Dear Parishioners, Christ is Born! Glorify Him! The celebration of Christmas in our church is existential and is realized through the participation of all the senses. Iconography is an important means of approaching and living the mystery of the incarnation of the Logos (Christ). The central person in the icon is the holy infant in swaddling clothes, laying in a manger. Saint Gregory of Nyssa compares the birth in the cave to the spiritual light which abolished the darkness of death that ruled the world. The incarnation of Christ has humility as its beginning and its end. His death is prefigured in the manger: the swaddling clothes foretell of His burial clothes. His All-Holy Mother is seated in silence next to the manger looking at the babe with infinite love. The closeness of the Theotokos to Christ signifies her participation in the work of salvation. In many works she is the largest figure of all persons in the icon, signifying that she is the new Eve, the mother of salvation. She is usually depicted sitting or laying on her side. Behind the manger, the heads of two innocent animal, an ox and a donkey can be seen. Isaiah prophesied about them: The ox knew its maker, and the donkey the manger of its Lord. Since Israel did not accept Him and he did not find a place amoung men, He accepted warmth and affection from irrational animals. Outside the cave, on one side of the icon, Joseph sits deep in thought. In some icons, a shepherd, sometimes with horns on his head, is seen talking to him. He is the tempting devil to whom Joseph s doubts are attributed. On the opposite side, we see the infant receiving His first bath. This demonstrates that Christ was a real human, given a bath, just as any other infant. In the upper part, angels glorify and worship the newly born God and announce news of the birth to the shepherds. The Icon is completed by the Magi, dressed in their exotic garments, or by events of the broarder iconographic cycle. The composition is completed by the star situated on top of the cave. One of its rays shines directly down upon the cave. Other times, the same ray is also depicted shining towards heaven, reminding us that the appearance of the star was not just a natural phenomenon but also a sign announcing that He who belongs in heaven was also on earth. The
mountain, the cave, the manger, and the animals coexist with the angles in a composition of the heavenly and the earthly, the human and the Divine. According to Saint Gregory the Theologian, the Nativity of Christ is not a celebration of the creation of the universe but of its restoration. God s incarnation gives new meaning to everything and new significance to creation. For this reason, the whole creation takes part in the mystery. Representatives from all orders of created things surround the God-man offering their gratitude for the transfiguration which is to come. May your Christmas Season be filled with peace and joy and may the New Year 2013 be for you and your loved ones a year of the Lord s favor in every way. With Love in the Incarnate Christ, Father Anargyros Aγαπητοί Ενορίτες, Ο εορτασμός των Χριστουγέννων μέσα στην εκκλησία μας είναι υπαρξιακός και επιτυγχάνεται με τη συμμετοχή όλων των αισθήσεων. Η εικογραφία αποτελεί σημαντικό μέσο προσέγγισης και βίωσης του μυστηρίου της σάρκωσης του Λόγου ( Χριστού). Το κεντρικό πρόσωπο της εικόνας των Χριστουγέννων είναι το Θείο βρέφος «εσπαργανωμένον, κείμενον εν φάτνη». Ο Άγ. Γρηγόριος ο Νύσσης συγκρίνει τη γέννηση μέσα στο σπήλαιο με το πνευματικό φώς που διέλυσε το σκοτάδι του θανάτου, που κυριαρχούσε στον κόσμο. Η ενανθρώπιση του Χριστού έχει αρχή και τέλος την ταπείνωση. Στη φάτνη προδιαγράφεται ο θάνατος Του: τα σπάργανα προμηνύουν το σάβανό Του. Κοντά στη φάτνη κάθεται σιωπηλή και βλέπει με στοργή το παιδίον η Παναγία Μητέρα Του. Η εγγύτητα της Θεοτόκου στό Χριστό, επισημαίνει τη συμμετοχή της στο έργο της σωτηρίας. Σε πολλά έργα είναι η πιό μεγάλη σε διαστάσεις απ όλα τα πρόσωπα γιά να εξαρθεί ακριβώς ότι είναι η νέα Εύα, η μητέρα της σωτηρίας. Συνήθος είναι καθισμένη, η ανακεκλιμένη. Πίσω από τη φάτνη προβάλλουν τα κεφάλια τους δύο ζώα, το βόδι και το ονάριο. Όπως αναφέρει η προφητεία του Ησαϊα: Εγνω βούς τον κτησάμενον, και όνος την φάτνην του Κυρίου αυτού. Αφού ο Ισραήλ δέν Τον δέχτηκε και δέν βρήκε θέση ανάμεσα
στους ανθρώπους, δέχτηκε την στοργή απο τα άλογα ζώα. Εξω από το σπήλαιο, στό ένα άκρο της εικόνας, κάθεται συλλογισμένος ο Ιωσήφ. Σε κάποιες παραστάσεις του μιλά ένας τσοπάνος, που εικονίζεται μερικές φορές και με κέρατα. Είναι ο πειραστής διάβολος και έτσι αποδίδονται οι αμφιβολίες του Ιωσήφ και η ψυχική του δοκιμασία. Στό άλλο άκρο βλέπουμε το πρώτο λουτρό του βρέφους. Αυτό δείχνει ότι ο Χριστός υπήρξε κανονικός άνθρωπος, που υφίσταται το λουτρό, όπως όλα τα παιδιά της ηλικίας του. Στό επάνω μέρος, οι άγγελοι δοξολογούν και προσκυνούν τον τεχθέντα Θεό και αναγγέλουν στους ποιμένες το μήνυμα της γέννησης. Το τοπίο συμπληρώνου οι Μάγοι, ντυμένοι με τις στολές τους η παραστάσεις με γεγονότα του ευρύτερου εικονογραφικού κύκλου. Η όλη σύνθεση συπμληρώνεται απο το αστέρι που στέκεται πάνω από το σπήλαιο. Μιά ακτίνα του κατευθύνεται πάνω στο σπήλαιο. Άλλοτε η ίδια ακτίνα κατευθύνεται ταυτόχρονα προς τον ουρανό, θέλοντας να μας θυμίσει ότι δεν ύπηρξε μόνο ένα φυσικό φαινόμενο, αλλά ένα σημείο που αναγγέλει ότι στη γή γεννήθηκε Εκείνος που ανήκει στον ουρανό. Το βουνό, το σπήλαιο, η φάτνη, τα ζώα, συναπάρχουν με τους αγγέλους σε μία σύνθεση του ουρανίου και του γήϊνου του ανθρώπινου και του Θείου. Σύμφωνα με τον Αγ. Γρηγόριο το Ναζιανζηνό, η Γέννηση δέν είναι η εορτή της δημιουργίας του κόσμου αλλά της αναπλάσεως του κόσμου. Η ενανθρώπιση του Θεού δίνει σέ όλα νέο νόημα και στήν κτίση νέα σημασία. Γι αυτό όλη η δημιουργία λαμβάνει μέρος στο μυστήριο. Γύρω από τον θεάνθρωπο οι εκπρόσωποι όλων των κτισμάτων προσφέρουν την ευγνωμοσύνη τους για την μέλλουσα μεταμόρφωση και σωτηρία. Αγαπητοί μου, ας δεχθούμε με χαρά την ταπεινή γέννησιν Του και ας του προσφέρωμε την πίστη την ευγνωμοσύνη και την αγάπη μας. Με αγάπη προς τον ενσαρκωθέντα Χριστόν, Πατήρ Ανάργυρος
OUTREACH: Love in Action The new Love in Action ministry is truly starting to come alive thanks to our generous St. Athanasios community! This fall we collaborated with Helping Hands in Rochelle Park to feed needy families in the Hackensack area this Thanksgiving. Thanks in part to the donations of our parish, all 150 families will have a warm Thanksgiving meal this year. Under the Love in Action ministry, Sotiria Stavropoulos and the 3 rd Grade Church School class also spearheaded the Hurricane Relief drive for victims of Hurricane Sandy, which is still collecting donations of both school kits and health kits for those who lost their homes during the storm. It is especially beautiful to see the youth in our parish taking such an active roll, as the GOYA bagged almost 50 health kits during coffee hour on November 11 th. We are also looking into the possibility of delivering and serving the victims of this storm by visiting and handing out supplies. Thank you to everyone who has donated time, food, or supplies to our ministry! Let us keep the spirit of giving alive in our parish, for it is truly in giving that we receive. May the Peace of Christ be with everyone this holiday season! G.O.Y.A. I am certainly proud to say that I am a member of the Paramus GOYA. The GOYA year started on a good note with participation in the Holy Cross Celebration at the Asbury Park beach and the Kick-Off dance at Asbury Park s new church in September. In October, we had the Mr./Miss GOYA Pageant. I would like to congratulate our very own Maria Kovoros for being the fourth runner up for Miss GOYA! As the year continues, the GOYA needs to raise funds in order to participate in certain events and activities throughout the year. So far this year, our GOYA was very successful fundraising with our Loukoumades and Yankee Candle Sales, just like last year! In other news, due to the inclement weather of Hurricane Sandy, the annual Bowling Tournament and Dance at the Fairview Church was postponed until further notice. Our GOYA wanted to help those affected by the storm. We participated in the church s supply drive, and donated many health and school kits for the victims. On December 8th, our GOYA and Sunday Church School will have a Lenten Christmas Retreat, which is a great way to have GOYA come together and learn more about our Christian faith. Later this month, on December 27 th, will be the annual Christmas Dance, which will be held at the Roseland Church.
To conclude, I would like to thank everyone so far for already making this GOYA year one to remember, for myself and the GOYA executive board. I would also like to take the time to encourage all GOYAns to attend Sunday School and be part of our Church community. In our parish s Sunday School classes, you will learn about our Christian faith, and how to live a Christian life. As a Christian, always be humble and thankful; we are truly blessed to be living, especially after Hurricane Sandy! I look forward to the rest of the year and hope all is well! With Christ s Love, Dimitri Stathopoulos GOYA President GREETINGS! Fr. Anargyros, Fr. John, the President of the Parish Council and its members, President of the Philoptochos and its members, PTO President and its members, the teachers of the Greek and Sunday Church Schools and the entire staff of St. Athanasios Parish wish everyone.merry CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!! ΕΥΧΕΣ Ο πατήρ Ανάργυρος, ο πατήρ Ιωάννης, ο πρόεδρος και τα μέλη του Εκκλησιαστικού Συμβουλίου, η πρόεδρος και τα μέλη της Φιλοπτώχου Αδελφότητος, η πρόεδρος καί τα μέλη τού Συλλόγου Γονέων καί Διδασκάλων, οι Διδάσκαλοι του Ελληνικού και Κατηχητικού Σχολείων και ολόκληρο το προσωπικό της ενορίας του Αγίου αθανασίου, εύχονται σε όλους... ΚΑΛΑ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥΓΕΝΝΑ ΚΑΙ ΕΥΤΥΧΙΣΜΕΝΟ ΤΟ ΝΕΟ ΕΤΟΣ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥΓΕΝΝΙΑΤΙΚΟ ΠΡΟΓΡΑΜΜΑ Την Κυριακή 23 Δεκεμβρίου, οι μαθητές του Κατηχητικού και του Ελληνικού Σχολείου θα παρουσιάσουν το Χριστουγεννιάτικο Πρόγραμμα της Γεννήσεως του Χριστού μας, μετά την Θεία Λειτουργία.
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM On Sunday, December 23rd, our Sunday Church School and Greek School will present the Annual Christmas Pageant. Please come and watch the children of our community in this special presentation of the Nativity of Christ PHILOPTOCHOS The Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society, Inc. is the philanthropic arm of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America that has offered eighty years of philanthropy through a multitude of programs that make a difference in the lives of people in the United States and throughout the world. The Society was established in November 1931, by the late Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras I, who was then serving as Archbishop of North and South America. Philoptochos fulfills its mission to help the poor, the destitute, the hungry, the aged, the sick, the unemployed, the orphaned, the imprisoned, the widowed, those with disabilities and the victims of disasters through its National and Metropolis Boards and its 485 Chapters and 27,500 members nationwide. St. Athanasios Church is located in the heart of Bergen County in Paramus, NJ. Our community was founded in Paterson, NJ by immigrants who were drawn to working in the silk industry that thrived there during the turn of the century. Our chapter was founded in 1930 s as the Ommonia Society where we served the social services needs of Greeks in Bergen and Passaic Counties. At the suggestion of Helen Roumel our Society adopted St. Irene as our Patron Saint, and our name was duly changed to St. Irenes Philoptochos Society; Mrs. Roumel became the society s Godmother. We currently have 57 members who participate in fundraising and social services efforts, and were recently recognized at the National Philoptochos Convention for fulfilling 100% of our required charity commitments. Our chapter has been a vigorous steward of the Saint Athanasios Community, fulfilling the mission of promoting Orthodox Christianity. We have supported the various building projects of our community, including stained glass and iconography projects. We consistently come to the aid of the community, when there is a need for purchasing new kitchen equipment for the festival / or be it a repair project that the community undertakes. Below is a partial listing of the many philanthropic charities that our chapter supports: Philoptochos Scholarship Fund St. Michael Home for the Aged St. Basil s Academy Greek Orthodox Missions - IOCC UNICEF Valley Hospital Blumenthal Cancer Center Hackensack University Medical Center Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
Cancer Fund Aid to the People of Greece Ronald McDonald House Center for Food Action Alzheimers Association Autism Assistance Fund Tomorrows Children Fund Cochlear Implant Research Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Parkinson s Disease Foundation Sunday Church School We have had a great fall season in the St. Athanasios Sunday Church School. The Sunday Church School is working closely this year with our Love in Action ministry as well as with the Philoptochos to help in charitable activities. We collected 7 boxes of food donations for the Thanksgiving Food Drive that fed a number of families for the Thanksgiving holiday who otherwise would have been without a meal. Through our third grade class, Sotiria Stavropoulos organized a Hurricane Relief drive that collected and put together school and health kits to assist families who have lost their homes. We also had good response to our Fall Plant Sale. Upcoming Events: Christmas Giving /Philoptochos Tree Beginning December 2 For St. Michael s Home residents Lenten Retreat A Christmas Journey December 8 Communion Breakfast and Play Practice December 22 Christmas Pageant December 23 Parish Visit to St. Michael s Home December 27 Celebration of the Epiphany January 6 Celebration of Greek Letters January 27 We look forward to celebrating the birth of Christ. Together with the Greek School the children will present the Story of Christmas in the play pageant with traditional carols sung in Greek and in English. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Blessed and Joyous New Year! The Sunday Church School Faculty GREEK:
GREEK SCHOOL Την Κυριακή 28 Οκτωβρίου, οι µαθητές του Ελληνικού µας Σχολείου, παρουσίασαν την γιορτή της 28 ης Οκτωβρίου, στην σηµαιοστολισµένη κοινοτική µας αίθουσα. Ντυµένοι ολοι στα εθνικά µας χρώµατα µπλε και άσπρο, απήγγειλαν µε µεγάλο ενθουσιασµό ποιήµατα, και τραγούδησαν πατριωτικά τραγούδια «του Σαράντα», βροντοφωνάζωντας ΖΗΤΩ Η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ. Ενα µεγάλο ευχαριστώ στα παιδιά και τους δασκάλους µας, για το όµορφο πρόγραµµα που είχαν ετοιµάσει. Ευχαριστούµε επίσης τον Σύλλογο Γονέων, για την προσφορά του καφέ και των γλυκισµάτων µετά το τέλος της γιορτής. Παρακαλούνται οι γονείς να σηµειώσουν τις κάτωθι ηµεροµηνίες: Οι διαγωνισµοί του πρώτου τριµήνου θα γίνουν στις 10-12 Δεκεµβρίου Οι έλεγχοι θα δοθούν στις 17 Δεκεµβρίου Την Κυριακή 23 Δεκεµβρίου, θα παρουσιάσουν όλοι µαζί, οι µαθητές του Κατηχητικού και του Ελληνικού Σχολείου το Χριστουγεννιάτικο Πρόγραµµα. Παρακαλείσθε όλοι οι γονείς να φέρετε τα παιδιά σας στην εκκλησία την ηµέρα αυτή. Η τελευταία ηµέρα του Ελληνικού Σχολείου πριν τις διακοπές των Χριστουγέννων, θα είναι η 19 η Δεκεµβρίου. Το Σχολείο θα ανοίξει πάλι στις 2 Ιανουαρίου. Την Κυριακή 27 Ιανουαρίου, οι µαθητές του Ελληνικού και του Κατηχητικού Σχολείου, θα παρουσιάσουν την γιορτή των Τριών Ιεραρχών-Των Ελληνικών Γραµµάτων-, µετά το τέλος της Θείας λειτουργίας. Ολοι οι µαθητές πρέπει να είναι παρόντες. Ευχόµαστε σε όλους ΜΙΑ ΧΑΡΟΥΜΕΝΗ ΚΑΙ ΕΥΤΥΧΙΣΜΕΝΗ ΧΡΟΝΙΑ On Sunday, October 28 th, our Greek School celebrated the OXI Day (the 28 th of October), in the community center. Our students recited poems and sang patriotic songs, with a lot of enthusiasm. We want to congratulate all the students and their teachers for a job well done!!! At the conclusion of the program, the PTO offered coffee and desserts to everyone who was present. We also thank them for their kindness. Parents please mark your calendars: 1st semester tests: December 10 th -12th Report cards: December 17th On Sunday December 23 rd, the students of our Sunday Church School along with the Greek School, will present the Christmas Pageant. We encourage all parents to please bring your children to Church on that day.
The last day of Greek School before the Christmas Holiday will be December 19 th. Classes will resume again on January 2 nd. On Sunday January 27 th, the students of our Greek and Sunday Schools, will celebrate the Three Hierarchs, the Greek Letters Day, reciting poems and singing songs. All the students must be present. We wish everyone A HAPPY AND HEALTHY YEAR HOSPITAL / NURSING HOME VISITATION Please notify the Church office if a family member is in the hospital, nursing home or a shut-in, so that Fr. Anargyros may visit them. CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS All church organizations are asked to submit their calendar, meetings, articles, announcements and information to the Church office by Friday, January 4th for the February/ March issue. MEMORIALS and 40 DAY BLESSINGS We ask all parishioners to notify the Church office at least one week before a Memorial Service or 40 Day Blessing. For 40 day blessing of infants, memorials, trisagia or artoclasies, please call the Church Office in order to make the necessary arrangements. CHURCH WEBSITE Visit our church website at www.stathanasios.org for new information, daily updates and to learn more about our Greek Orthodox Faith. ALTAR BOYS: The Altar Boys will hold a mandatory meeting on Saturday, January 12th at 11:00 a.m., in order to prepare for the Feast Day of St. Athanasios. All Altar Boys are called to serve during the Great Vespers on Thursday, January 17th at 7:00 p.m. and on Friday January 18th at 8:30 a.m. Absence from school excuse letters will be available for those who wish to participate.
ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥΓΕΝΝΙΑΤΙΚΗ ΚΑΡΤΑ: Για την συμμετοχή σας στην ετήσια Χριστουγεννιάτικη Κάρτα του 2012, παρακαλούμε συμπληρώσατε την φόρμα και μαζί με το δώρο σας, στήλετε αυτήν στο Γραφείο μας μέχρι 2 Δεκεμβρίου. ΛΟΥΛΟΥΔΙΑ ΓΙΑ ΣΤΟΛΙΣΜΟ: Εάν θέλετε να δώσετε χρήματα για την αγορά λουλουδιών προς στολισμό της Εκκλησίας μας για τα Χριστούγεννα η για τον στολισμό των εικόνων για την εορτή του Αγίου Αθανασίου, παρακαλούμε να επικοινωνήσετε με το γραφείο της Εκκλησίας μας. ΑΠΟΦΗΚΗ ΤΡΟΦΙΜΩΝ: Η Εκκλησία μας παρέχει τρόφιμα σε οικογένειες που έχουν ανάγκη. Ζητούμε συσκευασμένα τρόφιμα, επί καθημερινής. Βάσεως. Το νέο ενοριακό αυτό πρόγραμμα θα συνεχίση μόνο με την βοήθεια σας. Θά θέλαμε να ευχαριστήσουμε όλους τους δωριτές, με τα τρόφιμα για την ημέρα των Ευχαριστιών. Η γενναιοδωρία τους προς τους συνανθρώπους μας που βρίσκονται σε υλική ανάγκη είναι αποτέλεσμα της αγάπης τους προς τον Κύριο και Θεό μας. ΚΟΨΙΜΟ ΒΑΣΙΛΟΠΙΤΑΣ: Το κόψιμο της Κοινοτικής Βασιλόπιττας. θα γίνει την Κυριακή 13 Ιανουαρίου 2013 αμέσως μετά την Θεία Λειτουργία. Παρακαλούμε όλους τους ενορίτες και φίλους να παραβρεθούν στο κόψιμο της Βασιλόπιττας. ΑΓΙΑΣΜΟΣ ΟΙΚΩΝ: Ο πατήρ Ανάργυρος θα αγιάζει σπίτια την εβδομάδα μετά τά Θεοφάνεια. Εάν θέλετε να έλθει να αγιάσει και το δικό σας σπίτι, παρακαλείσθε να επικοινωνήσετε με το γραφείο της Εκκλησίας μας. CHRISTMAS CARD & APPEAL: Express your wishes for the Christmas Season to all parishioners and friends through the community Christmas Card. Donation for having your family included in the card is $20. Please submit your completed form with your check. The deadline is December 2nd. We also kindly ask that you do not forget the church in your Christmas gift list. Please send your Christmas gift for the Parish to the Church Office. Es FLOWERS FOR CHRISTMAS / ST. ATHANASIOS: If anyone is interested in donating towards the purchase of ponsettias for Christmas or flowers for the adornment of the icons for the Feast Day of St. Athanasios, please contact the Church office. COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY
We wish to thank all our parishioners and friends of St. Athanasios for remembering our Food Pantry for Thanksgiving. Our Food Pantry helps families that have a need for assistance. It is very important that we keep our food Pantry filled at all times. Please remember the bank for the needy is at the entrance of the Community Center. FOS BOOKSTORE Christmas is just around the corner, so why not stop by the bookstore to choose a special gift for that special person. We have beautiful religious items, a variety of books for adults and children and cards. We are always ready to serve your needs and special requests. VASILOPITA CELEBRATION: The Community Vasilopita Celebration will be on Sunday, January 13, 2013 after the Divine Liturgy. We ask that all parishioners and friends to join us for this very special beginning of the New Year Celebration. HOUSE BLESSINGS: Fr. Anargyros will be blessing homes the week after the Epiphany. Anyone wishing to have their home blessed should contact the church office. PRAYER FOR THE FIRST DAY OF THE YEAR O Lord our God, who have placed times and seasons under your own authority; who, in your infinite compassion and goodness, have counted us worthy to enter a New Year of your loving kindness, bless it and keep us in peace. Loose, remit and forgive any sins that we may have committed during the year that is past, and keep us free from sin in the New Year. Enlighten us with the light of your truth and your divine commandments. Establish in our souls your holy will, and guide us to every work that is good and pleasing to you. Guard well our Holy church with your divine grace. Remember, Lord, our nation; train up the youth;
protect the elderly; encourage the faint-hearted; gather the scattered; bring back those who have gone astray, and reunite them to your Holy Church. Overshadow our Land with your might, and grant it gentle rain and abundance of the fruits of the earth. Speak of goodness in the hearts of our rulers; support and strengthen them, together with our armed forces by land, sea and air so that in their tranquility we may lead our life in every piety and dignity. Let your kingdom come upon us, O Lord; the kingdom of love, goodness, peace and justice; and make us worthy to praise and glorify, with one mouth and one heart, your most honorable and majestic name, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen