Tuesday June 5 Philoptochos General Assembly (7:00 pm) Sunday June 10 Metropolis Awards Banquet (Lombardo s, Randolph, MA)

Transcript

1 ANNUNCIATION GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL OF NEW ENGLAND WEEKLY BULLETIN Cathedral: 514 Parker Street, Boston, MA Office/Mailing Address: 162 Goddard Avenue, Brookline, MA Phone: (617) Fax: (617) Fr. Demetri s cell: (617) Upcoming Events Sunday June 3 GraduaMon Sunday (ANer Liturgy) Tuesday June 5 Philoptochos General Assembly (7:00 pm) Sunday June 10 Metropolis Awards Banquet (Lombardo s, Randolph, MA) Wednesday June 13 St. Methodios: Great Vespers at Chapel (7:00 pm) Thursday June 14 St. Methodios: Orthros/Liturgy at Chapel (8:00 am) Sunday June 17 Father s Day Barbecue (ANer Liturgy at Cathedral) Thursday June 28 Ss. Peter & Paul: Vesperal Liturgy (6:30 pm at Chapel) Sunday July 1 NaMonal Clergy-Laity: Hierarchical Liturgy Monday July 2-5 NaMonal Clergy-Laity (Marrioa Copley-Boston, MA) Wednesday August 1 Paraklesis (6:30 pm at Chapel) 3 June 2018 THE SUNDAY OF ALL SAINTS Τhe Holy Martyr Lucillian ΤΩΝ ΑΓΙΩΝ ΠΑΝΤΩΝ Τοῦ Ἁγίου Μάρτυρος Λουκιλλιανοῦ

2 ΚΑΘΕΔΡΙΚΟΣ ΝΑΟΣ ΝΕΑΣ ΑΓΓΛΙΑΣ ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΣΜΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΘΕΟΤΟΚΟΥ ANNUNCIATION GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL OF NEW ENGLAND Rev. Fr. Demetrios E. Tonias, Ph.D., Cathedral Dean γ Ἰουνίου,βιη Α ΜΑΤΘΑΙΟΥ 1st Sunday of Matthew 3 June 2018 Ἀπολυτίκια Ἦχος πλ. δ Ἐξ ὕψους κατῆλθες ὁ εὔσπλαγχνος, ταφὴν κατεδέξω τριήμερον, ἵνα ἡμᾶς ἐλευθερώσῃς τῶν παθῶν. Ἡ ζωὴ καὶ ἡ Ἀνάστασις ἡμῶν, Κύριε δόξα σοι. Ἦχος δ Τῶν ἐν ὅλῳ τῷ κόσμῳ Μαρτύρων σου, ὡς πορφύραν καὶ βύσσον τὰ αἵματα, ἡ Ἐκκλησία σου στολισαμένη, δι' αὐτῶν βοᾷ σοι Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, τῷ λαῷ σου τοὺς οἰκτιρμούς σου κατάπεμψον, εἰρήνην τῇ πολιτείᾳ σου δώρησαι, καὶ ταῖς ψυχαῖς ἡμῶν τὸ μέγα ἔλεος. Ἦχος δ Σήμερον τῆς σωτηρίας ἡμῶν τὸ κεφάλαιον, καὶ τοῦ ἀπ αἰῶνος μυστηρίου ἡ φανέρωσις ὁ Υἷός του Θεοῦ, υἱὸς τῆς Παρθένου γίνεται, καὶ Γαβριὴλ τὴν χάριν εὐαγγελίζεται. Διὸ καὶ ἡμεῖς σὺν αὐτῷ, τῇ Θεοτόκῳ βοήσωμεν Χαῖρε Κεχαριτωμένη, ὁ Κύριος μετά σοῦ. Κοντάκιον Ἦχος πλ. δʹ. Ὡς ἀπαρχὰς τῆς φύσεως, τῷ φυτουργῷ τῆς κτίσεως, ἡ οἰκουμένη προσφέρει σοι Κύριε, τοὺς θεοφόρους Μάρτυρας ταῖς αὐτῶν ἱκεσίαις, ἐν εἰρήνῃ βαθείᾳ, τὴν Ἐκκλησίαν σου, διὰ τῆς Θεοτόκου συντήρησον, πολυέλεε. Dismissal Hymns Mode pl. 4 From on high You came, O Merciful One. And condenscended to Your Three-Day Burial; in order to free us from our passions. You are our life and resurrection, O Lord, glory to You. Mode 4 Your Church is arrayed in the holy blood of Your Martyrs who witnessed throughout the world, as though in purple and fine linen. Through them she cries to You, Christ our God, "Send down to Your people Your tender love, grant peace from above to Your commonwealth, and to our souls Your great mercy." Mode 4 Today mark s the crow ning of our salvation and the revelation of the mystery before all ages. For the Son of God becomes the son of the Virgin, and Gabriel proclaims the grace. Wherefore, we also cry out with him, "Hail, O full of grace, the Lord is with you. Kontakion Mode pl. 4. O Planter of creation, Lord, to You does the entire world bring as an offering the God-bearing martyr Saints, as being nature's first fruits. At their earnest entreaties, keep Your Church in a state of profoundest peace, through the Theotokos, O Lord abundantly merciful.

3 Ἀπόστολος Ἑβρ. ια 33-40, ιβ 1-2 Hebrews 12:33-40, 12:1-2 Epistle Ἀδελφοί, οἱ Ἅγιοι πάντες διὰ πίστεως κατηγωνίσαντο βασιλείας, εἰργάσαντο δικαιοσύνην, ἐπέτυχον ἐπαγγελιῶν, ἔφραξαν στόματα λεόντων, ἔσβεσαν δύναμιν πυρός, ἔφυγον στόματα μαχαίρας, ἐνεδυναμώθησαν ἀπὸ ἀσθενείας, ἐγενήθησαν ἰσχυροὶ ἐν πολέμῳ, παρεμβολὰς ἔκλιναν ἀλλοτρίων ἔλαβον γυναῖκες ἐξ ἀναστάσεως τοὺς νεκροὺς αὐτῶν ἄλλοι δὲ ἐτυμπανίσθησαν, οὐ προσδεξάμενοι τὴν ἀπολύτρωσιν, ἵνα Κρείττονος ἀναστάσεως τύχωσιν ἕτεροι δὲ ἐμπαιγμῶν καὶ μαστίγων πεῖραν ἔλαβον, ἔτι δὲ δεσμῶν καὶ φυλακῆς ἐλιθάσθησαν, ἐπρίσθησαν, ἐπειράσθησαν, ἐν φόνῳ μαχαίρας ἀπέθανον, περιῆλθον ἐν μηλωταῖς, ἐν αἰγείοις δέρμασιν, ὑστερούμενοι, θλιβόμενοι, κακουχούμενοι, ὧν οὐκ ἦν ἄξιος ὁ κόσμος, ἐν ἐρημίαις πλανώμενοι καὶ ὄρεσι καὶ σπηλαίοις καὶ ταῖς ὀπαῖς τῆς γῆς. Καὶ οὗτοι πάντες μαρτυρηθέντες διὰ τῆς πίστεως οὐκ ἐκομίσαντο τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν, τοῦ Θεοῦ περὶ ἡμῶν κρεῖττόν τι προβλεψαμένου, ἵνα μὴ χωρὶς ἡμῶν τελειωθῶσι. Τοιγαροῦν καὶ ἡμεῖς, τοσοῦτον ἔχοντες περικείμενον ἡμῖν νέφος μαρτύρων, ὄγκον ἀποθέμενοι πάντα καὶ τὴν εὐπερίστατον ἁμαρτίαν, δι' ὑπομονῆς τρέχωμεν τὸν προκείμενον ἡμῖν ἀγῶνα, ἀφορῶντες εἰς τὸν τῆς πίστεως ἀρχηγὸν καὶ τελειωτὴν 'Ιησοῦν. Εὐαγγέλιον Ματθ. ι 32-33, 37-38, ιθ Matthew. 10: 32-33, 37-38, 19:27-30 Gospel Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τοῖς ἑαυτοῦ Μαθηταῖς Πᾶς ὅστις ὁμολογήσει ἐν ἐμοὶ ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ὁμολογήσω κἀγὼ ἐν αὐτῷ ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ πατρός μου τοῦ ἐν οὐρανοῖς ὅστις δ' ἂν ἀρνήσηταί με ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ἀρνήσομαι αὐτὸν κἀγὼ ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ πατρός μου τοῦ ἐν οὐρανοῖς. Ὁ φιλῶν πατέρα ἢ μητέρα ὑπὲρ ἐμὲ οὐκ ἔστι μου ἄξιος καὶ ὁ φιλῶν υἱὸν ἢ θυγατέρα ὑπὲρ ἐμὲ οὐκ ἔστι μου ἄξιος Brethren, all the saints through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, illtreated - of whom the world was not worthy - wandering over deserts and mountains and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfection of our faith. The Lord said to his disciples, "Every one who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny him before my Father who is in heaven. He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and he who Continued on next page

4 καὶ ὃς οὐ λαμβάνει τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀκολουθεῖ ὀπίσω μου, οὐκ ἔστι μου ἄξιος. Ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ Πέτρος εἶπεν αὐτῷ Ἰδοὺ ἡμεῖς ἀφήκαμεν πάντα καὶ ἠκολουθήσαμέν σοι τί ἄρα ἔσται ἡμῖν; ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ὑμεῖς οἱ ἀκολουθήσαντές μοι, ἐν τῇ παλιγγενεσίᾳ, ὅταν καθίσῃ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐπὶ θρόνου δόξης αὐτοῦ, καθίσεσθε καὶ ὑμεῖς ἐπὶ δώδεκα θρόνους κρίνοντες τὰς δώδεκα φυλὰς τοῦ Ἰσραήλ. καὶ πᾶς ὅς ἀφῆκεν οἰκίας ἢ ἀδελφοὺς ἢ ἀδελφὰς ἢ πατέρα ἢ μητέρα ἢ γυναίκα ἢ τέκνα ἢ ἀγροὺς ἕνεκεν τοῦ ὀνόματός μου, ἑκατονταπλασίονα λήψεται καὶ ζωὴν αἰώνιον κληρονομήσει. Πολλοὶ δὲ ἔσονται πρῶτοι ἔσχατοι καὶ ἔσχατοι πρῶτοι. does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me." Then Peter said in reply, "Lo, we have left everything and followed you. What then shall we have?" Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of man shall sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many that are first will be last, and the last first." Sunday of All Saints The Sunday following Pentecost is dedicated to All Saints, both those who are known to us, and those who are known only to God. There have been saints at all times, and they have come from every corner of the earth. They were Apostles, Martyrs, Prophets, Hierarchs, Monastics, and Righteous, yet all were perfected by the same Holy Spirit. The Descent of the Holy Spirit makes it possible for us to rise above our fallen state and to attain sainthood, thereby fulfilling God s directive to be holy, for I am holy (Lev. 11:44, 1 Peter 1:16, etc.). Therefore, it is fitting to commemorate All Saints on the first Sunday after Pentecost. This feast may have originated at an early date, perhaps as a celebration of all martyrs, then it was broadened to include all men and women who had borne witness to Christ by their virtuous lives, even if they did not shed their blood for Him. St Peter of Damascus, in his Fourth Stage of Contemplation, mentions five categories of saints: Apostles, Martyrs, Prophets, Hierarchs, and Monastic Saints (PHILOKALIA [in English] Vol. 3, p.131). He is actually quoting from the OCTOECHOS, Tone 2 for Saturday Matins, kathisma after the first stichology. St Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain ( July 14) adds the Righteous to St Peter s five categories. The list of St. Nicodemus is found in his book The Fourteen Epistles of St. Paul (Venice, 1819, p. 384) in his discussion of I Corinthians 12:28. The hymnology for the feast of All Saints also lists six categories: Rejoice, assembly of the Continued on next page

5 Apostles, Prophets of the Lord, loyal choirs of the Martyrs, divine Hierarchs, Monastic Fathers, and the Righteous. Some of the saints are described as Confessors, a category which does not appear in the above lists. Since they are similar in spirit to the martyrs, they are regarded as belonging to the category of Martyrs. They were not put to death as the Martyrs were, but they boldly confessed Christ and came close to being executed for their faith. St Maximus the Confessor (Jan. 21) is such a saint. The order of these six types of saints seems to be based on their importance to the Church. The Apostles are listed first, because they were the first to spread the Gospel throughout the world. The Martyrs come next because of their example of courage in professing their faith before the enemies and persecutors of the Church, which encouraged other Christians to remain faithful to Christ even unto death. Although they come first chronologically, the Prophets are listed after the Apostles and Martyrs. This is because the Old Testament Prophets saw only the shadows of things to come, whereas the Apostles and Martyrs experienced them firsthand. The New Testament also takes precedence over the Old Testament. The holy Hierarchs comprise the fourth category. They are the leaders of their flocks, teaching them by their word and their example. The Monastic Saints are those who withdrew from this world to live in monasteries, or in seclusion. They did not do this out of hatred for the world, but in order to devote themselves to unceasing prayer, and to do battle against the power of the demons. Although some people erroneously believe that monks and nuns are useless and unproductive, St John Climacus had a high regard for them: Angels are a light for monks, and the monastic life is a light for all men (Ladder, Step 26:31). The last category, the Righteous, are those who attained holiness of life while living in the world. Examples include Abraham and his wife Sarah, Job, Sts Joachim and Anna, St Joseph the Betrothed, St Juliana of Lazarevo, and others. The feast of All Saints achieved great prominence in the ninth century, in the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Leo VI the Wise ( ). His wife, the Holy Empress Theophano (December 16) lived in the world, but was not attached to worldly things. She was a great benefactor to the poor, and was generous to the monasteries. She was a true mother to her subjects, caring for widows and orphans, and consoling the sorrowful. Even before the death of St Theophano in 893 or 894, her husband started to build a church, intending to dedicate it to Theophano, but she forbade him to do so. It was this emperor who decreed that the Sunday after Pentecost be dedicated to All Saints. Believing that his wife was one of the righteous, he knew that she would also be honored whenever the Feast of All Saints was celebrated.

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8 Οἱ Ἅγιοι Πάντες Πραγματικὰ εἶναι θαυμαστὸς ὁ Θεὸς μέσα στοὺς ἁγίους του. Γιατί ὅταν κανεὶς ἀναλογισθεῖ τοὺς ὑπερφυσικοὺς ἀγῶνες τῶν μαρτύρων, πὼς μὲ ἀσθενὴ σάρκα καταντρόπιασαν τὸν ἰσχυρὸ στὴ κακία, πὼς ἔμειναν ἀναίσθητοι στὶς ὀδύνες καὶ στὰ τραύματα, καθὼς ἀγωνίζονταν μὲ σώματα πρὸς φωτιά, πρὸς τὸ ξίφος, πρὸς ποικί α καὶ θανατηφόρα εἴδη βασάνων καὶ ἀντιπαρατάσσονταν μὲ καρτερία, ἐνῶ τοὺς ἔκοβαν τὶς σάρκες, τοὺς διά υαν τοὺς ἁρμοὺς καὶ τοὺς συνέτριβαν τὰ ὀστά, ὅμως διαφύ αξαν τὴν ὁμολογία τῆς πίστεως στὸ Χριστὸ σώα καὶ ἀδιάσπαστη, ἀκεραία καὶ ἀκλόνητη, ποὺ γι αὐτὸ τοὺς χαρίσθηκε καὶ ἡ ἀναντίρρητη σοφία τοῦ Πνεύματος καὶ ἡ δύναμη τῶν θαυμάτων. Ὅταν κανεὶς ἀναλογισθεῖ ἐπίσης τὴν ὑπομονὴ τῶν ὁσίων, πὼς ὑπέφεραν μὲ τὴ θέ ησή τους σὰν ἀσώματοι τὶς πολυήμερες ἀσιτίες, τὶς ἀγρυπνίες, τὶς ἄ ες ποικί ες κακώσεις τοῦ σώματος, καὶ ἀντιτάχθηκαν ἕως τὸ τέ ος πρὸς τὰ πονηρὰ πάθη, πρὸς τὰ τόσα εἴδη ἁμαρτίας, πρὸς τὸν ἐσωτερικό μας ἀόρατο πό εμο, πρὸς τὶς ἀρχὲς καὶ ἐξουσίες, ἐνῶ ἔ ειωναν καὶ ἀχρηστεύονταν ἐξωτερικά, ἀ ὰ ἀνανεώνονταν καὶ ἐθεώνονταν ἐσωτερικὰ ἀπὸ ἐκεῖνον ποὺ τοὺς ἔδωσε τὰ χαρίσματα τῶν θεραπειῶν καὶ δυνάμεων. Ὅταν λάβει αὐτὰ κανεὶς ὑπ ὄψιν του καὶ ἐπὶ πλέον ἐννοήσει ὅτι ὑπερβαίνουν τὴ φύση μας, θαυμάζει καὶ δοξάζει τὸ Θεὸ ποὺ ἔδωσε σ αὐτοὺς τὴν τόση ἄφθονη χάρη καὶ δύναμη. Γιατί ἂν καὶ εἶχαν ἀγαθὴ καὶ καλὴ προαίρεση, χωρὶς τὴ δύναμη τοῦ Θεοῦ δὲν θὰ κατόρθωναν νὰ ὑπερβοῦν τὴ φύση καὶ ἔχοντας σῶμα, νὰ κατανικήσουν τὸν ἀσώματο ἐχθρό. Γι αὐτὸ καὶ ὁ ψαλμωδὸς προφήτης, ἀφοῦ εἶπε: «Θαυμαστὸς εἶναι ὁ Θεὸς μέσα στοὺς ἁγίους αὐτοῦ», πρόσθεσε: «αὐτὸς θὰ δώσει δύναμη καὶ κραταίωση στὸ λαό του». (Ψαλμ. ξζ, 36). Ἀπολαύουν δὲ τὴ χάρη τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὄχι ὅ οι γενικά, ἀ ὰ ὅσοι ἔχουν ἀγαθὴ προαίρεση καὶ ἐπιδεικνύουν μὲ ἔργα τὴν πρὸς τὸ Θεὸ ἀγάπη καὶ πίστη. Αὐτὸ φανερώνεται στὸ εὐαγγέ ιο ποὺ λέγει: «ὅποιος ὁμολογήσει σ ἐμένα ἐμπρὸς στοὺς ἀνθρώπους, θὰ ὁμολογήσω καὶ ἐγὼ σ αὐτὸν ἐμπρὸς στὸ Πατέρα μου στοὺς οὐρανούς» (Ματθ. ι, 32). Δὲν εἶπε «ὅποιος μὲ ὁμολογήσει ἐμπρὸς στοὺς ἀνθρώπους», ἀ ὰ «ὅποιος ὁμολογήσει μέσα σ ἐμένα» μὲ τὴν ἔννοια ὅτι μπορεῖ νὰ προβά ει μὲ παρρησία τὴν εὐσέβεια, δι ἐκείνου καὶ διὰ τῆς βοηθείας ἐκείνου. Ἔτσι πά ι «θὰ ὁμολογήσω καὶ ἐγώ» καὶ δὲν εἶπε «αὐτόν» ἀ ὰ «μέσα σ αὐτόν», δηλαδὴ διὰ τῆς ἀγαθῆς ἀντιστάσεως καὶ ὑπομονῆς. Αὐτὸ δηλώνει τὴν ἀδιάσπαστη συνάφεια τοῦ Θεοῦ πρὸς τοὺς ὁμολογοῦντας, ἂν καὶ εἶναι δοῦ οι Θεοῦ. Ἀντίθετα «ὅποιος μὲ ἀρνηθεῖ ἐμπρὸς στοὺς ἀνθρώπους, θὰ τὸν ἀρνηθῶ καὶ ἐγὼ ἐμπρὸς στὸ Πατέρα μου στοὺς οὐρανούς». Δὲν εἶπε ἐδῶ «ὅποιος ἀρνηθεῖ μέσα σὲ μένα», γιατί; Διότι ὁ ἀρνούμενος ἀρνεῖται τὸ Θεὸ ἂν στερηθεῖ τὴ Θεϊκὴ βοήθεια. Γιατί δὲ ἐγκαταλείφθηκε καὶ ἔμεινε ἔρημος τοῦ Θεοῦ; Ἐπειδὴ αὐτὸς πρῶτα πρό αβε καὶ τὸν ἐγκατέ ειψε, ἀφοῦ ἀγάπησε τὰ πρόσκαιρα καὶ γήινα πράγματα περισσότερο, παρὰ τὰ ἐπαγγελμένα ἀπὸ τὸ Θεὸ οὐράνια καὶ αἰώνια ἀγαθά. Continued on next page

9 Ἔτσι οἱ θεῖες ἀντιδόσεις ἔχουν μαζί τους τὴ θεία δικαιοσύνη καὶ ἐπιφέρουν ἀπὸ τὴ ὁμοίωση τὰ ἀνά ογα ἀποτελέσματα. Καὶ ἐνῶ οἱ ὁμολογήσαντες τὸ Θεὸ στὸ πρόσκαιρο αὐτὸ βίο τὸ ἔκαναν παρουσία λίγων ἀνθρώπων, ὁ Χριστὸς Θεὸς καὶ Κύριος τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ γῆς θὰ τοὺς ὑποστηρίξει ἐνώπιον τοῦ Πατρός, τῶν ἀγγέ ων, ὅ ων τῶν οὐρανίων δυνάμεων καὶ μὲ παρουσία ὅ ων τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἀπὸ Ἀδὰμ μέχρι τῆς συντέ ειας. Καὶ θὰ στεφανώσει καὶ θὰ δοξάσει ὅ ους ἐκείνους ποὺ ἐπέδειξαν πίστη μέχρι τέ ους σὲ αὐτόν. Ἀ ὰ καὶ τώρα δοξάζονται κάποιοι ἅγιοι μὲ τὰ ἱερὰ λείψανά τους ποὺ εὐωδιάζουν, ποὺ χαρίζουν ἰάσεις καὶ διάφορα ἐνεργήματα δυνάμεων, προσκυνώντας τους καὶ γονατίζοντας στὶς εἰκόνες τους βασιλεῖς, ἄρχοντες καὶ ὁ λαὸς τοῦ Κυρίου. Ἄ ωστε τὸ εἶπε ὁ ἴδιος ὁ Κύριος πρὸς τοὺς πιστοὺς ὅτι: «ὅποιος ἀφήσει οἰκία, συγγενεῖς ἢ ἀγροὺς γιὰ τὸ ὄνομά μου, θὰ τὰ λάβει ἑκατονταπλάσια καὶ θὰ κληρονομήσει αἰώνια ζωή». Καὶ τὴν ἴδια του ζωὴ εἶναι δίκαιο καὶ ἀναγκαῖο νὰ τὴν ἀφήσει ὁ πιστός, ἂν τὸν καλέσει ὁ καιρὸς σὲ περιόδους διωγμῶν, γιὰ νὰ πετύχει τὴν αἰώνια ζωή, ἀφοῦ καὶ ὁ ἴδιος ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ ἔδωσε τὴ ζωή του γιὰ χάρη μας. Ἀ ὰ καὶ σὲ εἰρηνικοὺς καιροὺς ὁ πιστὸς λαμβάνει τὸ σταυρό του, σταυρώνοντας τὰ πάθη καὶ τὶς ἐπιθυμίες τῆς σάρκας. Διότι λέγει: «ὅποιος βρῆκε τὴν ψυχή του θὰ τὴν χάσει, καὶ ὅποιος ἔχασε τὴν ψυχή του γιὰ χάρη μου, θὰ τὴ βρεῖ». (Ματθ. ι, 39). Ὁ ἄνθρωπος εἶναι διπλός, ὁ ἐκτός δηλαδὴ τοῦ σώματος καὶ ὁ μέσα μας, δηλαδὴ ἡ ψυχή. Ὅταν κάποιος παραδώσει τὸν ἑαυτό του σὲ θάνατο κατὰ τὸν ἐκτὸς ἄνθρωπο, χάνει τὴ ψυχή του ποὺ χωρίζεται ἀπὸ τὸ σῶμα, ἀ ὰ τὴ βρίσκει στὸ Χριστὸ κατὰ τὴν ἀνάσταση καὶ γίνεται οὐράνιος καὶ αἰώνιος. Ἡ ἐκκλησία τοῦ Χριστοῦ, τιμᾶ λοιπὸν καὶ μετὰ θάνατο αὐτοὺς ποὺ ἔζησαν ἀ ηθινὰ κατὰ Θεό, κάθε μέρα τοῦ ἔτους τελεῖ τὴ μνήμη τῶν ἁγίων ποὺ μετέστησαν καὶ ἀπεδήμησαν ἀπὸ τὴ πρόσκαιρη αὐτὴ ζωή. Συγχρόνως δὲ προβά ει τὸ βίο καθενὸς χάρη τῆς ὠφελείας μας καὶ ὑποδεικνύει τὸ τέ ος τους, εἴτε εἰρηνικὸ εἴτε μαρτυρικό. Τώρα δὲ μετὰ τὴ Πεντηκοστή, ἡ Ἐκκλησία ἀφοῦ συγκέντρωσε ὅ ους τους ἁγίους γνωστοὺς καὶ ἀγνώστους μαζί, ἀναπέμπει κοινὸ σὲ ὅ ους αὐτοὺς ὕμνο, ὄχι μόνο διότι ὅ οι εἶναι ἑνωμένοι μεταξύ τους καὶ μὲ τὸν Πατέρα, ὅπως τὸ ζήτησε ὁ Κύριος: «νὰ εἶναι ὅ οι ἕνα, ὅπως ἐγώ, Πάτερ, μὲ σένα καὶ σὺ μὲ μένα, νὰ εἶναι καὶ αὐτοὶ μὲ ἐμᾶς ἕνα στὴν ἀ ήθεια», (Ἰω. ιζ, 20), ἀ ὰ καὶ γιατί φροντίζει νὰ φανερώνει καὶ νὰ ἀνυμνεῖ ὅ α τὰ ἔργα τοῦ Θεοῦ ὡς ἀποτέ εσμα τῆς ἀποστολῆς, φωτισμοῦ καὶ ἐνεργείας τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύματος. Ἃς τιμήσουμε λοιπὸν ὅ ους τοὺς ἁγίους του Θεοῦ. Πῶς; Ἂν κατὰ μίμησή τους καθαρίσουμε τοὺς ἑαυτούς μας ἀπὸ κάθε μολυσμὸ σαρκὸς καὶ πνεύματος καὶ ἔτσι ἀπομακρυνόμενοι ἀπὸ τὰ κακὰ διὰ τῆς μετανοίας καὶ ἐξομολογήσεως, θὰ φερόμεθα πρὸς τὴν ἁγιοσύνη παρουσιάζοντας τὰ σώματα καὶ τὶς ψυχές μας εὐάρεστες στὸ Θεό, μὲ τὶς πρεσβεῖες τῶν ἁγίων πάντων ὥστε νὰ γίνουμε καὶ ἐμεῖς μέτοχοι τῆς ἀπέραντης ἐκείνης πανηγύρεως καὶ εὐφροσύνης μὲ τὴ χάρη καὶ φιλανθρωπία τοῦ Κυρίου μας Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ στὸν ὁποῖο πρέπει κάθε δόξα μαζὶ μὲ τὸν ἄναρχο Πατέρα του καὶ τὸ πανάγιο καὶ ἀγαθὸ καὶ ζωοποιὸ Πνεῦμα, τώρα καὶ πάντοτε καὶ στοὺς αἰῶνες τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.

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16 STEWARDSHIP REPORT AS OF Stewards pledged this far: 215 Total pledged for 2018: $187,145 Rev. Dr. Demetrios & Pr. Maryann Tonias & Family Dr. & Mrs. Chris Afendulis Mr. Antonios Alexopoulos Ms. Bessie V. Andersen Mrs. Calliope Andreadis Ms. Fotene Fay Andreadis Mr. Evangelos Andrianesis Mr. & Mrs. Arthur C. Anton, Sr. Dr. Marica Arvanites Mr. Peter Badavas Mr. & Mrs. Robert P. Badavas Ms. Joanna Bakas Mrs. Christina Bakos Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas M. Balasalle Ms. Natalie Bassil Ms. Tizita Bekele Mr. & Mrs. Costa Belezos Mr. & Mrs. Nick Belibasakis Ms. Maria E. Beno Mr. & Mrs. Triantafillos Blathras Mr. & Mrs. Matt Boivin Ms. Stephanie Bond Mr. & Mrs. James G. Boulogiane Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas Bouritsas Mrs. Helen Cakridas Mr. & Mrs. Peter Cakridas Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Caparell Mr. & Mrs. James G. Boujoukos Mr. & Mrs. Constintine P. Calliontzis Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Caparell Mr. Alexander & Dr. Lela Caros Ms. Eugenia M. Carris Ms. Mary A. Carris Mr. & Mrs. Benjamin H. Clark Ms. Mary Cleary Ms. Maria Clessas Mr. Peter L. Condakes & Dr. Pamela Pappas Presbytera Doris Conomos Ms. Alexanda Connors Mr. Paul Costas Mr. & Mrs. Theodore A. Critikos Mr. & Mrs. John Dakoyannis Mr. & Mrs. Euripides Dalmanieras Mr. Alexander D. Dasco Mr. & Mrs. Angelos Davos Mr. & Mrs. Peter V. Davos Ms. Evangelia Demeter Mr. & Mrs. Theodoros Dimitriou Ms. Asemena T. Dodge Ms. Emily Dotsias Mr. Charles J. Doulos Mr. & Mrs. John Douros Mr. & Mrs. Stephen C. Dragotakes Hon. & Mrs. Michael S. Dukakis Mr. & Mrs. George C. Dukas Mr. & Mrs. Charles P. Eliopoulos Mr. & Mrs. Jason Ellis Mr. & Mrs. Andreas I. Evriviades Mr. & Mrs. Ryan E. Feltham Mr. Theodore Flessas Mr. & Mrs. John N. Foundas Atty. & Mrs. Nicholas Foundas Ms. Irene Fountas Dr. Calliope G. Galatis Mrs. Gerasimos Galatis Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas K. Galatis Ms. Dimitra Gardikas Mr. & Mrs. Peter Gardikas Mrs. Acrive Geanakakis Ms. Susan Georgantas Ms. Marie Georgelis Atty. Deanna M. Georgenes Mr. & Mrs. Vassilios Georgountzos Mr. & Mrs. John Georgountzos Drs. Iraklis & Sheila Gerogiannis Mr. & Mrs. Lazaros Giannakopoulos Mr. & Mrs. George Glaropoulos Mr. & Mrs. Theophilos S. Gomatos Mrs. Mary Guerriero Dr. Christopher Gussis Mr. & Mrs. Lloyd Hanna Mrs. Georgia Haramis Ms. Mary Hatzis Ms. Alice Haveles Mr. & Mrs. Eric Hayes Mr. Patrick T. Horn Mr. & Mrs. George Jeas Mrs. Helen Johnson Mr. & Mrs. James Jumes Mr. & Mrs. George Kalambokis Mr. & Mrs. Michael G. Kalambokis Mr. Philip S. Kallan Ms. Joanne B. Kalliavas Ms. Katie Kalogeris Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Kanavos Mr. & Mrs. William Kantaros Mrs. Maria Kapsaskis Mr. Chris Karys Karatasakis Mr. Christos Karimbakas Mr. & Mrs. James Karimbakas Miss. Pauline Karistianos Ms. Helen J. Karys Mrs. Annette Kaselis Ms. Patricia H. Katsaros Continued on next page

17 Mr. & Mrs. Andreas Kavaltzis Mr. & Mrs. Constantine T. Kechris Mr. & Mrs. Michael E. Kettenbach Ms. Lula Kiflit Ms. Chrisanthe Kladitis Mr. & Mrs. George Klapes Mr. & Mrs. Demetrios Kolovos Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas Koskores Mr. & Mrs. Michael J. Koumarianos Mrs. Popy Koshivos Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Kyriakou Mr. & Mrs. Chris Lacey Atty. & Mrs. Alfred Legelis Ms. Maria Lekkakos Mrs. Anna G. Lemonias Mr. Constantine Limberakis Mrs. Adrianne Louloudes & Mr. Patrick T. Horn Mr. Costandine Machakos Dr. & Mrs. Kamen P. Madjarov Mr. & Mrs. Dimitrios Malatos Mrs. William F. Manley Dr. Christos Mantzoros Ms. Elaine Marks Mr. & Mrs. Stephen C. Marks Mr. George Massouras & Mrs. Monica Cabral Mr. Alex Mavradis Ms. Andrea Messina Mr. & Mrs. Joseph D. Messina Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Milonopoulos Drs. Alex Mitsialis & Stella Kourembanas Dr. Georgia Montouris Dr. Vasilios Mourmoutis & Mrs. Joanna Chanis Mr. Harry M. Nahatis Mr. & Mrs. George J. Niakaros Mrs. Theone V. Orphanos Mr. & Mrs. George Pagounis Mr. & Mrs. Paul Pagounis Ms. Katina Paleologos Mr. & Mrs. Andreas Panagopoulos Mr. George A. Panagopoulos Ms. Portia Pantages Mrs. Athanasia Papadakis Mr. Constantine Papademetriou Ms. Angela Papadopoulos Mrs. Ekaterini Papadopoulos Ms. Cynthia Pappas Ms. Rose Pappas Mr. Demetrios & Mrs. Eleftheria K. Papaslis Mr. & Mrs. Teddy Papaslis Ms. Rhoe Papoulias Ms. Sofia Paraskevas Dr. Lewis J. Patsavos Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Pena Mr. & Mrs. Peter Philipoppoulos Ms. Katherine A. Phillips Mrs. Maria N. Ploumis Dr. Stella Psarakis Ms. Georgia Racheotes Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas P. Racheotes Mr. Nicholas S. Racheotes Mr. & Mrs. Peter N. Racheotes Ms. Patricia S. Redmond Mr. & Mrs. Robert Rizzo Mr. & Mrs. Michael Roussas Mr. & Mrs. Michael Psikarakis Mr. & Mrs. Peter G. Salidas Ms. Maria Scarlatos & Mr. Anthony Eid Mr. & Mrs. Peter Scarlatos Atty. & Mrs. Peter A. Senopoulos Mr. Constantine Sideridis Ms. Desi Sideropoulos Ms. Sodira Sideropoulos Ms. Thalia Sideropoulos Mrs. Antoinette Stamatos Mrs. Maria Stata Ms. Anne Marie Stathis Mr. Louis C. Stathis Ms. Georgia Stavropoulos Dr. & Mrs. Richard T. Strakus, Jr. Atty. & Mrs. Peter Sutton Mr. & Mrs. John Tamvakologos Ms. Katrina M. Tamvakologos Mr. & Mrs. Demetrios E. Tassiopoulos Mr. & Mrs. Evan Tassiopoulos Ms. Angeline Theodore Mrs. Maria Theodore Mr. & Mrs. Triantos Thomas Mr. Kebede Tiruneh Mr. & Mrs. John Torres Mr. & Mrs. Gregory Torski Mrs. Katina Toubekis Mr. Christopher J. Trakas Mr. & Mrs. Kostas Travayiakis Mr. & Mrs. Ross N. Triant Mr. & Mrs. James M. Tringas Ms. Vasilika D. Tsucalas Ms. Aleka Towers & Family Mrs. Theodosia Tzimorangas Ms. Pauline V. Valavanis Mr. & Mrs. Peter Varitimidis Mr. & Mrs. Matthew Woods Ms. Helen Vastis Ms. Jeeja S. Vengal Dr. & Mrs. Chris Yuskaitis Ms. Joann M. Yuskaitis Mr. Dimitrios Zaferacopoulos Ms. Maria Zafferes Ms. Mary J. Zetes Ms. Georgia Zographos If your name is not listed as you wish it to appear, please notify the church office

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