Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral New Orleans, Louisiana MARCH 24, 2013 Sunday of Orthodoxy Sunday, March 24 ~ 8:45 am Orthros, 10:00 am Divine Liturgy SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY Sunday School immediately following Holy Communion Artoclasia for Greek Independence Day Presented by the Petros Bilalis Family Special Tray to Support Metropolis of Atlanta s 25 th of March Relief Project 12:00 pm ~ Archives Raffle Tickets Sold in Foyer 12:00 pm ~ Philoptochos Special Meeting in Boardroom Nominations for Awards 12:00 pm ~ PTA March 25 th Luncheon in Gymnasium Greek School Program following PTA Luncheon 6:30 pm ~ Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers with St. Basil s at Holy Trinity Cathedral Lenten Reception after Vespers in Coffee Room Monday, March 25 ~ 9:00 am Divine Liturgy THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE THEOTOKOS Doxology for Greek Indepence Day 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm ~ SoccerTots 6:00 pm ~ Compline Service Tuesday, March 26 ~ 9:30 am to 2:30 pm Greek Festival Pastry Workshop 7:00 pm ~ Real Estate Committee Meeting Wednesday, March 27 ~ 9:30 am to 2:30 pm Greek Festival Pastry Workshop 6:00 pm Presanctified Liturgy 6:00 pm to 7:15 pm ~ Hellenic Dancers Practice 7:00 pm ~ Lake Terrace Meeting in Gymnasium 7:15 pm ~ Beginner Greek Language Class in Room 210 7:15 pm ~ Intermediate/Advance Greek Language Class in Coffee Room Thursday, March 28 ~ 6:00 pm to 7:15 pm Hellenic Dancers Practice 7:00 pm ~ Greek Festival Meeting in Coffee Room Friday, March 29 ~ 9:45 am CMS Visit in Cathedral 6:00 pm ~ HTC Youth Soccer 7:00 pm ~ Salutations to the Theotokos Saturday, March 30 ~ 9:00 am to 2:00 pm Greek Festival Pastitsio Workshop 6:00 pm Vespers and Confessions Sunday, March 31 ~ 8:45 am Orthros, 10:00 am Divine Liturgy ST. GREGORY PALAMAS Sunday School with Father Maximos immediately following Divine Liturgy 12:00 pm ~ Family Day Pot Luck Luncheon and Birthday Celebration in Gymnasium 1:00 pm to 2:15 pm ~ Hellenic Dancers Practice in Gymnasium 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm ~ Greek School in Room 210 ALTAR BOYS Father Maximos welcomes all young men to serve with him in the altar each Sunday for Divine Liturgy, as well as all upcoming Lenten services. See Father Maximos, if you have questions regarding this ministry. ARCHIVES The Archives Committee is sponsoring a raffle to raise funds for the continued conservation of our artifacts. The prize is the 1998 Michalopoulos Greek Festival print, which he created to commemorate our 25 th festival anniversary. The print is a limited edition, signed by the artist and numbered. Please see it in the foyer by the museum case. Tickets $5 for two or $3 for one can be purchased today in the Hellenic Cultural Center foyer and are also available through the Cathedral office, Parish Council Members, and Committee Members. Call Maggie at 504-780- 9165 with inquiries. PHILOPTOCHOS SPECIAL MEETING TODAY Please meet in the boardroom immediately after services. MEMBERSHIP DRIVE With renewed enthusiasm toward the mission of Philoptochos, we are halfway to our membership goal. We invite you to become a proud member in our organization, attend our meetings, and join in helping us help others. Our next meeting is Saturday, April 6, in the Hellenic Cultural Center. LENTEN POT LUCK DINNER In lieu of the monthly Senior Citizens Luncheon, Philoptochos is hosting a Lenten Pot Luck Dinner on Friday, April 19, following the Salutations to the Theotokos. His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta will be visiting our parish that evening, and we ask that you make plans to join us after services as we welcome Metropolitan Alexios to our parish. SENIOR CITIZENS LUNCHEONS Regular Senior Citizens Luncheons will continue in the fall, beginning again in September. Philoptochos is grateful to all those, who have sponsored luncheons during this year. Plans are being made now for next year. If you would like to sponsor a Senior Citizens Luncheon in the future, please contact Connie Tiliakos. STORAGE SPACE NEEDED FOR GARAGE SALE Philoptochos has already received items for its 2013 Annual Garage Sale and needs additional storage space. Please contact Elaine Nugent at 504-909- 3543, if you can help store items for the Garage Sale. HOLY TRINITY YOUTH SOCCER All are welcome to the HTC Youth Soccer program this Friday, March 29, at 6:00 pm. HOPE & JOY Mark your calendars for the next monthly HOPE & JOY event, which will be bowling on Saturday, April 13 (time to be announced). Bumper lanes, as well as an easy ball- rolling ramp, will help the younger children have a fun experience along with the others.
GREEK LANGUAGE CLASSES The adult Greek school classes offered each Wednesday evening continue to flourish as parishioners are pleased with the new opportunity to learn or master the Greek language and experience the culture. Per Father Maximos' request, and with the Council's approval, a television was purchased from the educational fund. This will provide a multi- media experience in the classroom. Father is technologically savvy, and internet communications allow students to take the class to the next level. Furthermore, other community organizations may use the television for their events. Please note that during the Lenten season the adult schedule changes slightly. Presanctified Liturgy will begin at 6:00 pm followed by beginning and intermediate/advanced Greek classes at 7:15 pm. There will be NO Bible study. This revised schedule will ensue until Holy Week. Join us on Wednesday evenings to improve your Greek language skills. The Parish Council looks forward to continued success of the Greek language program and appreciates Father Maximos assistance and leadership. Sunday: 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm Greek for children. All levels with Chrisanthy Kalivitis Wednesday: 7:15 pm to 8:15 pm Greek for adults. Beginning level with Fay Kalergi Wednesday: 7:15 pm to 8:15 pm Greek for adults. Intermediate/Advanced levels with Father Maximos Pafilis PTA UPDATE MARCH 25 th LUNCHEON Holy Trinity PTA invites you to attend the annual March 25 th Luncheon following Divine Liturgy today, March 24, 2013. The entire community is asked to remain after church on this very special day, which commemorates the celebration of Greek Independence. Luncheon tickets, which are $9 each and will include a drink, will be sold at the door. After the meal the Greek School students will perform a short play featuring poems and dances. FOOD BLOG PTA President Vicki McCallef recently launched a blog with the address www.thegrecianneworleanian.blogspot.com. She plans to post recipes influenced by the cuisines of south Louisiana and Greece. The recipes, however, will comply to the Orthodox fasting restrictions. Her blog comes just in time for the Lenten season. HTC FAMILY DAY The second Family Day- Birthday Celebration will take place next Sunday, March 31, at 12:00 pm in the gymnasium. As last month PTA asks attendees to bring a dish, break bread together, and celebrate birthdays for that month. Everyone is encouraged to attend this pot luck luncheon and family get together. Contact Chairpersons Suzanne Stratikis and Katerina Sutton for more information. ARCHPASTORAL VISIT His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta will visit our parish on Friday, April 19, 2013, and will preside at that evening s Salutations to the Theotokos. The Philoptochos annual Pot Luck Lenten Dinner will follow at approximately 8:30 pm in the Coffee Room. His Eminence will remain in New Orleans overnight in order to meet with the Parish Council and community organizations on Saturday. A meeting schedule for the various church groups will be prepared by the Parish Council and submitted for his approval in adequate time for local chapters to contact their members. Please make plans to attend the service, as well as the dinner, on April 19 and help welcome back Metropolitan Alexios to our community. REQUEST FROM METROPOLITAN ALEXIOS His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios has made a special appeal to all communities in the Metropolis of Atlanta. He asks that during the days commemorating the Sunday of Orthodoxy, March 24, and the great Feast Day of the Annunciation and Greek Independence Day, March 25, we remember our suffering brothers and sisters in Greece and consider our responsibility and obligation to care for others. With this in mind the Holy Trinity Parish Council will pass a tray today, Sunday, March 24, urging all parishioners and guests to generously contribute to the special 25 th of March Relief Project. The collection will be sent to the Metropolis in Atlanta, which, in turn, will forward the funds to Greece for specific projects including retirement homes that have no money to pay the staff, orphanages that have unfinished buildings, or people who cannot afford medicine. The money will not be sent to large operations or corporations in order to ensure that our assistance will directly help people in need. Please give generously. GREEK FESTIVAL NEWS PASTRY WORKSHOPS Pastry preparations for the 2013 Greek Festival continue this Tuesday, March 26, and Wednesday, March 27, from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm. Lunch is provided. The Pastry Committee Chairpersons invite all ladies and gentlemen to assist in the preparation of the pastries every Tuesday and Wednesday except Holy Week. PASCHA TSOUREKIA The Greek Festival Pastry Committee is taking orders for the traditional Pascha Tsourekia. These delicious home baked breads will be prepared on Wednesday, May 1, and may be picked up at the conclusion of the Holy Unction service. Orders are welcome and will be filled by request. Koulourakia and several frozen items will also be available for purchase. Tiropites, Spanakopites, Almond Rolls, and Galaktobourika will be sold by the dozen and available for pick up on Palm Sunday, April 28. To place your order, complete the enclosed form and return to the Cathedral office. MEETING The next Greek Festival chairpersons' meeting will be this Thursday, March 28, at 7:00 pm. Please make plans to attend as we move forward in celebrating 40 years!
THE SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY by Reverend Nicon D. Patrinacos The feast of Orthodoxy is observed on the first Sunday of the Great Lent and is known as the Sunday of Orthodoxy. It was established in 842 to commemorate the restoration of the icons and the final downfall of the iconoclastic party in the Byzantine Empire. Since then it has been solemnly observed in the Orthodox Church and has come to commemorate the triumph of the Orthodox faith not only over iconoclasm but over all heresies. A document to this effect is read by the priest, called Synodicon, containing a list of heresies and heretics and another one containing the names of several saints and pious emperors. Byzantine triumphant hymns composed by martyrs of the iconoclastic persecution are chanted during the procession of the cross and icons through the church. SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY VESPERS Parishioners of St. Basil Antiochian Orthodox Church are invited to attend the Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers here at Holy Trinity Cathedral tonight, March 24, 2013. Services begin at 6:30 pm. Father Peter Nuguent and Father Maximos will co- celebrate, and Father Peter will give the homily. After the service everyone is invited to the church hall for refreshments and fellowship. Make plans to attend. SATURDAY OF SOULS Orthodoxy believes that through our prayers, those "who have fallen asleep in the faith and the hope of the Resurrection" continue to have opportunity to grow closer to God. Therefore, the Church prays constantly for her members, who have died in Christ. We place our trust in the love of God and the power of mutual love and forgiveness. We pray that God will forgive the sins of the departed faithful and that He will receive them into the company of Saints in the heavenly Kingdom. The Orthodox Church remembers the departed in the prayers of every Divine Liturgy. Besides this, there is a Memorial Service in which the Church also remembers the dead. According to tradition, the Memorial Service is offered on the third, ninth, and fortieth day after a death, as well as on the yearly anniversary of the death. In addition to these times, the Memorial Service is always offered for all the faithful departed on four "Saturdays of Souls." These are the two Saturdays preceding Great Lent, the first Saturday of Great Lent, and the Saturday before Pentecost. When the Memorial Service is offered, it is customary for the family of the deceased to bring a dish of boiled wheat to the Church. The boiled wheat is placed on a table in the center of the nave during the Service. The wheat, known as kollyva, is a symbol of the Resurrection. When speaking of the Resurrection, our Lord said: "Unless the grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone, but if it dies it bears much fruit." (John 12:24). Please note that the next Saturday of Souls service will be April 6, 2013, beginning at 9:00 am. Forms for listing names of your loved ones are available in the Narthex. DONATIONS NEEDED FOR GREAT LENT SERVICES Please consider contributing for one of the floral decorations that adorn the Panagia icon during the Salutations to the Theotokos. The icon flowers used at the first Salutations Service this past Friday were generously donated by Eleni and George Kampitsis, and the Cathedral family sincerely thanks them for their consideration. Please note that the remaining services scheduled March 29, April 5, April 12, and April 19 are still available. Other items required for Great Lent Services include the following: 300 Carnations for the Sunday of the Veneration of the Holy Cross April 7 You may also donate a portion of this amount. Incense and charcoals are always needed. Contributions for these items are most welcomed. Please contact the Cathedral office at 504-282- 0259 to make your donation. DATES FOR METROPOLIS OF ATLANTA JERUSALEM PILGRIMAGE II REVISED A few seats remain for the Metropolis of Atlanta sponsored trip to Jerusalem, Cappodocia, and Constantinople. Participants will leave New York on November 17 and return on December 1. The first leg of the journey will be an eight day tour of the Holy Lands in and around Jerusalem, followed by a three day visit to the magnificent biblical site of Cappodocia. The final two days will be in Constantinople, where the group will attend Divine Liturgy with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, celebrating the name day of St. Andrew, the first bishop of our church. Please note that only 30 pilgrims can be accommodated for this trip, so seating is limited. As of today the Metropolis has an 80% filled capacity. Do not delay, if you intend on joining the pilgrimage. For those interested in registering, please email Gerry Clonaris at gbcmktline@gmail.com (include your phone number) to hold a reservation for you. You may also call Gerry at 704-846- 5245 with any questions. WESTERN CONFERNCE ORATORICAL FESTIVAL The St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival for the Western Conference will be held at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Pensacola, Florida, on Saturday, April 13, 2013. YOUNG ADULTS CRAWFISH BOIL ON THE BAYOU The Annual Young Adults Crawfish Boil will be Sunday, April 21, 2013, at 3:30 pm. Don't miss out on this event as there will be plenty of crawfish for all! For information on youth related activities, contact Youth Ministries Director Tony Pembo at 985-789- 5280 or email tonypembo@yahoo.com.
ASPILE READERS The Cathedral Family wholeheartedly thanks Sophia Marathonitis and Alex Korominas for reading at the Salutations Service this past Friday. Aspile readers for the remaining services will be Ari Makridakis and Jonathan Labatut on March 29, Eleni Korominas and Nick Stokes on April 5, and Anna Catinis and Pantelis Patselikos on April 12. Holy Trinity Cathedral Greek Orthodox Community of New Orleans 1200 ROBERT E. LEE BOULEVARD w NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA 70122 PHONE: (504) 282-0259 FAX: (504) 283-5586 V Very Reverend Father Maximos Pafilis FrMaximos@holytrinitycathedral.org w 504-609- 1499
24η Μάρτιος 2013 ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΤΗΣ ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΙΑΣ Προεόρτια τοῦ Εὐαγγελισμοῦ τῆς Ὑπεραγίας Θεοτόκου Α ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΤΩΝ ΝΗΣΤΕΙΩΝ Ἑωθινόν Θ 24 th March 2013 SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY The Forefeast of the Annunciation FIRST SUNDAY OF THE FAST Eothion 9 Ἀπουτίκιον τῆς Ἀνάστασης Ἦχος α Τοῦ λίθου σφραγισθέντος ὑπὸ τῶν Ἰουδαίων καὶ στρατιωτῶν φυλασσόντων τὸ ἄχραντόν σου Σῶμα, ἀνέστης τριήμερος, Σωτήρ, δωρούμενος τῷ κόσμῳ τὴν ζωήν διὰ τοῦτο αἱ δυνάμεις τῶν οὐρανῶν ἐβόων σοί, Ζωοδότα Δόξα τῇ Ἀναστάσει σου, Χριστέ, δόξα τῇ βασιλείᾳ σου, δόξα τῇ οἰκονομίᾳ σου, μόνε φιλάνθρωπε. Ἀπολυτίκιον τῆς Ἐορτής Ἦχος β Τὴν ἄχραντον Εἰκόνα σου προσκυνοῦμεν Ἀγαθέ, αἰτούμενοι συγχώρησιν τῶν πταισμάτων ἡμῶν, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, βουλήσει γὰρ ηὐδόκησας σαρκὶ ἀνελθεῖν ἐν τῷ Σταυρῶ, ἵνα ῥύσῃ οὓς ἔπλασας ἐκ τῆς δουλείας τοῦ ἐχθροῦ, ὅθεν εὐχαρίστως βοώμέν σοί, Χαρὰς ἐπλήρωσας τὰ πάντα, ὁ Σωτὴρ ἡμῶν, παραγενόμενος εἰς τὸ σῶσαι τὸν Κόσμον. Ἀπολυτίκιον τῆς Ἁγίας Τριάδας Ἦχος πλ δ Εὐλογητὸς εἶ, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ὁ πανσόφους τοὺς ἁλιεῖς ἀναδείξας, καταπέμψας αὐτοῖς τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον, καὶ δι' αὐτῶν τὴν οἰκουμένην σαγηνεύσας, φιλάνθρωπε, δόξα σοί. Κοντάκιον Ἦχος πλ δ Τὴ ὑπερμάχω στρατηγῶ τὰ νικητήρια, ὡς λυτρωθεῖσα τῶν δεινῶν, εὐχαριστήρια, ἀναγράφω σοὶ ἡ Πόλις σου, Θεοτόκε, ἀλλ' ὦς ἔχουσα τὸ κράτος ἀπροσμάχητον, ἐκ παντοίων μὲ κινδύνων ἐλευθέρωσον ἵνα κράζω σοί, Χαῖρε, Νύμφη ἀνύμφευτε. Resurrection Apolytikion Tone 1 The stone had been sealed by the Jews, and soldiers were guarding your pure Body; but on the third day, Savior, you arose and gave life to the world. Wherefore the heavenly Powers cried out to you, Giver of life: Glory to your resurrection, Christ, glory to your kingdom, glory to your divine plan, you who alone love human kind. Apolytikion of the Feast Tone 2 We worship Your immaculate Image, O Good One, and ask forgiveness of our sins, O Christ God; for of Your own will You were pleased to go up on the Cross in the flesh, to deliver from slavery to the enemy those whom You have created. Therefore we thankfully cry to You: With joy You have filled all things, O our Saviour, by coming to save the world. Apolytikion of the Holy Trinity Plagal Tone 4 Blessed are You, O Christ our God, who made fishermen all-wise, sending upon them the Holy Spirit and, through them, netting the world. O Loving One, glory to You. Kontakion Plagal Tone 4 To you, the Champion Leader, we your servants dedicate hymns of victory and thanksgiving as ones rescued out of sufferings, O Theotokos. Since you are invincible in power, deliver us from all dangers, so that we may cry to you: Rejoice, O Unwedded Bride.
ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΟΣ Ἑβραίους ια 24-26, 32-40 Ἀδελφοί, πίστει Μωϋσῆς μέγας γενόμενος ἠρνήσατο λέγεσθαι υἱὸς θυγατρὸς Φαραώ, μᾶλλον ἑλόμενος συγκακουχεῖσθαι τῷ λαῷ τοῦ θεοῦ ἢ πρόσκαιρον ἔχειν ἁμαρτίας ἀπόλαυσιν μείζονα πλοῦτον ἡγησάμενος τῶν Αἰγύπτου θησαυρῶν τὸν ὀνειδισμὸν τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἀπέβλεπεν γὰρ εἰς τὴν μισθαποδοσίαν. Καὶ τί ἔτι λέγω; Ἐπιλείψει γὰρ με διηγούμενον ὁ χρόνος περὶ Γεδεών, Βαράκ τε καὶ Σαμψών καὶ Ἰεφθάε, Δαυίδ τε καὶ Σαμουὴλ καὶ τῶν προφητῶν οἳ διὰ πίστεως κατηγωνίσαντο βασιλείας, εἰργάσαντο δικαιοσύνην, ἐπέτυχον ἐπαγγελιῶν, ἔφραξαν στόματα λεόντων, ἔσβεσαν δύναμιν πυρός, ἔφυγον στόματα μαχαίρας, ἐνεδυναμώθησαν ἀπὸ ἀσθενείας, ἐγενήθησαν ἰσχυροὶ ἐν πολέμῳ, παρεμβολὰς ἔκλιναν ἀλλοτρίων. Ἔλαβον γυναῖκες ἐξ ἀναστάσεως τοὺς νεκροὺς αὐτῶν ἄλλοι δὲ ἐτυμπανίσθησαν, οὐ προσδεξάμενοι τὴν ἀπολύτρωσιν, ἵνα κρείττονος ἀναστάσεως τύχωσιν ἕτεροι δὲ ἐμπαιγμῶν καὶ μαστίγων πεῖραν ἔλαβον, ἔτι δὲ δεσμῶν καὶ φυλακῆς ἐλιθάσθησαν, ἐπρίσθησαν, ἐπειράσθησαν, ἐν φόνῳ μαχαίρας ἀπέθανον περιῆλθον ἐν μηλωταῖς, ἐν αἰγείοις δέρμασιν, ὑστερούμενοι, θλιβόμενοι, κακουχούμενοι - ὧν οὐκ ἦν ἄξιος ὁ κόσμος - ἐν ἐρημίαις πλανώμενοι καὶ ὄρεσιν καὶ σπηλαίοις καὶ ταῖς ὀπαῖς τῆς γῆς. Καὶ οὗτοι πάντες, μαρτυρηθέντες διὰ τῆς πίστεως, οὐκ ἐκομίσαντο τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν, τοῦ θεοῦ περὶ ἡμῶν κρεῖττόν τι προβλεψαμένου, ἵνα μὴ χωρὶς ἡμῶν τελειωθῶσιν. ΤΟ ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΟΝ Ἰωάννην α 44-52 Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἠθέλησεν ὁ Ιησοῦς ἐξελθεῖν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν καὶ εὑρίσκει Φίλιππον καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ἀκολούθει μοι ἦν δὲ ὁ Φίλιππος ἀπὸ Βηθσαϊδά, ἐκ τῆς πόλεως Ανδρέου καὶ Πέτρου.εὑρίσκει Φίλιππος τὸν Ναθαναὴλ καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὃν ἔγραψε Μωϋσῆς ἐν τῷ νόμῳ καὶ οἱ προφῆται, εὑρήκαμεν, Ιησοῦν τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ Ιωσὴφ τὸν ἀπὸ Ναζαρέτ καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Ναθαναήλ ἐκ Ναζαρὲτ δύναταί τι ἀγαθὸν εἶναι; λέγει αὐτῷ Φίλιππος ἔρχου καὶ ἴδε εἶδεν ὁ Ιησοῦς τὸν Ναθαναὴλ ἐρχόμενον πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ λέγει περὶ αὐτοῦ ἴδε ἀληθῶς Ισραηλίτης, ἐν ᾧ δόλος οὐκ ἔστι. λέγει αὐτῷ Ναθαναήλ πόθεν με γινώσκεις; ἀπεκρίθη Ιησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ πρὸ τοῦ σε Φίλιππον φωνῆσαι, ὄντα ὑπὸ τὴν συκῆν εἶδόν σε ἀπεκρίθη Ναθαναὴλ καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ῥαββί, σὺ εἶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, σὺ εἶ ὁ βασιλεὺς τοῦ Ισραήλ ἀπεκρίθη Ιησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὅτι εἶπόν σοι, εἶδόν σε ὑποκάτω τῆς συκῆς, πιστεύεις; μείζω τούτων ὄψει καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ἀπ ἄρτι ὄψεσθε τὸν οὐρανὸν ἀνεῳγότα, καὶ τοὺς ἀγγέλους τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀναβαίνοντας καὶ καταβαίνοντας ἐπὶ τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου. THE EPISTLE St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 11:24-26, 32-40 Brethren, by faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets -- who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign enemies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, illtreated -- of whom the world was not worthy -- wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. THE GOSPEL John 1:44-52 At that time, Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And he found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael, and he said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these." And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man."
The Extraordinary Historical Significance of His All-Holiness' Presence at Pope Francis' Installation as Bishop of Rome 3/19/2013 Amid the crush of news reports in the past month that followed Pope Benedict's unprecedented resignation from the papacy, one of the most intriguing was the decision by His All-Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, to attend Pope Francis' installation as Bishop of Rome. The occasion is being presented in the media as something that has not happened since the ecclesiastical schism that separated Christian East and Christian West in the eleventh century. But that characterization is almost certainly wrong--this is quite likely the first time in history that a Bishop of Constantinople will attend the installation of a Bishop of Rome. And this is a profoundly bold step in ecumenical relations between the Orthodox and the Roman Catholics, one that could have lasting significance. Prior to the sixth century, the election of a Roman bishop was a local affair. In most cases, the new pope was chosen from among the city's clergy and was typically either the eldest priest or the eldest deacon. There were a few exceptions, but this was the typical pattern. News of an election would circulate throughout the Christian world but that news flow would have been too slow to enable high-ranking Church officials from the East to travel to Rome for the event. During the sixth century, Byzantine armies conquered the Italian peninsula, returning the city of Rome to the imperial Roman government, now centered in Constantinople. In this context, which lasted from the mid-sixth century until the loss of Byzantine influence in Italy in the eighth century, the election of a new Roman bishop required the approval of the Byzantine emperor (the same, of course, was true of the election of a new Ecumenical Patriarch). Under such an arrangement, papal elections took longer but there still would be no reason for an Eastern Patriarch to travel to Rome for the installation. There are a few examples from this Byzantine period, such as the election of Pope Pelagius I in 556, where the man elected to be the Roman bishop was actually in Constantinople at the time of his election. While it is possible that the sacramental ceremony to install the new pope could have occurring in Constantinople--whereby the Patriarch of Constantinople would have been present--it is far more likely that the official ceremony would have occurred in Rome and, therefore, would have been conducted without the Patriarch's presence. At the conclusion of Byzantine influence in papal elections in the eighth century, the election of Roman bishops returned, again, to local considerations. And, as geo-political factors continued to push Italy and the Eastern empire in separate directions, relations between individual popes and patriarchs became more sterile and distant--indeed, between the ninth and fifteenth century there are only one or two occasions where a Roman bishop and an Ecumenical Patriarch ever met in person. With all of this in mind, His All-Holiness' decision to travel to Rome for Pope Francis' installation as Roman bishop is an extraordinary event in the history of Christianity. And it is significant for reasons far beyond its novelty. First and foremost it is a powerful symbolic gesture for the cause of Christian unity. It demonstrates in unprecedented fashion the extent to which the Ecumenical Patriarch considers the relationship with the Roman Catholic Church to be a priority. For their part, members of the Vatican staff have responded to this grand gesture and have arranged for the reading of the Gospel at the installation to be sung in Greek (rather than Latin) in recognition of the fact that the Ecumenical Patriarch has taken this unprecedented step. The Christian world has been divided for so long that the establishment of an authentic reunion will require courage, leadership, and humility. It will also require a foundation in common faith and concerns. Given Pope Francis' well-documented work for social justice and his insistence that globalization is detrimental to the poor, it would appear as though the Orthodox and the Roman Catholic traditions have a renewed opportunity to work collectively on issues of mutual concern. With our Lord's assistance, that common cause can be transformed into more substantive theological work. But such work requires a first step and it would appear as though Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is willing to take such a step. George E. Demacopoulos, PhD Archon Didaskalos tous Genous Historian for the Order of St. Andrew Orthodox Christian Studies Center, Fordham University