HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH ΕΛΛΙΝΙΚΗ ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΗ ΚΟΙΝΟΤΗΤΑ ΑΓΙΑΣ ΤΡΙΑΔΟΣ

THUNDER BAY BULLETIN HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH ΕΛΛΙΝΙΚΗ ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΗ ΚΟΙΝΟΤΗΤΑ ΑΓΙΑΣ ΤΡΙΑΔΟΣ 651 Beverly Street, Thunder Bay, ON, P7B 6N2 Telephone: (807) 344-9522 www.gothunderbay.org holytrinity@tbaytel.net February 2012 Volume 8 Issue 2 FEBRUARY 26 VESPERS OF FORGIVENESS 26 ΦΕΒΡΟΥΑΡΙΟΥ - ΕΣΠΕΡΙΝΟΣ ΣΥΧΩΡΕΣΕΩΣ 7:00pm 1

THUNDER BAY BULLETIN Published monthly. Editor(s): Rev. Fr. Nikolaos Tambakis PARISH PRIEST: Rev. Fr. Nikolaos Tambakis; 106 Essex Court, Thunder Bay, Ontario, P7A 7N6 # (807) 472-1341 cellular; # (807) 344-9522 office Church email: holytrinity@tbaytel.net; Fr. Nikolaos email: ntambakis@hotmail.com Website: www.gothunderbay.org Office hours: by appointment HELLENIC COMMUNITY PRESIDENT: ACHILLES STATHOPOULOS # (807) 344-1596 HOME; (807) 626-2715 MOBILE VICE PRESIDENT: TOM MARINIS # (807) 346-4006 HOME; (807) 624-6720 MOBILE SECRETARY: LISA BOOTE # (807) 473-5281 HOME TREASURER: TAX MILIONIS # (807) 766-9383 HOME; (807) 626-6010 MOBILE ASST. TREASURER: VACANT BOARD MEMBERS: ANDY KARANASOS, NICK MILIONIS, TIMO KAROUTAS, TED FRISKY, PETER SAITES, IRENE BINIARIS, PETER KOUKOS. RELIGIOUS AND LEGAL AUTHORITIES HIS EMINENCE METROPOLITAN SOTIRIOS - GREEK ORTHODOX METROPOLIS IF TORONTO (CANADA), 1 PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW WAY (86 OVERLEA BOULEVARD),TORONTO, ONTARIO M4H 1C6; TELEPHONE: (416) 429-5757; FAX: (416) 429-4588; EMAIL: METROPOLIS@GOCANADA.ORG; WEBSITE: WWW.GOCANADA.ORG. EMBASSY OF GREECE - 80 MACLAREN STREET; OTTAWA, ONTARIO K2P 0K6; TELEPHONE: (613) 238-6271;FAX: (613) 238-5676; WEBSITE: WWW.GREEKEMBASSY.CA. CONSULATE GENERAL OF GREECE - 365 BLOOR STREET E, SUITE 1800, TORONTO, ONTARIO M4W 3L4 ; TELEPHONE (416) 515-0133 ; FAX: (416) 515-0209; WEBSITE: WWW.GRCONSULATE.COM. GREEK TOURIST OFFICE (TORONTO) - 1300 BAY STREET, TORONTO, ONTARIO M5R 3K8; TELEPHONE: (416) 968-2220; FAX: (416) 968-6533; EMAIL: GRNTO.TOR@SYMPATICO.CA. 2010 2011 BOARD OF DIRECTORS (L TO R): TED FRISKY, PETER KOUKOS, IRENE BINIARIS, NICK MILIONIS, TOM MARINIS, ANDY KARANASOS, TAX MILIONIS, TIMO KAROUTAS, ACHILLES STATHOPOULOS, PETER SAITES, LISA BOOTE, WITH FR. NIKOLAOS TAMBAKIS (ABOVE) 2

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE PARTICIPANTS AND ORGANIZERS OF OUR 2 ND ANNUAL EPIPHANY CROSS DIVE! GOD S BLESSINGS AND BEST WISHES TO WINNERS RHEA SCOLLIE, HARRISON TSEKOURAS, SMARAH MELISSIS AND ALEXANDRU TODOSIA! Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church presents: SOUVLAKI DINNER (Souvlaki, Tzatziki, Mediterranean Rice, Greek Salad and Pita) Thursday, February 9 Thursday, February 23 Thursday, March 8 Thursday, March 22 Thursday, April 5 4:00pm 6:30pm Email us at greekdinner@tbaytel.net to be on our mailing list! Facebook Join our group The Great Souvlaki Dinner Takeout Website: www.gothunderbay.com. 3

VESPERS OF FORGIVENESS FEBRUARY 26 AT 7:00PM Editor s Note: This service, the Vespers of Forgiveness is one of the most beautiful services that I have personally attended. It is emotional, yet sober. The most important aspect before we enter the Lenten period is forgiveness, and the evening before Great Lent begins, we come together to this Vespers of Forgiveness service, and we do what is the core of the Orthodox Christian faith we forgive each other! At the end of the service, we proceed to ask each other for forgiveness before we leave the church. This is a beautiful service for all to attend for family members to ask forgiveness of each other; for enemies to begin the process of reconciliation; for friends to deepen their friendships. - FrN FOR OUR SPIRITUAL RENEWAL; FOR OUR RETURN TO GOD. In the Orthodox Church, the last Sunday before Great Lent the day on which, at Vespers, Lent is liturgically announced and inaugurated is called Forgiveness Sunday. On the morning of that Sunday, at the Divine Liturgy, we hear the words of Christ: "If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses..." (Mark 6:14-15) Then after Vespers after hearing the announcement of Lent in the Great Prokeimenon: "Turn not away Thy face from Thy child for I am afflicted! Hear me speedily! Draw near unto my soul and deliver it!", after making our entrance into Lenten worship, with its special memories, with the prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian, with its prostrations we ask forgiveness from each other, we perform the rite of forgiveness and reconciliation. And as we approach each other with words of reconciliation, the choir intones the Paschal hymns, filling the church with the anticipation of Paschal joy. What is the meaning of this rite? Why is it that the Church wants us to begin Lenten season with forgiveness and reconciliation? These questions are in order because for too many people Lent means primarily, and almost exclusively, a change of diet, the compliance with ecclesiastical regulations concerning fasting. They understand fasting as an end in itself, as a "good deed" required by God and carrying in itself its merit and its reward. But, the Church spares no effort in revealing to us that fasting is but a means, one among many, towards a higher goal: the spiritual renewal of man, his return to God, true repentance and, therefore, true reconciliation. The Church spares no effort in warning us against a hypocritical and pharisaic fasting, against the reduction of religion to mere external obligations. As a Lenten hymn says: In vain do you rejoice in no eating, O soul! For you abstain from food, But from passions you are not purified. If you persevere in sin, you will perform a useless fast. 4

Now, forgiveness stands at the very center of Christian faith and of Christian life because Christianity itself is, above all, the religion of forgiveness. God forgives us, and His forgiveness is in Christ, His Son, Whom He sends to us, so that by sharing in His humanity we may share in His love and be truly reconciled with God. Indeed, Christianity has no other content but love. And it is primarily the renewal of that love, a return to it, a growth in it, that we seek in Great Lent, in fasting and prayer, in the entire spirit and the entire effort of that season. Thus, truly forgiveness is both the beginning of, and the proper condition for the Lenten season. One may ask, however: Why should I perform this rite when I have no "enemies"? Why should I ask forgiveness from people who have done nothing to me, and whom I hardly know? To ask these questions, is to misunderstand the Orthodox teaching concerning forgiveness. It is true, that open enmity, personal hatred, real animosity may be absent from our life, though if we experience them, it may be easier for us to repent, for these feelings openly contradict Divine commandments. But, the Church reveals to us that there are much subtler ways of offending Divine Love. These are indifference, selfishness, lack of interest in other people, of any real concern for them -- in short, that wall which we usually erect around ourselves, thinking that by being "polite" and "friendly" we fulfill God s commandments. The rite of forgiveness is so important precisely because it makes us realize be it only for one minute that our entire relationship to other men is wrong, makes us experience that encounter of one child of God with another, of one person created by God with another, makes us feel that mutual "recognition" which is so terribly lacking in our cold and dehumanized world. On that unique evening, listening to the joyful Paschal hymns we are called to make a spiritual discovery: to taste of another mode of life and relationship with people, of life whose essence is love. We can discover that always and everywhere Christ, the Divine Love Himself, stands in the midst of us, transforming our mutual alienation into brotherhood. As l advance towards the other, as the other comes to me we begin to realize that it is Christ Who brings us together by His love for both of us. And because we make this discovery and because this discovery is that of the Kingdom of God itself: the Kingdom of Peace and Love, of reconciliation with God and, in Him, with all that exists we hear the hymns of that Feast, which once a year, "opens to us the doors of Paradise." We know why we shall fast and pray, what we shall seek during the long Lenten pilgrimage. Forgiveness Sunday: the day on which we acquire the power to make our fasting true fasting; our effort true effort; our reconciliation with God true reconciliation. Father Alexander Schmemann ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM ON FASTING (FROM HIS HOMILIES ON THE STATUES) FASTING IS A MEDICINE. BUT LIKE ALL MEDICINES, THOUGH IT BE VERY PROFITABLE TO THE PERSON WHO KNOWS HOW TO USE IT, IT FREQUENTLY BECOMES USELESS (AND EVEN HARMFUL) IN THE HANDS OF HIM WHO IS UNSKILLFUL IN ITS USE. FOR THE HONOR OF FASTING CONSISTS NOT IN ABSTINENCE FROM FOOD, BUT IN WITHDRAWING FROM SINFUL PRACTICES, SINCE HE WHO LIMITS HIS FASTING ONLY TO ABSTINENCE FROM MEATS IS ONE WHO ESPECIALLY DISPARAGES FASTING. DO YOU FAST? GIVE ME PROOF OF IT BY YOUR WORKS. IF YOU SEE A POOR MAN, TAKE PITY ON HIM. IF YOU SEE AN ENEMY, BE RECONCILED WITH HIM. IF YOU SEE A FRIEND GAINING HONOR, DO NOT BE JEALOUS OF HIM. AND LET NOT ONLY THE MOUTH FAST, BUT ALSO THE EYE AND THE EAR AND THE FEET AND THE HANDS AND ALL MEMBERS OF YOUR BODIES. LET THE HANDS FAST BY BEING PURE FROM PLUNDERING AND AVARICE. LET THE FEET FAST BY CEASING FROM RUNNING TO UNLAWFUL SPECTACLES. LET THE EYES FAST, BEING TAUGHT NEVER TO FIX THEMSELVES RUDELY ON HANDSOME FACES, OR TO BUSY THEMSELVES WITH STRANGE BEAUTIES. FOR LOOKING IS THE FOOD OF THE EYES, BUT IF IT BE SUCH AS IS UNLAWFUL OR FORBIDDEN, IT MARS THE FAST AND UPSETS THE WHOLE SAFETY OF THE SOUL. BUT IF IT BE LAWFUL AND SAFE, IT ADORNS FASTING. FOR IT WOULD BE AMONG THINGS MOST ABSURD TO ABSTAIN FROM LAWFUL FOOD BECAUSE OF THE FAST, BUT WITH THE EYES TO TOUCH EVEN WHAT IS FORBIDDEN! DO YOU NOT EAT MEAT? FEED NOT UPON LASCIVIOUSNESS BY MEANS OF YOUR EYES! LET THE EAR FAST ALSO. THE FASTING OF THE EAR CONSISTS IN REFUSING TO RECEIVE EVIL SPEAKINGS AND CALUMNIES. IT IS WRITTEN, "YOU SHALL NOT RECEIVE A FALSE REPORT" (EXODUS 23:1). 5

ΕΣΠΕΡΙΝΟΣ ΣΥΧΩΡΕΣΕΩΣ 26 ΦΕΒΡΟΥΑΡΙΟΥ 7:00μμ Το πρώτο σημείο της σταυροαναστάσιμης πορείας μας είναι η συγχωρητικότητα στους «οφειλέτες» μας, για τα πταίσματα που μας έχουν πταίσει, τα μεγάλα και σοβαρά, αλλά και τα μικρά και ασήμαντα. Γι αυτό και η αγία μας Εκκλησία ονομάζει «εσπερινόν της συγχώρησης», τον κατανυκτικό εσπερινό της σημερινής Κυριακής, που αναγγέλλει την είσοδο στη Μ. Σαρακοστή. Η συγχώρηση των δικών μας αμαρτιών - λέγει ο Χριστός-περνά από τον αδελφό μας. Έτσι μας αποκαλύπτει τον πιό σύντομο δρόμο, για να δεχθούμε συγχώρηση από τον Θεό. Αν δείξουμε επιείκεια και αγάπη στα σφάλματα του αδελφού μας, αποκτούμε παρρησία μπροστά στον Θεό, όταν προσευχόμαστε και ζητούμε να συγχωρήσει και τις δικές μας αμαρτίες. Στην περίπτωση αυτή μπορούμε να του πούμε: Όπως εμείς συγχωρήσαμε τα πταίσματα των αδελφών μας, συγχώρησε και Συ τα δικά μας. Όταν η καρδιά μας είναι φωτεινή από το φως της συμφιλίωσης με τους αδελφούς μας, πετυχαίνει τη χάρη των καλών, για τα οποία προσεύχεται, λένε οι Πατέρες. «Εάν αφήτε τοις ανθρώποις τα παραπτώματα αυτών, αφήσει και υμίν ο πατήρ υμών ο ουράνιος». Η συμμόρφωση με αυτό τον κανόνα είναι δύσκολη, πραγματικός σταυρός, γιατί αντιστέκεται η έκπτωτη φύση μας, που κυριαρχείται από τον εγωκεντρισμό, τη φιλαυτία, τη σκληρότητα, τη μνησικακία, τη «δικαιοσύνη», γι αυτό δε συγχωρεί εύκολα. Τα πάθη αυτά νεκρώνονται με την οδύνη της αγάπης, τον σταυρό της ταπείνωσης και της επιείκειας, για να ακολουθήσει η συγχωρητικότητα. Έτσι «διά σταυρού» μεταβαίνουμε από τον θάνατο των παθών, στη ζωή και την ανάσταση της αγάπης και μετέχουμε στον σταυρό του Κυρίου. Και εκεί που δέσποζε η έχθρα, η μνησικακία, το μίσος, θα βασιλεύει τώρα η αγάπη και η αδελφοσύνη. Η συγχώρηση του αδελφού μας, μας βοηθά και στο έργο της προσευχής και μάλιστα της καρδιακής, που επιτείνεται κατά την περίοδο αυτή, όπως δείχνουν και οι αυξημένες ιερές Ακολουθίες της Εκκλησίας μας. Ο καθαρός νους αμιλλάται τους αγίους Αγγέλους, στο έργο της δοξολογίας του Θεού, βλέπει δε «τα κεκρυμμένα μυστήρια εν ταις Γραφαίς». Όταν σκεπτόμαστε το κακό που μας έκανε ο αδελφός μας, ο νους μας αντί να ανεβαίνει στον Θεό, σχολιάζει διαρκώς την κακία του αδελφού. Γι αυτό ο Χριστός μας συμβουλεύει: Πριν προσφέρουμε τα δώρα μας στον Ναό, να συμφιλιωθούμε με τον αδελφό μας. Ο ΑΒΒΑΣ ΙΩΑΝΝΗΣ Ο ΚΟΛΟΒΟΣ, ΣΥΜΒΟΥΛΕΥΟΝΤΑΣ ΤΟΥΣ ΝΕΩΤΕΡΟΥΣ ΑΔΕΛΦΟΥΣ Ν'ΑΓΑΠΗΣΟΥΝ ΤΗΝ ΝΗΣΤΕΙΑ, ΤΟΥΣ ΕΛΕΓΕ ΣΥΧΝΑ: «Ο ΚΑΛΟΣ ΣΤΡΑΤΗΓΟΣ, ΠΟΥ ΕΠΙΧΕΙΡΕΙ ΝΑ ΚΑΤΑΛΑΒΕΙ ΜΙΑ ΠΟΛΗ ΕΧΘΡΙΚΗ, ΓΕΡΑ ΟΧΥΡΩΜΕΝΗ, ΚΑΝΕΙ ΑΠΟΚΛΕΙΣΜΟ ΣΤΙΣ ΤΡΟΦΕΣ ΚΑΙ ΣΤΟ ΝΕΡΟ. Μ'ΑΥΤΟΝ ΤΟΝ ΤΡΟΠΟ ΑΤΟΝΕΙ Η ΑΝΤΙΣΤΑΣΗ ΤΟΥ ΕΧΘΡΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΣΤΟ ΤΕΛΟΣ ΠΑΡΑΔΙΔΕΤΑΙ. ΚΑΤΙ ΠΑΡΟΜΟΙΟ ΣΥΜΒΑΙΝΕΙ ΚΑΙ ΜΕ ΤΙΣ ΣΑΡΚΙΚΕΣ ΟΡΜΕΣ, ΠΟΥ ΑΝΕΛΕΗΤΑ ΠΟΛΕΜΟΥΝ ΤΟΝ ΑΝΘΡΩΠΟ ΣΤΗΝ ΝΕΟΤΗΤΑ ΤΟΥ. Η ΕΥΛΟΓΗΜΕΝΗ ΝΗΣΤΕΙΑ ΚΑΤΑΒΑΛΛΕΙ ΤΑ ΠΑΘΗ ΚΑΙ ΤΟΥΣ ΔΑΙΜΟΝΕΣ ΚΑΙ ΤΕΛΙΚΑ Τ'ΑΠΟΜΑΚΡΥΝΕΙ ΑΠΟ ΤΟΝ ΑΓΩΝΙΣΤΗ.» 6

ΠΡΟΓΡΑΜΜΑ ΙΕΡΩΝ ΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΙΩΝ - ΦΕΒΡΟΥΑΡΙΟΥ 2012 Ο Π. ΝΙΚΟΛΑΟΣ ΘΑ ΑΠΟΥΣΙΑΖΕΙ ΑΠΟ 29 ΙΑΝΟΥΑΡΙΟΥ (ΜΕΤΑ ΤΗΝ ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΑ) ΜΕΧΡΙ 3 ΦΕΒΡΟΥΑΡΙΟΥ. ΣΕ ΠΕΡΙΠΤΩΣΗ ΑΝΑΓΚΗΣ ΠΑΡΑΚΑΛΟΥΜΕ ΝΑ ΠΑΡΕΤΕ ΤΗΕΛΦΩΝΟ ΤΟ ΠΡΟΕΔΡΟ Α. ΣΤΑΘΟΠΟΥΛΟ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ 5 +ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΤΟΥ ΤΕΛΩΝΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΤΟΥ ΦΑΡΙΣΑΙΟΥ. (ΑΡΧΗ ΤΡΙΩΔΙΟΥ) ΟΡΘΡΟΣ 9:15ΠΜ, ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΑ 10:30ΠΜ. ΠΑΡΑΣΚΕΥΗ 10 +ΑΓΙΟΥ ΙΕΡΟΜΑΡΤΥΡΟΣ ΧΑΡΑΛΑΜΠΟΥΣ ΤΟΥ ΘΑΥΜΑΤΟΥΡΓΟΥ. ΟΡΘΡΟΣ 9:15ΠΜ, ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΑ 10:15ΠΜ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ 12 +ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΤΟΥ ΑΣΩΤΟΥ. ΑΓΙΟΥ ΜΕΛΕΤΙΟΥ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΕΙΑΣ. ΟΡΘΡΟΣ 9:15ΠΜ, ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΑ 10:30ΠΜ. ΣΑΒΒΑΤΟ 18 +Α ΨΥΧΟΣΑΒΒΑΤΟΝ. ΑΓΙΟΣ ΛΕΩΝΤΟΣ, ΠΑΠΑ ΡΩΜΗΣ. ΟΡΘΡΟΣ 9:15ΠΜ, ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΑ 10:15ΠΜ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ 19 +ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΤΗΣ ΑΠΟΚΡΕΩ. ΑΓΙΑΣ ΦΙΛΟΘΕΗΣ ΑΘΗΝΑΙΑΣ. ΟΡΘΡΟΣ 9:15ΠΜ, ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΑ 10:30ΠΜ. ΣΑΒΒΑΤΟ 25 +Β ΨΥΧΟΣΑΒΒΑΤΟΝ. ΑΓ. ΤΑΡΑΣΙΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΡΗΓΙΝΟΥ. ΟΡΘΡΟΣ 9:15ΠΜ, ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΑ 10:15ΠΜ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚH (ΠΡΩΙ) 26 +ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΤΗΣ ΤΥΡΙΝΗΣ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΣΥΧΩΡΕΣΕΩΣ. ΟΡΘΡΟΣ 9:15ΠΜ, ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΑ 10:30ΠΜ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚH (ΒΡΑΔΥ) 26 + ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΣΥΧΩΡΕΣΕΩΣ. ΚΑΤΑΝΥΚΤΙΚΟΣ ΕΣΠΕΡΙΝΟΣ ΣΥΧΩΡΕΣΕΩΣ 7:00ΜΜ-8:00ΜΜ. ΔΕΥΤΕΡΑ 27 +ΚΑΘΑΡΑ ΔΕΥΤΕΡΑ. (ΑΡΧΗ Μ. ΤΕΣΣΑΡΑΚΟΣΤΗΣ). ΔΕΝ ΕΧΕΙ ΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΙΑ. ΤΕΤΑΡΤΗ 29 +ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΑ ΤΩΝ ΠΡΟΗΓΙΑΣΜΕΝΩΝ ΔΩΡΩΝ. 7:00ΜΜ-8:30ΜΜ. ΠΟΛΛΟΙ ΒΑΣΑΝΙΣΑΝ τὸ σῶμα τους μὲ ἀσκήσεις ἀλλὰ ἐπειδὴ δὲν κατόρθωσαν ν ἀποκτήσουν διάκριση βρέθηκαν μακριὰ ἀπ τὸν Θεό. - Ἀββᾶς Ἀντώνιος ΑΝ ΝΗΣΤΕΥΕΤΕ κανονικὰ μὴν ὑπερηφανεύεσθε, διαφορετικὰ καλύτερα νὰ τρῶτε κρέας. Γιατὶ περισσότερο συμφέρει τὸν ἄνθρωπο νὰ τρώει κρέας παρὰ νὰ εἶναι ὑπερήφανος καὶ ἀλλαζόνας. - Ἀββᾶς Ἰσίδωρος ὁ πρεσβύτερος Ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν ΡΩΤΗΣΕ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰωσὴφ τὸν ἀββᾶ Ποιμένα πῶς πρέπει νὰ νηστεύουμε. Καὶ ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν τοῦ λέει: «Ἐγὼ θέλω νὰ τρώει κανεὶς κάθε μέρα τόσο λίγο ὥστε νὰ μὴ χορταίνει.» Τοῦ λέει τότε ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰωσήφ «Ὅταν ἦσουν πιὸ νέος, ἀββᾶ, δὲν νήστευες δύο δύο μέρες;» Καὶ ὁ γέροντας τοῦ ἀπάντησε «Φυσικὰ καὶ τρεῖς καὶ τέσσερεις μέρες κι ἑβδομάδα ἀκόμη. Καὶ ὅλα αὐτὰ τὰ δοκίμασαν οἱ πατέρες γιατὶ ἦταν δυνατοί ἀλλὰ θεώρησαν καλύτερο νὰ τρώει κανεὶς κάθε μέρα ἀλλὰ λίγο μᾶς παρέδωσαν λοιπὸν τὴ βασιλικὴ ὁδὸ ποὺ εἶναι ἐλαφρή.» - Ἀββᾶς Ποιμήν 7

SCHEDULE OF DIVINE SERVICES - FEBRUARY 2012 FR. NIKOLAOS WILL AWAY FROM JANUARY 29 (AFTER DIVINE LITURGY) FEBRUARY 3. IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, PLEASE CALL PRESIDENT ACHILLES STATHOPOULOS (INFORMATION ON PAGE 2). SUNDAY 5 +SUNDAY OF THE PUBLICAN AND THE PHARISEE.(BEGINNING OF THE TRIODION) ORTHROS 9:15AM, DIVINE LITURGY 10:30AM. FRIDAY 10 +HIEROMARTYR CHARALAMBOS THE WONDERWORKER. ORTHROS 9:15AM, DIVINE LITURGY 10:15AM. SUNDAY 12 +SUNDAY OF THE PRODIGAL SON. ST. MELETIOS THE ANTIOCHIAN. ORTHROS 9:15AM, DIVINE LITURGY 10:30AM. SATURDAY 18 +1 ST SATURDAY OF THE SOULS. ST. LEO, POPE OF ROME. ORTHROS 9:15AM, DIVINE LITURGY 10:15AM. SUNDAY 19 +MEATFARE SUNDAY. ST. PHILOTHEI OF ATHENS. ORTHROS 9:15AM, DIVINE LITURGY 10:30AM. SATURDAY 25 +2 ND SATURDAY OF THE SOULS. STS. TARASIOS AND REGINUS. ORTHROS 9:15AM, DIVINE LITURGY 10:15AM. SUNDAY (MORNING) 26 +CHEESEFARE SUNDAY. SUNDAY OF FORGIVENESS. ORTHROS 9:15AM, DIVINE LITURGY 10:30AM. SUNDAY (EVENING) 26 +SUNDAY OF FORGIVENESS VESPERS. VESPERS 7:00PM 8:00PM. MONDAY 27 CLEAN MONDAY (LENTEN FAST BEGINS). NO SERVICE. WEDNESDAY 29 PRE-SANCTIFIED DIVINE LITURGY. 7:00PM-8:30PM. A LEADER OF A COMMUNITY ASKED ABBA POEMEN: "HOW CAN I GAIN THE FEAR OF GOD?" ABBA POEMEN REPLIED: "HOW INDEED CAN WE GAIN THE FEAR OF GOD WHEN WE HAVE BELLIES FULL OF CHEESE AND JARS OF SALTED FISH?" ABBA POEMEN THUS TEACHES US THAT THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF FASTING IS TO HELP LEAD US, OR TO OPEN US, TO THE FEAR OF GOD. ANOTHER OLD MAN CAME TO SEE ONE OF THE FATHERS, WHO COOKED A FEW LENTILS AND SAID TO HIM: "LET US SAY A FEW PRAYERS," AND THE FIRST COMPLETED THE WHOLE PSALTER, AND THE BROTHER RECITED THE TWO GREAT PROPHETS BY HEART. WHEN MORNING CAME, THE VISITOR WENT AWAY, AND THEY FORGOT THE FOOD. FASTING HERE WITNESSES THAT THE TRUE NOURISHMENT OF CHRISTIANS IS PRAYER AND MEDITATION ON THE WORD OF GOD, NOT THE EATING OF FOOD. A BROTHER WAS HUNGRY EARLY IN THE MORNING, AND HE FOUGHT HIS DESIRE SO AS NOT TO EAT BEFORE THE THIRD HOUR. WHEN THE THIRD HOUR CAME, HE FORCED HIMSELF TO WAIT UNTIL THE SIXTH HOUR. AT THAT TIME HE BROKE HIS LOAVES AND SAT DOWN TO EAT, THEN STOOD UP AGAIN, SAYING TO HIMSELF: "NOW WAIT UNTIL THE NINTH HOUR." AT THE NINTH HOUR HE SAID THE PRAYER AND SAW THE POWER OF THE DEVIL LIKE SMOKE RISING FROM HIS MANUAL WORK, AND HIS HUNGER VANISHED. IT WAS SAID OF AN OLD MAN THAT ONE DAY HE WANTED A SMALL FIG. TAKING ONE, HE HELD IT UP IN FRONT OF HIS EYES, AND NOT BEING OVERCOME BY HIS DESIRE, HE REPENTED, REPROACHING HIMSELF FOR EVEN HAVING HAD THIS WISH. FASTING IN BOTH OF THESE CASES IS THE SPIRITUAL EFFORT WHICH ESTABLISHES THE SPIRIT OVER THE FLESH. 8

SWIMMING IN THE FAST OF LENT FR. RICHARD DEMETRIUS ANDREWS In Minnesota we like to talk about the weather. How cold is it? What's the wind chill? This winter seems to be colder than normal. Some of us have been fortunate to escape the cold and travel south to warmer climates. Part of that vacation trip is spending time near warmer waters either the ocean, a lake or a pool. When we approach the water, we stick our toe or foot in to test the temperature. Is it warm enough? If it feels cool, we might wade in slowly up to our ankles, then our knees as our body gets used to the temperature. Eventually, we'll dive all the way in and either experience a cool, refreshing swim that wakes us up or experience a warm, relaxing immersion that is very soothing. Many of us approach Great and Holy Lent, which often begins in the cold climate of the winter season, the same way. We stick our toe in to test the water and see what it's like, cautious that we may be shocked by some unexpected temperature change. What is the water of Lent like? It can be like the Pacific Ocean that is active and cool uncomfortably cool with it's radically different spirit. Last week was Meatfare, when we started fasting from meat products. Today is Cheesefare Sunday and tomorrow is Clean-Pure Monday (Kathare Deutera) when we add to the fast from meat by also abstaining from dairy products until Pascha, the celebration of Christ's Resurrection on April 27th. Is there any other church or organization that teaches fasting comparable to Orthodox Christianity? Perhaps, some of us are still standing or sitting next to the pool not having even touched the water of fasting yet. The Church understands this testing, gradual immersion process. That's why we did not start the strict fast all at once. She is easing us into it. The Church gives us opportunity for short stints of swimming in the fast on Wednesdays and Fridays and Sunday mornings throughout most of the year. Why even bother to fast? Is it really that important? Well, if we want to imitate Christ, one of the things He did was fast for 40 days and 40 nights in the wilderness (Mt.4:2). In today's Gospel reading, Christ instructs His disciples about how to fast. He begins by saying, "When you fast... " (Mathew 6:16). He does not begin by saying, "If you fast... " So, fasting is an example given by the Lord and a command of God just like He commanded Adam and Eve to fast in the Garden of Eden. And the LORD God commanded the man, "You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die." (Genesis 1:16-17). "You shall not eat," is a command to fast. What does the tree of knowledge of good and evil represent? It symbolizes the direct experience of the passions and sin. The passions are normal, healthy appetites gone out-of-control. One of our most basic appetites is the hunger for food. We need to eat and drink to live. With fasting, the Church is not asking us to emaciate or starve ourselves. She is offering us instruction on what foods to abstain from because they tend to arouse other passions like anger, lust and avarice within us. She is also offering guidelines to eat smaller amounts so that we can be hungry as Christ was hungry after He fasted. With the prevalence of obesity in American society, don't we all need the discipline of fasting? This feeling or sensation of hunger can then become a sentinel for us. It will awaken us first to our hunger for our Creator. It makes us aware of our need for God. Then, it awakens us to cunning deceptions of Satan. This is where Adam and Eve failed. They bought into the lie of Satan through the serpent. They thought they did not need God and so they violated His commandment to fast. This resulted in their expulsion from the Garden of Eden, which the Church Fathers call Paradise because it represents communion with God. Today, on Cheesefare Sunday, we commemorate the expulsion, the casting out from Paradise. Why? Because, we too have cast ourselves out of God's presence through our willful disobedience of His commandments. 9

The casting out, the expulsion is not permanent. God is loving, merciful, compassionate and forgiving. He will accept us back into Paradise if we are sorrowful for our sins, if we want to return, if we are willing to change our sinful habits, and if we actually begin the hard work to live a different, more holy life. That's why Cheesefare Sunday is also called the Sunday of Forgiveness because God is forgiving. More importantly, it is called such because there is a major condition to God's forgiveness we must forgive each other. It says so in the first two verses of today's Gospel: "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." This requires a great deal of humility. Regarding fasting, in the verses that follow, Jesus teaches that fasting must be done in secret. In other words, fasting must be done in humility, not to impress other people. It is done to draw us back to, closer to God the Father, who sees our humble efforts in secret and then rewards us openly. In order to experience the warm, soothing Mediterranean bath of God's forgiveness, we must get in the water of Lent, past our knees and our waist, even past our neck. We must humiliate our bodies by diving in and immersing ourselves in the Fast. Going under the water also includes immersing ourselves in the prayer and worship of Great Lent. Jesus taught us in yesterday's Gospel how to pray (Matthew 6:5-13). One should add to their daily morning and evening prayers, the Lenten Prayer of St. Ephraim. The Jesus Prayer should be said repeatedly throughout the day, each day. One should endeavor to attend the Saturday and Sunday Vespers, the Monday Compline, the Wednesday Pre-Sanctified and the Friday Akathistos worship services. Believe me, there is plenty of room in the pool at these services. Finally, dive into your pocketbook and start splashing your money around to the poor and needy. This is called almsgiving. Jesus will teach us how to give alms in this Tuesday's Gospel (Matthew 6:1-4). Let me share with you a few of the beautiful and poetic hymns from the Cheesefare Sunday Orthros to underline how we can swim in the waters of Great Lent: Adam was driven out of Paradise, because in disobedience he had eaten food; but Moses was granted the vision of God, because he had cleansed the eyes of his soul by fasting. If then we long to dwell in Paradise, let us abstain from all needless food; and if we desire to see God, let us like Moses fast for forty days. With sincerity let us persevere in prayer and intercession; let us still the passions of our soul; let us subdue the rebellious instincts of the flesh. With light step let us set out upon the path to heaven, where the choirs of angels with never-silent voice sing the praises of the undivided Trinity; and there we shall behold the surpassing beauty of the Master. O Son of God, Giver of Life, in You we set our hope. Count us worthy of a place there with the angelic hosts at the intercessions of the Mother who bore You, O Christ, of the apostles and the martyrs and of all the saints (see Genesis 24:18). ABBA JOSEPH ASKED ABBA POEMEN: "HOW SHOULD WE FAST?" AND ABBA POEMEN SAID: "I MYSELF THINK IT'S GOOD TO EAT EVERY DAY A LITTLE AT A TIME SO AS NOT TO GET FULL." ABBA JOSEPH SAID: "WELL, WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG, DIDN'T YOU USED TO FAST FOR TWO DAYS AT A TIME?" AND THE OLD MAN SAID: "BELIEVE ME, INDEED I DID, FOR THREE DAYS, AND EVEN A WEEK. BUT THE GREAT ELDERS TRIED ALL OF THIS, AND FOUND THAT IT IS GOOD TO EAT EVERY DAY A LITTLE LESS EACH TIME. IN THIS WAY, THEY SHOWED US THE ROYAL HIGHWAY, FOR IT IS LIGHT AND EASY." ABBA POEMEN TEACHES US THAT WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL NOT TO UNDERTAKE EFFORTS TOO GREAT FOR US. THIS GIVES THE PROPER PERSPECTIVE IN RELATION TO THE EFFORTS PRAISED IN SELECTIONS 3 AND 4 ABOVE. IT IS BETTER TO MAKE SLOW AND STEADY PROGRESS WITH MODERATE EFFORTS THAN TO BECOME DISCOURAGED OR TO MISS THE GOAL ALTOGETHER WITH EFFORTS TOO GREAT FOR US. A BROTHER SAID TO AN OLD MAN: "THERE ARE TWO BROTHERS. ONE OF THEM STAYS IN HIS CELL QUIETLY, FASTING FOR SIX DAYS AT A TIME, AND IMPOSING ON HIMSELF A GOOD DEAL OF DISCIPLINE, AND THE OTHER SERVES THE SICK. WHICH ONE OF THEM IS MORE ACCEPTABLE TO GOD?" THE OLD MAN REPLIED: "EVEN IF THE BROTHER WHO FASTS SIX DAYS WERE TO HANG HIMSELF UP BY THE NOSE, HE COULD NOT EQUAL THE ONE WHO SERVES THE SICK." HERE WE LEARN THAT LOVE IS ABOVE FASTING, THAT WE MUST NOT PRESUME TO PUT OUR FASTING ABOVE "THE MORE EXCELLENT WAY," THE "NEW COMMANDMENT" TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER. 10

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