GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AUSTRALIA HELLENIC COMMUNITY OF WA PARISH & COMMUNITY OF STS. CONSTANTINE & HELENE PARISH NEWSLETTER Archimandrite Fr. Elpidios Karalis 9328 7452 (T&F) 0407 260 071 (Mobile) Email address: p.karalis@bigpond.com Rev. Fr. John Athanasiou 0411 061 554 (Mobile) Email Address: johnatha@bigpond.net.au Issue: Sunday 15 July 2012 1
The Requirements for an Orthodox Baptism 2 Fr Elpidios The Sacrament of Baptism is a compulsory Sacrament of the Orthodox Church. One needs to be baptised in order to be a member of the Church as well as being able to receive Holy Communion. Christ Himself commands His disciples to go out and make disciples of all nations baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Christ Himself also was baptised; not that He had the need to be baptised but because He wished to show the correct example for us all to follow. Once an infant reaches 3 months old then the parents need to start preparing for the baptism of their child. Firstly and most importantly parents need to choose the appropriate person to be the infant s godparent. As outlined in the 2012 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese calendar booklet (p154) the godparent must be an Orthodox Christian above the age of 12 and only one person. Only one name is given to the newly baptised person. Why does the godparent have to be Orthodox and why cannot they be, for example, a Christian from another denomination? The answer is very simple. Firstly we must ask ourselves, What is the role of the godparent? The role of the godparent in the Orthodox Church is to educate and nurture the child in the Orthodox faith. If the godparent is not a member of the Orthodox Church then how is it possible for him/her to bring up someone in a particular faith that they themselves do not follow. At this point we need to also emphasise that the orthodox godparent needs to also be an active member of the Church by living a sacramental life. Thus, the choosing of the godparents is something that needs to be done with great thought. Once the godparent is chosen then the next step is for the godparent to present their baptism certificate to the priest. This needs to occur well in advance prior to the date of the baptism. Why one godparent and not multiple? Very simple! Only one godparent is allowed in the Sacrament of Baptism since when the infant comes out of the baptismal font only one godparent can physically receive the child in his/her arms. The person receiving the child in their arms is the godparent. Why one name? In reality we are all known by one name. On our birth certificate although we may have multiple middle names, essentially
everyone knows us by one name. Thus, on the day of the baptism only one name is given to the child. Ideally we choose a saint s name since saints are our role models whom we all try to imitate. Saints are the ones whom we call upon during the difficult moments in life. We have included in this brief article the various items that the godparent is required to purchase for the Sacrament of Baptism. These include: 1. One bottle of olive oil (about 200 ml) 2. One singlet for the child 3. One bar of soap 4. A small hand towel 5. A large bath towel 6. One white sheet 7. One white candle 8. A Cross on a chain 9. The new set of clothes for the child 10. Sugar Almonds to distribute to the guests For the next three Sundays after the baptism the godparent and the parents bring the child dressed in its baptismal garment to church for Holy Communion. The godparent holds the child while the priest communes the child and the parents hold the white baptismal candle. After the three official visits the parents can either leave the candle at church or take it home. In the early church the baptismal candle was taken home and used later at the Sacrament of Matrimony when the time came for the person to marry. It was then lit again when the time had approached for the person to depart this life. When the parent washes the child for the first time then the first batch of water from the bath tub must be collected and placed in an area where no one steps upon such as in a pot plant or even in the corner of the garden. The same applies for when washing the baptismal towels. These actions show our reverence for the sacred oil and chrism that has been placed on the child during the Sacraments of Baptism and Chrismation. The link below is from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and it provides some good information on the Sacrament of Baptism that some may even wish to convert into a booklet at their next family baptism. (http://www.greekorthodox.org.au/general/resources/servicebooklet s/baptism) 3
Perth College Students visit Sts. Constantine & Helene Two Year Six classes from Perth College visited Saints Constantine and Helene on Tuesday 19 June as part of their Beliefs and Values Course the aim of which was to learn about different religious practices. The students were briefed on the church building as well as the Orthodox faith. Many questions were asked by the students of the College as they walked around exploring the church. Students were all given a handout to complete consisting of a number of questions. At the conclusion, the students and teachers were treated to a light snack and thoroughly enjoyed the visit to the church of Saints Constantine and Helene. This is now the second time that Perth College has visited our church. We look forward in the school re-visiting us in the future. Above: A group photo of the Year Six Perth College students 4
A 153 Year Old Icon of St Nicholas is donated to the Church of Sts Constantine and Helene Mr. Steve Negroponte had donated a 153 years old icon of St Nicholas to the Church of Sts Constantine and Helene. This beautiful icon has been framed and is located at the entrance of our Church on a proskinitari (icon stand) under the metal staircase. The Parish of Sts Constantine and Helene would like to thank Mr. Negroponte for donating this beautiful icon to our Church. Below is a brief outline, prepared by Mr. Negroponte, informing us on how the icon came into his possession. In 1922 my grandmother, Policarpina Cappadona (nee Piccinini), lived with her family in Smyrna (Izmir, Turkey). My grandfather was a train driver employed by the British Colonial Railway Company that serviced the line from Smyrna to Aydin (Turkey) and Denizli (Turkey) in Anatolia. They survived the Great Fire in 1922 (Catastrophe of Smyrna) by taking refuge in a Franciscan Church. After the fire, all Europeans who wanted to stay were able to. The newly installed Turkish Government settled them in whatever housing was left after the fire which was previously occupied by Greek or Armenian families; this is how the icon of St Nicholas came into my grandmother s possession. Being a very devout Christian my grandmother felt responsible in taking care of the icon incase it came into the wrong hands. After a few years all jobs held by Europeans were allocated to Turkish Nationals and the Europeans who did not wish to take up Turkish citizenship were asked to leave. As Italy was my grandparents country of origin, the Italian Government allocated them to Rhodes as at that time the island was under Italian rule. It was on the island of Rhodes were I was born. In 1943 during the bombardment by the British we had to leave Rhodes and go to Italy as refugees. Here we found ourselves worse off as the war had arrived on the mainland. My grandmother always believed that St Nicholas protected her. In 1955 my grandmother passed the icon onto her eldest daughter Teresa 5
Negroponte (my mother) who was likewise a very devout Christian. That year my uncle, Antonio Cappadona, sponsored us to come to Australia. The icon came with us and always held a very reverend place in our home. Prior to my mother s passing away in 2004, she passed the icon onto me where it has been ever since. As my wife and I getting on in years we thought it best to retire St Nicholas from his many travels to a significant and rightful place in a Greek Orthodox Church. The icon has been painted by an unknown iconographer in Smyrna in 1859. The icon of St Nicholas has been cared for by our family from 1922 and now the Negroponte family consigns the icon to the parish of Sts Constantine and Helene. May it bring joy to your parishioners for many years to come. 2012 Winter Appeal For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink (Matt: 25:35) A reminder to all that we are still collecting clean blankets, sleeping bags and non perishable foods for the 2012 Winter Appeal. Goods such as Biscuits, Sugar, Oil, Long Life Milk, Breakfast Bars, Pasta, Electrolyte Drinks (e.g. Powerade & Gatorade), Canned Fish, Canned Meat, Canned fruits, Canned Vegetables, Canned Soups, Dried Fruit, Nuts, Crackers, Potato Chips, Chocolate Bars, Flour, Salt, Bottled Water, Cereal, Rice, Peanut Butter, Jelly, Coffee, Tea Bags, Baby Food, Baby Formula, Cereal Bars and Juice Cartons are all welcome. In addition we are also collecting Nappies, Soap, Powder and deodorants. PLEASE HELP US SO WE CAN HELP OTHERS Closing Date is Sunday 29 July 2012 6
A Word From Saint Nektarios to Future Priests The following is taken from an address given by St. Nektarios when he was first assigned dean of the Rizarios Ecclesiastical School in Athens. My children, in each of you there exists a future priest, an important element of the history and future life of our suffering country. You should be proud to wear your cassocks (anteri). Pray to the Almighty that He grants you the ability to serve His Church, for this vocation is not merely a job but is a mission which begins on earth and continues in heaven. Please heed these humble words and may your souls continuously shine with the eternal truths of our Holy Gospel My children, I also want you to be proud of our Orthodox faith. Orthodoxy is our treasure, our priceless pearl, if you will. Orthodoxy is also the light that guides us. If we were ever to lose this treasure, this light, then we would be scattered to the ends of the earth like dust, ceasing to exist as a people and as a nation. There are so many aspects of our treasure that I want to share with you, but our time today does not permit it. We will, however, have the chance to explore these aspects in future lectures. Today, I would like to touch upon some other thoughts that I would like to share with you. My children, our lives begin like a clean piece of slate. It is up to us to determine what will be written on that slate. If on this virtues and good God-fearing acts are written, then we have lived up to our divine mission So my children, I hope that from this day on we will live together as one family in Jesus Christ. We should, in essence, create a blessed brotherhood. I promise that I will stand by your side always as a spiritual father. As I close 7
my talk to you today, may I comment on something which bothers me. I have noticed that almost all of you are beardless. Why are you shunning this natural and beautiful tradition? Do not be swayed by the Europeans. We Greek Orthodox have our own traditions, which date back to the Apostles and early Fathers of the Church. I ask that you follow their manly examples, and hold yourselves to it. Do it for the struggles and hardships they endured for the early Church. This is, after all, the least we can do. Source: Saint Nektarios: The Saint of Our Century, Sotos Chrondropoulos, Holy Trinity - St. Nekatarios Convent: Aegina http://www.impantokratoros.gr/saint-nekratiros-future-priest.en.aspx STS. CONSTANTINE AND HELENE SUNDAY SCHOOL TIME: 10.00 11.00AM In the classroom adjacent to Fr Elpidios office Classes taken by Qualified Teachers during the School Term All Children Welcome to attend August: The Month of the Virgin Mary During the month of August from the 1 st 14 th the Supplication Service (Paraclesis) to the Mother of God will be recited each day at 9.00am except on Saturdays and Monday 6 August. On Sundays the Supplication Service will be recited immediately following the Divine Liturgy. 8
PARISH NEWS Infant Baptisms The following parents recently baptised their children at the Church of Sts Constantine and Helene: Evangelos Dela-Grammaticas and Gemma (nee) Guy. The child received the name Rafaella. The godmother was Helena Williams. Emmanuel Takoniatis and Angela (nee) Antonas. The child received the name Anastasia. The godmother was Anastasia Sipsas. Simon Weaver and Miranda (nee) Halikis. The child received the name Emelia. The godfather was Spyros Halikis. Andrew Papastylianou and Emma (nee) Sturrock. The child received the name Cleo. The godmother was Daria Mirkovic. Stephen Muncaster and Ekaterina (nee) Katris. The children received the names Alexia and Evangelia. The godparents were Nicholas and Kosmas Katris. Adult Baptism Brent Moyle was recently baptised in the Greek Orthodox Church receiving the name Lavrentios. The godfather was Michael Topalis. Marriage Congratulations to Prodromos Iosifidis and Samantha (nee) Curtis who were recently married at the church of Sts. Constantine and Helene. The Bestman was Thomas Iosifidis. Funerals Our deepest sympathy to the family of Athanasios Georgiou who recently reposed in the Lord at the age of 88. 9
Week Day Church Services (8-10am) Tuesday Friday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Monday Wednesday 17 July (Great Martyr Marina) 20 July (Prophet Elijah) 23 July (Prophet Ezekiel) 24 July (Great Martyr Christina) 25 July (Dormition of St. Anna) 26 July (Martyr Paraskeve) 27 July (Great Martyr Panteleimon) 28 July (St Irene Chrysovalantou) 06 August (Transfiguration of our Lord) 15 August (Dormition of the Theotokos 8-11am) The Jesus Prayer Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Have Mercy On Me The Sinner The above prayer has been recited by monks and lay people ple for centuries. This prayer is the extended version of the Lord Have Mercy and can be recited any time throughout the day. During this prayer we call upon the salvific name of our Lord Jesus Christ Who is the only one that can bring inner peace to our souls during times of hardship. 10
"If you continue in my words, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free" Fr John In our pluralistic society truth is becoming a victim to modern thinking. Anyone who thinks that truth has an objective or absolute standard for determining right or wrong is seen as being out of step with the tolerance and inclusiveness demanded by multiculturalism today. Indeed, society encourages that truth be seen as relative to the person and their situation. Right and wrong are accordingly considered subjective judgments by the individual and morality is otherwise seen as relative to culture. In other words morals are determined either by personal opinion or group consensus. Accordingly, all views are correct as all moral values are only opinions and therefore have equal weight. One of the benefits claimed of the moral relativism that is practised is that it promotes tolerance and a tolerant society. There is a problem with that view as tolerance implies that there is a right and wrong moral position. Tolerance in effect allows the wrong to exist alongside the right without transforming it into being correct. Given that moral relativism states that all views are correct and of equal weight the idea of tolerance has no application whatsoever in discerning right from wrong in a society that views all moral positions as having equal validity. Further, if there are no fixed standards of right or wrong, as the modern thinkers would have us believe, then no criticism could be made for the atrocities committed in Nazi Germany or in Stalinist Russia, as both were accepted by group consensus as being correct for their time. Holocausts and gulags are hence normalized. Killing is accepted as a legitimate means to an end. Why legitimate? - because the society of the time deemed it acceptable practice and hence made it true. In John's gospel Christ tells us about truth: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My father also; henceforth you know Him and have seen Him". To a Christian, the truth is determined not by individual personal opinions as to what is morally valid or by group consensus as to what is correct, but on a person namely Jesus Christ. 11
Christ makes it plain what He wants from each of us. "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your strength, and with all your might; and your neighbour as yourself". Christ wants us to live our life as love.firstly; there is the vertical love of man ascending to God and God s love descending to man. Secondly; there is a horizontal love that we should have for all our fellow beings and creation. Hence, to the Christian, morality is absolute and centered on Jesus Christ who tells us all to follow Him. We cannot love God and reject our fellow man nor can we focus on our fellow man and reject God. The two must go together. So what has the above discussion to do with anything in particular? It occurs to me that during the current debate over the asylum seekers, some of whom are losing their lives to come to Australia, that a clear understanding must be had as to what is going on. A lot of people in Australia talk of these "illegal queue jumpers" who flout our laws, place our Defense personnel in danger by their dangerous behaviours, as being less than acceptable to us. These people would say that the ethical morality in this case is formed by group consensus and the group consensus says these people are not welcome as they do not go through the normal channels to earn the right to live in Australia. Accordingly, they should go back to where they came from. A minority, see these people as they really are namely human beings created in the image and likeness of God. They say that each human life is intrinsically valuable and any problems associated with the arrival of such people is of only secondary importance which must give way to the humanitarian needs of these unfortunate people. The latter view of course is how Christ would want us to show His love for Him. "I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed Me, I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you visited Me, I was in prison and he came to Me." When asked when this occurred Christ answered "truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me." There are absolute values, of this is no doubt. To the Christian morality is focused on a person who tells us to love one another as He loved us. With that directive in mind how can we then reject the plight of these poor people who have thrown themselves at our mercy? Can we deny mercy and then ask for mercy from the Master for ourselves? Now that is a question to ponder. 12
Hardback, 14.5cm by 21cm The Greek English Interlinear New Testament By special arrangement with their suppliers, St Andrew's Orthodox Press (NSW) is making this New Testament available. It contains literal word-for-word English rendering of the Greek text of the New Testament line by line, so that you can read for yourself the meaning of each word in the original. For further information go to http://www.standrewsorthodoxpress.com.au/ Church Lunch Church of Sts Constantine & Helene Date: Sunday 22 July 2012 Venue: Lower Hall of the Hellenic Community Centre (Northbridge) Time: 11.30am Cost: $20 Proceeds go towards the 2012 Short Course in Orthodox Studies For tickets see George Pynes at the Church Pangari (Candle Stand) or Contact Fr Elpidios on 0407 260 071 DISTANCE EDUCATION (ONLINE) St Andrew s Greek Orthodox Theological College For more information click on the following link: http://www.sagotc.edu.au/studies/distance-education/ 13
ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑΣΜΟΣ - ΠΟΤΕ ΠΡΕΠΕΙ ΝΑ ΕΙΜΑΣΤΕ ΟΡΘΙΟΙ ΚΑΤΑ ΤΗΝ ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΑ; (Αγιορείτικο Βήµα Κυριακή, 10 Ιούνιος 2012) Κάθε Ορθόδοξη Χριστιανική Οικογένεια, και γενικότερα κάθε πιστός, πρέπει να εκκλησιάζεται και να συµµετέχει ενσυνείδητα, και όχι τυπολατρικά, στην λατρευτική ζωή της Εκκλησίας. Κάποτε, οι Χριστιανοί ρώτησαν τον Άγιο Ιωάννη της Κλίµακος: Πότε καταλαβαίνουµε ότι η ψυχή είναι άρρωστη; Εκείνος απάντησε: Όταν ο άνθρωπος δεν θέλει να εκκλησιάζεται. Είναι δηλαδή σαν να έχουµε δικά µας αγαπηµένα πρόσωπα που τα αγαπάµε και µας αγαπούν, και όταν τα βλέπουµε στο δρόµο, ούτε τα χαιρετούµε αλλά και ούτε πάµε σπίτι τους να τα επισκεφθούµε. Τι είδους αγάπη είναι αυτή; Στις Εκκλησίες µας, η Κυριακάτικη Λατρεία αρχίζει µε τον Όρθρο, ο οποίος διαρκεί 1:20 ώρα περίπου. Αµέσως µετά ξεκινά η Θεία Λειτουργία µε την εκφώνηση του Ιερέα "Ευλογηµένη η βασιλεία του Πατρός και του Υιού και του Αγίου Πνεύµατος, νυν και αει και εις τους αιώνας των αιώνων, Αµήν". Την στιγµή αυτή όλοι οι πιστοί πρέπει να είναι όρθιοι. Μετά µπορούµε αν θέλουµε να καθίσουµε. Καλό θα ήταν αν δεν ξέρουµε πότε να σηκωνόµαστε και πότε να καθόµαστε, να παρακολουθούµε τους συµπροσευχούµενούς αδελφούς µας. Σε συντοµία, πρέπει να είµαστε όρθιοι στα εξής σηµεία του Όρθρου και της Θείας Λειτουργίας: - Όταν διαβάζεται ο Εξάψαλµος - Όταν ο Ιερέας διαβάζει το Ευαγγέλιο του Όρθρου και εν συνεχεία βγαίνει να το προσκυνήσουµε - Στον ύµνο της Παναγίας "Την τιµιωτέραν των Χερουβείµ..." - Κατά τη οξολογία - Στο "Ευλογηµένη η Βασιλεία"... - Κατά τη Μικρή Είσοδο του Ευαγγελίου από τον Ιερέα - Κατά το Ευαγγέλιο - Κατά την Μεγάλη Είσοδο στην οποία ο Ιερέας µεταφέρει τα Τίµια ώρα - Κάθε φορά που ο Ιερέας δίνει την ειρήνη του Χριστού και την ευλογία µε το "Ειρήνη πάσι" ή µας θυµιατίζει - Κατά την πιο λεπτή στιγµή της Θείας Λειτουργίας που κατεβαίνει το Άγιο Πνεύµα για να καθαγιάσει τα Τίµια ώρα, προσφωνώντας εκ του ιερέως "Τα Σα εκ των Σων, Σοι προσφέροµεν..." - Όταν ακούµε από τον Ιερέα το "Πρόσχωµεν. Τα Άγια τοις αγίοις" όπου υψώνεται ο Αµνός (Χριστός) - Κατά την απαγγελία του Συµβόλου της Πίστεως "Πιστεύω..." - Κατά την απαγγελία της Κυριακής Προσευχής "Πάτερ ηµών.." - Στο "Μετά φόβου Θεού, πίστεως, και αγάπης προσέλθετε" διότι τούτη την στιγµή προσφέρεται το Σώµα και το Αίµα του Χριστού για να µεταλάβουµε, και - Στην Απόλυση ( " ι'ευχών των Αγίων Πατέρων ηµών..") 14