Saint Sophia Cathedral

Saint Sophia Cathedral Greek Orthodox Community God s people, serving God s people Weekly Bulletin Sunday, 14 November 2010 Eighth Sunday of Luke Very Rev. Father John S. Bakas Rev. Father Bill Tragus

CALENDAR OF THE WEEK Sunday, November 14 th Orthros.......8:00am Studies in Faith.....9:15am Memorials......9:45am Divine Liturgy...... 10:00am Ground Breaking Ceremony...... After Liturgy Coffee Hour in Hall.. Following Ground Breaking Monday, November 15 th Bible Study with Fr. John: Philoptohos Women s Bible Study...10:30am Men s Bible Study..12:30pm Tuesday, November 16 th Matthew, the Apostle & Evangelist Orthros.......8:30am Divine Liturgy....... 9:30am Adult Evening Bible Study with Fr. John: Bible Studies in the Faith......7:30pm Wednesday, November 17 th Bible Study with Fr. Bill: Dinner @ Papa Christos..6:30pm Bible Study....7:30pm Saturday, November 20 th Hellenic Academy - children..9am & 9:30am Hellenic Academy adults.... 11:45am FOR THE LAST TIME. Coffee Hour will be held in our Parish Hall EPISTLE READER Dina Demetrius USHERS Niki Korbakis, Maria Pelargos Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral 1324 South Normandie Avenue, Los Angeles, 90006 323.737.2424 www.stsophia.org 2

DAILY VITAMINS FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH 3

HYMNS OF THE DAY Eighth Tone O Merciful One, You came from on high, and condescended to Your three-day burial to save us from passions. You are our Life and our Resurrection. Glory to You. Third Tone O Holy Apostle Philip, intercede to our merciful God, that He may grant our souls forgiveness of sins. Now and always, and forever and ever. Amen Fourth Tone Today the most pure temple of the Savior, the precious chamber and virgin, the sacred treasure of the glory of God enters this house o f the Lord bringing with her the grace of the Divine Spirit. The angels of God praise her. She is the heavenly tabernacle. Troparion of Saint Sophia (Holy Wisdom) Blessed are You O Christ our God, Who as all wise the fishermen You showed forth; By sending your Holy Spirit down upon them and through them the universe You drew unto your net. O lover of mankind Glory to You. 4

Υμνος Τροπαριον του Ναου, Ηχοζ πλ δ Ευλογητοs ει Χριστε ο Θεοs ημων, ο πανοοφουs τουs αλιειs αναδειξαs, καταπεμψαs αυτοιs το Πνευμα το Αγιον, και δι αυτων την οικουμενην σαγηνευοαs, φιλανθρωπε, δο ξα σοι. 5

Πρὸς Κορινθίους α' 4:9-16 ΕΠΙΣΤΟΛΗ Ἀδελφοί, ὁ θεὸς ἡμᾶς τοὺς ἀποστόλους ἐσχάτους ἀπέδειξεν ὡς ἐπιθανατίους ὅτι θέατρον ἐγενήθημεν τῷ κόσμῳ, καὶ ἀγγέλοις, καὶ ἀνθρώποις. Ἡμεῖς μωροὶ διὰ χριστόν, ὑμεῖς δὲ φρόνιμοι ἐν χριστῷ ἡμεῖς ἀσθενεῖς, ὑμεῖς δὲ ἰσχυροί ὑμεῖς ἔνδοξοι, ἡμεῖς δὲ ἄτιμοι. Ἄχρι τῆς ἄρτι ὥρας καὶ πεινῶμεν, καὶ διψῶμεν, καὶ γυμνητεύομεν, καὶ κολαφιζόμεθα, καὶ ἀστατοῦμεν, καὶ κοπιῶμεν ἐργαζόμενοι ταῖς ἰδίαις χερσίν λοιδορούμενοι εὐλογοῦμεν διωκόμενοι ἀνεχόμεθα βλασφημούμενοι παρακαλοῦμεν ὡς περικαθάρματα τοῦ κόσμου ἐγενήθημεν, πάντων περίψημα ἕως ἄρτι. Οὐκ ἐντρέπων ὑμᾶς γράφω ταῦτα, ἀλλ ὡς τέκνα μου ἀγαπητὰ νουθετῶ. Ἐὰν γὰρ μυρίους παιδαγωγοὺς ἔχητε ἐν χριστῷ, ἀλλ οὐ πολλοὺς πατέρας ἐν γὰρ χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ διὰ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου ἐγὼ ὑμᾶς ἐγέννησα. Παρακαλῶ οὖν ὑμᾶς, μιμηταί μου γίνεσθε. EPISTLE READING The Reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 4:9-16 BRETHREN, God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are ill-clad and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become, and are now, as the refuse of the world, the off-scouring of all things. I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me. 6

Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 10.25-37 Eυαγγέλιο Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, νομικός τις ἀνέστη, ἐκπειράζων αὐτόν, καὶ λέγων, Διδάσκαλε, τί ποιήσας ζωὴν αἰώνιον κληρονομήσω; Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτόν, Ἐν τῷ νόμῳ τί γέγραπται; Πῶς ἀναγινώσκεις; Ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν, Ἀγαπήσεις κύριον τὸν θεόν σου, ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας σου, καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ψυχῆς σου, καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ἰσχύος σου, καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς διανοίας σου καὶ τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν. Εἶπεν δὲ αὐτῷ, Ὀρθῶς ἀπεκρίθης τοῦτο ποίει, καὶ ζήσῃ. Ὁ δὲ θέλων δικαιοῦν ἑαυτὸν εἶπεν πρὸς τὸν Ἰησοῦν, Καὶ τίς ἐστίν μου πλησίον; Ὑπολαβὼν δέ ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν, Ἄνθρωπός τις κατέβαινεν ἀπὸ Ἱερουσαλὴμ εἰς Ἰεριχώ, καὶ λῃσταῖς περιέπεσεν, οἳ καὶ ἐκδύσαντες αὐτὸν καὶ πληγὰς ἐπιθέντες ἀπῆλθον, ἀφέντες ἡμιθανῆ τυγχάνοντα. Κατὰ συγκυρίαν δὲ ἱερεύς τις κατέβαινεν ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ ἐκείνῃ καὶ ἰδὼν αὐτὸν ἀντιπαρῆλθεν. Ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ Λευί της γενόμενος κατὰ τὸν τόπον ἐλθὼν καὶ ἰδὼν ἀντιπαρῆλθεν. Σαμαρείτης δέ τις ὁδεύων ἦλθεν κατ αὐτόν, καὶ ἰδὼν αὐτὸν ἐσπλαγχνίσθη, καὶ προσελθὼν κατέδησεν τὰ τραύματα αὐτοῦ, ἐπιχέων ἔλαιον καὶ οἶνον ἐπιβιβάσας δὲ αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τὸ ἴδιον κτῆνος, ἤγαγεν αὐτὸν εἰς πανδοχεῖον, καὶ ἐπεμελήθη αὐτοῦ. Καὶ ἐπὶ τὴν αὔριον ἐξελθών, ἐκβαλὼν δύο δηνάρια ἔδωκεν τῷ πανδοχεῖ, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ, Ἐπιμελήθητι αὐτοῦ καὶ ὅ τι ἂν προσδαπανήσῃς, ἐγὼ ἐν τῷ ἐπανέρχεσθαί με ἀποδώσω σοι. Τίς οὖν τούτων τῶν τριῶν πλησίον δοκεῖ σοι γεγονέναι τοῦ ἐμπεσόντος εἰς τοὺς λῃστάς; Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν, Ὁ ποιήσας τὸ ἔλεος μετ αὐτοῦ. Εἶπεν οὖν αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Πορεύου, καὶ σὺ ποίει ὁμοίως. 7

GOSPEL READING The Reading is from Luke 10:25-37 At that time, a lawyer stood up to put Jesus to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" He said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read?" And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." And he said to him, "You have answered right; do this, and you will live." But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion, and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" He said, "The one who showed mercy on him." And Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise." 8

MEMORIALS Mandia Chagares, Hraklis Hatjidamianou, Thekla Hatjidamianou, Sophia Kontiza, Vera Uliantzeff (3 years), Ioannis Varentges, Kalliope Varentges, Nicholas Plakitsis, Tom Nicoludes, Peter Judge, Thomas Judge, Peter Pappas, Maria Pappas, Lefteri Pappas, Emmanuel Drakakis, Hrisanthi Drakakis, Irini Drakakis, Elefterios Drakakis, Kathy Morse, Maria Morse, George Morse, Andrew Mitchell, Catina Mitchell, Lucas Mitchell, Irene Drikas, John Drikas, Martha Robbins, Claire Kissonas (1 year), Helen Dean, Angela Kaseros ALTAR CANDLE Offered in loving memory of Mandia, by her daughter Kiki ALTAR CANDLE Offered in loving memory of Hraklis & Thekla Hatjidamianou, by Mr. & Mrs. Emanouil Pelargos ALTAR CANDLES Offered in loving memory of Helen Dean, by her family CHANCEL CANDLE Offered in loving memory of Sophia Kontiza by Mr. & Mrs. Emanouil Pelargos PERPETUAL LIGHT Offered in loving memory of Ioannis & Kalliope Varentges, Nicholas Plakitsis, and Tom Nicoludes, by Mr. & Mrs. George Varentges and family PERPETUAL LIGHTS Offered in loving memory of Vera Uliantzeff, by her family 9

MINISTRY NEWS PHILANTHROPIA MINISTRY NEWS: Canned Goods and Used Clothing: We have resumed accepting your donations of good used clothing grade school ages of children s clothing are especially needed. Please continue to bring your canned goods. So, as always, your donations of both are very much needed and welcomed. Please call Father Peter for the new drop off area. Also, thanks to a very generous donor, we were able to purchase, deliver and install a double bed for a single mother with two children.. Bless you everyone! Father Peter GREEK FOLK DANCE ************************* St. Sophia Parent Dance Council will be sponsoring a Pre-Thanksgiving Bake Sale on Sunday, Nov 21 st The purpose of this event is to support our dance program. We will have a lot of Thanksgiving treats including homemade Pumpkin Pita (Kolokithopita). Pre orders for a tin of frozen individual pieces for baking and serving on Thanksgiving Day can also be placed. The deadline for pre-orders was Nov 13th. Please call Demitra Koutsos @ 818 903-7059 Saint Sophia's dance program is one of the cathedral s largest youth ministries and your support is greatly appreciated! 10

PHILOPTOHOS VIP NEWS MINISTRY NEWS (continued) Philoptohos VIP Christmas Party,Tuesday December 14,2010 The St. Sophia V.I.P. members have received a cordial invitation from the St. Katherine Seniors of Redondo Beach to join them in love and fellowship at their Annual Senior Christmas Luncheon at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, December 14, at the St. Katherine Community Center, 722 Knob Hill Avenue, Redondo Beach. Since they are graciously inviting us as their guests, there will be no charge for the luncheon for those who are paid V.I.P. members. However they are asking those who attend to bring an unwrapped child s gift to be donated to Cheers for Children, a local charity which will distribute these gifts to children in local hospitals, and to struggling mothers. Since we will not have the use of our own community center this Christmas, we are so pleased to be included in our sister church s celebration. Let us join in car pools or drive individually to St. Katherine Church to welcome the Holiday Season and enjoy a beautiful luncheon with our friends. Reservations are required. Please call Vivi Demopoulos (310) 215-3130 by December 5. Seven Day Mexican Riviera Princess Cruise: The VIP s of Philoptohos would like you to join them on a beautiful and fun-loving 7-day Princess Cruise sailing roundtrip, departing from San Pedro on March 19, 2011. We will be visiting Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cabo San Lucas. The following prices apply, PER PERSON, based on double occupancy and including port taxes and government fees, the fares are: Inside Cabin $750.52, Ocean View $800.52, Ocean View with balcony $950.52, Mini-Suite with Balcony $1150.52. To make a deposit and reserve you space please call Catherine Erwin at 818-783-4811. 11

PHILOPTOHOS NEWS MINISTRY NEWS (continued) THANKSGIVING LUNCHEON - Thursday, 11/18 at 10:30 a.m. This year our Thanksgiving Luncheon has changed locations, due to the construction at church. It will be held at the WILSON & HARDING CLUB HOUSE 4730 Crystal Springs Drive in Griffith Park. Please call 323-661-7212 for directions only. Lunch will be catered by Mike Begakis. The cost is $20.00 per person. Flyers are in the mail with a return envelope so you can make your reservation and pay ahead of time. Reservation deadline before Thursday, November 11 th. Please contact Scarlett Billis at 310-214-6711 with any questions or to make your reservation. We hope you will join us on this wonderful day, as a nice 'kick-off' to the holiday season. Philoptohos is hard at work helping people who are struggling with hard economic times. If you know of someone who needs our help between now and Christmas, please drop us a note at the church office for Philoptohos. May you all have a blessed Thanksgiving. With love, Dina Oldknow and the Philoptohos Board of Directors General Assembly Meeting Calendar 2010 2011 General Assembly meetings will be held on the 3 rd Sunday of January and March, and will be held on the 3 rd Thursday of November, February & May, as follows: Thursday, November 18 th 10:30 am Thanksgiving Luncheon and General Assembly Sunday, January 23 rd - following Divine Liturgy General Assembly Meeting and Membership Drive Thursday, February 17 th 10:30 am General Assembly meeting Sunday, March 20 th following Divine Liturgy General Assembly Meeting Thursday, May 19 th 10:30 am General Assembly Meeting and Elections 12

MINISTRY NEWS (continued) PHILOPTOHOS NEWS (continued) Philoptohos has been helping a very large number of people since January. Many people in our own community are struggling through the economic downturn and with personal issues. We have been helping those who are close to losing their homes, their apartments and their jobs. Meanwhile, families are struggling to put food on the table and buy clothes and school supplies, for their children. Additionally, Philoptohos continues to help those with medical bills, funeral expenses for the poor and still support our own church. The costs are tremendous every month. We feel that many people in our community would like to help those in need, even though they may not be in Philoptohos. Therefore, we are giving you the opportunity to help others. We give families grocery cards, store cards for clothing and gasoline debit cards to help people get to the jobs they have. If you would like to donate toward the purchase of one or more cards, please mail your donation to the church office, with PHILOPTOHOS OUTREACH on the memo line. Please include how many cards of $20 each, you would like us to purchase. We would be very grateful. If you prefer to purchase/donate the gift cards yourself, below is a list of stores with whom we are currently working: FOOD: RALPHS/FOOD 4 LESS, VON S, ALBERTSONS & TRADER JOES CLOTHING: TARGET, WAL-MART, K-MART PHARMACIES: CVS, WALGREENS GASOLINE STATIONS: ANY COMPANY A minimum donation of $20 would help people more than you can imagine. You may remain anonymous if you prefer. This is strictly voluntary on your behalf. With the holidays approaching, we know many families will struggle to have a nice holiday dinner or to buy Christmas presents for their children. Philoptohos also keeps track of many elderly people who are alone and need a helping hand at this time of the year. Your donation could bring real happiness to someone right now. Please send in your monetary or gift card donation to the cathedral, attention Philoptohos. Our deepest appreciation for any donation. THANK YOU!! Saint Sophia Philoptohos 13

SAINT SOPHIA CHOIR NEWS MINISTRY NEWS (continued) Saint Sophia Cathedral 13th Annual Christmas Musicfest under the Byzantine Dome "Glory to the New Born King" Sunday, December 5, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. The program will include Orthodox Christmas Hymns and Chants, selections from the "Christmas Oratorio" by Camille Saint-Saëns, and traditional carols of the holiday season. The concert will feature Carole Choucair Oueijan, Chanter Saint Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, Michele Patzakis Prappas and Ernest J. Gekas as soloists, the Saint Sophia Cathedral Choir and Chamber Ensemble under the direction of Jim H. Kollias, and the Harmonies of Saint Thomas all Girls Choir, under the direction of Antonio Espinal. Freewill offering Join the Saint Sophia Cathedral Choir Do you find yourself singing liturgical music out loud for no reason? In the car? In the shower? Do you listen to the choir on Sundays and say to yourself This year I d like to be a part of that wonderful group? Or teens do you sing in your high school choir? If you answered yes to any of those questions, it may be time for you to come and join the St. Sophia Choir. Don t wait for January to make that New Year s resolution! You don t read Greek? The first Sunday of each month is an all-english Liturgy and there is phonetics to help on the other Sundays each month. We are looking for 5 new members! Please contact director Jim Kollias: e-mail jhkollias@gmail.com, call or text 714-337-7352. 14

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COMMUNITY NEWS THE JOY OF PARENTING Nikolaos Stefanidis, Ph.D & Barbara Kappos, LCSW The parenting classes are offered free of charge on Sunday at the conclusion of Holy Communion. All are welcome to attend! Please call the church office for location. November 14, 2010 Aggression and Bullying Guest Speaker: Stephanie Mihalas, Ph.D., NCSP November 21, 2010 Helping our children develop compassion, empathy and self-esteem November 28, 2010 no class December 5, 2010 Special Education Law Guest Speaker: Stephanie Mihalas, Ph.D., NCSP December 12, 2010 What does Christmas mean to our children? Holiday Break Returning on January 9, 2011 The Herald Newsletter ************************* To All Ministry Leaders If you have articles to be included in the Herald newsletter each month, please now e-mail them to: Timi Loomos Freshman (timilf@earthlink.net) AND Stephanie Caiopoulos Lubian (caiopoulos@verizon.net). The deadline date for inclusion each month is located on the cover of each Herald newsletter. Thank you To All Stewards If your anniversary/birthday is not already listed in our monthly Herald newsletter and you wish for it to be listed in the appropriate issue for your month, please e-mail your information to: Stephanie Caiopoulos Lubian (secretary@stsophia.org). Thank you. We will be adding a new section to the Herald which will list any births and deaths that have occurred in the community during the prior month. If you would like this information to be listed in the monthly newsletter, please e-mail your information to: Timi Loomos Freshman (timilf@earthlink.net) AND Stephanie Caiopoulos Lubian (caiopoulos@verizon.net). 16

His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos and the Metropolis of San Francisco Philoptochos Board & Chapters Joyfully invite you to attend A Holiday Brunch In support of the Bishop Anthony Philoptochos Student Aid Endowment Fund supporting Seminarians and Students from the San Francisco Metropolis attending Holy Cross and Hellenic College Saturday, November 20, 2010 Crown Plaza Hotel Redondo Beach, California 90277 For more information, please contact Judie Christopoulos 626.792.2394 Thank you in advance for your participation, Philoptochos Metropolis Board ************************* Christ is in our Midst. He is and always shall be. The spiritual embrace that all the worshippers give one another during the liturgy symbolizes in anticipation agreement, concord, unanimity in faith and love. It prefigures ineffable future blessings. By virtue of that embrace, that kiss, those who are worthy receive the gift of union with God and with the incarnate Word. Saint Maximus the Confessor 17

Saints of the Month NOVEMBER 16 - MATTHEW THE APOSTLE & EVANGELIST This Apostle, who was also called Levi, was the son of Alphaeus and had Galilee as his homeland. A publican before being called by Christ, he became one of the Twelve Apostles, and an Evangelist. While still in Palestine, he wrote his Gospel first in Hebrew, being also the first of all to write the Gospel. When he is depicted in icons, there is portrayed next to him the likeness of a man, one of the symbolic living creatures mentioned by Ezekiel (1.10), which, as Saint Irenaeus writes, is a symbol of our Saviour's Incarnation. NOVEMBER 21 - -THE ENTRANCE OF THE THEOTOKOS INTO THE TEMPLE According to the tradition of the Church, the Theotokos was brought to the Temple at three years of age, where she was consecrated to God and spent her days until she was fourteen or fifteen years old; and then, as a mature maiden, by the common counsel of the priests (since her parents had reposed some three years before), she was betrothed to Joseph. November 25 - KATHERINE THE GREAT MARTYR Saint Catherine, who was from Alexandria, was the daughter of Constas. She was an exceedingly beautiful maiden, most chaste, and illustrious in wealth, lineage, and learning. By her steadfast understanding, she utterly vanquished the passionate and unbridled soul of Maximinus, the tyrant of Alexandria; and by her eloquence, she stopped the mouths of the socalled philosophers who had been gathered to dispute with her. She was crowned with the crown of martyrdom in the year 305. Her holy relics were taken by Angels to the holy mountain of Sinai, where they were discovered many years later; the famous monastery of Saint Catherine was originally dedicated to the Holy Transfiguration of the Lord and the Burning Bush, but later was dedicated to Saint Catherine.. November 30 - ANDREW THE FIRST- CALLED APOSTLE This Saint was from Bethsaida; he was the brother of Peter, the chief of the Apostles. He had first been a disciple of John the Baptist; afterwards, he straightway followed Christ, and became His first disciple; wherefore he is called the First-called of the Apostles. After the Ascension of the Saviour, he preached in various lands; and having suffered many things for His Name's sake, he died in Patras, where he was crucified on a cross in the shape of an "X," the first letter of "Christ" in Greek; this cross is also the symbol of Saint Andrew. 18

Updated version from the Herald to include fasting days 19

COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS CARD RESERVATION FORM Once again, the Cathedral will be sending Christmas greeting cards to the parish, listing the names of those who wish to contribute $30.00 or more towards this effort. This Christmas greeting card will be send to the entire congregation, saving you valuable time and the expense of cards and postage during the Christmas holidays. The deadline for submission of names and payment is Tuesday, November 30 th. Please return this form to the church office prior to the deadline date, to insure you are included. Print your name(s) below as you would like it to appear on this years Christmas card: Please pay by cash, credit card or check, made out to Saint Sophia Cathedral. Credit Card #: Exp. Check #: Cash payment? Total Amount Paid: 20