Archangel Michael Church Η Εκκλησία του Αρχαγγέλου Μιχαήλ 100 Fairway Drive, Port Washington, NY 11050 Phone: (516) 944-3180 Web Site: www.archangelmichaelchurch.org Clergy: Fr. John Lardas, Fr. Joshua Pappas, Fr. Dennis Strouzas Jan. 1 st Circumcision of Christ & St. Basil the Great 3 rd Mode 6 th Morning Gospel As a true renaissance man, there are very few figures like St. Basil the Great in human history. A mystic and lover of solitude and silence, he experienced the Uncreated Light in prayer; he was the first to establish hospitals that cared for the holistic well-being of patients - spiritually, psychologically, materially, and medically using modern advances in science; he shaped communal monasticism as we know it today, with an emphasis on liturgical life, private prayer, manual labor, and social outreach; he was highly educated, having received the best education available in the 4 th century; he fought heresy and helped move the Church into its final articulation of the Holy Trinity; he was famous for his immense care of the poor and underprivileged, establishing orphanages and other social institutions. But St. Basil wasn t always a tireless servant of the Gospel. By his own admission, he wasted his youth in follies and vain labors, dedicated especially to secular wisdom and success. As a young adult, he awoke from spiritual slumber - due in large part from exposure to mature elders who lived above the triviality of the world - and he turned his life around. Below are several excerpts from his sermons: Taste and see that the Lord is good (Ps. 34:8). How can those who have never tasted it know how honey is sweet? Taste and see; experience makes everything clear. Look inward, to the secret depths of your own soul, and take inventory of your conscience. Do not despair if you find you have many sins, for where sin increased, grace abounded all the more (Rom. 5:20). Lift up your mind with me, and consider the life of the angels; their life is composed of genuine joy and delight, seeing that they stand before God and enjoy the inexpressible beauty and magnificence of our Creator. Has someone insulted your honor? Turn your focus to the glory that is bequeathed in heaven for patience. Have you suffered a loss of your assets? Look to the treasure you have gathered in heaven through your good works. Are you deprived of your native land? The heavenly Jerusalem is indeed your native land. If you set present suffering against future good, you will prove your soul firm in the face of sorrow and disturbance. Do not yield to immoderate joy when you have worldly success, nor let sorrow, through dejection and alarm, suppress your joy and good spirits; you will never have a calm and storm-free life this way. Elevate yourself above earthly things and direct your spirit to the hope of eternal good, satiating the soul with joy, and maintaining angelic bliss in our hearts in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Άγιοι και Εορτές Tὴν κατὰ σάρκα Περιτοµὴν τοῦ Κυρίου καὶ Θεοῦ καὶ Σωτῆρος ἡµῶν Ἰσησοῦ Χριστοῦ. Tοῦ ἐν Ἁγίοις Πατρὸς ἡµῶν Βασιλείου, Ἀρχιεπισκόπου Καισαρείας Καππαδοκίας τοῦ Μεγάλου. O Ἅγιος Μάρτυς Θεόδοτος ξίφει τελειοῦται. O Ἅγιος Γρηγόριος, ὁ πατὴρ τοῦ Ἁγίου Γρηγορίου τοῦ Θεολόγου, ἐν εἰρήνῃ τελειοῦται. Α πολυτίκιον Α ναστα σιμον Εὐφραινέσθω τὰ οὐράνια, ἀγαλλιάσθω τὰ ἐπίγεια, ὅτι ἐποίησε κράτος, ἐν βραχίονι αὐτοῦ, ὁ Κύριος, ἐπάτησε τῷ θανάτῳ τὸν θάνατον, πρωτότοκος τῶν νεκρῶν ἐγένετο, ἐκ κοιλίας ᾅδου ἐρρύσατο ἡµᾶς, καὶ παρέσχε τῷ κόσµῳ τὸ µέγα ἔλεος. Α πολυτίκιον τῆς Ἑορτῆς Μορφὴν ἀναλλοιώτως ἀνθρωπίνην προσέλαβες, Θεὸς ὢν κατ' οὐσίαν, πολυεύσπλαγχνε Κύριε καὶ Νόµον ἐκπληρῶν, περιτοµήν, θελήσει καταδέχῃ σαρκικήν, ὅπως παύσῃς τὰ σκιώδη, καὶ περιέλῃς τὸ κάλυµµα τῶν παθῶν ἡµῶν. Δόξα τῇ ἀγαθότητι τῇ σῇ, δόξᾳ τῇ εὐσπλαγχνίᾳ σου, δόξα τῇ ἀνεκφράστῳ Λόγε συγκαταβάσει σου. Α πολυτίκιον Τοῦ Ἁγίου Εἰς πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν ἐξῆλθεν ὁ φθόγγος σου, ὡς δεξαµένην τὸν λόγον σου, δι' οὗ θεοπρεπῶς ἐδογµάτισας, τὴν φύσιν τῶν ὄντων ἐτράνωσας, τὰ τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἤθη κατεκόσµησας, Βασίλειον Ἱεράτευµα, Πάτερ Ὅσιε, Χριστὸν τὸν Θεὸν ἱκέτευε, δωρήσασθαι ἡµῖν τὸ µέγα ἔλεος. Αpολυtίκιov Των Τaξιaρχών Τῶν οὐρανίων στρατιῶν Ἀρχιστράτηγοι, δυσωποῦμεν ὑμᾶς ἡμεῖς οἱ ἀνάξιοι, ἵνα ταῖς ὑμῶν δεήσεσι, τειχίσητε ἡμᾶς, σκέπῃ τῶν πτερύγων, τῆς ἀΰλου ὑμῶν δόξης, φρουροῦντες ἡμᾶς προσπίπτοντας, ἐκτενῶς καὶ βοῶντας Ἐκ τῶν κινδύνων λυτρώσασθε ἡμᾶς, ὡς Ταξιάρχαι τῶν ἄνω Δυνάμεων. Κοντα κιον (Ἡ Παρθένος σήµερον) Ὁ τῶν ὅλων Κύριος, περιτοµὴν ὑποµένει, καὶ βροτῶν τὰ πταίσµατα, ὡς ἀγαθὸς περιτέµνει δίδωσι τὴν σωτηρίαν σήµερον κόσµῳ χαίρει δὲ ἐν τοῖς ὑψίστοις καὶ ὁ του Κτίστου, Ἱεράρχης καὶ φωσφόρος, ὁ θεῖος µύστης Χριστοῦ Βασίλειος. Saints and Feasts The circumcision in the flesh of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ; our father among the saints Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia; the holy Martyr Theodotos; Saint Gregory, the father of Saint Gregory the Theologian. Resurrectional Hymn (3 rd Mode) Let the heavens sing for joy, and let everything on earth be glad. For with His Arm the Lord has worked power. He trampled death under foot by means of death; and He became the firstborn from the dead. From the maw of Hades He delivered us; and He granted the world His great mercy. Hymn of the Feast (1 st Mode) In essence being God, most compassionate Master, * You assumed human nature without transmutation. * Fulfilling the Law, of Your own will * You accepted circumcision in the flesh, * to bring an end to the shadow, and to remove the passions that cover us. * Glory to Your goodness, O Lord; * glory to Your compassion; * glory to Your inexpressible condescension, O Word. Hymn of the Saint (1 st Mode) Your proclamation went forth into all the earth, for it accepted your word, through which you taught the dogmas befitting God, you expounded on the nature of all that is, and you arranged the morals of society. A royal priesthood! Devout father Basil, intercede with Christ our God, to grant us His great mercy. Hymn of the Archangels Supreme Commanders of * the hosts of the Heavens * we, the unworthy, importune and beseech you * that by your supplications you encircle us * in the shelter of the wings * of your heavenly glory * guarding us who now fall down * and cry to you with fervor. * Deliver us from dangers of all kinds * as the great marshals of the heavenly hosts on high. Kontakion of the Feast As the Master over all * has undergone circumcision, * so He cuts away the sins * of humankind in His goodness. * On this day, upon the world He bestows salvation. * And on high * does the Creator's hierarch Basil * now rejoice, for he is known as * a most divine and light-bearing mystic of Christ.
St. Paul's Letter to the Colossians 2:8-12 BRETHREN, see to it that no one makes a prey of you by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have come to fullness of life in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of flesh in the circumcision of Christ; and you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. Πρὸς Κολοσσαεῖς 2:8-12 Ἀδελφοί, βλέπετε μή τις ὑμᾶς ἔσται ὁ συλαγωγῶν διὰ τῆς φιλοσοφίας καὶ κενῆς ἀπάτης, κατὰ τὴν παράδοσιν τῶν ἀνθρώπων, κατὰ τὰ στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου, καὶ οὐ κατὰ Χριστόν ὅτι ἐν αὐτῷ κατοικεῖ πᾶν τὸ πλήρωμα τῆς θεότητος σωματικῶς, καί ἐστε ἐν αὐτῷ πεπληρωμένοι, ὅς ἐστιν ἡ κεφαλὴ πάσης ἀρχῆς καὶ ἐξουσίας ἐν ᾧ καὶ περιετμήθητε περιτομῇ ἀχειροποιήτῳ, ἐν τῇ ἀπεκδύσει τοῦ σώματος τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν τῆς σαρκός, ἐν τῇ περιτομῇ τοῦ Χριστοῦ, συνταφέντες αὐτῷ ἐν τῷ βαπτίσματι, ἐν ᾧ καὶ συνηγέρθητε διὰ τῆς πίστεως τῆς ἐνεργείας τοῦ θεοῦ, τοῦ ἐγείραντος αὐτὸν ἐκ τῶν νεκρῶν. The Gospel according to Luke 2:20-21, 40-52 At that time, the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him. Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom; and when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the company they went a day's journey, and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances; and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him. After three days, they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions; and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when they saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously." And he said to them, "How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man. Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 2:20-21, 40-52 Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ὑπέστρεψαν οἱ ποιμένες δοξάζοντες καὶ αἰνοῦντες τὸν Θεὸν ἐπὶ πᾶσιν οἷς ἤκουσαν καὶ εἶδον καθὼς ἐλαλήθη πρὸς αὐτούς. Καὶ ὅτε ἐπλήσθησαν αἱ ἡμέραι ὀκτὼ τοῦ περιτεμεῖν τὸ παιδίον, καὶ ἐκλήθη τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ιησοῦς, τὸ κληθὲν ὑπὸ τοῦ ἀγγέλου πρὸ τοῦ συλληφθῆναι αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ. Τὸ δὲ παιδίον ηὔξανε καὶ ἐκραταιοῦτο πνεύματι πληρούμενον σοφίας, καὶ χάρις Θεοῦ ἦν ἐπ αὐτό. Καὶ ἐπορεύοντο οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ κατ ἔτος εἰς Ιερουσαλὴμ τῇ ἑορτῇ τοῦ πάσχα. καὶ ὅτε ἐγένετο ἐτῶν δώδεκα, ἀναβάντων αὐτῶν εἰς Ιεροσόλυμα κατὰ τὸ ἔθος τῆς ἑορτῆςκαὶ τελειωσάντων τὰς ἡμέρας, ἐν τῷ ὑποστρέφειν αὐτοὺς ὑπέμεινεν Ιησοῦς ὁ παῖς ἐν Ιερουσαλήμ, καὶ οὐκ ἔγνω Ιωσὴφ καὶ ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ. νομίσαντες δὲ αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ συνοδίᾳ εἶναι ἦλθον ἡμέρας ὁδὸν καὶ ἀνεζήτουν αὐτὸν ἐν τοῖς συγγενέσι καὶ ἐν τοῖς γνωστοῖς καὶ μὴ εὑρόντες αὐτὸν ὑπέστρεψαν εἰς Ιερουσαλὴμ ζητοῦντες αὐτόν. καὶ ἐγένετο μεθ ἡμέρας τρεῖς εὗρον αὐτὸν ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ καθεζόμενον ἐν μέσῳ τῶν διδασκάλων καὶ ἀκούοντα αὐτῶν καὶ ἐπερωτῶντα αὐτούς ἐξίσταντο δὲ πάντες οἱ ἀκούοντες αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τῇ συνέσει καὶ ταῖς ἀποκρίσεσιν αὐτοῦ. καὶ ἰδόντες αὐτὸν ἐξεπλάγησαν, καὶ πρὸς αὐτὸν ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ εἶπε τέκνον, τί ἐποίησας ἡμῖν οὕτως; ἰδοὺ ὁ πατήρ σου κἀγὼ ὀδυνώμενοι ἐζητοῦμέν σε. καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτούς τί ὅτι ἐζητεῖτέ με; οὐκ ᾔδειτε ὅτι ἐν τοῖς τοῦ πατρός μου δεῖ εἶναί με; καὶ αὐτοὶ οὐ συνῆκαν τὸ ῥῆμα ὃ ἐλάλησεν αὐτοῖς. καὶ κατέβη μετ αὐτῶν καὶ ἦλθεν εἰς Ναζαρέτ, καὶ ἦν ὑποτασσόμενος αὐτοῖς. καὶ ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ διετήρει πάντα τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτῆς. Καὶ Ιησοῦς προέκοπτε σοφίᾳ καὶ ἡλικίᾳ καὶ χάριτι παρὰ Θεῷ καὶ ἀνθρώποις.
Άγιος Βασίλειος ο Μέγας Εξέχουσα προσωπικότητα της Χριστιανικής Εκκλησίας, σπουδαίος ιεράρχης και κορυφαίος θεολόγος, γι αυτό και ανακηρύχτηκε Άγιος και Μέγας. Είναι ένας από τους Πατέρες της Εκκλησίας και ένας από τους Τρεις Ιεράρχες. Η μνήμη του εορτάζεται την 1η Ιανουαρίου από τους Ορθοδόξους (14 Ιανουαρίου απ όσους ακολουθούν το Ιουλιανό Ημερολόγιο) και στις 2 Ιανουαρίου από τους Καθολικούς. Η μνήμη του συνεορτάζεται στις 30 Ιανουαρίου, κατά την εορτή των Τριών Ιεραρχών, μαζί με τους δύο άλλους μεγάλους Πατέρες της Εκκλησίας, τον Γρηγόριο τον Θεολόγο και τον Ιωάννη τον Χρυσόστομο. Ο Βασίλειος γεννήθηκε το 330 στην Καισάρεια της Καππαδοκίας (νυν Καϊσερί Τουρκίας) και ήταν γιος του ποντίου ρήτορα (δικηγόρου της εποχής) Βασιλείου και της Εμμέλειας, η μνήμη της οποίας τιμάται από την Ορθόδοξη Εκκλησία μαζί με του υιού της Βασιλείου. Στην οικογένεια εκτός από το Βασίλειο υπήρχαν άλλα οκτώ ή εννέα παιδιά. Μεταξύ αυτών, ο Γρηγόριος, ο μετέπειτα σπουδαίος θεολόγος, γνωστός ως Γρηγόριος Νύσσης. Η γιαγιά του Μακρίνα ήταν κόρη χριστιανού μάρτυρα και μαζί με τη μητέρα του Εμμέλεια έπαιξαν σημαντικό ρόλο στη διαμόρφωση του χριστιανικού χαρακτήρα του Βασιλείου. Μετά τα εγκύκλια μαθήματα που πήρε στην πατρίδα του, στάλθηκε στο Βυζάντιο για ευρύτερες σπουδές. Το 351 πήγε στην Αθήνα, όπου ανθούσαν ακόμη τα γράμματα και οι τέχνες. Σπούδασε ρητορική, φιλοσοφία, αστρονομία, γεωμετρία, ιατρική, φυσική κ.ά. Στην Αθήνα γνωρίστηκε με τον Ιουλιανό, μετέπειτα αυτοκράτορα του Βυζαντίου και αργότερα μεγάλο πολέμιο του Χριστιανισμού, και τον Γρηγόριο τον Ναζιανζηνό, με τον οποίο τον συνέδεσε μια ιερή και ισόβια φιλία. Μετά τις σπουδές του στην Αθήνα επέστρεψε το 351 στην Καισάρεια, όπου άσκησε το επάγγελμα του ρήτορα, όπως και ο πατέρας του. Πολύ γρήγορα ξεκίνησε ένα πνευματικό ταξίδι στην Αίγυπτο, την Παλαιστίνη, τη Μεσοποταμία και τη Συρία, για να γνωρίσει τους ασκητές και να σπουδάσει τον μοναχισμό. Τόσο πολύ γοητεύτηκε από την αυστηρή ασκητική ζωή, ώστε πήγε στον Πόντο και έζησε μοναχός στην έρημο για μια πενταετία (357-362). Σκόπευε να μείνει οριστικά εκεί, αν δεν επισυνέβαινε ο θάνατος του επισκόπου Καισαρείας Ευσέβιου. Ο λαός της Καισαρείας ζήτησε να τον διαδεχθεί ο Βασίλειος και μετά την εκλογή του αναγκάστηκε να επιστρέψει στην Καισάρεια. Παρέμεινε για εννέα χρόνια επίσκοπος Καισαρείας και άφησε σπουδαίο έργο, που αποτέλεσε παράδειγμα προς μίμηση για τις επόμενες γενιές. Ίδρυσε μια σειρά από φιλανθρωπικά ιδρύματα, που έγιναν γνωστά ως «Βασιλειάδα», η οργάνωση των οποίων για την περίθαλψη των φτωχών και των ασθενών αποτέλεσε υπόδειγμα πνευματικής προσφοράς και κοινωνικής δράσης. Ο Μέγας Βασίλειος υπήρξε πολυγραφότατος συγγραφέας, με καθοριστική συνεισφορά στη διατύπωση του δόγματος της Αγίας Τριάδας, ενώ συνέταξε και Θεία Λειτουργία («Λειτουργία του Μεγάλου Βασιλείου»). Τα έργα του διακρίνονται σε δογματικά, αντιαιρετικά, ασκητικά, πρακτικά, ομιλίες και επιστολές. Σε όλη τη σύντομη ζωή του αγωνίστηκε για την ενότητα της Χριστιανικής Εκκλησίας, που μαστιζόταν στην εποχή του από θεολογικές έριδες σχετικά τις δοξασίες του Αρείου. Πέθανε την 1η Ιανουαρίου του 379 σε ηλικία 49 ετών και τάφηκε με μεγάλες τιμές. *Οι πληροφορίες είναι από: https://www.sansimera.gr/biographies/758
This Week's Worship Schedule Thursday, January 6: Eve of Holy Theophany / Epiphany 8:30 am - Royal Hours for the Forefeast of Theophany 10:00 am - Great Vespers of Theophany and Divine Liturgy of St. Basil 6:15 pm - Orthros for the Feast of Theophany 7:30 pm - Divine Liturgy with the Great Blessing of the Waters Friday, January 6: Holy Theophany / Epiphany 8:30 am - Orthros for Theophany 9:30 am - Divine Liturgy with the Great Blessing of the Waters Sunday, January 8 8:15 am - Orthros and Divine Liturgy 12:00 pm - Diving for the Cross. In celebration of the Feast of Epiphany, we are looking for parishioners to dive for the Cross at North Hempstead Beach Park, following the Divine Liturgy. Please call the church office at (516) 944-3180 if you are interested. House Blessings Fr. John and Fr. Joshua would love to visit your home after the Feast of Theophany to offer a House Blessing. This is a reminder that the Blessing of the Waters extends in a very real and concrete way to each of us; God s Kingdom is breaking into this world, sanctifying all of creation, and we are called to further this sanctification within our personal circumstances. Please call the church office at (516) 944-3180 to schedule a House Blessing. Upcoming Events Saturday, February 11 - Archangel Michael Church presents Comedy Night. See web site for further details. April 21-25, 2017 - Pilgrimage to Havana, Cuba. Fr. John will be leading a group for an educational tour of Cuba. For more information, see last two pages of the bulletin. Philoptochos TOY & DIAPER DRIVE to benefit "The Smile of the Child" charity in Greece Deadline EXTENDED to JANUARY 30TH. Please drop off your items at the Church and thank you for your support! See web site for complete list of items needed (emphasis on school supplies). Next Philoptochos meeting rescheduled for Monday Jan 9 th at 7:30pm instead of Sunday Jan 8 th in order to not interfere with the Vasilopita and Epiphany celebrations.
GREEK ORTHODOX PILGRIMAGE TO HAVANA, CUBA Led by Protopresbyter Reverend Father John Lardas of Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church (Port Washington, NY) Under the Auspices of His Eminence Metropolitan Athenagoras of Central America April 21-25, 2017 5 Days/4 Nights I am requesting services for people. The exact name on the passport (s) is/are: Address: Daytime Tel: Evening Tel: Cell: Email: Special Requests: Meals (Diabetic, vegetarian, etc): Select either double or single occupancy inclusive of air from JFK/Havana/JFK Per person double occupancy $3500* x 2 $ Single occupancy $3850* x 1 $ ALL OPTIONS: Please add: Gratuities per person $ 115 x $ Delivery of documents $ 25 x 1 $ 25.00_ TOTAL DUE $ OPTIONAL TRAVEL PROTECTION: Premium is based on the value of your trip & is recommended. For trip value: $3001- $4000 $ 248 x $ TOTAL CHARGES: $ *Rates reflect a 4% check discount which does not apply if payment is made in any other way. DUE TO THE STRICT TERMS, CONDITIONS & CANCELLATION PENATLTIES, TRAVEL PROTECTION INSURANCE IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED Please mail this res form, a clear copy of your passport & a deposit of $900 per person payable to Cloud Tours and send to the address indicated below. SPACE IS LIMITED! DEADLINE: January 16 th, 2017 or late booking fee, $100 applies. TOUR INCLUDES: *Round trip air from JFK to Havana nonstop on Delta Airlines including US departure tax *Four nights at the Melia Habana Hotel (5*) in sea view rooms including daily breakfast tax & service fees *Three & a half days of sightseeing in A/C motorcoach with English speaking guide with visits to religious & cultural sights. Entrance fees included per itinerary. * Divine Liturgy at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Old Havana *Three dinners & four lunches at historic and special venues. Drink at the Hall of Fame Bar. *Processing assistance for general license and other required documents to travel to Cuba. *Medical Insurance in Cuba and processing of Cuban Visa. * Private arrival and departure transfer with English speaking escort in a deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach. Not included is Cuban departure tax of approximately $30 per person payable in Havana, optional trip cancellation insurance and baggage fees for combined weight (checked and all carry-on bags combined) in excess of 44lbs. CONDITIONS: Confirmation is subject to receipt of deposit with reservation form no later than Jan. 16, 2017. Deposits received Jan. 17, 2017 and later are subject to an additional $100 late booking fee and applicable air surcharges. Final balance due by Feb. 10, 2017. Cancellation fees: Once deposit is received, an administrative fee of $750 is non-refundable. For cancellations Feb. 17 th until departure or no show, no refund. No refund for unused portions of tour or an event you select not to participate in. Additional cancellation fees may be imposed by suppliers subject to date of cancellation. The right is reserved to cancel this program at any time prior to departure if it is deemed necessary or if the registration numbers prove insufficient by 45 days or more before departure, in this case a full refund of your payment will be made. We reserve the right to deny service to any person based upon its discretion and/or the particular needs or circumstances of a given group. Should the group cancel for any reason, including political strife, Cloud Tours reserves the right to charge an additional $100 per person administration fee. A minimum of 25 people required or additional fees will apply. Travel insurance is recommended & must be paid with deposit to waive the pre-existing medical conditions exclusion. Travel protection is nonrefundable. You may request a copy of the Description of Coverage, prior to purchase, which includes the terms, conditions, limitations, and exclusions. This plan provides insurance coverage for your trip that applies only during the covered trip. You may have coverage from other sources that provides you with similar benefits but may be subject to different restrictions depending upon your other coverages. You may wish to compare the terms of this policy with your existing life, health, home and automobile policies. If you have any questions about your current coverage, call your insurer, insurance agent or broker. The purchase of this plan is not required in order to purchase any other travel product or service offered to you by your travel retailer. Cloud Tours reserves the right to deny service to any person based upon its discretion and/or the particular needs or circumstances of a given group. This pilgrimage will operate under the United States Department of Treasury Office Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) under 31 C.F.R. 515.566 (a) general license provision for religious activities. Our visit includes a full schedule of religious activities consistent with U.S Regulations. PLEASE NOTE: Our religious visit will be arranged through a legally licensed TSP or Travel Service Provider Licensee: Miramar Travel & Tours (CU-2014-314692) authorized by OFAC, CST 2073790-40. FAC: http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/programs/documents/cuba_tr_app.pdf FOR MORE INFORMATION: PLEASE CONTACT: CLOUD TOURS at 31-09 Newtown Ave. Suite 311, Long Island City, NY 11102 Tel: (718) 721-3808 / (800) 223-7880 or Email: Stephen, Tour Coordinator at: Stephen@cloudtours.com.