Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral New Orleans, Louisiana DECEMBER 11, 2016 ELEVENTH SUNDAY OF LUKE

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1 Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral New Orleans, Louisiana DECEMBER 11, 2016 ELEVENTH SUNDAY OF LUKE Sunday, December 11 ~ 9:00 am Orthros, 10:00 am Divine Liturgy Parish Council on Duty M. Anastasiou, N. Bouzon, A. Labatut, P. Patselikos, and B. Wolf 10:00 am ~ STACY AND ALEXIA RICO 40-DAYS BLESSING Annual Christmas Pageant Practice and Sunday Church School after Holy Communion 12:00 pm ~ 2017 Epiphany Meeting in Boardroom 12:00 pm ~ GOYA Community Christmas Card Fundraiser in Coffee Room LAST DAY 12:00 pm ~ Holy Trinity Archives Christmas Bazaar in Foyer ONE DAY ONLY 12:00 pm ~ Kids' Café in Upstairs Common Area 12:00 pm ~ Philoptochos Angel Tree Project in Coffee Room 12:00 pm ~ STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN Personalized Pledge Forms in Coffee Room 2:00 pm ~ LOWREY AND SHIRREFFS BAPTISMS Monday, December 12 ~ 9:00 am Divine Liturgy ST. SPYRIDON THE WONDERWORKER 1:00 pm ~ GEORGE MICHAILAKIS FUNERAL in Cathedral preceded by Visitation at Noon 7:00 pm ~ ECYM Committee Meeting in Boardroom Tuesday, December 13 ~ 7:00 pm Parish Council Meeting in Boardroom Wednesday, December 14 ~ 7:00 pm Bible Study with Father George in Boardroom Thursday, December 15 ~ 9:00 am Divine Liturgy ST. ELEFTHERIOS THE HOLY MARTYR Saturday, December 17 ~ 9:00 am Divine Liturgy ST. DIONYSIOS OF ZAKYNTHOS 10:15 am ~ Holy Trinity PTA Communion Breakfast in Coffee Room 11:00 am ~ Sunday Church School Christmas Pageant Dress Rehearsal in Cathedral GOYA and HOPE & JOY Christmas Caroling 7:00 pm ~ Community Dinner with His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios in Coffee Room Sunday, December 18 ~ 9:00 am Orthros 10:00 am Hierarchical Divine Liturgy SUNDAY BEFORE NATIVITY Parish Council on Duty M. Anastasiou, N. Bouzon, P. Patselikos, S. Psarellis, and B. Wolf Sunday Church School Annual Christmas Pageant in Cathedral DEADLINE FOR CROSS RETRIEVAL AND DOVE BEARER APPLICATIONS 12:00 pm ~ Philoptochos Angel Tree Project in Coffee Room 12:00 pm ~ Holy Trinity PTA and Parish Council Sponsored Luncheon in Gymnasium 6:00 pm ~ AHEPA-Daughters of Penelope Christmas Party in Coffee Room AHEPA-DAUGHTERS OF PENELOPE CHRISTMAS PARTY All AHEPANS, Daughters, and their spouses are invited to attend the joint organizations' annual Christmas party next Sunday, December 18, 2016, at 6:00 pm in the Coffee Room. ARCHIVES ANNUAL CHRISTMAS BAZAAR TODAY The Holy Trinity Archives Committee is sponsoring its annual Christmas Bazaar today, Sunday, December 11, in the Hellenic Cultural Center foyer. This ONE DAY ONLY fundraiser will feature unique items that make wonderful gifts for your friends and family members. This Christmas, treat your loved ones to historic reproductions and help the Archives Committee preserve treasured iconography and artifacts, big and small. Among the items for sale are reproductions of the earliest icons painted in 1872 by Kostadinos of Lesbos and venerated by the faithful in the first Little Church; note cards depicting images from the collection that include the icon from St. Petersburg, Russia, Jesus Christ the Holy Mandylion, and Agia Markella of Chios; and reproduction of the oldest photo of the Little Church. Pass by the table and visit Maggie Maag to make your purchases. The Church School staff continues preparations for the annual Christmas Pageant. Parents are asked that their child/children attend the remaining SUNDAY CHURCH SCHOOL CLASSES and practices between now and next Sunday, December 18. Also, it is imperative that all children attend the full pageant rehearsals to become familiar with THE SONGS, WHERE TO STAND, and THE OVERALL PROGRAM. The remaining schedule is as follows: Sunday, December 11 full rehearsal during Sunday Church School Saturday, December 17 full rehearsal immediately following Communion Breakfast If you have any questions, please contact Christina Kogos at cmkogos2@aol.com.

2 POINSETTIAS FOR CHRISTMAS Please submit your Poinsettias for Christmas form to the Cathedral office by Thursday, December 15. A program listing the donors and their dedications will be available at the Christmas services on Sunday, December 25. SAINT SPYRIDON, known as the God-bearing Father of the Church and as the great defender of Corfu, called Cyprus his homeland. A man of simple manner and humble heart, Saint Spyridon was a shepherd, who married and had a daughter named Irene. After his wife's death, he was appointed Bishop of Trimythus and attended the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, where by means of his plain words he stopped the Arians, a group that asserted that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, created by God the Father, distinct from the Father, and subordinate to the Father. He wrought such great wonders that he received the surname "Wonderworker." So it is that having tended his flock piously and in a manner pleasing to God, he reposed in the Lord about the year 350, leaving to his country his sacred relics as a consolation and source of healing for the faithful. About the middle of the seventh century when the barbarians invaded, his sacred relics were taken to Constantinople, where they remained, being honored by the emperors themselves. But, before the fall of Constantinople on May 29, 1453, a priest named George Kalokhairetes, the parish priest of the church where the sacred relics of Saint Spyridon and of Saint Theodora the Empress were kept, took them away on account of the impending peril. Traveling by way of Serbia, he came as far as Arta in Epirus, a region in Western Greece opposite to the isle of Corfu. From there, while the misfortunes of the Christian people were increasing with every day, he passed over to Corfu about the year The relics of Saint Theodora were given to the people of Corfu; but, those of Saint Spyridon remain to this day, according to the rights of inheritance, the most precious treasure of the priest's own descendants. They continue to be a staff for the faithful in Orthodoxy and a supernatural wonder for those that behold him. For even after the passage of 1,500 years, they have remained incorrupt, and even the flexibility of his flesh has been preserved. Truly, wondrous is God in His Saints! (Psalms 67:36) Message from Father George AS WE PRAY ABOUT OUR 2017 STEWARDSHIP Last Sunday we heard a wonderful stewardship message from our Stewardship Chairman Nick Bouzon. I appreciate the efforts that he and the Parish Council have so diligently offered for our Spiritual home. As we come close to the end of the year, we have an opportunity to think about completing our annual pledge to the Cathedral and perhaps even increasing it, if possible. Our Archdiocese shares many thought provoking ideas for us to use in our stewardship campaigns, like the following thoughts from Father Anthony Coniaris: One day, a person complained to his priest that the Church and Christianity is one continual give, give, give. To which the priest replied, Thank you very much for the finest definition of Christianity I have ever heard. You re right, Christianity is all about a constant give, give, give. God giving His only Son to the world to show His unconditional love. His Son Jesus giving His life on the cross to forgive our sins and destroy death. Then, our Lord s disciples giving all they had to make sure God s Good News of love was preached to all people everywhere. They not only gave away their homes and businesses but even gave up their lives as martyrs in gratitude to God! It is by offering our blessings back to God that He will be able to continue His forgiving, healing, liberating, empowering, transfiguring, loving ministry through the Church. For God, infinite though He be, has chosen to work through us, through our gifts, to continue His saving work in the world today. ]

3 2017 STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN The 2017 Stewardship Campaign is underway. Stewardship Chairperson Nick Bouzon will be at a table in the Hellenic Cultural Center, where you can pick up your personalized 2017 stewardship form, review the information, and make any needed changes before returning the updated sheet, along with your 2017 commitment, to the Cathedral office during the month of December. Payments are not required at this time, only the amount that you pledge to give for This helps the Parish Council prepare a more accurate budget for the coming year and also ensures that the Cathedral office has up to date contact information for you. Thank you for your cooperation and your continued support of the Church. ANGEL TREE Once again, the Philoptochos Society is accepting donations for the Angel Tree Project. With input from Holy Trinity PTA, HOPE & JOY, and GOYA, the project helps special families within the Cathedral Community. Major grocery store and Wal-Mart gift cards of any value will be collected in the Coffee Room on December 11 and 18. All gifts are due back by December 18. Please contact Diana Peterson at dnmpeterson@gmail with any questions. CHRISTMAS LENTEN LUNCHEON NEXT SUNDAY Holy Trinity PTA is hosting the Lenten luncheon that will follow the annual Sunday Church School Christmas Pageant next Sunday, December 18. The PTA officers would like your assistance with this event. Below is a list of items that you may consider donating. Please contact Suzanne Stratikis at sstratikis@yahoo.com with your selection. Fruit Tray Juice Boxes for Children Taramosalata Guacamole with Chips Lentil Soup Vegetable Tray Homemade Hummus Olives GOYA COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS CARD GOYA is once again ready to assist with your holiday greetings through its beautiful Community Christmas Card! Save precious time and postage, while supporting GOYA, by adding your name or organization to this year's Christmas card that will be mailed to the entire community. Look for the table in the Coffee Room, where you may complete your form and submit your donation of $20. Today is the LAST DAY! The youth of Holy Trinity appreciate your support and wish you a joyous holiday season! METROPOLITAN ALEXIOS' UPCOMING PASTORIAL VISIT His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios will visit Holy Trinity Cathedral on December 17 and 18. A Community dinner will be served in the Hellenic Cultural Center on Saturday at 7:00 pm. On Sunday, he will celebrate a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy and attend the annual Christmas Pageant. A luncheon sponsored by Holy Trinity PTA and the Parish Council will follow. BOARD OF TRUSTEES ELECTION RESULTS Pending ratification by His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios, the following candidates were elected to the 2017 Board of Trustees: Maria Anastasiou; Nektarios (Aki) Christakis; Ares Christakis, MD; Angela Fyssas-Lear; and Barbara Stavis Wolf. CATHEDRAL CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS The Cathedral family sincerely thanks Evangelia Kouniaris and her assistants, who decorated the Cathedral for the Nativity Season. The group included Faith Kyame, Stella Lykourinou, and Georgia Zervoudis. CHRISTMAS CHURCH SERVICES SCHEDULE Please check the Christmas schedule, which was mailed to your home last week, for all details on upcoming church services through Epiphany. EPIPHANY SWIMMERS The 4th Annual Epiphany Celebration will take place on Sunday, January 8, Members of the community, including ALL GOYANS and young adults, are encouraged to apply to be a Cross Retrieval swimmer. This is a wonderful opportunity to spiritually celebrate the baptism of Christ in the Jordan River. Swimmers will attempt to retrieve the blessed wooden cross from Bayou St. John in front of the Cathedral. The one, who retrieves the cross, receives a special blessing from the Church, a gold cross and chain, a personal plaque, and his name engraved on the Theophany Plaque in the Hellenic Cultural Center. All swimmers receive a special blessing in the Church prior to the swim, are honored for their participation in this celebration of our Faith, and are recognized at the Epiphany Luncheon Program. Applications, which are available in the Narthex and Cathedral office, must be submitted by next Sunday, December 18. JANUARY MONTHLY BULLETIN DEADLINE The Cathedral office asks that all information for the January issue of The Flame be submitted by Wednesday, December 21, Thank you. PHILOPTOCHOS SENIOR CITIZENS LUNCHEON Thanks to the generosity of sponsors Carol and Steve Venturatos and Barbara Stavis Wolf, the seniors enjoyed the Philoptochos Christmas Senior Citizens Luncheon. John Koniditsiotis, Patrick Latour, and Alex Tiliakos prepared the delicious Lenten meal. Along with the food, games, and festivities, the group was serenaded by the Cathedral Montessori School students, who sang Christmas carols. WELCOME DEMETRIOS GOLFOS The Cathedral family welcomes Demetrios Golfos, who will serve the community as its new chanter and pastoral assistant. Demetrios comes to New Orleans from Mobile, Alabama.

4 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4 ATTENDANCE 170 ~ CANDLE AND TRAY COLLECTIONS $610 Holy Trinity Cathedral Greek Orthodox Community of New Orleans 1200 ROBERT E. LEE BOULEVARD NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA Reverend Father George Wilson, Dean priest@holytrinitycathedral.org PHONE: (504) FAX: (504)

5 11η ΔΕΚΕΜΒΡΙΟΥ 2016 ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΙΑ ΛΟΥΚΑ ΤΩΝ ΑΓΙΩΝ ΠΡΟΠΑΤΟΡΩΝ Ἑωθινόν Γ 11 TH DECEMBER TH SUNDAY OF LUKE THE HOLY FOREFATHERS Eothion 3 Ἀπολυτίκιον τῆς Ἀνάστασης Ἦχος πλ δ Ἐξ ὕψους κατῆλθες ὁ εὔσπλαγχνος, ταφὴν καταδέξω τριήμερον, ἵνα ἡμᾶς ἐλευθερώσῃς τῶν παθῶν. Ἡ ζωὴ καὶ ἡ Ἀνάστασις ἡμῶν, Κύριε δόξα σοι. Ἀπολυτίκιον τῶν Προπατόρων Ἦχος β Ἐν πίστει τοὺς Προπάτορας ἐδικαίωσας, τὴν ἐξ Ἐθνῶν δι' αὐτῶν προμνηστευσάμενος Ἐκκλησίαν. Καυχῶνται ἐν δόξῃ οἱ Ἅγιοι, ὄι ἐκ σπέρματος αὐτῶν, ὑπάρχει καρπός εὐκλεής, ἡ ἀσπόρως τεκοῦσά σε. Ταῖς αὐτῶν ἱκεσίαις, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, σῶσον τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν. Ἀπολυτίκιον τῆς Ἁγίας Τριάδας Ἦχος πλ δ Εὐλογητὸς εἶ, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ὁ πανσόφους τοὺς ἁλιεῖς ἀναδείξας, καταπέμψας αὐτοῖς τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον, καὶ δι' αὐτῶν τὴν οἰκουμένην σαγηνεύσας, φιλάνθρωπε, δόξα σοί. Κοντάκιον Ἦχος γ Ἡ Παρθένος σήμερον, τὸν Προαιώνιον Λόγον, ἐν Σπηλαίῳ ἔρχεται, ἀποτεκεῖν ἀπορρήτως. Χόρευε ἡ οἰκουμένη ἀκουτισθεῖσα, δόξασον μετὰ Ἀγγέλων καὶ τῶν Ποιμένων, βουληθέντα ἐποφθῆναι, παιδίον νέον, τὸν πρὸ αἰώνων Θεόν. Resurrectional Apolytikion Plagal Tone 4 You descend from on high, O Compassionate One, and condescended to be buried for three days so that from the passions You might set us free. Our Life and Resurrection, Lord, glory be to You. Apolytikion of the Forefathers Tone 2 By faith did You justify the Forefathers, when through them You did betroth Yourself aforetime to the Church from among the nations. The Saints boast in glory that from their seed there is a glorious fruit, even she that bare You seedlessly. By their prayers, O Christ God, save our souls. Apolytikion of the Holy Trinity Plagal Tone 4 Blessed are You, O Christ our God, who made fishermen all-wise, sending upon them the Holy Spirit and, through them, netting the world. O Loving One, glory to You. Kontakion Tone 3 On this day the Virgin came to the cave to give birth to God the Word ineffably, Who was before all the ages. Dance for joy, O earth, on hearing the gladsome tidings; with the Angels and the shepherds now glorify Him Who is willing to be gazed on as a young Child Who before the ages is God.

6 ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΟΣ Κολοσσαεῖς γ 4-11 Εὐλογητὸς εἶ, Κύριε, ὁ Θεὸς τῶν Πατέρων ἡμῶν. Ὅτι δίκαιος εἶ ἐπὶ πᾶσιν, οἷς ἐποίησας ἡμῖν. Ἀδελφοί, ὅταν ὁ Χριστὸς φανερωθῇ, ἡ ζωὴ ἡμῶν, τότε καὶ ὑμεῖς σὺν αὐτῷ φανερωθήσεσθε ἐν δόξῃ. Νεκρώσατε οὖν τὰ μέλη ὑμῶν τὰ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, πορνείαν, ἀκαθαρσίαν, πάθος, ἐπιθυμίαν κακήν, καὶ τὴν πλεονεξίαν, ἥτις ἐστὶν εἰδωλολατρεία, διʼ ἃ ἔρχεται ἡ ὀργὴ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐπὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς τῆς ἀπειθείας Ἐν οἷς καὶ ὑμεῖς περιεπατήσατέ ποτε, ὅτε ἐζῆτε ἐν αὐτοῖς. Νυνὶ δὲ ἀπόθεσθε καὶ ὑμεῖς τὰ πάντα, ὀργήν, θυμόν, κακίαν, βλασφημίαν, αἰσχρολογίαν ἐκ τοῦ στόματος ὑμῶν μὴ ψεύδεσθε εἰς ἀλλήλους, ἀπεκδυσάμενοι τὸν παλαιὸν ἄνθρωπον σὺν ταῖς πράξεσιν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐνδυσάμενοι τὸν νέον, τὸν ἀνακαινούμενον εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν κατʼ εἰκόνα τοῦ κτίσαντος αὐτόν ὅπου οὐκ ἔνι Ἕλλην καὶ Ἰουδαῖος, περιτομὴ καὶ ἀκροβυστία, βάρβαρος, Σκύθης, δοῦλος, ἐλεύθερος ἀλλὰ τὰ πάντα καὶ ἐν πᾶσιν Χριστός. THE EPISTLE Colossians 3:4-11 Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers. For you are just in all you have done. BRETHREN, when Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. In these you once walked, when you lived in them. But now put them all away; anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old nature with its practices and have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free man, but Christ is all, and in all. ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΟΝ Λουκᾶν ιδ Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τήν παραβολὴν ταύτην Ἄνθρωπός τις ἐποίησε δεῖπνον μέγα καὶ ἐκάλεσε πολλούς καὶ ἀπέστειλε τὸν δοῦλον αὐτοῦ τῇ ὥρᾳ τοῦ δείπνου εἰπεῖν τοῖς κεκλημένοις ἔρχεσθε, ὅτι ἤδη ἕτοιμά ἐστι πάντα. καὶ ἤρξαντο ἀπὸ μιᾶς παραιτεῖσθαι πάντες. ὁ πρῶτος εἶπεν αὐτῷ ἀγρὸν ἠγόρασα, καὶ ἔχω ἀνάγκην ἐξελθεῖν καὶ ἰδεῖν αὐτόν ἐρωτῶ σε, ἔχε με παρῃτημένον. καὶ ἕτερος εἶπε ζεύγη βοῶν ἠγόρασα πέντε, καὶ πορεύομαι δοκιμάσαι αὐτά ἐρωτῶ σε, ἔχε με παρῃτημένον. καὶ ἕτερος εἶπε γυναῖκα ἔγημα, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο οὐ δύναμαι ἐλθεῖν. καὶ παραγενόμενος ὁ δοῦλος ἐκεῖνος ἀπήγγειλε τῷ κυρίῳ αὐτοῦ ταῦτα. τότε ὀργισθεὶς ὁ οἰκοδεσπότης εἶπε τῷ δούλῳ αὐτοῦ ἔξελθε ταχέως εἰς τὰς πλατείας καὶ ῥύμας τῆς πόλεως, καὶ τοὺς πτωχοὺς καὶ ἀναπήρους καὶ χωλοὺς καὶ τυφλοὺς εἰσάγαγε ὧδε. καὶ εἶπεν ὁ δοῦλος κύριε, γέγονεν ὡς ἐπέταξας, καὶ ἔτι τόπος ἐστί. καὶ εἶπεν ὁ κύριος πρὸς τὸν δοῦλον ἔξελθε εἰς τὰς ὁδοὺς καὶ φραγμοὺς καὶ ἀνάγκασον εἰσελθεῖν, ἵνα γεμισθῇ ὁ οἶκος μου. λέγω γὰρ ὑμῖν ὅτι οὐδεὶς τῶν ἀνδρῶν ἐκείνων τῶν κεκλημένων γεύσεταί μου τοῦ δείπνου. Πολλοί γὰρ εἰσιν κλητοί, ὀλίγοι δέ ἐκλεκτοί. THE GOSPEL Luke 14:16-24 The Lord said this parable: "A man once gave a great banquet, and invited many; and at the time of the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, 'Come; for all is now ready.' But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I go out and see it; I pray you, have me excused.' And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I must go to examine them; I pray you, have me excused.' And another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' So the servant came and reported this to his master. Then the householder in anger said to his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and maimed and blind and lame.' And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and there is still room.' And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet. For many are called, but few are chosen.'"