Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral New Orleans, Louisiana DECEMBER 13, 2015 ELEVENTH SUNDAY OF LUKE

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral New Orleans, Louisiana DECEMBER 13, 2015 ELEVENTH SUNDAY OF LUKE Sunday, December 13 ~ 9:00 am Orthros; 10:00 am Divine Liturgy Youth Hymnology and Sunday Church School after Holy Communion 12:00 pm ~ PTA Ornaments-Greek School Cookie Workshop in Gymnasium 12:00 pm ~ Kids' Café in Upstairs Common Area 12:00 pm ~ Philoptochos Angel Tree Project in Foyer 12:00 am ~ Youth Pre-K/K Greek Class in Room 210 6:30 pm ~ AHEPA-Daughters of Penelope Combined Christmas Party in Coffee Room Monday, December 14 ~ 10:00 am 150th Anniversary Album Meeting in Boardroom Tuesday, December 15 ~ 9:00 am Divine Liturgy ST. ELEFTHERIOS 6:30 pm ~ Hellenic Dancers Practice in Gymnasium 7:00 pm ~ Adult Beginner Greek School in Room 210 Wednesday, December 16 ~ 10:00 am Monthly Book Club Meeting in Coffee Room 7:00 pm ~ Bible Study with Father George in Boardroom 7:00 pm ~ Adult Intermediate (Low Level) Greek School in Room 210 Thursday, December 17 ~ 9:00 am Hansel and Gretel Opera for Children in Gymnasium 10:00 am ~ Archives Committee Meeting in Boardroom Friday, December 18 ~ 9:45 am CMS Chapel in Cathedral DEADLINE FOR CROSS RETRIEVAL AND DOVE BEARER APPLICATIONS Saturday, December 19 ~ 9:00 am Divine Liturgy NO GREEK SCHOOL 10:15 am ~ PTA Communion Breakfast in Coffee Room 11:00 am ~ Sunday Church School Christmas Pageant Practice in Cathedral 5:30 pm ~ PTA-GOYA Outing Celebration in the Oaks at City Park Sunday, December 20 ~ 9:00 am Orthros 10:00 am Divine Liturgy SUNDAY BEFORE NATIVITY All Sunday Church School Students Meet in Coffee Room after Holy Communion Annual Sunday Church School Christmas Pageant in Cathedral after Divine Liturgy 12:00 pm ~ Holy Trinity PTA Lenten Pot Luck Reception in Gymnasium 12:00 pm ~ Philoptochos Angel Tree Project in Coffee Room PTA-GOYA OUTING THIS SATURDAY Please note a date change for the PTA-GOYA Christmas in the Oaks at City Park outing. All attending this event will meet at the entrance this Saturday, December 20, at 5:30 pm, unless weather does not permit. Join the entire community in celebrating Christmas at the annual Sunday Church School Christmas Pageant. This year the pageant will be held in the Cathedral following services, and the children will perform a very special new song under the direction of Viki Moustoukas. Pageant song practice takes place each Sunday immediately following Hymnology and just before classes from now through the pageant. All children will be a part of the program; however, students, who are regularly active and present in Sunday Church School, will be eligible for the primary roles. Parents, mark your calendars with the following dates: Sunday, December 13 - Full rehearsal during Sunday Church School Saturday, December 19 - Full rehearsal immediately following Communion Breakfast Sunday, December 20 - Christmas Pageant All children are to arrive at church in costume on December 20 and meet in the Coffee Room immediately following Holy Communion. For more information contact Christina Kogos at cmkogos2@aol.com or at 504.390.1768. AHEPA AND DAUGHTERS OF PENELOPE CHRISTMAS GATHERING All members of AHEPA and the Daughters of Penelope are invited to a combined organizations Christmas Party in the Coffee Room on Sunday, December 13, 2015, at 6:30 pm. Additional information will be sent out to all members. Contact Sandy Bouzon or George Psilos for details. BOARD OF TRUSTEES ELECTION RESULTS Pending ratification by His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios, the following candidates were elected to the 2016 Board of Trustees: W. Paul Andersson; Nicholas S. Bouzon; Nick Moustoukas, MD; Panagiotis Patselikos; Steven E. Psarellis; and Ginny Zissis.

An Evening of Christmas Songs Saturday, December 19, 2015, from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm Sponsored by Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church 255 Beauvoir Road - Biloxi, Mississippi Join us for an evening of Christmas songs performed by Nataliya Petrovska-Molsbee, J.T. Anglin, and Karen Henderson After the performance enjoy an International Dinner Georgian, Greek, Moldovan, Romanian, Russian, Ukrainian, and Southern from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Donation is $15 for adults, $5 for children 12 and under. Contact George Yurchak at 228-831-5820 or georgeyurchak@yahoo.com for tickets. Seating is limited; reservations are required in advance. CATHEDRAL CHRISTMAS DECOR The Cathedral Family sincerely thanks Evangelia Kouniaris, who annually decorates the Cathedral during the Nativity season. She was assisted by Eugenia Anastasiou, Maria Anastasiou, Faith Kyame, Petroula Michailakis, Popi Michailakis, and Georgia Zervoudis. CATHEDRAL MONTESSORI SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENT A Young Audiences Production of the Hansel and Gretel Opera will be presented December 18, 2015, at 9:00 am in the Hellenic Cultural Center. This program, which is sponsored by the Cathedral Montessori School, is geared for children 3 to 6 years old. If any children of the Holy Trinity community would like to attend, please send an email to Billie Andersson at billieandersson@gmail.com so that there will be sufficient seating. COFFEE HOUR SPONSORS The Parish Council recommends serving refreshments after Sunday church services in order to encourage greater fellowship among parishioners. To provide this service on a weekly basis, they ask all community members and organizations to consider hosting a month. Individuals, families, groups of families, or organizations can pool their resources to accommodate this venture. Please consider adopting a month during the upcoming New Year. If you wish to participate by selecting a month to provide refreshments or have questions about this project, contact Maria Anastasiou at 504-456-1780. JANUARY MONTHLY BULLETIN DEADLINE The Cathedral office asks that all information for the January issue of The Flame be submitted by Monday, December 21, 2015. Thank you. PHILOPTOCHOS SAINT NICHOLAS NATIONAL SHRINE The Ladies Philoptochos Society extends its sincerest gratitude to everyone, who contributed to the Saint Nicholas National Shrine fundraiser. The donations will greatly assist with the rebuilding of the Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center. The generosity of all supporters is greatly appreciated. PHILOPTOCHOS SENIOR CITIZENS CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON The annual Senior Citizens Christmas Luncheon was a great success thanks to the many hands that assisted. Philoptochos hosts the senior luncheons in appreciation of the great deal of time, generosity, and support that this group provides to the community. This year, once again, many people contributed to making this a special event for the more than seventy guests. Philoptochos is most grateful to the Helen and Charles Malachias Family, who sponsored the luncheon in memory of Chrisi and Louis Malachias and of Bill Malachias. Everyone enjoyed the delicious dinner cooked by George Tzavellas. Vange Malachias baked her husband Bill s favorite cookies and added one to each dessert plate. Chairperson Ginny Zissis organized the luncheon and made arrangements for the live entertainment. Cathy Vial's Christmas program enhanced the spirit of the occasion and added to the fun. Heartfelt thanks go out to all, who made the luncheon a festive and successful event. ANGEL TREE PROJECT The Ladies Philoptochos Society is accepting donations for the Holy Trinity Angel Tree. This special project assists numerous families within the community with their holiday wishes and needs. Last year Philoptochos helped nineteen (19) people, including young children and the elderly. Please stop by and make a donation or bring a gift card (grocery stores and Wal-Mart are examples). A Philoptochos member will be available in the foyer on December 13 and 20 to answer questions and accept donations. Thank you for your support and kindness during the Christmas season! UPCOMING CONCERT Despina Wilson will be presenting her senior recital on Monday, January 4, 2016, at the Lambeth House at 150 Broadway Street in New Orleans. The recital will begin at 4:00 pm. Everyone is welcome to attend but are asked to RSVP to Presvytera Harriet at 504-941-7681 or dedousis@juno.com. A light reception will follow the program. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6 ATTENDANCE 220 ~ CANDLE AND TRAY COLLECTIONS $947

Message from Father George SAINT HERMAN OF ALASKA - DECEMBER 13 On the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese website's Saints and Feasts calendar, Saint Herman of Alaska is commemorated today. Herman was born near Moscow in 1756 and became a monk at the famous Valaam Monastery. His name comes from the Greek name Germanos; and, in the Slavonic language it is German. In 1794 the Russian Orthodox Church was seeking missionaries to preach the Gospel to the Native population of Alaska in what we now recognize as the first Orthodox mission to Alaska. He settled on Spruce Island, which he called New Valaam. While serving the Church as a monk, he prayed with many of his countrymen, who were in Alaska for fur trading endeavors, and also with the local people. His biographical sketch from goarch.org explains that through the example of his life, his teaching, and his kindness and sanctity, (he) was granted the grace of working miracles and of prophetic insight, many people were moved to convert to the Orthodox Faith and a Christ centered life. Having dedicated his life to Christ and missionary service, he is called the Enlightener of the Aleuts. And, because of the many miracles performed by God through the prayers of Herman, he has also become well-known as a Wonderworker since his repose in 1837. On March 11, 1969, the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) proclaimed Herman a saint and on August 9, 1970, the canonization service took place which officially identified him as Saint Herman of Alaska. POINSETTIAS FOR CHRISTMAS Please submit your Poinsettias for Christmas form to the Cathedral office by tomorrow, Monday, December 14. A program listing the donors and their dedications will be available at the Christmas Eve services. 2016 HOLY TRINITY CATHEDRAL EPIPHANY CELEBRATION The 2016 Epiphany Celebration will take place Sunday, January 10, 2016. Orthros and Divine Liturgy will be followed by the Blessing of the Waters, Dove Release, and Cross Retrieval along the banks of Bayou St. John. Applications and permission forms for participants are available in the Cathedral office; deadline to submit these is Friday, December 18, 2015. Luncheon tickets $10 per person and $5 for children 12 and under will be on sale in the Coffee Room on January 3 and at the door on January 10. Please direct your questions to the Cathedral office or either Epiphany Co-Chairmen Manoli Ioannidis at manoli923@gmail.com and Costa Vennis at kvennis@cox.net.

PTA POT LUCK RECEPTION NEXT SUNDAY Holy Trinity PTA invites everyone to attend the PTA Christmas Reception on Sunday, December 20, following the annual Sunday Church School Christmas Pageant. The event is a fasting pot luck reception. If you are able to bring a delicious dish to share with everyone, please email Suzanne Stratikis at sstratikis@yahoo.com. Holy Trinity Cathedral Greek Orthodox Community of New Orleans 1200 ROBERT E. LEE BOULEVARD NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA 70122 Reverend Father George Wilson, Dean priest@holytrinitycathedral.org PHONE: (504) 282-0259 FAX: (504) 283-5586

13η ΔΕΚΕΜΒΡΙΟΥ 2015 ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΙΑ ΛΟΥΚΑ ΤΩΝ ΑΓΙΩΝ ΠΡΟΠΑΤΟΡΩΝ Ἑωθινόν ΣΤ 13 TH DECEMBER 2015 11 TH SUNDAY OF LUKE THE HOLY FOREFATHERS Eothion 6 Ἀπολυτίκιον τῆς Ἀνάστασης Ἦχος γ Εὐφραινέσθω τὰ οὐράνια, ἀγαλλιάσθω τὰ ἐπίγεια, ὅτι ἐποίησε κράτος, ἐν βραχίονι αὐτοῦ, ὁ Κύριος, ἐπάτησε τῷ θανάτῳ τὸν θάνατον, πρωτότοκος τῶν νεκρῶν ἐγένετο, ἐκ κοιλίας ᾅδου ἐρρύσατο ἡμᾶς, καὶ παρέσχε τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος. Ἀπολυτίκιον τῶν Προπατόρων Ἦχος β Ἐν πίστει τοὺς Προπάτορας ἐδικαίωσας, τὴν ἐξ Ἐθνῶν δι' αὐτῶν προμνηστευσάμενος Ἐκκλησίαν. Καυχῶνται ἐν δόξῃ οἱ Ἅγιοι, ὄι ἐκ σπέρματος αὐτῶν, ὑπάρχει καρπός εὐκλεής, ἡ ἀσπόρως τεκοῦσά σε. Ταῖς αὐτῶν ἱκεσίαις, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, σῶσον τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν. 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 γ Ἡ Παρθένος σήμερον, τὸν Προαιώνιον Λόγον, ἐν Σπηλαίῳ ἔρχεται, ἀποτεκεῖν ἀπορρήτως. Χόρευε ἡ οἰκουμένη ἀκουτισθεῖσα, δόξασον μετὰ Ἀγγέλων καὶ τῶν Ποιμένων, βουληθέντα ἐποφθῆναι, παιδίον νέον, τὸν πρὸ αἰώνων Θεόν. Resurrectional Apolytikion Tone 3 Let the heavens sing for joy, and let everything on earth be glad. For with His Arm the Lord has worked power. He trampled death under foot by means of death; and He became the firstborn from the dead. From the maw of Hades He delivered us; and He granted the world His great mercy. Apolytikion of the Forefathers Tone 2 By faith did You justify the Forefathers, when through them You did betroth Yourself aforetime to the Church from among the nations. The Saints boast in glory that from their seed there is a glorious fruit, even she that bare You seedlessly. By their prayers, O Christ God, save our souls. 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 Tone 3 On this day the Virgin cometh to the cave to give birth to God the Word ineffably, Who was before all the ages. Dance for joy, O earth, on hearing the gladsome tidings; with the Angels and the shepherds now glorify Him Who is willing to be gazed on as a young Child Who before the ages is God.

ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΟΣ Κολοσσαεῖς γ 4-11 Εὐλογητὸς εἶ, Κύριε, ὁ Θεὸς τῶν Πατέρων ἡμῶν. Στίχ. Ὅτι δίκαιος εἶ ἐπὶ πᾶσιν, οἷς ἐποίησας ἡμῖν. Ἀδελφοί, ὅταν ὁ Χριστὸς φανερωθῇ, ἡ ζωὴ ἡμῶν, τότε καὶ ὑμεῖς σὺν αὐτῷ φανερωθήσεσθε ἐν δόξῃ. Νεκρώσατε οὖν τὰ μέλη ὑμῶν τὰ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, πορνείαν, ἀκαθαρσίαν, πάθος, ἐπιθυμίαν κακήν, καὶ τὴν πλεονεξίαν, ἥτις ἐστὶν εἰδωλολατρεία, διʼ ἃ ἔρχεται ἡ ὀργὴ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐπὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς τῆς ἀπειθείας Ἐν οἷς καὶ ὑμεῖς περιεπατήσατέ ποτε, ὅτε ἐζῆτε ἐν αὐτοῖς. Νυνὶ δὲ ἀπόθεσθε καὶ ὑμεῖς τὰ πάντα, ὀργήν, θυμόν, κακίαν, βλασφημίαν, αἰσχρολογίαν ἐκ τοῦ στόματος ὑμῶν μὴ ψεύδεσθε εἰς ἀλλήλους, ἀπεκδυσάμενοι τὸν παλαιὸν ἄνθρωπον σὺν ταῖς πράξεσιν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐνδυσάμενοι τὸν νέον, τὸν ἀνακαινούμενον εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν κατʼ εἰκόνα τοῦ κτίσαντος αὐτόν ὅπου οὐκ ἔνι Ἕλλην καὶ Ἰουδαῖος, περιτομὴ καὶ ἀκροβυστία, βάρβαρος, Σκύθης, δοῦλος, ἐλεύθερος ἀλλὰ τὰ πάντα καὶ ἐν πᾶσιν Χριστός. THE EPISTLE Colossians 3:4-11 Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers. For you are just in all you have done. BRETHREN, when Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. In these you once walked, when you lived in them. But now put them all away; anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old nature with its practices and have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free man, but Christ is all, and in all. ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΟΝ Λουκᾶν ιδ 16-24 Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τήν παραβολὴν ταύτην Ἄνθρωπός τις ἐποίησε δεῖπνον μέγα καὶ ἐκάλεσε πολλούς καὶ ἀπέστειλε τὸν δοῦλον αὐτοῦ τῇ ὥρᾳ τοῦ δείπνου εἰπεῖν τοῖς κεκλημένοις ἔρχεσθε, ὅτι ἤδη ἕτοιμά ἐστι πάντα. καὶ ἤρξαντο ἀπὸ μιᾶς παραιτεῖσθαι πάντες. ὁ πρῶτος εἶπεν αὐτῷ ἀγρὸν ἠγόρασα, καὶ ἔχω ἀνάγκην ἐξελθεῖν καὶ ἰδεῖν αὐτόν ἐρωτῶ σε, ἔχε με παρῃτημένον. καὶ ἕτερος εἶπε ζεύγη βοῶν ἠγόρασα πέντε, καὶ πορεύομαι δοκιμάσαι αὐτά ἐρωτῶ σε, ἔχε με παρῃτημένον. καὶ ἕτερος εἶπε γυναῖκα ἔγημα, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο οὐ δύναμαι ἐλθεῖν. καὶ παραγενόμενος ὁ δοῦλος ἐκεῖνος ἀπήγγειλε τῷ κυρίῳ αὐτοῦ ταῦτα. τότε ὀργισθεὶς ὁ οἰκοδεσπότης εἶπε τῷ δούλῳ αὐτοῦ ἔξελθε ταχέως εἰς τὰς πλατείας καὶ ῥύμας τῆς πόλεως, καὶ τοὺς πτωχοὺς καὶ ἀναπήρους καὶ χωλοὺς καὶ τυφλοὺς εἰσάγαγε ὧδε. καὶ εἶπεν ὁ δοῦλος κύριε, γέγονεν ὡς ἐπέταξας, καὶ ἔτι τόπος ἐστί. καὶ εἶπεν ὁ κύριος πρὸς τὸν δοῦλον ἔξελθε εἰς τὰς ὁδοὺς καὶ φραγμοὺς καὶ ἀνάγκασον εἰσελθεῖν, ἵνα γεμισθῇ ὁ οἶκος μου. λέγω γὰρ ὑμῖν ὅτι οὐδεὶς τῶν ἀνδρῶν ἐκείνων τῶν κεκλημένων γεύσεταί μου τοῦ δείπνου. Πολλοί γὰρ εἰσιν κλητοί, ὀλίγοι δέ ἐκλεκτοί. THE GOSPEL Luke 14:16-24 The Lord said this parable: "A man once gave a great banquet, and invited many; and at the time of the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, 'Come; for all is now ready.' But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I go out and see it; I pray you, have me excused.' And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I must go to examine them; I pray you, have me excused.' And another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' So the servant came and reported this to his master. Then the householder in anger said to his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and maimed and blind and lame.' And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and there is still room.' And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet. For many are called, but few are chosen.'"