Outreach Sunday as an excellent complement to our efforts to affirm the importance of the family as a blessed gift from God and to address the specific needs of families as they try to live in a very challenging culture and world. Fr. Sitaras sees Family Outreach Sunday as a win-win proposition for all involved and hopes to see the program become an annual event in all parishes of the Archdiocese. Comments on Outreach Sunday from parish leadership have included the following: A great idea with great potential. November is a good month to do this. This is a great event to celebrate parish life and share with others the energy that exists in each parish. I was helped a great deal by my Philoptochos Ladies. We had about 25 people in attendance who usually do not come to church regularly. We chose a complimentary pancake breakfast as our fellowship activity. However we were overwhelmed by the number of parishioners who stayed for it (160!!). We loved everything about the day. Outreach Sunday can be an excellent TICKETS TO GREECE ON SALE!! ONE WAY - WINTER 2007 $ 248 From Family Outreach Sunday ΝΕΑ ΥΟΡΚΗ - ΑΘΗΝΑ - ΘΕΣΣΑΛΟΝΙΚΗ Fuel chrgs & taxes adl. ROUND TRIP $ WINTER 2007 From OLYMPIC CONTINENTAL DELTA US AIRWAYS ALITALIA AIR FRANCE AUSTRIAN BRITISH KLM LUFTHANSA ΣΕ ΟΛΕΣ ΟΙ ΤΙΜΕΣ ΠΡΟΣΤΙΘΕΝΤΑΙ ΦΟΡΟΙ ΚΑΙ ΕΠΙΒΑΡΥΝΣΗ ΚΑΥΣΙΜΩΝ $100-$325 ΧΑΜΗΛΕΣ ΤΙΜΕΣ ΑΠ ΟΛΗ ΤΗΝ ΑΜΕΡΙΚΗ STERLING TRAVEL 20 LAUREN LANE, PHILLIPSBURG, N.J tool for strengthening the parish through the coordination and cooperation of parish ministries and leadership. This happened last fall at the parish of Saint Nicholas in Youngstown, Ohio where a monthly Saturday morning breakfast meeting of parish ministry and organization leaders was initiated. As the community leaders planned the parish s first annual Family Outreach Sunday, they were drawn together to work toward making this a successful event for their individual organizations and for the parish. Their coordinated effort resulted in attendance not seen at St. Nicholas since Pascha with attendance up by nearly 50 percent. Each organization hosted a booth in the church hall. Many provided food or refreshments to be served at the brunch, and the day was a positive experience for those who hosted and those who attended. Their first Family Outreach Sunday was a success in that it brought many inactive Orthodox Christians to church while bringing the ministries of the parish together to work toward a common goal. Parishes are encouraged to designate an Outreach Sunday in November that fits their parish calendar. It is suggested that English be used to a greater extent on this special day of outreach. The Sunday bulletin should include a note of welcome. The sermon should be warm and welcoming with reference to the personal nature of our Orthodox faith and its meaning in our daily lives. Following Divine Liturgy, all should be welcomed by the parish priest and invited to the church hall for food and refreshments. A member of the Outreach Committee or Philoptochos might also offer a word of welcome and an invitation to proceed to the church hall. The time spent in the church hall is a time of Christian fellowship a continuation of the Divine Liturgy. Some parishes may consider providing a luncheon though many prefer the informal setting of coffee hour with food and refreshments to allow people to circulate, find old friends, make new friends and learn more about the programs and ministries of the parish. Tables or booths could be set up by all the organizations of the church in order to share with our visitors some examples of the Orthodox faith in action. Nostalgic photo displays may also be set up to remind lapsed Orthodox of the days when they were more involved. Research has shown that family members have the greatest influence in persuading an unchurched person to come to church. As St. John Chrysostom said in 396 AD, Each of us has an apostolic mission to arouse the fervor of the Spirit in our brothers and sisters. Who will you bring to church on Family Outreach Sunday? Additional information and materials may be found on the web at www. outreach.goarch.org or by calling 646/ or Owners: Vasilis & Minna Angelis Own A Home Today Build A Better Tomorrow Everyone has personal and financial goals, but not always a plan to reach them. When you make homeownership part of your plans, you have a foundation for building lifelong financial security. Let us help you put your plan into action. 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10 10 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2007 EDITORIAL Forty Years of Wisdom, Faith, Love and Hope The faithful of our Church in America give thanks to God as we celebrate the forty years of hierarchical ministry of our Archbishop. September 17 marked this forty year anniversary of the ordination to the Episcopacy of Archbishop Demetrios in On this same day our Church honors and celebrates the Feast of the Holy Martyrs Sophia (Wisdom) and her three daughters, Pistis (Faith), Elpis (Hope) and Agape (Love). We are the people of mission; we are people with a mission. This phrase echoes countless times in the sermons and homilies of His Eminence. The mission and the ministry of our Archbishop are well defined by Wisdom, Faith, Love and Hope. Wisdom distinguishes all aspects of his pastoral care for the flock entrusted to him by God. Faith, he has witnessed the Orthodox Faith in a way that helps all of us to become conscious, true, dynamic and illumined people of faith. Archbishop Demetrios has preached and manifested Love since the first day of his ministerial service. It seems like yesterday, but it was eight years ago on September 18 and this is the second milestone we celebrate that Archbishop Demetrios was enthroned in the Cathedral of Holy Trinity. There, in his enthronement address he invited all of us to intensify and to continually optimize this excellent spirit of love and diakonia, service. The Archbishop Takes issue with terms Editor In response to your front page story in the July-August issue of the Orthodox Observer, I would like to respectfully remind you that Orthodox Christians know that the Church isn t linguistically limited and that the Patriarchate isn t the national church of Turkey. Orthodox Christians also know that the term ecumenical was a political term and was not meant to be used to ecclesiastically overpower and rule over other independent autocephalous and autonomous Orthodox Churches as applied by the monarchic system of papal Rome. Additionally, since you want to maintain the fundamental canonical expression of the Christian gospel message and the tone set by Patriarch Bartholomew you should avoid using the racist term Omogeneia in reference to the Greek Orthodox Christians of Constantinople. Although I know you will probably disrespect my comments as the Archdiocese of America and the Orthodox Observer marginalize and exclude any clergyman or layman who expresses a varying point of view, I invite you to please be fair and respectful in repairing your errors. Thanking you for the opportunity to share Orthodox views, I extend every good wish, prayer and blessing. Fr. Steven J. Vlahos. St. Demetrios Church Wildwood, NJ Missing the mark Editor, Pope Benedict XVI recently reasserted the universal primacy of the Roman advocates a selfless love towards all people, a limitless love translated into service of the suffering human being and he leads our Church in offering love and care beyond any limit, beyond any measure. Finally, Archbishop Demetrios throughout his ministry, but especially during his service as the shepherd of our Church in America has been an agent of Hope. Hope seems to sometimes precede him and other times to follow him, for it is the hope that flows from the Truth of the Gospel; it is the hope which is deeply rooted in his faith. Archbishop Demetrios answered yes to the calling of God, when he decided as a young man to study theology. It was a conscious choice to serve the people in the best possible way, he has said in one occasion. Later he answered yes when he entered the sacred priesthood, and he answered with great difficulty yes when he was ordained a bishop and he answered yes once more when he was elected Archbishop of America. Archbishop Demetrios always said yes to the call of ministry and has called the faithful to be people of mission: What we are creating, is not something routine, it is something that is Orthodoxy for the 21st century. If this does not happen we will miss the biggest call: to be pioneers, to be genuinely orthodox and pioneers at the same time. Catholic Church. This occurred at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and focuses on the church s relationship to other Christian denominations. Specifically, the Pope stated that in fact other Christians are not true churches, with the exception of the Eastern Orthodox Church which is viewed as a church, but damaged. I have empathy for all Christians in regards to this proclamation, and also for the Eastern Orthodox Christian community, for he stated that we have a deep wound or defect in not recognizing the primacy of the pope. We are of the apostolic succession, the early church and the statement that we are damaged because we are not under papal rule implies that we are wounded. This is an interesting comment to me. As Orthodox Christians we are not Roman Catholic and of course, not under papal authority. We have our Patriarch Bartholomew, who is first among equals in the hierarchical structure of our church. I see this as a great opportunity to discuss the notion of woundedness. In truth, who isn t wounded? Is there any individual who is not wounded in some way? This is the human condition. We all suffer to greater and lesser extents. Institutions also do not escape the human condition nor the reality of woundedness and suffering. As part of the divine liturgy of the Eastern Orthodox Church, our priest offers the words forgive me your sinful and unworthy priest. Seen through a spiritual lens, this reflects the fact that we are all human; subject to sinfulness and wrongness. We are also blessed with the potential and capacity to become more loving, forgiving and whole. This is the Archpastoral Reflections Where to Look for Security Over the past few months we have given attention to the topic of security as it is understood within our Orthodox faith. From our rich spiritual heritage and the beautiful liturgical life of the Church, we have affirmed the role of the Theotokos, the Saints, and the Angels as agents of divine aid and protection. In doing so we acknowledge that the ultimate source of providence and enduring security is God. It is the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Who is our refuge and our help in time of need. by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America In the book of Psalms we find numerous hymns that express the deepest levels of human anxiety and fear, juxtaposed with the eternal truth of God s presence and protection. One of these hymns is Psalm 22, the first verse of which was quoted by Jesus Himself on the Cross: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (1) All those who see me ridicule me (7) My heart is like wax; it has melted within me (14) The congregation of the wicked has enclosed me. (16) These are cries of great struggle, suffering, and pain that could come from any number of afflictions or tragedies that are a part of our life in this world. They reflect the loneliness, alienation, and lack of security that one can feel when the circumstances around us become so challenging and oppressive. In considering these cries, serious questions arise within our hearts and minds: Who can help me? Where can I find peace and healing? Where can I find strength to endure? In answer to these questions the Psalmist once again turns to God. The opening verses of Psalm 18 are illustrative: I will love You O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies (1-3). This presents an affirmation of the constant and loving presence of God in our lives. It offers also a clear indication that our souls and our lives are forever secure with Him, and at the same time a recognition of our need to cry out to Him in love and in faith. The Lord God is the one who can help, who will come to our aid, who will deliver us from destruction and death. Through His presence, our trust in His divine help, and our praise of Him, we are led away from despair into the confidence and joy of salvation and victory. Once again, consider the manner by which this was plainly evident for the Psalmist as expressed in the verses of Psalm 34: I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth (1) I sought the Lord and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears (4) This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles (6) God s presence and the security that we find in Him lead us to praise Him and to offer a witness of His salvation. This is a witness both to other believers who are united with us in the Church and to all of humankind, a testimony of faith in God, of what is true, of what will stand forever. It is a proclamation of confidence and trust in God that rests upon promises of life more powerful than anything in the universe. Experiencing this security in God changes our lives, and gives hope to others in our world who are longing for the sense of security that the Psalmist so eloquently articulated in his 23rd Psalm, likening the Lord s pastoral care and guidance to that of a good shepherd: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (4-6) What has God done? What will He uphold until we are secured eternally in heaven? He has delivered us. He has placed us upon the rock of faith. He has given us a refuge of peace. He has built around us an impenetrable wall of holiness that repels evil and even death itself. He leads us to still waters. He has sacrificed himself so that we might be free to enter into the marvelous life and light of his glory. He offers us constant peace and assurance in the midst of a very complex and challenging world. May the words of the Psalmist become your words. When you find yourself in despair, turn in faith to the One who loves you and who will save you. God loves you, and His Kingdom is at hand. He will deliver you and come to your aid. In Him you will find peace, security, and the assurance that comes from knowing that He is offering you life, forever. spiritual journey. Pope John Paul II made great strides towards healing (the Jubilee Celebration in Rome), which included apologies for the past wrongs of the Catholic Church (the Inquisition, the Crusades, and also apologies for wrongs committed against Orthodox churches and peoples throughout their history), yet the new pope chooses to revisit old wounds. The Catholic Church also has a long-standing tradition of converting Eastern Orthodox Christians to Byzantine Catholics, placing

11 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER Archiepiscopal Encyclical Universal Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross 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 glorious feast of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross we are guided through the worship of our Holy Orthodox Church to contemplate the great victory accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ, "the pioneer and perfector of our Faith", as He is described in the twelfth chapter of the Epistle to Hebrews. The opening verses of this chapter present to us, in very applicable ways for our modern life, a set of distinct visual images that describe the endurance and victory of Christ and its meaning for our salvation. As we face the challenges of life, for example, we are exhorted "to run with perseverance the race that is set before us" (12:1). We are encouraged to "lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us "(12:1). We are called to consider the One who experienced tremendous hostility through His suffering and through the Cross, so that we do not "become weary and discouraged in our souls (12:3). Through the endurance of Christ on the Cross we can find strength for living and hope for salvation. The endurance of our faith in God and our commitment to His will are essential in a world that is filled with obstacles, hindrances, and threats to life and truth. Many people today are weighted down with the cares and burdens of this life, with spiritual, physical and emotional challenges that may seem insurmountable. Many face temptations and are ensnared by sin and unhealthy addictions that keep them from knowing a deeper experience and understanding of God s blessings and presence. In the face of this we can look to the endurance of Jesus Christ and be reminded of His triumph when we gaze upon the Precious and Life-Giving Cross. By the power of His Cross, we can be assured of the protection, peace, and victory that will come to us through our faith in Him. When we speak of this feast of our Church and of endurance, we particularly remember those who have answered the call to priestly service in the kingdom of God. It is our tradition on this day to offer our prayers and support for our seminarians at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Mass., in recognition of the commitment they have made to the path of ministry. This is the path of the Cross, a path that requires great endurance through the challenges that come with the care of souls and pastoral leadership of communities of faith in our contemporary age. Let us offer on this day our prayers and our contributions of support to our seminary, that those who have answered the sacred calling of the Lord to follow Him will have continued strength and endurance to keep their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus during their time of preparation. As they look to Him and carry the Cross of service, may they be assured that victory will come through the transformation of lives and the salvation of souls. My beloved, as we gather in commemoration of the Cross and in worship of our victorious Lord and Savior who offered Himself for us, may we find strength in one another and hope from those who have finished the race and gone before us. Their examples of faith and endurance affirm the power of the Cross to lead us to victory and to an eternity of life and peace with God. With paternal love in Christ, Archbishop Demetrios of America them under papal authority and securing dues payment to the Catholic Church. Also interesting is the fact that Pope Benedict uses the Greek word ecclesial to describe the other communities of Christians. There is another Greek word that aptly applies to this discussion amartia. Translated from the original Greek of the New Testament into the English word sin, it in fact does not mean sin as such. It literally means missing the mark. With all due respect, in lieu of all the internal wounds within the Roman Catholic Church, both historically and in a contemporary context, in reasserting the spiritual supremacy of the Roman Catholic Church and in the assertion that other Christian denominations are not true churches or are defective, missing the mark seems an appropriate description. However, another word is a beautiful word; catholic. Taken in its original context and in its original translation, it literally means wholeness. In the creed, when Orthodox Christians recite one holy, catholic, and apostolic church, we are referring to the wholeness and unity of the church. Through these words, we are acknowledging the spiritual unity of all Christians. This is a focus that would be healing for all Christians and most certainly; right on the mark. Zaharati Morfesis Haddon Township, N.J.

12 12 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2007 with MARKOS travel service DAILY DE PAR TURES BROOKLINE, Mass. To commemorate the 85th anniversary of the "Smyrna Catastrophe," the Maliotis Cultural Center held an extraordinary cultural program Sept Among the events, the special exhibit "Towards a New Homeland, 1922: From Asia Minor to Greece," a display of 60 photographs excerpted from a recent exhibit at the Hellenic Parliament, was presented for the first time outside Greece. The program included the following events: On Sept. 20, Nyfes, the 2004 awardwinning Greek film directed by Pantelis Voulgaris starring Victoria Haralabidou and Damian Lewis was shown. Set in 1922, it tells the story of a mail-order bride, one of 700 sailing from Europe to the United States aboard the SS King Alexander, who falls in love with an American photographer. She, however, is bound for her new husband while he is on his way home to a failed marriage. On Sept. 21, the world premiere of SMYRNE, a dramatic stage production with music, explored the themes of genocide and population displacement through the prism of the Asia Minor Catastrophe of It included testimonies of survivors and stories of refugees interwoven with the remarkable songs of the time. It was constructed and directed by Yannis Simonides in collaboration with Grigoris Maninakis and the Microkosmos Ensemble. On Sept. 22 a multi-media presentation by historian Angelos Athanasopoulos ORTHODOX OBSERVER UNDER CONSTRUCTION The new home for St. Catherine s Church, formerly located in Quincy, Mass., is now being built in nearby Braintree with completion slated for sometime next spring. The complex, located on six acres near the intersection of three major highways, Interstate 93, Route 3 and Route 128, consists of an 8,000 square foot Byzantine-style church designed by architect Christ Kamages; and a 12,000 square foot community center. The effort is being led by Fr. Alkiviadis Calivas, retired professor at Holy Cross School of Theology who is currently pastoring the parish. Maliotis Center Commemorates Smyrna Catastrophe covered the politics and events in the aftermath of the Asia Minor Catastrophe. The presentation The Uprooting of the Asia Minor Greeks, included an archival film and photographs highlighting an historical documentary produced by National Geographic. Integrating traditional instruments of Asia Minor (including the kanonaki, politiki lyra and oud), Meraklides, a fivemember ensemble of formally trained musicians and vocalists from the East and West coasts, played together in concert for the first time. SAVE THE DATE 39 th Clergy Laity Congress July 12-18, 2008 Marriott Wardman Park Hotel Washington, DC Information to follow in our upcoming issues NON-STOP FLIGHTS ON JUMBO JET EASY CONNECTIONS from anywhere in the U.S.A. at UNBELIEVABLE LOW RATES! Call Markos Travel Now! NATIONWIDE TOLL FREE other FliGHts $ * CONNECTICUT RESIDENTS One Way από/from * *A Limited Number of Seats $ 395 Round trip plus taxes & fees CONNECTICUT RESIDENTS Owner: Markos Hatzikonstantis 48 SILAS DEANE HWY. SUITE 12 WETHERSFIELD, CT BOOK NOW AND SAVE!

13 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER Indescribable IV Experience THE SLOGAN Ionian Village Faith and friendships that last a life time appeared in all the pamphlets I was reading for Ionian Village, before the summer. I never imagined then how true this would end up being. by Vassiliki Z. Papagermanos On July 24, 2007, I boarded a plane to Greece with about 100 other young Greek- Americans from all over the country. Even after getting acquainted with some of the other campers during the flight, we landed at the Athens airport tired and unsure of what this Ionian Village experience was going to be like. Leaving the airport with a group of enthusiastic counselors, we embarked on our long and hot drive to Bartholomio, where as it would turn out we would have some of the most amazing and memorable experiences of our lives. Everyone who went to Ionian Village will tell you a different reason they loved it. Some will tell you they loved the trips, others will tell you they loved Orthodox Life (a catechetical discussion period), some others loved the nutella breakfasts, Kyria Sofia s home cooking, or the fun early-morning ferry rides Oh yes, they loved it we all loved it. During our time at Ionian Village, we took many trips to different historical and religious places in Greece. We visited the Corinth Canal, where we learned how this canal shortened trade routes; Ancient Olympia, where we all got sweaty running on the dirt track in the dead heat; The Hlemoutsi Castle build by the Villehardouins in the 11th century; the island of Zakynthos, where we venerated the relics of Saint Dionysios; the beautiful island of Kefalonia, where we traveled to the monastery where the sacred relic of Saint Gerasimos remains intact and fragrant for the blessing of the devout; the city of Patras, where we visited the relics of Saint Andrew, Kalavrita, Delphi, the Acropolis, and the Saint Nektarios Shrine in the island of Aegina. We didn t even realize how much we were learning during the long bus and ferry rides, because we were having fun at the same time. One thing I remember complaining about, before I actually got to camp, was the fact that we would have to go to chapel every morning and evening. I thought that we would stand there for an hour each time and that it would be very repetitive. Now, I actually miss the short services in the outdoor chapel. I went to church when I got back and I was surprised that I now knew a lot of the hymns. The almost constant praying we did at Ionian Village brought me a lot closer to God, and I find myself praying a lot more than before. What also helped me understand and come closer to God, was the amazing staff and clergy that surrounded me. I m sure that my fellow campers would agree that Fr. Constantine Lazarakis was the coolest, best director possible. Personally, I also think that Jason Roll is one of the most inspirational and enlightening men I ve ever met. I believe that he will be an incredible priest. He was my cabin s Orthodox Life leader. I can honestly say that during OL, I felt the most open with everyone else. We could talk about anything and it wouldn t be awkward or uncomfortable. In particular, I remember something that Jason said that really made an impact on me, and on some of the other girls. He said that God is always around us, and if we look hard enough we can always find Him. Now, I always look for a cross somewhere or something that shows how God is with me. What separated the clergy of Ionian Village from other clergy was their true devotion to the camp. One could notice immediately how seriously they took their job, and how much fun they had doing it as well. Each of them truly cared about every camper. When we first got to Ionian Village, all the counselors did a skit for us. They told us we had to drop our cool cards if we wanted to get into club IV. Literally, they meant that we couldn t be preoccupied about how others saw us, but we should have fun, even if what we were doing wasn t cool. I know that I, along with probably the rest of the camp, joked about this, but this enabled us to have such fun together without worrying about what others thought. It was like all of us had become one great family. And of course, everyone was so enthusiastic to get their cool card back at the end of camp, even if they had claimed they burned it. We did so many cool activities everyday. The Junkyard Wars were fun because it was the first time we were cheering for our cabin as a whole. Even if we lost the race, it still was the first time we fought all together for something. I will never forget the dances we had at Ionian Village. The first thing that comes to my mind, when I think about it is the Holy Spirit. We were told that we had to have room for the Holy Spirit between us when we danced. Of course, people put on signs that said Holy Spirit and...a personal account danced between people, but that made everything just as fun. Other activities included the sandcastle wars, the Panigiri, the Musicfest, the bonfire, Game-show Night, Saint skits, the Olympics, and Nights with God. During each of these, we were all able to cheer for our cabins and admire everyone s special talents, whether they were singing, dancing, doing a million pushups without breaking a sweat, or keeping a beetle on your body for more than a minute without freaking out. My favorite night of all has to be the second Night with God. Night with God was always on a Saturday, before Divine Liturgy. We wouldn t do anything too exciting, but instead we would do something calmer. On this second Night with God, all the lights were turned off throughout the camp, and everyone lied down in the amphitheater and looked up at the stars in silence. No one spoke a word, and you could hardly hear anyone breathing. All that could be heard throughout the camp was crickets chirping on the calming beat of the waves at the seashore. I was amazed at how beautiful and peaceful everything could be. The stars twinkled and danced in triumph and it was as if God was smiling down at all of us. I even saw three shooting stars. After five minutes or so Evan, one of the The Chios cabin following an Orthodox Life session under the pine trees. The 2007 second session Ionian Village family. counselors, spoke. He said something that I will never forget. He said, I can feel the love between everyone tonight. There is so much love. I remember that feeling so well, and Evan was so true. All of us had become like a family, and it was then that I realized how hard it would be to leave them. And indeed, it was hard. The farewell dinner, on the rooftop of the Metropolitan Hotel, in Athens, was one of the saddest days of the camp session. A couple of friends and I even cried when Father Constantine said that it was the last prayer we would do all together. That night, we ate, we danced, we took pictures, and we said some of our tear-filled goodbyes. I asked a friend of mine from camp, Maria Manis, if she could describe Ionian Village in one word, what would that one word be? Indescribable, she said. She was so right. There are not enough words in the English or Greek language to describe how a group of kids from America, went to Greece, basked in its beauty, connected with God and each other, and became a family. There is a German proverb that says, Those who live in the Lord never see each other for the last time. We grew closer than I could have imagined. We laughed together, we cried together, we lived, and breathed together. If someone saw us all together, they would never have guessed that we had only known each other for three weeks. Amazing. Vassiliki (Vicky) Papagermanos is a 15-year old student attending Townsend Harris High School in New York.

14 14 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2007 Greek Insight Daily Newspaper for Greeks of Diaspora HELLENIC REFLECTIONS ON AIR - Tuesday July ! Stay informed on events that are shaping Greece in the 21st century. Wherever you are make sure to check on the Greek Insight Portal of HELLENIC REFLECTIONS: The only official bilingual Portal on News from Greece Comprised of hot articles on all issues Supported by an extensive team of dedicated journalists, financial analysts and experts Updated daily in both languages Fully interactive What is The Greek Insight Portal? The continuous and personal communication link between Greece and Greeks residing abroad The official Voice of Greeks abroad An interactive link for contact and exchange of opinions for all of you Come, See, get Informed, stay Connected! HELLENIC REFLECTIONS (Managing Director - Alex Rigas) 23, Academias str , Athens Greece (Building: The Foreign Press Association of Greece ) Tel : (+30) , Fax : (+30) , info@greekinsight.gr

15 ΣΕΠΤΕΜΒΡΙΟΣ ΟΚΤΩΒΡΙΟΣ 2007 ΝΕΑ ΥΟΡΚΗ Σαράντα χρόνια Αρχιεπισκοπικής διακονίας του Σεβασμιωτάτου Αρχιεπισκόπου Αμερικής κ. Δημητρίου συμπληρώθηκαν φέτος από την ημέρα της εις επίσκοπον χειροτονίας του στο Μητροπολιτικό Ναό Αθηνών στις 17 Σεπτεμβρίου Πατριάρχης αφού εκφράζει τα ένθερμα συγχαρητήριά του αναφέρει χαρακτηριστικά: «Προικισθείς παρά Θεού διά πολλών πνευματικών χαρισμάτων και σπανίας μορφώσεως, αλλά κυρίως βιώσας ως ακάματος εργάτης εμπράκτου αγάπης, αρετής και φιλανθρωπίας, δικαίως εκερδήσατε την αγάπην και τον σεβασμόν όλων, όσοι είχον την ευλογίαν να γνωρίσουν την υμετέραν Ιερότητα εκ του σύνεγγυς, κατά το διάστημα της διαρρευσάσης τεσσαρακονταετίας θεοφιλούς Επισκοπικής διακονίας». Μια ευχάριστη έκπληξη ήταν η παρουσία στη Θεία Λειτουργία του Επισκόπου Ζαρέσκ Μερκουρίου, επιτρόπου των óåë. 16 ενοριών του Πατριαρχείου Μόσχας στις Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες, ο οποίος μετά την απόλυση ανέγνωσε συγχαρητήριο μήνυμα του προέδρου εξωτερικών σχέσεων του Πατριαρχείου Μόσχας, Μητροπολίτου Σμολένσκ και Καλινινγκράντ Κυρίλλου. Η ρωσική αντιπροσωπεία επέδωσε στον Αρχιεπίσκοπο Δημήτριο ως δώρο ανάγλυφη αναπαράσταση των ναών του Κρεμλίνου. Μετά τη Θεία Λειτουργία οι μαθητές και οι μαθήτριες που είχαν συγκεντρωθεί σε παρακείμενη αίθουσα τελετών, παρέθεσαν σύντομη εκδήλωση αγάπης προς τον Αρχιεπίσκοπο με ποιήματα και τραγούδια. Ακολούθησε δεξίωση κατά τη ΕΤΟΣ 72 ΑΡΙΘΜΟΣ ΧΡΟΝΙΑ ΑΡΧΙΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΙΚΗΣ ΙΑΚΟΝΙΑΣ ΤΟΥ ΑΡΧΙΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΟΥ ΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΥ ôïõ ÓÔÁÕÑÏÕ Ç. ÐÁÐÁÃÅÑÌÁÍÏÕ Το πλήρωμα της Ιεράς Αρχιεπισκοπής, η Ομογένεια της Αμερικής, γιορτάζει την επέτειο αυτή με πολλές εκδηλώσεις αγάπης και σεβασμού προς τον σεπτό ποιμενάρχη της, ο οποίος τις ίδιες αυτές ημέρες συμπλήρωσε οκτώ χρόνια από την ενθρόνισή του στις 18 Σεπτεμβρίου 1999, στην πηδαλιουχία της Αρχιεπισκοπής Αμερικής Διακόσια περίπου παιδιά, μαθητές και μαθήτριες των ελληνικών σχολείων της Αρχιεπισκοπής, συγκεντρώθηκαν από νωρίς το πρωί του Σαββάτου 15 Σεπτεμβρίου, έξω από τον Καθεδρικό Ναό της Αγίας Τριάδος στο Μανχάτταν και επεφύλαξαν θερμή υποδοχή στον Αρχιεπίσκοπο. Στην Αρχιερατική Θεία Λειτουργία που ακολούθησε προεξάρχοντος του Αρχιεπισκόπου Δημητρίου, συλλειτούργησαν οι ιεράρχες της Ιεράς Επαρχιακής Συνόδου Μητροπολίτες Πιτσβούργου Μάξιμος, Ατλάντας Αλέξιος, Ντιτρόϊτ Νικόλαος και Νέας Ιερσέης Ευάγγελος καθώς και οι Επίσκοποι Ξάνθου Δημήτριος και Φασιανής Αντώνιος. Ο πρωτοσύγκελος της Ιεράς Αρχιεπισκοπής Επίσκοπος Τρωάδος Σάββας ανέγνωσε συγχαρητήρια επιστολή του Οικουμενικού Πατριάρχη κ. Βαρθολομαίου και μίλησε με πολύ συγκίνηση για την επέτειο και τη σημασία της. Στην επιστολή του ο Οικουμενικός ΝΕΑ ΥΟΡΚΗ Οι εκτεταμένες και καταστρεπτικές πυρκαγιές που έπληξαν πολλές περιοχές της Ελλάδος στα τέλη Αυγούστου συγκίνησαν τον απανταχού Ελληνισμό και ιδιαίτερα στην Ομογένεια της Αμερικής, αλλά και ένα μεγάλο μέρος του ευρύτερου Αμερικανικού κοινού. Η Ιερά Αρχιεπισκοπή Αμερικής με πρωτοβουλία του Αρχιεπισκόπου Δημητρίου προέβη αμέσως στην ίδρυση ειδικού ταμείου βοήθειας των πυροπαθών με την επωνυμία «Greek Fire Relief Fund», το οποίο μέχρι το τέλος Σεπτεμβρίου είχε συλλέξει το ποσό των τριών εκατομμυρίων δολαρίων. Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος από την πρώτη στιγμή απέστειλε μήνυμα στον πρόεδρο της Ελληνικής Δημοκρατίας Κάρολο Παπούλια και στον πρωθυπουργό Κώστα Καραμανλή εκφράζοντας εκ μέρους των πιστών της Ι. Αρχιεπισκοπής Αμερικής και της Ομογενείας την βαθειά λύπη και την ολόψυχη συμμετοχή των στην οδύνη της τρομακτικής τραγωδίας που έπληξε τη χώρα. D. PANAGOS ΕΙΣ ΠΟΛΛΑ ΕΤΗ ΔΕΣΠΟΤΑ, ευχήθηκε στον Αρχιεπίσκοπο με ποιήματα και τραγούδια μια μεγάλη ομάδα μαθητών των Ελληνοαμερικανικών σχολείων που παρευρέθηκε στις εκδηλώσεις για τα 40 χρόνια Αρχιερατικής διακονίας του. διάρκεια της οποίας ο Σεβασμιώτατος μίλησε για την ανάμνηση των δύσκολων εκείνων ημερών της χειροτονίας του, για τις πλούσιες παρά Θεώ ευλογίες των τελευταίων οκτώ ετών και ευχαρίστησε τον παρευρισκόμενο κλήρο και λαό για τις ευχές και την αγάπη τους. Ανήμερα της επετείου της εις επίσκοπον χειροτονίας του, Δευτέρα 17 Σεπτεμβρίου, ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος προεξήρχε της Θείας Λειτουργίας στον Ιερό Ναό του Αγίου Νικολάου στο Φλάσινγκ της Νέας Υόρκης όπου και χειροτόνησε εις πρεσβύτερον τον διάκονο Θεοφάνη Παπαντώνη και δέχθηκε τις ευχές του πιστού λαού. Τρία εκατομμύρια στο ταμείο της Αρχιεπισκοπής για την ανακούφιση των πυροπαθών Η Οµογένεια συµµετέχει στον πόνο της Γενέτειρας Παράλληλα ο Σεβασμιώτατος συνεκάλεσε επείγουσα συνεδρίαση των επιτελικών συμβούλων και αρμοδίων της Αρχιεπισκοπής προκειμένου να κινητοποιηθούν οι δυνάμεις της Αρχιεπισκοπής και της ευρύτερης κοινότητας για την αντιμετώπισή των. «Βιώνουμε απίστευτες απώλειες ανθρώπινης ζωής και περιουσιών καθώς και στοιχείων που συνέθεταν τη ζωή αμέτρητων συνανθρώπων μας οι οποίοι θα χρειασθούν βοήθεια για πολλά χρόνια για να ανακάμψουν απ αυτή τη συμφορά» δήλωσε ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος. «Η Ελλάδα, γενέτειρα της δημοκρατίας, ο τόπος στον οποίο γεννήθηκαν οι Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες, ο ακρογωνιαίος λίθος του Δυτικού Πολιτισμού, βιώνει κατα- Η καταστροφή, η απελπισία και η απόγνωση δεν άφησαν παρά μόνο το σκελετό του ναού στο χωριό Γκραίκα της επαρχίας Ολυμπίας του νομού Ηλείας. Ο ιερέας του χωριού στέκεται στην Ωραία Πύλη αποσβωλομένος.

16 16 ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΟΣ ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΤΗΣ ΝΕΑ ΥΟΡΚΗ Ο Σεβασμιώτατος Αρχιεπίσκοπος Αμερικής κ. Δημήτριος συγκάλεσε τη Δευτέρα 24 Σεπτεμβρίου, στην έδρα της Ιεράς Αρχιεπισκοπής σύσκεψη των φορέων οργανισμών της Ομογένειας με σκοπό την αλληλοενημέρωση και τον συντονισμό της βοήθειας προς τους πυροπαθείς των προσφάτων καταστρεπτικών πυρκαγιών στην Ελλάδα. Ο Σεβασμιώτατος ενημέρωσε τους επικεφαλής των οργανώσεων για την μέχρι τώρα δράση της Ιεράς Αρχιεπισκοπής, την ενημερωτική και διαφημιστική εκστρατεία, τις ενέργειες των Αρχιεπισκοπικών οργανισμών, των Μητροπόλεων και των κατά τόπους ενοριών και το ποσόν που έως τώρα συγκεντρώθηκε και ξεπερνά τα 2,7 εκατομμύρια δολάρια ενώ ακόμα δεν έχουν καταμετρηθεί τα ποσά των εράνων που πραγματοποιήθηκαν στις ενορίες της Αρχιεπισκοπής. Στη συνέχεια ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος ενημερώθηκε από τους παρευρισκομένους επικεφαλής των οργανώσεων για τις κατ ιδίαν πρωτοβουλίες τους και τα μέχρι τώρα αποτελέσματα. Μετά το τέλος της συσκέψεως ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος αναφερόμενος στο σκοπό της συσκέψεως δήλωσε: «Θέλαμε να ξέραμε όλοι όσοι έχουμε αναμειχθεί είτε ως ΣΑΕ, είτε ως ΑΧΕΠΑ, είτε ως ομοσπονδίες, τι έχει γίνει μέχρι στιγμής από πλευράς ενεργείας και συλλογής χρημάτων αλλά και τι υπάρχει ως πρόθεση. Ήταν μια πληροφοριακή συ- ÅÉÄÉÊÅÓ ÐÑÏÓÖÏÑÅÓ Áíá ùñþóåéò 1 Íïåìâñßïõ 2007 Ýùò 31 Ìáñôßïõ 2008 ECONOMY CLASS BUSINESS CLASS NEW YORK ATHENS / THESSALONIKI Μετ επιστροφής 396 Μετ επιστροφής $ $ 2,000 ΑΠΟ ΑΠΟ Απλή μετάβαση Απλή μετάβαση $ ΑΠΟ 309 ΑΠΟ$ 1,580 Éó ýïõí åéäéêýò ôéìýò áðü 192 ðüëåéò ôùí ÇÐÁ Ìå $140 ðåôüôå óå ïðïéïäþðïôå óçìåßï åíôüò ÅëëÜäïò Για περισσότερες πληροφορίες αποτανθείτε στον ταξιδιωτικό σας πράκτορα ή στις Ολυμπιακές Αερογραμμές Above fares do not include gonernment taxes, fees or fuel surcharges which are approximately $ and fluctuate according to exchange rates στροφές άνευ προηγουμένου. Περισσότερα από στρέμματα δάσους και αγρότοπων μετατράπηκαν σε στάχτη και περισσότεροι από 61 συνάνθρωποί μας έχασαν τη ζωή των μέχρι τώρα. Είναι ιερό καθήκον και υποχρέωσή μας να προσφέρουμε οποιαδήποτε βοήθεια μπορούμε κατά την κρισιμότατη αυτή στιγμή», συνέχισε ο Σεβασμιώτατος. Η Επαρχιακή Σύνοδος της Ιεράς Αρχιεπισκοπής εξέδωσε ειδική εγκύκλιο-έκκληση προς τις ενορίες για να διενεργήσουν ειδικούς εράνους για την ενίσχυση των πυροπαθών. Συγχρόνως η Αρχιεπισκοπή προχώρησε σε ολοσέλιδες καταχωρήσεις στις εφημερίδες New York Times, USA Today, Chicago Tribune και Los Angeles Times οι οποίες περιελάμβαναν φωτογραφία του αγάλματος της Φτερωτής Νίκης στην Ολυμπία που απειλήθηκε από τις φλόγες, και καλούσαν το ευρύ αμερικανικό κοινό να βοηθήσει «τη γενέτειρα ΣΕΠΤΕΜΒΡΙΟΣ ΟΚΤΩΒΡΙΟΣ 2007 Σύσκεψη του Αρχιεπισκόπου ημητρίου με ομογενειακούς φορείς ΣΥΝΤΟΝΙΣΜΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΒΟΗΘΕΙΑΣ ΠΡΟΣ ΤΟΥΣ ΠΥΡΟΠΑΘΕΙΣ ETA PRESS Οι επικεφαλής των φορέων και των οργανώσεων που συμμετείχαν στη σύσκεψη. νάντηση. Τι έγινε ως τώρα από πλευράς αριθμών εάν έχουν ήδη σταλεί χρήματα ή κάτι άλλο και τι υπάρχει στη συνέχεια ώστε να μη σβήσει αυτή η προσπάθεια, διότι όσο απομακρυνόμεθα από τα γεγονότα η μνήμη αδυνατεί και οι αντιδράσεις δεν είναι τόσο δυνατές, ενώ θέλουμε να συνεχίσουμε, διότι οι ανάγκες είναι τεράστιες». «Θα υπάρξει συνεργασία με όλους τους φορείς, ο Επίσκοπος Φασιανής Αντώνιος είναι στη διάθεση όλων, να δώσει στοιχεία και ότι χρειάζεται. Έχει σημασία να κατευθυνθούν τα ποσά με το σωστό τρόπο». Σε ερώτηση δημοσιογράφου αν ζητήθηκε από την Αρχιεπισκοπή να διατεθούν τα ποσά που συγκέντρωσαν οι άλλοι οργανισμοί δια μέσου του Ταμείου της Αρχιεπισκοπής ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος απάντησε κατηγορηματικά: «Όχι, ούτε ζήτησα ούτε θα το ζητήσουμε, σεβόμεθα την αυτονομία και τη δυνατότητα των διαφόρων οργανισμών μας να κάνουν αυτό που θεωρούν σωστό. Είναι θέμα εκδηλώσεως αγάπης για óåë. 15 τον άνθρωπο και τον χώρο που καταστράφηκε κι έχει πολύ συναισθηματική φόρτιση. Λοιπόν πρέπει να υπάρχει ελευθερία να διατεθούν σωστά και γι αυτό είπαμε ότι θα έχουμε την πληροφόρηση για το που υπάρχουν συγκεκριμένες ειδικές ανάγκες ώστε να ενεργήσουμε αναλόγως». Στη συνάντηση με τον Αρχιεπίσκοπο συμμετείχαν οι: Επίσκοπος Φασιανής Αντώνιος, διευθυντής του Γραφείου Φιλανθρωπιών της Αρχιεπισκοπής, Άϊκ Γκούλας, ύπατος πρόεδρος της ΑΧΕΠΑ, Θεόδωρος Σπυρόπουλος, συντονιστής του ΣΑΕ Αμερικής, Φίλιπ Κρίστοφερ, πρόεδρος του Παγκυπρίου και της ΠΣΕ- ΚΑ, Μανώλης Βεληβασάκης, πρόεδρος του Ελλημερικανικού Εθνικού Συμβουλίου και της Παγκρητικής, Mathew Parry, εκπρόσωπος του οργανισμού IOCC, Ηλίας Τσεκερίδης, πρόεδρος της Πανποντιακής, Δημήτριος Καλαμαράς, αντιπρόεδρος της Ομοσπονδίας Ελληνικών Σωματείων Νέας Υόρκης, Δημήτρης Καυχίτσας, πρόεδρος της Pan- Gregorian Ν.Υ. και Αναστάσιος Μάνεσης πρώην πρόεδρος της ίδιας οργάνωσης, Φώτης Γερασόπουλος και Σωτήρης Πρώϊος, εκπρόσωποι της Παμμακεδονικής, Χρήστος Βουρνάς εκ μέρους της Παναρκαδικής και Τάκης Νικολόπουλος, εκπρόσωπος της Παλλακωνικής. Η Οµογένεια συµµετέχει στον πόνο της Γενέτειρας ΝΕΑ ΥΟΡΚΗ Οι ελληνικές γεύσεις προωθούνται στο ευρύ αμερικανικό κοινό μέσω μιας νέας πρωτοβουλίας και συνεργασίας των Γραφείων Οικονομικών και Εμπορικών Υποθέσεων της Ελλάδος στις ΗΠΑ και των καταστημάτων Balducci s. Πρόεκειται για ένα ελληνικό εικοσαήμερο στα μέσα Οκτωβρίου με τίτλο «Γεύση της Ελλάδας», στα 10 καταστήματα τροφίμων της εκλεκτής αλυσίδας στην Ουάσινγκτον, στη Νέα Υόρκη και στις πολιτείες Βιρτζίνια, Μέριλαντ και Κονέκτικατ. Άγνωστες στο ευρύ κοινό λιχουδιές με πλούσια γεύση από Ελλάδα, αλλά και πατροπαράδοτα προϊόντα με τη σφραγίδα του «νέου» πρόκειται να γοητεύσουν τους Αμερικανούς καταναλωτές. της δημοκρατίας» και να συνεισφέρει στο ταμείο υπέρ των πυροπαθών. (βλ. σελ. 32) Από όλα τα μέρη της χώρας και από όλα τα κοινωνικά και οικονομικά στρώματα η ανταπόκριση συνεχίζει να είναι εντυπωσιακή. Χαρακτηριστικές είναι οι δύο μεγάλες προσφορές της κυρίας Μαίρης Τζαχάρη από τη Νέα Υόρκη και του ζεύγους Άλεξ και Φαίης Σπανού από την Καλιφόρνια που η κάθε μια ανέρχεται στο ένα εκατομμύριο δολάρια. Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος όρισε ειδική επιτροπή για τη διαχείριση του Ταμείου και την διάθεση των χρηματικών ποσών με τον καλύτερο δυνατό τρόπο. Η επιτροπή της οποίας προεδρεύει ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος αποτελείται από τους Μιχαήλ Τζαχάρη, Γεωργία Σκιαδά, Γεώργιο Μπεχράκη, Αντώνιο Λυμπεράκη, Πίτερ Κίκη, και Άντριου Νάτσιο. Υπεύθυνος συντονιστής της επιτροπής ταμείου ορίστηκε ο Επίσκοπος Φασιανής Αντώνιος, διεθυντής του Τμήματος Φιλανθρωπιών της Αρχιεπισκοπής. Γεύση από Ελλάδα στα καταστήµατα Balducci s Το κάθε κατάστημα Balducci s οργανώνει προγράμματα γευσιγνωσίας ελληνικών προϊόντων κάθε Σάββατο 11-2 ενώ θα υπάρχει πλήρης γραστρονομικός κατάλογος εμπνευσμένος από την Ελλάδα στα τμήματα ετοίμων εδεσμάτων. Διοργανώνονται επίσης επιδείξεις μαγειρικής και ετοιμασίας εδεσμάτων από τους διακεκριμένους σεφ γνωστών εστιατορίων όπως το Zatinya της Ουάσινγκτον, Barbounia της Νέας Υόρκης και Columbus Park Trattoria του Γουέστπορτ του Κονέκτικατ. Μετά το τέλος του εικοσαημέρου, θα υπάρξει κλήρωση για εξαήμερο ταξίδι στην Αθήνα για δύο άτομα. Περισσότερες πληροφορίες στο δικτυακό τόπο

17 ΣΕΠΤΕΜΒΡΙΟΣ ΟΚΤΩΒΡΙΟΣ 2007 ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΟΣ ORTHODOX ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΤΗΣ OBSERVER 17 Πρόγευµα του δηµάρχου της Νέας Υόρκης προς τιµήν του Αρχιεπισκόπου ηµητρίου ΔΗΜ. ΠΑΝΑΓΟΣ Στο πρόγευμα του δημάρχου Bloomberg (από αριστερά) ο γεν. πρόξενος της Κύπρου στη Νέα Υόρκη Ανδρ. Παναγιώτου, ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος, ο κ. Bloomberg, ο επίσκοπος Stephen P. Bouman, η γεν. πρόξενος της Ελλάδος στη Νέα Υόρκη Αικ. Μπούρα και ο Ρωμαιοκαθολικός Αρχιεπίσκοπος της Νέας Υόρκης Καρδινάλιος Edward Egan. ΝΕΑ ΥΟΡΚΗ. Ο δήμαρχος της Νέας Υόρκης Michael Bloomberg, συμμετέχων στον εορτασμό της επετείου των 40 χρόνων αρχιερατικής διακονίας του Αρχιεπισκόπου Δημητρίου, παρέθεσε στις 25 Σεπτεμβρίου πρόγευμα προς τιμήν του, στην επίσημη δημαρχιακή κατοικία Gracie Mansion, παρουσία πολλών θρησκευτικών ηγετών της Νέας Υόρκης και άλλων επισήμων προσκεκλημένων. Στη προσφώνησή του προς τον Αρχιεπίσκοπο ο δήμαρχος Bloomberg περιέλαβε και την διαβεβαίωση ότι η πόλη της Νέας Υόρκης στέκεται αλλυλέγγυη στους πυροπαθείς, θύματα των πρόσφατων καταστρεπτικών πυρκαϊών στην Ελλάδα. Αναφερόμενος στον Σεβασμιώτατο, τον συνεχάρη για την τεσσαρακοστή επέτειο της επισκοπικής του διακονίας, λέγοντας ότι δεν είναι μόνο καλός φίλος, αλλά αποτελεί πυξίδα ηθικής για τον ίδιο και τους κατοίκους της Νέας Υόρκης. Επί πλέον ο δήμαρχος της Νέας Υόρκης ευχαρίστησε τον Αρχιεπίσκοπο για την εμπνευσμένη και καθοριστική ηγεσία και ηθική συμπαράστασή του την περίοδο αμέσως μετά Ο νέος Πατριάρχης Ρουμανίας ανιήλ την 11η Σεπτεμβρίου, σημειώνοντας ότι η Αρχιεπισκοπή και οι αρχές της Νέας Υόρκης βρίσκονται στην τελική ευθεία για την ρύθμιση των παραμέτρων για την ανοικοδόμηση του Ναού του Αγίου Νικολάου στο Ground Zero. Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος ευχαρίστησε θερμά τον δήμαρχο Bloomberg για την εξαιρετική τιμή και τη φιλοξενία, και πρόσθεσε ότι αισθάνεται ευγνωμοσύνη προς τον Θεό για τα 40 χρόνια αρχιερατικής διακονίας που του χάρισε, και ιδιαίτερα για τα μέχρι τούδε οκτώ χρόνια αρχιεπισκοπικής προσφοράς στην Αμερική. Στο πρόγευμα παρευρέθηκαν μεταξύ άλλων ο Ρωμαιοκαθολικός Αρχιεπίσκοπος της Νέας Υόρκης Καρδινάλιος Edward Egan, ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος της Αρμενικής Εκκλησίας στην Αμερική Khajag Barsamian, ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος της Συριακής Ορθοδόξου Αρχιεπισκοπής Cyril Aphrem Karim, o αποστολικός Νούντσιο του Βατικανού στα Ηνωμένα Έθνη Αρχιεπίσκοπος Celestino Migliore και ο Επίσκοπος Stephen P. Bouman της Ευαγγελικής Λουθηρανικής Εκκλησίας. ETA PRESS Στο στιγμιότυπο από την τελετή της κοπής της κορδέλας των εγκαινίων διακρίνονται μεταξύ άλλων από αριστερά: η κ. Λέσλι Γκρός (town clerk Town of Hempstead), Τίνα Χάνδρα, Πολ Σταθουλόπουλος. Εμμανουήλ Πολυχρονάκης, Γιάννης Κυριακόπουλος, Ζωή Κουτσουπάκη, Λουίζ Φισμαν και Λαντ Οντιέρνα (Williston Park Village Mayor). Εγκαίνια στην Marathon Bank του Μανχάσετ ÍÅÁ ÕÏÑÊÇ-ÁÈÇÍÁ ÊÁÔ ÅÕÈÅÉÁÍ ÐÔÇÓÅÉÓ ÙÑÉÓ ÓÔÁÈÌÏ ÊÁÉ ÌÅ ÊÁÍÏÍÉÊÁ ÄÑÏÌÏËÏÃÉÁ ÌÅÔ ÅÐÉÓÔÑÏÖÇÓ ÁÐÏ $ 589 +Tax Τα εγκαίνια του νέου υποκαταστήματος της ομογενειακής Τράπεζας «Μάραθον» έγιναν πρόσφατα στο Μανχάσετ του Λόνγκ Αϊλαντ, με την συμμετοχή υψηλόβαθμων στελεχών της Μάραθον Μπανκ, θυγατρικής της Τράπεζας Πειραιώς, την οποία εκπροσώπησε ο γενικός διευθυντής κ. Κυριακόπουλος. Το νέο υποκατάστημα βρίσκεται στην διεύθυνση 1577 Northern Blvd και έρχεται να προστεθεί στην αλυσίδα των 14 καταστημάτων της γνωστής για την εξυπηρέτηση και την προσωπική φροντίδα τόσο του ιδιώτη όσο και του επιχειρηματία καταθέτη ομογενειακής τράπεζας. Παρόντες στα εγκαίνια ο τσέρμαν κ. Πολ Σταθουλόπουλος, ο πρόεδρος κ. Εμμανουήλ Πολυχρονάκης, η Τίνα Χάνδρα (διευθύντρια του δικτύου Κουίνς- Λόνγκ Αϊλαντ), ο εκτελεστικός αντιπρόεδρος κ. Χρήστος Κούτσης και η Ζωή Κουτσουπάκη, (διευθύντρια Μπρούκλιν και Στέιτεν Αϊλαντ). Διευθυντής του νέου υποκαταστήματος είναι ο κ. Νίκος Κωστάκος. ÌÅÔ ÅÐÉÓÔÑÏÖÇÓ ÁÐÏ $ 506+Tax Από 1 έως και 30 Σεπτεμβρίου 2007 Από 1 έως και 31 Οκτωβρίου 2007 $85 åðéðëýïí åðéâüñõíóç êáõóßìùí ãéá êüèå äéáäñïìþ $30 åðéðëýïí åðéâüñõíóç ãéá üóïõò ôáîéäåýïõí ÐáñáóêåõÞ, ÓÜââáôï Þ ÊõñéáêÞ ÐáéäéÜ 2-11 åôþí ðëçñþíïõí 25% ëéãüôåñï ΤΗΛΕΦΩΝΕΙΣΤΕ ΜΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΓΙΑ ΑΛΛΕΣ ΕΙ ΙΚΕΣ ΠΡΟΣΦΟΡΕΣ ΥΠΑΡΧΟΥΝ ΠΕΡΙΟΡΙΣΜΟΙ ÍÉÊ. ÌÁÃÃÉÍÁÓ ΕΝΘΡΟΝΙΣΤΗΚΕ ο νέος Πατριάρχης Ρουμανίας Δανιήλ, στον Πατριαρχικό Ναό του Βουκουρεστίου στις 30 Σεπτεμβρίου. Το Οικουμενικό Πατριαρχείο εκπροσώπησαν οι Μητροπολίτες Ελβετίας Ιερεμίας (αριστερά) και Σασσίμων Γεννάδιος (δεξιά) και ο πρωτοπρεσβύτερος π. Μύρων από τη Γερμανία. Ο Μητροπολίτης Ελβετίας ανέγνωσε συγχαρητήρια επιστολή του Οικουμενικού Πατριάρχου κ. Βαρθολομαίου στην οποία ο Παναγιώτατος αναφέρθηκε στο πρόσωπο του νέου Πατριάρχου Δανιήλ «ως εγγυητή της συνέχισης του οικουμενικού διαλόγου». ΤΟ ΓΡΑΦΕΙΟ ΤΗΣ ΣΤΑΘΕΡΟΤΗΤΑΣ ASTORIA OFFICE Broadway, Astoria, NY (718) BROOKLYN OFFICE 8125 Fifth Avenue, Brooklyn, NY (718)

18 18 ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΟΣ ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΤΗΣ Συνέντευξη με τον καθηγητή Γεώργιο Μπαμπινιώτη «Τη γλώσσα και τα μάτια σας» ôïõ ÓÔÁÕÑÏÕ Ç. ÐÁÐÁÃÅÑÌÁÍÏÕ ΝΕΑ ΥΟΡΚΗ. Την έδρα της Ιεράς Αρχιεπισκοπής Αμερικής επισκέφθηκε ο πρώην Πρύτανης του Εθνικού Καποδιστριακού Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών, καθηγητής γλωσσολογίας Γεώργιος Μπαμπινιώτης ο οποίος είχε συνεργασία με τον Αρχιεπίσκοπο Αμερικής κ. Δημήτριο για εκπαιδευτικά θέματα και πρωτοβουλίες οι οποίες έχουν ήδη δρομολογηθεί. Ο κ. Μπαμπινιώτης έθεσε αφιλοκερδώς τις υπηρεσίες, τις γνώσεις και την μακρά του πείρα στην υπηρεσία της Εκκλησίας και της Ομογένειας για την στήριξη και προαγωγή της Ελληνικής γλώσσας στην Αμερική. Στρατεύθηκε όπως δήλωσε ο ίδιος στην ιδέα και το όραμα του Αρχιεπισκόπου Δημητρίου προς αυτή την κατεύθυνση. Ως πρώτο βήμα ξεκίνησε μια σειρά εκπαιδευτικών σεμιναρίων για τους εκπαιδευτικούς που διδάσκουν ελληνικά με τίτλο «Η διδασκαλία της Ελληνικής ως δεύτερης Γλώσσας, σύμφωνα με τις σύγχρονες μεθόδους της Γλωσσολογίας». Τα σεμινάρια αυτά που οργανώνει το Γραφείο Παιδείας της Ιεράς Αρχιεπισκοπής πραγματοποιούνται με επιτυχία σε διάφορα μέρη της Αμερικής. Ο κ. Μπαμπινιώτης παραχώρησε αποκλειστική συνέντευξη στον Ορθόδοξο Παρατηρητή η οποία ακολουθεί: Σ.Π.: Κύριε καθηγητά, θα ήθελα να μιλήσουμε για το θέμα της γλώσσας. Η γλώσσα, και συγκεκριμένα η ελληνική γλώσσα, νομίζετε ότι είναι καθοριστικός παράγοντας για τον πολιτισμό και για τον προσδιορισμό μιας ταυτότητας ενός ατόμου ή λαού και για τη διατήρηση αυτής της ταυτότητας; Γ. Μπαμπινιώτης: Είναι γνωστό και παραδεδεγμένο από τους γλωσσολόγους και όχι μόνον, ότι η γλώσσα αποτελεί βασικό συστατικό ταυτότητας. Γιατί βεβαίως δεν είναι το μόνο, είναι η καταγωγή, η παράδοση, τα έθιμα, τα ήθη, αλλά είναι κύριο χαρακτηριστικό στοιχείο ταυτότητας. Γι αυτό όταν ακούμε κάποιον να μιλάει μια γλώσσα τον ταυτίζουμε με συγκεκριμένη εθνική καταγωγή και εθνική ταυτότητα. Και γι αυτό είναι ιδιαίτερα σημαντικό να μαθαίνουν οι Ομογενείς μας τη γλώσσα ως στοιχείο ταυτότητας, αλλά βεβαίως και ως στοιχείο μιας επαφής με μια γλώσσα η οποία έχει μια πολιτιστική και πνευματική παράδοση που έχει σφραγίσει τον σύγχρονο πολιτισμό μέσω της Ευρώπης και των εξ Ευρώπης προερχομένων πολιτισμών. Επομένως η γλώσσα είναι καθοριστικός παράγων ταυτότητας και πρέπει να είναι μέλημα και μέριμνα κάθε κοινότητας ομογενειακής, όμως θα πρέπει να γίνει με τρόπο που να υπάρχει άμεσο αποτέλεσμα στο μικρότερο δυνατό χρόνο. Δηλαδή η αρχή είναι πάντοτε «μέγιστο αποτέλεσμα στο μικρότερο δυνατό χρόνο» που σημαίνει: κατάλληλη μέθοδο, κατάλληλα βιβλία, κατάλληλους δασκάλους. Είναι λοιπόν ταυτότητα και δε μπορείς να λες πιστεύω είμαι Έλληνας χωρίς να μπορείς να καταλάβεις τουλάχιστον παθητικά τα ελληνικά. Σ.Π.: Λέγεται ότι εάν χαθεί η γλώσσα χάνεται και η εθνική ταυτότητα. Ίσως χάνεται ένας λαός, ένα έθνος Γ. Μπαμπινιώτης: Εάν χαθεί μια γλώσσα, στην πραγματικότητα χάνεται ένα έθνος, αλλά σπεύδω να πω ότι, ποτέ μια γλώσσα δε χάνεται, εάν δε χαθεί ο λαός ο ίδιος. Δηλαδή, όσον υπάρχουν Έλληνες θα υπάρχει και ελληνική γλώσσα. Αυτά που λέγονται ή γράφονται κατά καιρούς ότι θα χαθεί η ελληνική γλώσσα από την επίδραση της αγγλικής και άλλα, αυτά είναι μια γλωσσική μυθολογία την οποία δεν πιστεύουμε όχι μόνο οι γλωσσολόγοι, αλλά και ευρύτερα το επιστημονικό κοινό. Η αρχή είναι ότι όσο ένας λαός υπάρχει, δρα, λειτουργεί ζωντανά, έχει μια δραστηριότητα και πνευματική και δραστηριότητα πράξεως, υπάρχει με τη γλώσσα του. Σ.Π.: Σήμερα, τουλάχιστον εδώ στην Αμερική, παρατηρούμε ένα γλωσσικό ανταγωνισμό. Έχει κατά καιρούς λεχθεί ότι η Αμερική είναι ένα νεκροταφείο των γλωσσών και θα ήθελα να το σχολιάσετε αυτό, καθώς υπάρχει ένας ανταγωνισμός μεταξύ των γλωσσών, όπως μεταξύ της αγγλικής και της ισπανικής για παράδειγμα, υπάρχουν παραδείγματα όπως πολιτικές θέσεις υποψηφίων για την προεδρία της Αμερικής που υποστηρίζουν ότι η αγγλική θα πρέπει να γίνει επίσημη γλώσσα του αμερικανικού έθνους, το οποίο τυπικά ποτέ δεν είχε επίσημη γλώσσα, ενώ παράλληλα αυτήν την εποχή βλέπουμε και στην Ευρώπη να υπάρχει ένας γλωσσικός ανταγωνισμός οι Γάλλοι για παράδειγμα υποστηρίζουν τη γλώσσα τους με σθένος τι έχετε να σχολιάσετε πάνω σε αυτό; OΡΘΟΔΟΞΟΣ ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΤΗΣ Συνέντευξη του καθηγητή Γεωργίου Μπαμπινιώτη στον Ορθόδοξο Παρατηρητή. Γ. Μπαμπινιώτης: Για τους μελετητές της γλώσσας το πράγμα είναι πολύ απλό και ξεκαθαρισμένο, δε μπορεί να μιλάει κανείς για κανένα άλλο θέμα παρά μόνο για μια γλωσσική πολυμορφία, για μια οικολογία της γλώσσας, που σημαίνει ότι κάθε λαός σύμφωνα με την καταγωγή του, την ιστορία του, τη νοοτροπία του, την όλη ζωή του έχει τη δική του γλωσσική έκφραση. Αυτή η έκφραση δεν πρέπει να αφαιρεθεί ή να υποβαθμιστεί με τίποτα, γιατί αυτό θα ισοδυναμούσε με υποβάθμιση ενός ολόκληρου λαού. Δηλαδή, κάθε λαός υπάρχει με τον πολιτισμό του. Κάθε κοινότητα υπάρχει με τον πολιτισμό της. Δεν μπορεί λοιπόν στο βωμό της ευκολίας και της οικονομίας να καθ ι ε ρ ώ σ ο υμ ε μια Ως γλωσσολόγος έχω σαφή θέση και θεωρώ ότι η ελληνικότατη ως έμπνευση και ως δημιουργία λέξη Ομογένεια, δηλώνει μια διάσταση την οποία δεν έχει η λέξη Διασπορά. Ομογενής είναι αυτός που έχει το ίδιο γένος, όπου το γένος όμως είναι καταγωγή, γλώσσα και θρησκεία. γλώσσα για να συνεννοούμαστε με έναν π ιο εύκολο τρόπο. Πρέπει παράλληλα προς τις μητρικές γλώσσες να καλλιεργούνται και περισσότερες, δεύτερες γλώσσες συνεννόησης και δεν το λέω εγώ αυτό, το έχει πει ένας από τους μεγαλύτερους Άγγλους γλωσσολόγους, ο Ντέιβιντ Κρίσταν, ότι η μεγαλύτερη πολιτισμική καταστροφή του αιώνα θα ήταν εάν επικρατούσε μόνο μια γλώσσα, η αγγλική. Και το λέει αυτό ο μελετητής που έχει γράψει την Εγκυκλοπαίδεια της Αγγλικής Γλώσσας στο Πανεπιστήμιο της Οξφόρδης, το λέει ο ειδικός θέλοντας να τονίσει και όχι να υποβαθμίσει την Αγγλική ότι πρέπει να υπάρχει μια γλωσσική πολυμορφία όπως υπάρχει πολιτισμική πολυμορφία και υπό αυτήν την έννοια δε μπορεί, ούτε η Ευρώπη να σβήσει τις άλλες γλώσσες, ούτε η Αμερική, νομίζω, να σβήσει τις γλώσσες που μιλούνται. Εάν η Αμερική έχει γίνει νεκροταφείο γλωσσών, τότε, εάν μεν μιλάμε για τις Ινδιάνικες γλώσσες, που δεν είναι μόνο στην Αμερική, είναι στον Ειρηνικό, είναι στην Αυστραλία, που έσβησαν κυρίως γιατί έσβησαν οι ομιλητές τους, τότε υπάρχει ένα ιστορικό στοιχείο. Εάν ΣΕΠΤΕΜΒΡΙΟΣ ΟΚΤΩΒΡΙΟΣ 2007 όμως μιλάμε για γλώσσες ευρύτερης κοινότητας, αυτό σημαίνει μια τάση αφομοίωσης που είναι αντίθετη προς την πολυπολιτισμικότητα που αυτομάτως οδηγεί η πολυπολιτισμικότητα εφόσον την αποδεχθείς και στη γλωσσική πολυμορφία. Είναι θέμα του τι πολιτική εφαρμόζει μια χώρα; Η Αυστραλία επί παραδείγματι, εφαρμόζει την πολιτική της πολυπολιτισμικότητας και της πολυγλωσσικότητας. Στην Ευρώπη, μέσα στην Συνθήκη της Ρώμης, είναι προσδιορισμένο ότι οι χώρες που μπαίνουν στην Ενωμένη Ευρώπη, θα μπουν με τον πολιτισμό τους, με τη γλώσσα τους και με την παιδεία τους. Επομένως γλωσσική πολυμορφία εκ των ων ουκ άνευ για την ύπαρξη μιας ενότητας σύμφωνα και με αυτό που λέμε οικολογία της γλώσσας. Όπως υπάρχουν πολ λοί πολιτισμοί, όπως υπάρχουν διάφορα είδη, στην φύση, έτσι υπάρχουν και διάφορες γλώσσες που εκφράζουν τους ανθρώπους που ζουν στον κόσμο. Κάτι που δε μπορείς να το ισοπεδώσεις, γιατί θα σήμαινε έναν γλωσσικό φασισμό που νομίζω ότι δεν πρέπει να υπάρχει ως έννοια σε μια εποχή όπως η δική μας. Σ.Π.: Λέτε ότι η ελληνική γλώσσα παραμένει αναλλοίωτη δια μέσου των αιώνων; Υπάρχει μια αντίληψη η οποία πιστεύει πως θα πρέπει να προστατεύουμε την ακεραιότητα της γλώσσας σχεδόν με θρησκευτική ευλάβεια, ενώ είναι μια γλώσσα που εξελίσσεται. Μήπως τελικά κάθε προσπάθεια που έχει σκοπό τη διατήρηση της καθαρότητας της γλώσσας αποδεικνύεται μάταια; Γ. Μπαμπινιώτης: Όταν μιλάμε για διατήρηση της γλώσσας, αναφέρομαι στη διατήρηση της χρήσης της γλώσσας, όχι της μορφής της γλώσσας. Δεν υπάρχει πιο φυσικό φαινόμενο από την αλλαγή της γλωσσικής έκφρασης λαών και ατόμων μέσα στο πέρασμα του χρόνου. Η προφορά της ελληνικής άλλαξε μέσα στο πέρασμα του χρόνου. Άλλαξαν στοιχεία από την γραμματική και συντακτική της δομή. Όμως δεν άλλαξε η ελληνική γλώσσα, γιατί το βασικό λεξιλόγιο, οι βασικές δομές έχουν παραμείνει πολύ κοντά η μια στην άλλη, έχουν μια συνοχή. Επομένως, μια γλώσσα αλλάζει, αυτό είναι ένα φυσικό φαινόμενο, δεν είναι αυτό φθορά της γλώσσας, είναι φυσική εξέλιξη. Επομένως δε μπορούμε να μιλάμε για καθαρότητα γλωσσική και να υποστηρίζουμε ότι δεν πρέπει να αλλάξει αυτή ή εκείνη η λέξη, αυτή ή εκείνη η κατάληξη, αυτή ή εκείνη η μορφή προφοράς. Θα ήταν αφύσικο, κι όσες γλώσσες έχουν μια ιστορία μεγάλη, έχουν δείξει ότι αλλάζουν για να εκφράσουν τις ανάγκες που προκύπτουν, αλλά αυτό δε σημαίνει ότι χάνεται η ενότητα και η συνέχεια μιας γλώσσας. Σ.Π.: Στην Ελλάδα πρέπει να ανησυχεί κανείς για τη συνέχεια της Ελληνικής σε συνάρτηση με την αυξημένη μετανάστευση και τους μειονοτικούς πληθυσμούς, με το ίντερνετ και τη διάδοσή του, με τη χρήση της Ελληνικής όπως αυτή παραμορφώνεται από τα ηλεκτρονικά μέσα και την τηλεόραση; Γ. Μπαμπινιώτης: Στην Ελλάδα, μην κουράζεστε, δεν υπάρχει τέτοιο

19 ΣΕΠΤΕΜΒΡΙΟΣ ΟΚΤΩΒΡΙΟΣ 2007 ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΟΣ ORTHODOX ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΤΗΣ OBSERVER 19 θέμα, ότι και να γίνει, οποιαδήποτε τεχνολογική εξέλιξη, οποιαδήποτε μετανάστευση, οποιαδήποτε επίδραση της γλώσσας του εμπορίου και των συναλλαγών, οτιδήποτε κι αν συμβεί, μια γλώσσα δεν χάνεται. Και δε μιλάω μόνο για την ελληνική, μιλάω για όλες τις γλώσσες. Επομένως τέτοιος κίνδυνος δεν υπάρχει. Ποιό θέμα πρέπει να μας απασχολήσει κι αποτελεί πρόβλημα; Η ποιότητα της γλωσσικής μας επικοινωνίας που είναι ένα άλλο πράγμα. Το ότι παραπονιούνται οι Γάλλοι για τα γαλλικά τους, οι Γερμανοί για τα γερμανικά τους, οι Άγγλοι για τα αγγλικά τους, οι Έλληνες για τα ελληνικά τους, τι σημαίνει αυτό; Σημαίνει ότι ανησυχούμε για το επίπεδο, για την ποιότητα της γλώσσας. Δηλαδή, για τα Ελληνικά: αξιοποιούμε τις δυνατότητες του λεξιλογίου με τις τεράστιες αποχρώσεις και το φάσμα της δηλοτικότητας της γλώσσας; Αν δεν το αξιοποιούμε και συρρικνώνουμε τη γλώσσα σε ορισμένες, συγκεκριμένες μόνο δηλώσεις, τότε πραγματικά μιλάμε για μια συρρίκνωση της επικοινωνίας μας. Εάν δηλαδή, δεν αξιοποιούμε τις δυνατότητες μιας γλώσσας, τότε δεν έχουμε ποιότητα κι αυτό έχει σχέση με την Παιδεία ενός λαού, με την ευαισθησία του, με τα ακούσματα και τα διαβάσματα που έχουν οι νέοι, με την κοινωνία που περιβάλλει και χρησιμοποιεί μια γλώσσα, πόσο τη θεωρεί ως αξία; Είναι ένα πλέγμα προϋποθέσεων. Οπωσδήποτε, εάν υπάρχει ένα πρόβλημα για το οποίον πρέπει και είναι σωστό να συζητάμε, είναι πως μπορούμε να βελτιώσουμε την ποιότητα της γλωσσικής μας επικοινωνίας. Πρόβλημα για τους Έλληνες, πρόβλημα για τους Άγγλους, για τους Γάλλους, πρόβλημα του σύγχρονου ανθρώπου. Γιατί πιέζεται από έναν τεράστιο όγκο πληροφοριών που δεν προλαβαίνει να τον επεξεργαστεί, ούτε όταν μιλάει, ούτε όταν ακούει και διαβάζει. Και που το σχολείο δε λειτουργεί πάντοτε όπως θα έπρεπε και που τον χρόνο μας δεν τον αξιοποιούμε πάντοτε όπως θα έπρεπε. Επομένως υπάρχει ένα πρόβλημα του σύγχρονου ανθρώπου, όχι του Έλληνα, όχι του Άγγλου, όχι του Αμερικανού, που έχει σχέση με μια μείωση στην ποιότητα της γλωσσικής επικοινωνίας. OΡΘΟΔΟΞΟΣ ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΤΗΣ Ο καθηγητής Γεώργιος Μπαμπινιώτης (κέντρο) με τον Αρχιεπίκοσκοπο Δημήτριο και τον διευθυντή του Γραφείου Παιδείας Ιωάννη Ευθυμιόπουλο. Σ.Π.: Θα θέλαμε να αναφερθούμε σε ένα άλλο θέμα αναφορικά με τις έδρες ελληνικών σπουδών στα αμερικανικά πανεπιστήμια σε συνάρτηση με την ελληνική γλώσσα και τον ελληνικό πολιτισμό. Έχουν να παίξουν κάποιο ρόλο; Γ. Μπαμπινιώτης: Οι έδρες, οι ελληνικές σπουδές γενικά, έχουν να παίξουν σημαντικό ρόλο αφού είναι η φωνή, μια στέρεη και υπολογίσιμη φωνή του πολιτισμού, που αναπτύχθηκε στην Ευρώπη έχοντας ως μια κύρια πηγή του την ελληνική γλώσσα, τις ελληνικές σπουδές, την ελληνική σκέψη, την ελληνική διανόηση, τον ελληνικό πολιτισμό. Ζούμε όμως σε μια κοινωνία χρησιμοθηρική και ζούμε σε μια περίοδο που τα πανεπιστήμια προσπαθούν να αυξήσουν τους οικονομικούς τους πόρους και επομένως περνάνε σε οικονομία και σε διάφορες εμπορευματικού και διαχειριστικού τύπου καταστάσεις. Αυτές οι καταστάσεις δεν ευνοούν σπουδές όπως οι ελληνικές και όχι μόνον. Εκεί λοιπόν, πρέπει να βρούμε τρόπους να πείσουμε ότι δεν είναι δυνατόν ένα μεγάλο πανεπιστήμιο, μια μεγάλη χώρα, ένας μεγάλος πολιτισμός, να διαλέγει ότι έχει σχέση με το εμπόριο, με την οικονομία, με τη χρήση υπολογιστών, με, με, με Υπάρχουν πράγματα, έννοιες, αξίες οι οποίες καθορίζουν διαχρονικά τη ζωή του ανθρώπου. Κι αυτό είναι ο ανθρωπισμός στην ευρύτερη έννοια του. Αυτόν τον ανθρωπισμό, υπηρετούν κατ εξοχήν οι ελληνικές σπουδές που γι αυτό έχουν έναν αυξημένο ρόλο μέσα στα πανεπιστήμια. Εάν όλα αυτά τα σβήσουμε και δούμε το θέμα χρησιμοθηρικά, τότε αρχίζει και υπάρχει ένα μείζον πρόβλημα που δεν είναι μόνον της ελληνικής, αρχίσει και υπάρχει ένα πρόβλημα γιατί να διδάσκεις ξένες γλώσσες, νάναι μόνο η Αγγλική, γιατί να διδάξεις Φιλολογία, γιατί να διδάξεις Φιλοσοφία Είναι χαρακτηριστικό ότι και στα πανεπιστήμια της Ευρώπης, κλείνουν η μια μετά την άλλη έδρες των ανθρωπιστικών κοινωνικών επιστημών. Από μια νοοτροπία βαθύτατα, προκλητικά χρησιμοθηρική, η οποία οδηγεί στην αγριότητα της εποχής μας και στην εξαθλίωση του ανθρώπου με την κατάλυση των αξιών. Οι ελληνικές σπουδές μπορούν να παίξουν ένα ρόλο, απλώς όμως για να πούμε τα πράγματα με το όνομά τους, θα πρέπει να προσαρμοστούν στις ανάγκες της εποχής και ως προς το περιεχόμενό τους και ως προς την ανταπόκρισή του και ως προς το επίπεδο τους επί παραδείγματι θα μπορούσε κανείς να διδάξει πολύ ωραία τη σχέση της Νεοελληνικής Ιστορίας με τα Βαλκάνια, με την Ευρώπη, με την Αμερική, θα μπορούσε να διδάξει πολύ ωραία τις επιδράσεις της ελληνικής λογοτεχνίας σε άλλες λογοτεχνίες, αυτά που έχει δώσει κι αυτά που έχει πάρει, όπως συγκριτική λογοτεχνία, αυτό θα έχει ένα μεγάλο ενδιαφέρον, κ.ο.κ. Δηλαδή θα πρέπει το περιεχόμενο να προσαρμοστεί σε ευρύτερη θεώρηση. Σ.Π.: Χρησιμοποιούμε συχνά τον όρο Ελληνισμός της διασποράς νομίζετε εσείς ότι ο όρος «διασπορά» είναι δόκιμος όρος αναφορικά με τους Έλληνες, διότι υποστηρίζεται ότι ο όρος ταιριάζει σε άλους λαούς όπως για παράδειγμα στη διασπορά των Εβραίων που δεν είχαν έθνος; Γ. Μπαμπινιώτης: Ως γλωσσολόγος έχω σαφή θέση και θεωρώ ότι η ελληνικότατη ως έμπνευση και ως δημιουργία λέξη Ομογένεια, δηλώνει μια διάσταση την οποία δεν έχει η λέξη Διασπορά. Ομογενής είναι αυτός που έχει το ίδιο γένος, όπου το γένος όμως είναι καταγωγή, γλώσσα και θρησκεία. Είναι δηλαδή μια πολύ σύνθετη έννοια, συνδέεται με την έννοια του γένους στην Τουρκοκρατία και τότε πλάστηκε άλλωστε σε νεότερους χρόνους και επομένως έχει ένα βάθος ως έννοια που δεν το έχει η έννοια της λέξης διασπορά που είναι ο κατατεμαχισμός, καλύτερη κι από τη λέξη διασπορά αλλά όχι από την ομογένεια είναι η αρχαία λέξη της μετανάστευσης, που σημαίνει ότι μετακινούμαι σε μιαν άλλη Εάν θέλουμε τα παιδιά μας εδώ στην Ομογένεια, που είναι Αμερικανοί πολίτες να έχουν και μια αίσθηση καταγωγής, θρησκείας, γένους, τότε πρέπει να έχουν μια επαφή με την ελληνική γλώσσα. Και το θεωρώ μείζον θέμα. χώρα. Είναι μια ουδέτερη περιγραφή μιας αλλαγής που συμβαίνει στη μετακίνηση πληθυσμών. Προσωπικά προτιμώ να διατηρήσουμε αυτή την έννοια της Ομογένειας η οποία έχει ένα πρόβλημα: δε μεταφράζεται. Κι εκεί είναι το μόνο, αλλά γιατί και να μη συνηθίσουν και οι ξένοι να τη χρησιμοποιούν. Δε γνωρίζω εάν τη χρησιμοποιούν στην Αγγλική και αν την αποδίδουν, αλλά είναι μια λέξη τόσο εκφραστική που πραγματικά δε νομίζω ότι θα πρέπει να αλλάξει. Σ.Π.: Εν τοιαύτη περιπτώσει ο Ελληνισμός εδώ στην Αμερική η Ομογένεια πώς νομίζετε ότι πρέπει να προσεγγίσει το θέμα της ελληνικής γλώσσας; Ποια είναι γνώμη σας και ποια είναι η συμβουλή σας; Γ. Μπαμπινιώτης: Έχω πει μια φράση μιλώντας στην Ουάσιγκτον προς τους ομογενείς είπα «τη γλώσσα και τα μάτια σας». Η θέση μου είναι σαφής ότι με νύχια και με δόντια πρέπει να υπερασπίσουμε την εκμάθηση και τη διδασκαλία φυσικά της γλώσσας και γενικά την επαφή με τη γλώσσα, διότι αποτελεί, όχι το μόνο, αλλά κύριο χαρακτηριστικό ταυτότητας. Εάν λοιπόν θέλουμε τα παιδιά μας εδώ στην Ομογένεια που είναι Αμερικανοί πολίτες να έχουν και μια αίσθηση καταγωγής, θρησκείας, γένους, τότε πρέπει να έχουν μια επαφή με την ελληνική γλώσσα. Και το θεωρώ μείζον θέμα να υπάρχει αυτή η επαφή, αλλά με το σωστό τρόπο, που τον είπα προηγουμένως: σωστά βιβλία, επαρκείς δάσκαλοι, ικανός χρόνος, μεγάλο αποτέλεσμα σε μικρό χρόνο. Ως γλωσσολόγος, που δουλεύω πάρα πολλά χρόνια με τη γλώσσα, θα προσφέρω τον εαυτό μου χωρίς καμιά απαίτηση, όπου μπορώ να βοηθήσω την προσπάθεια τη γλωσσική που γίνεται. Διατίθεμαι να βοηθήσω επειδή πιστεύω στην Ομογένεια επειδή πιστεύω στο ρόλο της Εκκλησίας για την παιδεία και τη γλώσσα στο χώρο της Ομογένειας που είναι μια παράδοση. Μπορώ κι εγώ με τις οποίες δυνάμεις μου, να βοηθήσω και το θεωρώ καθήκον μου προς την παράδοση και προς την Εκκλησία στην οποία είμαι κοντά ούτως ή άλλως. Σ.Π.: Κλείνοντας θα θέλαμε να μας πείτε δύο λόγια για τις σχέσεις Ορθοδοξίας και Ελληνισμού. Γ. Μπαμπινιώτης: Θεωρώ ότι η σύνδεση ορθόδοξης χριστιανικής θρησκείας, δηλαδή Ορθοδοξίας και Ελληνισμού, αποτελεί ένα ιστορικό γεγονός. Θεωρώ ότι είναι ανιστόρητοι και ανιστορική η προσέγγιση που γίνεται από μερικούς, οι οποίοι θεωρούν ότι ο Χριστιανισμός είναι ή ήταν εναντίον του Ελληνισμού και ο Ελληνισμός εναντίον του Χριστιανισμού. Υπήρξε μια τέτοια περίοδος στους πρώτους αιώνες που όμως πρώιμα και έν πάση περιπτώσει στον 4 ο αιώνα με τους μεγάλους Πατέρες της Εκκλησίας, υπήρξε μια γεφύρωση αυτής της αντίθεσης, όταν ο Μέγας Βασίλειος, ο Γρηγόριος και άλλοι, αλλά και πριν από αυτούς, ο Συνέσιος και άλλοι, συνέδεσαν τα Ελληνικά Γράμματα με τη Χριστιανική Πίστη, λέγοντας ότι μπορεί να είσαι και καλύτερος Χριστιανός εάν έχεις ακονίσει και τη σκέψη σου στο χώρο της ελληνικής φιλοσοφίας, των γραμμάτων, της διαλεκτικής και δεν είναι τυχαίο ότι οι μεγάλοι Πατέρες έχοντας μια βαθειά γνώση της φιλοσοφίας και των ελληνικών γραμμάτων ήταν και αυτοί οι οποίοι προήγαγαν την ελληνική γλώσσα στα θέματα της δογματικής, της θεολογίας, ακριβώς γιατί χρειάστηκε να εκφράσουν έννοιες νέες γλωσσικά και αυτά τα όπλα τα πήραν από τον Ελληνισμό, από τα Ελληνικά Γράμματα. Από τον τέταρτο αιώνα και μετά υπάρχει μια συμπόρευση Χριστιανισμού, Ορθοδοξίας και Ελληνισμού ως ιστορικό γεγονός το οποίο δεν μπορεί να αρνηθεί κανένας. Αυτή η συμπόρευση γιγαντώνεται στο Βυζάντιο, καταξιώνεται στην Τουρκοκρατία και αναδεικνύεται στους χώρους της Ομογένειας, όπου η Εκκλησία έρχεται να παίξει έναν επιπλέον ρόλο, ρόλο Παιδείας και Γλώσσας, συνδυάζοντας πάντα την Ορθοδοξία με τον Ελληνισμό. Μιλάμε για τον Νεοελληνικό Διαφωτισμό που οδήγησε στο ξεσήκωμα του Γένους των Ελλήνων για να αποκτήσουν ελευθερία. Μέσα στο Νεοελληνικό Διαφωτισμό βασικό ρόλο παίζουν επίσκοποι, ιερωμένοι, μοναχοί, οι οποίοι τι κάνουν; μεταφράζουν και παρουσιάζουν τα αρχαία κείμενα σε νεοελληνική γλώσσα. Ο κ. Μπαμπινιώτης διετέλεσε καθηγητής και πρύτανης του Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών. Είναι πρόεδρος τής Φιλεκπαιδευτικής Εταιρείας, Πρόεδρος τής Γλωσσικής Εταιρείας Αθηνών, τακτικός συνεργάτης της εφημερίδας Το Βήμα και επιστημονικός συντάκτης τηλεοπτικών εκπομπών. Στο πλούσιο συγγραφικό του έργο περιλαμβάνονται το Λεξικό για το Σχολείο και το Γραφείο, το Λεξικό της Νέας Ελληνικής Γλώσσας και η πολύ πρόσφατη Γραμματική της Νέας Ελληνικής.

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