With these thoughts I wish each and everyone a Blessed Summer!

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1 My Dear Parishioners, Once again our church community and parish of St. Athanasios came together to celebrate the beautiful and inspiring services of Holy Week and Pascha. The beauty of these Holy Days was made even more memorable by the beautiful Epitaphio, the loving prayers and offerings of all the faithful who came to share in both tears and great joy. Added to the joy of the Resurrection, I do wish to express my gratitude to all the faithful who made this Paschal Celebration a memorable one. Many thanks to all who offered their Paschal donations, the Altar Boys, the Myrofores, the members of the Parish Council, the Psaltes and the choir, the Neokoro, the icon & Epitaphio Decorators, the Philoptochos, the ladies who prepared the red eggs and the PTO who organized the Easter Egg Hunt and donated the Easter Baskets for out children, the donors and volunteers who prepared the Lenten Dinners during Great Lent and the breakfast prepared on Saturday of Lazarus, the Palm Crosses crew, young and old, our office staff and custodians, the Gospel Readers at the Agape Vespers, all Parish Organizations and all the faithful who offered their prayers and their presence by the Cross of our Lord and Risen Savior. We are also very grateful to Fr. John Andreadis for his assistance. As the school year draws to its end and the beautiful season of Summer is approaching us, I would like to wish you all an enjoyable Summer season. Try, as much as you can, to take some time off your busy schedule, business and work, to be outside with your entire family. A vacation is equally needed as work. Enjoy your family and the beauty of nature because life is short. These are precious years when the children are around. Enjoy them and be with them before like birds, they will fly away. With these thoughts I wish each and everyone a Blessed Summer! In Christ with grateful feelings, Fr. Anargyros

2 FESTIVAL 2012 We would like to thank all our parishioners and friends for your help, support, and generous donations! Θέλουµε να ευχαριστήσωµε όλους ανεξαιρέτως, ενορίτες και φίλους πού εργάστηκαν µε µεγάλη προθυµία για το Φεστιβαλ της ενορίας µας. Ευχόµεθα ο Πανάγαθος Θεός διά των Πρεσβειών του Αγίου Αθανασίου να χαρίζη, υγεία, χαρά και ευτυχία σε όλους. GREEK SCHOOL NEWS On Monday, March 20 th, our Greek school celebrated the Greek Independence Day, and the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary. Our students dressed in our ethnic colors blue and white, but also in traditional costumes, presented a festive program with poems, skits, and patriotic songs. I wish to thank my colleagues for their professionalism, our students for their excellent performance, and all of you our guests for honoring us with your presence. On Sunday March 25 th, our community participated in our Greek Independence Day parade in New York City, and enough students of our school were present. We hope next year to have a bigger number of participants. We are reaching the end of the school year in a few days, and our school will remain closed until the second week of September. We are requesting that you pre-register for the next year before the end of June. By pre-registering, we anticipate the necessary school texts, for the fall of On Saturday June 9 th, we will have our Greek school graduation at 5:15pm, and on Sunday right after the Divine Liturgy, the PTO will host a barbeque end of year celebration with the Sunday Church School. THE GRADUATES OF OUR GREEK SCHOOL FOR 2012 ARE: KLEOPATRA GEORGIADES MARIA KOUTSOUMBIS STAVROS MALLIOS OLYMBIA NIKOLOPOULOS ELENI HARALAMBAKIS MELISSA KATSAPIS BRYANNA MARIA LOGOTHETIS EFTHYMIA MITCHELL ANNA TSAPELIS BENJAMIN VENEZIA CONGATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES TO ALL! WE WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY AND HEALTHY SUMMER. Thank you Sophia Stamatiou Principal

3 ΝΕΑ ΤΟΥ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΟΥ ΣΧΟΛΕΙΟΥ Την Δευτέρα 20 Μαρτίου, το Ελληνικό µας σχολείο, γιόρτασε την ιστορική επέτειο της 25 ης Μαρτίου, και τον Ευαγγελισµό της Θεοτόκου. Οι µαθητές µας, ντυµένοι µε τα εθνικά µας χρώµατα το µπλέ και το άσπρο, αλλά και µε τις τοπικές τους παραδοσιακές στολές, παρουσίασαν ένα ποικίλο πρόγραµµα µε ποιήµατα, τραγούδια και επικαιριακά σκετς. Ήταν µία όµορφη συγκινητική γιορτή, και όλοι οι παρευρισκόµενοι, καταχειροκρότησαν τα παιδιά µας. Το αίσθηµα του πατριωτισµού, ήταν διάχυτο στην κοινοτική µας αίθουσα, σε όλη την διάρκεια της γιορτής. Ένα µεγάλο ευχαριστώ σε όλους τους εκπαιδευτικούς µας για την τέλεια συνεργασία τους, στους µαθητές µας για την υπέροχη απόδοσή τους, και σε όλους εσάς, που µας τιµήσατε µε την παρουσία σας. Στις 25 Μαρτίου, η κοινότητά µας έλαβε µέρος στην µεγάλη εθνική µας παρέλαση στην Νέα Υόρκη, και αρκετοί µαθητές και γονείς ήταν παρόντες. Ευελπιστούµε του χρόνου να έχουµε έναν πολύ µεγαλύτερο αριθµό συµετοχής. Σε λίγες εβδοµάδες φθάνουµε στο τέλος της σχολικής µας χρονιάς, και το σχολείο µας θα παραµείνει κλειστό, µέχρι την δεύτερη εβδοµάδα του Σεπτεµβρίου. Σας παρακαλούµε να γράψετε τα παιδιά σας πριν το τέλος Ιουνίου, ώστε να υπολογίσουµε τον αριθµό των µαθητών κατά τάξη, και τα κατάλληλα βιβλία. Η τελετή των εξετάσεων θα γίνει το Σάββατο 9 Ιουνίου, στις 5:15µµ. Οι µαθητές που αποφοιτούν από το Ελληνικό µας σχολείου είναι: ΚΛΕΟΠΑΤΡΑ ΓΕΩΡΓΙΑΔΗ ΜΕΛΙΣΣΑ ΚΑΤΣΑΠΗ ΜΑΡΙΑ ΒΡΥΑΝΑ ΛΟΓΟΘΕΤΗ ΕΥΘΥΜΙΑ ΜΙΤΣΕΛ ΝΙΚΟΛΟΠΟΥΛΟΥ ΑΝΝΑ ΤΣΑΠΕΛΗ ΒΕΝΙΑΜΙΝ ΒΕΝΕΖΙΑ ΜΑΡΙΑ ΚΟΥΤΣΟΥΜΠΗ ΣΤΑΥΡΟΣ ΜΑΛΛΙΟΣ ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑ ΕΛΕΝΗ ΧΑΡΑΛΑΜΠΑΚΗ ΕΚΦΡΑΖΟΥΜΕ ΤΑ ΘΕΡΜΑ ΜΑΣ ΣΥΓΧΑΡΗΤΗΡΙΑ ΣΕ ΟΛΟΥΣ!!!!! ΕΥΧΟΜΑΣΤΕ ΚΑΛΟ ΚΑΛΟΚΑΙΡΙ ΚΑΙ ΚΑΛΕΣ ΔΙΑΚΟΠΕΣ ΣΕ ΟΛΟΥΣ. Ευχαριστώ Σοφία Σταµατίου Διευθύντρια

4 G.O.Y.A. NEWS As the GOYA year comes to an end, it is quite exciting to recap all of the activities that have taken place in these last few months. With events from the Lock-in to the Soccer Tournament, we have all been busy and of course are enjoying all of the time we are spending together. During the month of April we had both our annual GOYA lock-in with our own church, as well as the Soccer Tournament. At the Lock-in we learned more about our faith with a lecture on Holy Week by Father Anargyros, and by watching a portion of the movie Jesus of Nazareth. We also had fun with many various activities from basketball and volleyball to board games. I think it is safe to say that it was a great experience to have been able to spend some quality time with all of our fellow GOYAns. The Indoor Soccer Tournament took place on April 28 th and was another great way to showcase the soccer team s hard work and work together as a team. The month of May holds the last and one of the most awaited GOYA events of the year, the Olympics. The annual Junior Olympics will be taking place on Memorial Day Weekend at Monmouth University from Saturday to Sunday. Therefore, the time before the Olympics will be spent preparing and practicing. This event has always been a wonderful way to end the GOYA year as we always enjoy the time we spend working and playing together. With the end of May of course comes the start of the official last month of our GOYA year, June! The month of June will have events for our own GOYA such as Graduation Sunday and the End of the Year Trip both taking place on June 10 th. These final events are ones that have always been enjoyable as they have been a lovely way to conclude the year. On a final note, I would like to mention on behalf of myself as well as the rest of the graduating seniors (Christopher Georgiadis, Mariana Georgatos, Tina Nikitopoulos, and Charlie Tsakrios), that our years in GOYA have been ones that we will always cherish and remember. I would also like to add that as both President and a graduating senior, I will always hold all of my GOYA experiences and memories very dear to my heart as the Saint Athanasios GOYA has been such a huge part of my life for so long. I had an amazing final year and I have been very proud to be able to call myself both a member and the President of this GOYA. With Christ s Love, Eleni Skoutakis

5 Congratulations to our Graduating Seniors! We wish you the best of luck in your futures, God bless you all! Mariana Georgatos Christopher Georgiadis Tina Nikitopoulos Eleni Skoutakis Charlie Tsakrios FOS NEWS By: Dr Karen Scoullos We would like to thank our parishioners for supporting our Lenten religious education programs offered on Monday evenings after the Great Compline Service and our bookstore. May has been a busy month. Our FOS members did our Church Tours during our parish yearly festival. We provided educational pamphlets to all who visited and toured our church. Our bookstore sold many religious items at our festival, including icons, books and nightlights. Proceeds from our Festival will be utilized to sponsor educational programs for our community in the new ecclesiastical year. In the summer our store will be open on Sundays after church services. Should you have any questions you may contact us at fos@stathanasiosnj.org or call the church office at Have a blessed summer. BOOK STORE ITEMS Gifts Incense and charcoal Censors Icons Night lights Icon bracelets Prayer ropes and Prayer books Children s books Bibles Greek books

6 SUNDAY CHURCH SCHOOL NEWS As the Sunday Church School year comes to a close, I would like to thank God for His grace, His blessings, and His paternal guidance throughout this year so that the children of our St. Athanasios community could have the opportunity to learn about our Greek Orthodox Faith and our Holy Traditions. Faith begins, and is taught, at home by parents. When we bring our children to church, we bring them to the source, to communion with God through our savior Jesus Christ. This does not stop however when Sunday Church School takes a break in the summer months. I sincerely hope that all families will continue to attend church regularly with their children. Summer is a perfect time for families to worship together for the entire church service. It is the perfect time to teach our children that Sunday worship is really a part of our lives, and not simply another activity to schedule during a bust week. I would like to thank Father Anargyros, as the head of the Sunday Church School for his pastoral guidance and support this year. Father Anargyros is deeply committed to religious education and teaching the Greek Orthodox faith to the children of our Sunday Church School and he has placed the Sunday Church School as a priority in his ministry. We are grateful for his commitment to the Sunday Church School. I would also like to thank Thea Portelos, the Assistant Director of the Sunday Church School for all her help this year, and the teachers of the Church School, who put in countless hours to plan lessons, run activities, attend meetings, and teach our children about our Greek Orthodox Faith: a big thank you! We have had many successful events this year including two Retreats, an annual Thanksgiving Food Drive, A Christmas Pageant, A Godparent Celebration Sunday Breakfast, an OCMC Missions Drive, and several fundraisers. The children participated in many of the Church events and Feastdays. We are happy to announce that the Sunday Church School will be giving a stewardship donation this year to the church from the weekly stewardship envelopes that the children bring every Sunday. Finally I would like to thank all the parents who participated and helped this year in the various activities. Special thanks to Diana Pallikaropoulos for following up on the Sunday Snack Schedule and Maria Kolaros for her help throughout the year in the retreats and plant sales. You will be receiving a mailing about Registration for the School year during the summer. Please respond to it early and register your child so that we can plan for books and supplies. We will need even more parental involvement next year - please fill out the volunteer form in any area that is of interest. We need your help. God Bless and have a restful and relaxing summer. Safe travel to all those who will be traveling this summer. Athena Georgotas Sunday Church School Director

7 PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS On behalf of Philoptochos, we wish you all Xristos Anesti. Wishing you and your family s a wonderful Pentecost season. Our Philoptochos chapter had a very busy spring. We hosted our Palm Sunday Lenten Luncheon, which included delicious bakaliaro and scordalia ; and raised $2400 to offset part of the cost of the church s unexpected gas line repair. This event would not have been possible without the donations from Arthur Yfantis and the Empire Club, John & Peter Anastasopoulos and the Land & Sea Diner, the kitchen help we had from, Elias Ekonomidis, Demetrios Xanthos and Bill Scoullos. We are also grateful to our GOYANs who set-up the tables for us. Our Philoptochos was proud to honor Mary Ann (Athie Georgiou) at the Metropolis of NJ Clergy Laity Banquet held on May 14, 2012 at the Venetian. Athie is a former Philoptochos President, and exemplifies the loving and giving ideals of our society. Our Philoptochos Chapter is also proud to have awarded it s annual Scholarship to Eleni Skoutakis. Eleni is the daughter of John and Popy Skoutakis and will be graduating from Paramus High School in June. Eleni will be attending Amercian University in the Fall. We wish everyone a lovely and blessed summer, and look forward to seeing you all in the fall. Please join the Metropolis of New Jersey Philoptochos and St. Irene s Philoptochos in fulfilling the needs of the impoverished school children of Greece by filling our Box of Hope We will be accepting new school supplies in Our Box of Hope Back Packs Notebooks Filler Paper Pencils Pens Highlighters A collection box will be located in the Community Center of St. Athanasios Greek Orthodox Church. Please bring in your donations no later than July 5, 2012.

8 PHILOPTOCHOS RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF THE GREEK ORTHODOX COMMUNITY FOR OVER 80 YEARS Has a loss of employment put you behind with your rent, mortgage or utility bills? Are you swamped by out-of-pocket medical costs? Do you need help finding homecare for your elderly parents? Do you know someone who needs help, a friendly call or visit? CONFIDENTIAL ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE! Contact Philoptochos locally by calling Thea Portelos at Contact Metropolis of NJ Social Service Chairperson Eleni Adronikou at Contact National Philoptochos at The Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society, Inc., assists Greek Orthodox Christian individuals and families throughout the United States, as well as Greek and Cypriot Nationals, regardless of their immigration status, who are in the USA. We welcome new members and your ideas!

9 SANCTIFY THOSE WHO LOVE THE BEAUTY OF THY HOUSE ΑΓΙΑΣΟΝ ΤΟΥΣ ΑΓΑΠΩΝΤΑΣ ΤΗΝ ΕΥΠΡΕΠΕΙΑΝ ΤΟΥ ΟΙΚΟΥ ΣΟΥ Saint Athanasios Greek Orthodox Church Iconography / Phase I and II CAMPAIGN FOR THE ADORNMENT OF OUR CHURCH We would like to thank the parishioners who have already committed to the Iconography project of our church. As of May 17, 2012 the following icons are still available: ALTAR AREA (SANCTUARY) SAINTS IN BUST St. Ignatius $4,500 ICON DEPICTIONS Moses and the Burning Bush $20,000 The Sacrifice of Isaac $20,000 NAVE ICONOGRAPHY ICON DEPICTIONS Jesus and the Samaritan Woman $19,000 St. Athanasios Teaching $23,000 The Nativity of the Theotokos $23,000 The Presentation of the Theotokos $23,000 Kimisis of the Theotokos $23,000 FULL BODIED SAINTS SS. Kosmas and Damian $11,000 SS. Mary of Egypt and Zosimas $11,000 St. Paul $5,500 SS. Sophia (Faith-Hope-Love) $13,500 SAINTS IN BUST St. Joachim $4,500 For additional information and to discuss your family s donation, please contact Fr. Anargyros Stavropoulos.