HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

THUNDER BAY BULLETIN HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΗ ΚΟΙΝΟΤΗΤΑ ΑΓΙΑΣ ΤΡΙΑΔΟΣ 651 Beverly Street, Thunder Bay, ON, P7B 6N2 Telephone: (807) 344-9522 www.gothunderbay.org holytrinity@tbaytel.net July 2015 Volume 11 Issue 6 JULY 1: SAINTS KOSMAS AND DAMIAN THE UNMERCENARIES 1 Η ΙΟΥΛΙΟΥ: ΑΓΙΩΝ ΑΝΑΡΓΥΡΩΝ ΚΟΣΜΑ ΚΑΙ ΔΑΜΙΑΝΟΥ 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: CONSTANTINE TSEKOURAS #(807) 577-6192 HOME VICE PRESIDENT: NICK KOUKOS #(807) 767-8545 HOME SECRETARY: GEORGE COMMINOS #(807) 628-7758 MOBILE TREASURER: JIM PAZIANOS # (807) 344-9522 OFFICE BOARD MEMBERS: LOUIS PORT, PETER PANTOULIAS, GEORGE COMMINOS 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@GOMETROPOLIS.ORG; WEBSITE: WWW.GOMETROPOLIS.ORG. EMBASSY OF GREECE - 80 MACLAREN STREET; OTTAWA, ONTARIO K2P 0K6; TELEPHONE: (613) 238-6271; FAX: (613) 238-5676; WEBSITE: WWW.MFA.GR/CANADA/EN/ CONSULATE GENERAL OF GREECE - 365 BLOOR STREET E, SUITE 1800, TORONTO, ONTARIO M4W 3L4 ; TELEPHONE (416) 515-0133 ; FAX: (416) 515-0209; WEBSITE: WWW.MFA.GR/CANADA/EN/ 2

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JULY 1: SAINTS KOSMAS AND DAMIAN THE UNMERCENARIES The Holy Martyrs, Wonderworkers and Unmercenary Physicians Cosmas and Damian were born at Rome, brothers by birth, and physicians by profession. They suffered at Rome in the reign of the emperor Carinus (283-284). Brought up by their parents in the rules of piety, they led strict and chaste lives, and they were granted by God the gift of healing the sick. By their generosity and exceptional kindness to all, the brothers converted many to Christ. The brothers told the sick, It is not by our own power that we treat you, but by the power of Christ, the true God. Believe in Him and be healed. Since they accepted no payment for their treatment of the infirm, the holy brothers were called unmercenary physicians. Their life of active service and their great spiritual influence on the people around them led many into the Church, attracting the attention of the Roman authorities. Soldiers were sent after the brothers. Hearing about this, local Christians convinced Sts Cosmas and Damian to hide for a while until they could help them escape. Unable to find the brothers, the soldiers arrested instead other Christians of the area where the saints lived. Sts Cosmas and Damian then came out of hiding and surrendered to the soldiers, asking them to release those who had been arrested because of them. At Rome, the saints were imprisoned and put on trial. Before the Roman emperor and the judge they openly professed their faith in Christ God, Who had come into the world to save mankind and redeem the world from sin, and they resolutely refused to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods. They said, We have done evil to no one, we are not involved with the magic or sorcery of which you accuse us. We treat the infirm by the power of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and we take no payment for rendering aid to the sick, because our Lord commanded His disciples, Freely have you received, freely give (Mt. 10: 8). The emperor, however, continued with his demands. Through the prayer of the holy brothers, imbued with the power of grace, God suddenly struck Carinus blind, so that he too might experience the almighty power of the Lord, Who does not forgive blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Mt. 12:31). The people, beholding the miracle, cried out, Great is the Christian God! There is no other God but Him! Many of those who believed besought the holy brothers to heal the emperor, and he himself implored the saints, promising to convert to the true God, Christ the Savior, so the saints healed him. After this, Sts Cosmas and Damian were honorably set free, and once again they set about treating the sick. But what the hatred of the pagans and the ferocity of the Roman authorities could not do, was accomplished by black envy, one of the strongest passions of sinful human nature. An older physician, an instructor, under whom the holy brothers had studied the art of medicine, became envious of their fame. Driven to madness by malice, and overcome by passionate envy, he summoned the two brothers, formerly his most beloved students, proposing that they should all go together in order to gather various medicinal herbs. Going far into the mountains, he murdered them and threw their bodies into a river. Thus these holy brothers, the Unmercenary Physicians Cosmas and Damian, ended their earthly journey as martyrs. Although they had devoted their lives to the Christian service of their neighbors, and had escaped the Roman sword and prison, they were treacherously murdered by their teacher. The Lord glorifies those who are pleasing to God. Now, through the prayers of the holy martyrs Cosmas and Damian, God grants healing to all who with faith have recourse to their heavenly intercession. The Unmercenary Saints Cosmas and Damian of Rome should not be confused with the Unmercenary Saints Cosmas and Damian of Asia Minor (November 1), or the Unmercenary Saints Cosmas and Damian of Arabia (October 17). 4

1 Η ΙΟΥΛΙΟΥ: ΑΓΙΩΝ ΑΝΑΡΓΥΡΩΝ ΚΟΣΜΑ ΚΑΙ ΔΑΜΙΑΝΟΥ Τα αδέρφια Κοσμάς και Δαμιανός, οι οποίοι έζησαν την εποχή που αυτοκράτορας των Ρωμαίων ήταν ο Καρίνος, ήταν γιατροί στο επάγγελμα και παρείχαν ιάσεις σε όλους όσους είχαν ανάγκη, και για αντάλλαγμα δεν έπαιρναν χρήματα, αλλά το μόνο πού ζητούσαν ήταν να πιστεύσουν στον Χριστό. Κάποιοι όμως καλοθελητές διέβαλαν τους αγίους στον αυτοκράτορα και του είπαν ότι οι θεραπείες και τα θαύματα που επιτελούσαν τα έκαναν με μαγικές τέχνες. Τότε οι Άγιοι Ανάργυροι επειδή δεν ήθελαν να πάνε άλλους αντί αυτών στον αυτοκράτορα, προσήλθαν μόνοι τους ενώπιον του και ο Καρίνος προσπάθησε να τους μεταπείσει να αρνηθούν τον Χριστό. Εκείνοι όμως όχι μόνο δεν αρνήθηκαν την πίστη τους, αλλά κατάφεραν να μεταπείσουν και να αλλάξουν και τον ίδιο τον αυτοκράτορα, αφού και ο ίδιος δέχτηκε τις θεραπευτικές τους ιάσεις. Συγκεκριμένα, όταν ο Καρίνος ανέκρινε τους Αγίους, μετατοπίστηκε η θέση του προσώπου του και στράφηκε προς την ράχη του. Αμέσως τότε οι Άγιοι την θεράπευσαν με την προσευχή τους στον Χριστό. Εξαιτίας αυτού του θαύματος, πίστευσαν στον Χριστό όσοι βρίσκονταν εκείνη την στιγμή μπροστά σ' αυτό πού συνέβη και ο ίδιος ο Αυτοκράτορας τους έστειλε πίσω στους συγγενείς τους με μεγάλες τιμές. Αργότερα όμως, μετά από μεγάλο χρονικό διάστημα, οι Άγιοι φθονήθηκαν από τον ίδιο τον δάσκαλο που τούς είχε μάθει την ιατρική επιστήμη, γιατί είχαν αποκτήσει μεγάλη δόξα και φήμη. Γι' αυτό τον λόγο τους ανέβασε σε κάποιο όρος για να μαζέψουν δήθεν κάποια βότανα και εκεί τους επιτέθηκε με πέτρες και τους θανάτωσε. Ἀπολυτίκιον (Κατέβασμα) Ἦχος πλ δ. Ἅγιοι Ἀνάργυροι καὶ θαυματουργοί, ἐπισκέψασθε τὰς ἀσθενείας ἡμῶν, δωρεὰν ἐλάβετε, δωρεὰν δότε ἡμῖν. Ἕτερον Ἀπολυτίκιον Ἦχος γ. Θείας πίστεως. Θείου Πνεύματος, τὴ χειρουργία, θεραπεύετε, παντοίας νόσους, σὺν Κοσμᾶ Δαμιανὲ οἱ Ἀνάργυροι, ὁ γὰρ Σωτὴρ ἰατροὺς ὑμᾶς ἔδειξεν, εἰς περιποίησιν πάντων καὶ ἴασιν ὅθεν ρύσασθε, παθῶν δυσαλθῶν καὶ θλίψεων, τοὺς ποθῶ τῷ ναῷ ὑμῶν προστρέχοντας. Κοντάκιον Ἦχος β. Οἱ τὴν χάριν λαβόντες τῶν ἰαμάτων, ἐφαπλοῦτε τὴν ῥῶσιν τοῖς ἐν ἀνάγκαις, Ἰατροὶ θαυματουργοὶ ἔνδοξοι, ἀλλὰ τῇ ὑμῶν ἐπισκέψει, καὶ τῶν πολεμίων τὰ θράση κατευνάσατε, τὸν κόσμον ἰώμενοι ἐν τοῖς θαύμασιν. 5

SCHEDULE OF DIVINE SERVICES - JULY 2015 WEDNESDAY 1 +KOSMAS AND DAMIAN THE UNMERCENARIES. ORTHROS 9:00AM, DIVINE LITURGY 10:15AM. SUNDAY 5 +5 TH SUNDAY OF MATTHEW. ATHANASIOS OF ATHOS. ORTHROS 9:15AM, DIVINE LITURGY 10:30AM. FR. NIKOLAOS WILL BE ATTENDING THE CLERGY CONFERENCE IN ST. CATHERINES FROM JULY 6-10. IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, CALL PRESIDENT COSTA TSEKOURAS (INFORMATION ON PAGE 2). SUNDAY 12 +6 TH SUNDAY OF MATTHEW. PROKLOS AND HILARIOS THE MARTYRS. ORTHROS 9:15AM, DIVINE LITURGY 10:30AM. SUNDAY 19 +SUNDAY OF THE HOLY FATHERS. MAKRINA THE RIGHTEOUS. ORTHROS 9:15AM, DIVINE LITURGY 10:30AM. SUNDAY 26 +8 TH SUNDAY OF MATTHEW. ST. PARASKEVI THE GREAT MARTYR. ORTHROS 9:15AM, DIVINE LITURGY 10:30AM. ΠΡΟΓΡΑΜΜΑ ΙΕΡΩΝ ΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΙΩΝ ΙΟΥΛΙΟΥ 2015 ΤΕΤΑΡΤΗ 1 +ΤΩΝ ΑΓΙΩΝ ΑΝΑΡΓΥΡΩΝ ΚΟΣΜΑ ΚΑΙ ΔΑΜΙΑΝΟΥ. ΟΡΘΡΟΣ 9:00ΠΜ, ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΑ 10:15ΠΜ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ 5 +Ε ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΜΑΤΘΑΙΟΥ. ΑΘΑΝΑΣΙΟΥ ΕΝ ΑΘΩ. ΟΡΘΡΟΣ 9:15ΠΜ, ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΑ 10:30ΠΜ. Ο Π. ΝΙΚΟΛΑΟΣ ΘΑ ΕΙΝΑΙ ΣΕ ΚΛΗΡΙΚΗ ΣΥΝΕΛΕΥΣΗ ΣΤΟ ST. CATHERINES ΑΠΟ ΤΗΣ 6-10 ΙΟΥΛΙΟΥ. ΣΕ ΠΕΡΙΠΤΩΣΗ ΑΝΑΓΚΗΣ ΝΑ ΠΑΡΕΤΕ ΤΗΛΕΦΩΝΟ ΤΟ ΠΡΟΕΔΡΟ Κ. ΤΣΕΚΟΥΡΑ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ 12 +ΣΤ ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΜΑΤΘΑΙΟΥ. ΠΡΟΚΛΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΙΛΑΡΙΟΥ ΜΑΡΤΥΡΩΝ. ΟΡΘΡΟΣ 9:15ΠΜ, ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΑ 10:30ΠΜ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ 19 + ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΤΩΝ ΑΓΙΩΝ ΠΑΤΕΡΩΝ. ΟΡΘΡΟΣ 9:15ΠΜ, ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΑ 10:30ΠΜ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ 26 +Η ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΜΑΤΘΑΙΟΥ. ΠΑΡΑΣΚΕΥΗΣ ΑΘΛΟΦΟΡΟΥ. ΟΡΘΡΟΣ 9:15ΠΜ, ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΑ 10:30ΠΜ. 6

A Shocking Photo of the Archangel Michael of Mantamados By John Henry Linardos Above can be seen two photographs of the same icon of the Archangel Michael from the Monastery that honors his name in the village of Mantamados in Lesvos. But there is a very big difference between the two! In the top photo of the Archangel his mouth is open, while in the bottom photo his mouth is closed just as can be seen daily when pilgrims visit to venerate it in the sacred church. What happened? The top photo was taken about twenty years ago by a pilgrim who went to venerate the icon. As he was waiting in line for his turn, which can be experienced on a daily basis due to the large crowds, a woman in front of him was praying with tears in her eyes to the holy Archangel to help her with a certain problem she was going through. Suddenly all the attendees were amazed when they saw the mouth of the Archangel open as if he was speaking to her. The above mentioned pilgrim, since he had a photo camera with him, immortalized this shocking event with a snapshot. It was an awesome miracle of the Archangel that shocked all the bystanding pilgrims, and it continues to shock all those who see the photo and hear about the miracle. This holy icon of the Archangel Michael of Mantamados is embossed, made of earth and the blood of monks slaughtered by pirates during a raid and plunder of the Monastery, made in the image of the Archangel as was seen in a vision by the only surviving monk. This dual photograph was given to me by a good friend and brother in Christ, John Kampouropoulos, a Pharmacist by profession in Athens who is a native of Mytilene. When he moved to Valyra in 1994, this photograph disappeared in his packages of files and books. Despite my frustrating efforts to find it, it became impossible to find. Suddenly a few days ago, on the feast of the Holy Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, it was found in a place I did not expect to find it, right in front of me! Chance? Let everyone interpret this as they like. That which interests me is to make known this wonderful event to all: believers, unbelievers and to "actors" of atheism. Do that which is good, and no evil shall touch you. Prayer is good with fasting and alms St. Raphael and righteousness. the Archangel, A Tobit little 12:7-10 with righteousness is better than much with unrighteousness. It is better to give alms than to lay up gold: For alms doth deliver from death, and shall purge away all sin. Those that exercise alms and righteousness shall be filled with life: But they that sin are enemies to their own life. + St. Raphael the Archangel, Tobit 12:7-10 7

Ταξιάρχης Μιχαήλ, Μανταμάδου, Λέσβου: Ένα ακόμα χειροπιαστό θαύμα Ένα θαύμα για πιστούς και απίστους!!! του Γιάννη Ερρίκου Λινάρδου Είναι η ίδια εικόνα του Ταξιάρχη Μιχαὴλ αυτὸ που βλέπεται στις φωτογραφίες απὸ το ομώνυμο μοναστήρι στο χωριὸ Μανταμάδος Λέσβου. Υπάρχει όμως μία πολὺ μεγάλη διαφορά!!! Στην επάνω φωτὸ ο Ταξιάρχης είναι με ανοιχτό το στόμα, ενώ στην κάτω με κλειστό, όπως είναι καθημερινὰ όταν επισκέπτεται κάποιος τον ιερὸ ναὸ για να προσκυνήσει. Τι έχει συμβεί; Η επάνω φωτὸ είναι τραβηγμένη προ 20ετίας περίπου απὸ προσκυνητὴ που είχε πάει εκεί για να προσκυνήσει. Καθὼς περίμενε στη σειρά, καθ ότι πολὺς κόσμος συρρέει καθημερινὰ εκεί, μία γυναίκα μπροστά του προσεύχονταν με δάκρυα στα μάτια στον άγιο να την βοηθήσει σ ένα μεγάλο πρόβλημα που αντιμετώπιζε.και τότε όλοι οι παριστάμενοι έμειναν έκθαμβοι, όταν το στόμα του Ταξιάρχη στην εικόνα άνοιξε σαν να της μιλούσε. Ο προσκυνητὴς που προείπαμε,καθὼς είχε φωτογραφικὴ μηχανὴ μαζί του, απαθανάτισε το φοβερὸ αυτὸ στιγμιότυπο. Ήταν ένα φοβερὸ θαύμα του Ταξιάρχη που συγκλόνισε τότε τους παριστάμενους προσκυνητὲς και που θα συνεχίζει να συγκλονίζει όσους βλέπουν αυτὴ τη φωτὸ και μαθαίνουν για το θαύμα. Η αγία εικόνα του Ταξιάρχη Μιχαὴλ είναι ανάγλυφη, φτιαγμένη απὸ χώμα και το αίμα των μοναχών που κατεσφάγισαν απὸ πειρατὲς κατά την διάρκεια επιδρομής και λεηλασίας του μοναστηριοὐ. Την διπλὴ αυτὴ φωτογραφία μου την είχε δώσει ο εκλεκτὸς φίλος και αδελφὸς εν Χριστῷ,Γιάννης Καμπουρόπουλος-Φαρμακοποιὸς στο επάγγελμα στην Αθήνα και Μυτιληνιὸς στην καταγωγή.κατά την μετακόμισή μου στην Βαλύρα το 1994,η φωτογραφία αυτὴ είχε εξαφανιστεί μέσα σε πακέτα σημειώσεων καὶι βιβλίων.παρὰ τις επίμονες κατὰ καιροὺς προσπάθειές μου για τον εντοπισμό της,αδυνατούσα να την βρω. Ξαφνικὰ προ ολίγων ημερῶν,κατὰ την εορτὴ των Αγιών Αρχαγγέλων Μιχαήλ,Γαβριὴλ και Ραφαήλ,βρέθηκε, απὸ εκεἰ που δεν το περίμενα, απροσδόκητα μπροστά μου!!! Τυχαἰο;;; Ο καθένας ας το ερμηνεύσει όπως θέλει.εκεῖνο που με ενδιέφερε πάντα ήταν να γίνει γνωστὸ το θαυμαστὸ αυτὸ γεγονὸς στους πάντες. Σε πιστοὺς σε ἀπίστους και σε ηθοποιοὺς της αθεΐας.» Mυστήριον βασιλέως καλὸν κρύψαι τὰ δὲ ἔργα τοῦ θεοῦ ἀνακαλύπτειν ἐνδόξως ἀγαθὸν ποιήσατε καὶ κακὸν οὐχ εὑρήσει ὑμᾶς, ἀγαθὸν προσευχὴ μετὰ νηστείας καὶ ἐλεημοσύνης καὶ δικαιοσύνης ἀγαθὸν τὸ ὀλίγον μετὰ δικαιοσύνης ἢ πολὺ μετὰ ἀδικίας καλὸν ποιῆσαι ἐλεημοσύνην ἢ θησαυρίσαι χρυσίον, ἐλεημοσύνη γὰρ ἐκ θανάτου ῥύεται καὶ αὐτὴ ἀποκαθαριεῖ πᾶσαν ἁμαρτίαν οἱ ποιοῦντες ἐλεημοσύνας καὶ δικαιοσύνας πλησθήσονται ζωῆς, οἱ δὲ ἁμαρτάνοντες πολέμιοί εἰσιν τῆς ἑαυτῶν ζωῆς. - Αρχάγγελος Ραφαήλ - Τωβίτ, 12:7-10 8

A GREAT BIG THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED OUT AT FOLKLORE FESTIVAL 2015 TO ENSURE THAT IT ONCE AGAIN WAS A HUGE SUCCESS! GOD BLESS YOU! OUR MEMBERS So far only 67 people have submitted their membership dues for 2015. We ask and encourage everyone to do so as soon as possible. Each member is indispensable for the well-being and functioning of our parish. We thank all who have taken the time to submit their membership dues already as of June 19, 2015: 1. Mrs. Sheila Amos 2. Mr. Gabriel Aspropotamitis 3. Mr. Nick Balina 4. Mr. Bill Biniaris 5. Mrs. Dimitra Biniaris 6. Mrs. Katerina Biniaris 7. Mrs. Irene Biniaris 8. Mr. George Comminos 9. Mr. Bill Comminos 10. Mrs. Tarja Comminos 11. Miss Jenny Comminos 12. Miss Katina Comminos 13. Mrs. Nitsa Comminos 14. Mr. Peter Comminos 15. Mrs. Bayba Frattolin 16. Mr. Peter Giardetti 17. Mrs. Tara Giardetti 18. Mr. Sotirios Hatzis 19. Mrs. Theodora Hatzis 20. Mrs. Lisa Kahramanos 21. Ms. Penny Kahramanos 22. Mr. Andy Karanasos 23. Mrs. Lori Karanasos 24. Mrs. Faye Karoutas 25. Mr. Ray Leino 26. Mrs. Virginia Leino 27. Mr. Chris Lent 28. Mrs. Kathleen Lent 29. Mrs. Joanne Lent 30. Mr. Randy Lent 31. Mr. Jack Lotsios 32. Mrs. Effie Lotsios 33. Mr. Tom Mellas 34. Mrs. Smaragde Mellas 35. Ms. Georgina Mellas 36. Mrs. Maria Mellas 37. Mrs. Tina Mellas 38. Mr. Stamatis Melissis 39. Ms. Bess Melville 40. Mr. Tax Milionis 41. Mrs. Athina Morakis 42. Ms. Maria Morakis 43. Mrs. Angie Palo 44. Mrs. Nikki Pantoulias 45. Mr. John Pavlou 46. Mrs. Maria Pavlou 47. Mr. Tom Pazianos 48. Mrs. Leila Pazianos 49. Mr. Jim Pazianos 50. Mrs. Virginia Pazianos 51. Mr. Steven Scollie 52. Mrs. Euphrosine Sourtzis 53. Mr. Spyro Sourtzis 54. Mr. Marinos Spourdalakis 55. Mrs. Nora Spourdalakis 56. Mrs. Tina Stathopoulos 57. Mrs. Jenny Theodore 58. Mr. Constantin Todosia 59. Mrs. Manuela Todosia 60. Mr. Constantine Tsekouras 61. Mrs. Jane Tsekouras 62. Mr. Ahileas Tsekouras 63. Mr. Harry Tsekouras 64. Mrs. Lily Tsekouras 65. Ms. Elaine Tsekouras 66. Dr. Dimitrios Vergidis 67. Mrs. Rucy Vergidis 9

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