HERALD. Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral JUNE June Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral

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1 Page Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral HERALD JUNE 2014 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Dean s Message 2 President s Message 3 Philoptohos News 4 Stewardship 5 Philanthropia News 7 Philoptohos VIP 7 Ministries List 8 Sacraments/ Memorials 9 Youth News 9 Community News 10 Feast Day Article 14 Orthodox Calendar 15 GET READY FOR THIS YEAR S MAIN EVENT Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral V. Rev. Fr. John S. Bakas Dean Rev. Fr. Allan Boyd, Assistant Priest 1324 S. Normandie Avenue Los Angeles, CA Tel Fax The Pentecost, El Greco , Oil on Canvas, 275 X127 cm Museo del Prado, Madrid

2 Page 2 DEAN S MESSAGE A Guide to Serenity As we enter the summer season, with vacations and some hopeful moments of relaxation, let us not take a vacation from God and his Church. While we feast on certain summer delicacies the need to feed the soul is also imperative. Relaxation whether on the beach, a mountain retreat or just in your backyard Riviera is more than rest for the body. It is also a time to reflect and meditate on the real needs of the soul. Hoping you will take the below suggestions, study them and built a habit of practicing them seriously as part of your summer reading, think and pray about the following: 1. Prayer is not a spare tire that you pull out when in trouble, but it is a steering tire that directs the right path throughout life's journey. 2. So why is a car's windshield so large and the rear view Mirror so small? Because our past is not as important as our future. So, Look ahead and move on. 3. Friendship is like a book. It takes a few minutes to burn, but it takes years to write. 4. All things in life are temporary. If they are going well, enjoy it, they will not last forever. If they are going wrong, don t worry, they can t last long either. Trust in God for all things. 5. Old friends are Gold! New friends are diamonds. If you get a diamond, don't forget the gold! Because to hold a diamond, you always need a base of gold! smiles from above and says, Relax, it s just a bend, not the end! 7. When GOD solves your problems, you have faith in HIS abilities: when GOD doesn t solve your problems HE has faith in your abilities. 8. A blind person asked St. Anthony. Can there be anything worse than losing eye sight? He replied: Yes, losing your vision! 9. When you pray for others, God listens to you and blesses them, and sometimes, when you are sad or happy, remember that someone has prayed for you. 10. Worrying does not take away tomorrows troubles, it takes away today's peace. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God. In Christ, V. Rev. Fr. John S. Bakas, Dean 6. Often when we lose hope and think this is the end, GOD

3 Page 3 PARISH COUNCIL MESSAGE Raising a Child in God s Teachings As an important practice in our Orthodox Church, every person, child or adult, should have a godparent (sponsor) at the time that they enter the faith through Holy Baptism and Chrismation. To be a godparent is at the same time a great honor and a tremendous responsibility. My wife and I were thrilled to be asked to be godparents for our godson, Evan Boukidis. As Evan has matured into the wonderful young man that he is, Virginia and I are so blessed to have witnessed his parents exceptional foundation that they brought him up with the teachings of God. The challenge of raising a child in the teachings of God is perhaps far greater today than ever before. Young people today are contending against many negative influences that carry with them great appeal. Due to the fallen state that we are in, things that most harmful are the things that are most enticing. With the many obstacles and temptations, Evan s parents (Constantine and Eugenia Boukidis) and as godparents, we must help the precious souls entrusted to us throughout his entire life. way pleasing to God. Congratulations to all of our Saint Sophia graduates. Thanks to all of our dedicated Sunday School teachers and staff, Greek School teachers and staff, and to all of our parishioners who continue to grow in the important area of further education. Upcoming events in June will also include Sunday, June 29 th, 2014, as our General Assembly (more details to come). I am also proud to announce that our Parish Council s Executive Board members have agreed to provide the leadership roles in our upcoming 2014 L.A. Greek Fest. Parish Council members will also serve as committee members and any of you, who may be willing to be called upon to serve; please let I (or the front office) know. We need all of you! Yours in Christ, Brent A. Noyes, Parish Council President Evan is soon to be graduating from high school and embarking on his future education at the University of San Francisco. Together, we practice knowing our common faith and are committed to a life in Christ. We attend Saint Sophia together (we even sing in the choir side by side). Evan is a tremendous example of one who practices the commandments of our church. He applies the elements of our Christian faith throughout his moral life and choices he makes. He is spiritually motivated and spreads our loving faith to others. We continue to pledge ourselves to aid Evan in whatever necessities that may arise, but most especially in the giving of a good Orthodox Christian example to him. Evan, we are proud of your hard work, your enthusiasm in all that you are involved with, your creative talents and fun personality and for including your nouno and nouna in your life. We lovingly acknowledge, like our entire Community does, in recognizing you as the strong Christian that you have become. You fill our hearts with pride and want you to know how much you are loved. CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF GREEK ORTHODOXY IN LOS ANGELES It is truly an honor to be called upon to be your godparent. May we all live a life close to the Church, seeking help from Christ, that we may fulfill our sacred duty as godparents in a

4 Page 4 PHILOPTOHOS NEWS Summer is now officially here. Time for a little rest. We hope. Reaching out to those who are suffering and need help is what Philoptohos is all about and why we work so hard to raise funds. Our work with the Metropolis Kids and Cancer project, FOCUS, National Philoptohos charities, local area missions, senior citizens who cannot make ends meet each month, people in our community who are ill, or unemployed - and so many others keep us busy all the time. The outreach program is still large and we could still use some help if you wish to donate a gift card to Target, Trader Joe s, Wal-Mart anything would be greatly appreciated. We continue to send gift cards to these people so that they may purchase food and other essentials. Philoptohos has also helped with a number of burial expenses in the past year, and our outreach funds help us with those costs. You can be an angel to someone by being an angel to Philoptohos. The Mission Statement of Philoptohos To aid the poor, the destitute, the hungry, the aged, the sick, the unemployed, the orphaned, the imprisoned, the widowed, the handicapped, the victims of disasters, to undertake the burial of impoverished persons and to offer assistance to anyone who may need the help of the church through fund raising efforts this is what we do and this is why we put on fundraisers throughout the years. For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me John 12:8 With love in Christ s service, Virginia Noyes and the Philoptohos Board of Directors We had a few new projects and fundraisers this year and they were very well received. Thank you to everyone who supported these events for the poor and homeless. Our Shoe Soles Luncheon that collected shoes, socks and under clothes was wonderful! We collected 47 new pairs of shoes, 250 pairs of socks, 70 pairs of boxes, 70 packages of t-shirts, many toothbrushes, toothpaste and cash donations! Next up, a collection of new backpacks and school supplies for homeless children coming this summer. New ideas are on the horizon! We hope you will join us in our work. Debutante Ball: Plans are underway for the 2015 Debutante Ball. If you would like more information regarding the ball, you may send an to: the4beers@sbcglobal.net. Chairman Katrina Beers will be happy to answer any questions you may have! I d like to thank the members of the Board of Directors for all of their hard work and support this past year. They ve done a wonderful job and given a lot of time and energy to Philoptohos. The National Philoptohos Biennial Convention will take place in July and we will have a report from the convention in September. General assembly meetings are on vacation now and will resume in September. Have a happy and healthy summer.

5 Page 5 Believe and Belong through Christian Stewardship $6,000 To $7,999 Papalexis, Mr. & Mrs. Bill* $4,000 To $5,999 Gallanis, Mr. & Mrs. Andreas* Marakas, Mr. & Mrs. John* Stathes, Nick & Sonia* $2,000 To $3,999 Theodore, Mr. Steve Anonymous (1) $1,000 To $1,999 Bouras, Mr. & Mrs. Sotirios Galanakis, Mr. & Mrs. Apostolos Hondas, Ms. Alida STEWARDSHIP FAMILIES APRIL 2014 Judge, Mrs. Julia Koutsoukos, Mrs. A. Electra Lolonis, Mr. & Mrs. Anastasios Perris, Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas Politis, Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas Thomas, Mr. & Mrs. George Venetos, Mr. & Mrs. Paul Anonymous (1) $650 To $999 Andrews, Mr. & Mrs. Pavlos Defterios, Mr. & Mrs. Christo Finch, Mr. Mark & Dimitriadi, Ms. Eva Iatropoulos, Mr. & Mrs. Nikos Kostas, Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Nahmoulis, Ms. Vida Nauman, Mr. Kyle Isaris Stathes, Christina & Charlie Tassop, Ms. Mary Anonymous (1) OTHER Cook, Mr. & Mrs. Martin Dalkas, Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Karadenes, Dr. & Mrs. Mark Keramidas, Mr. & Mrs. George Loisides, Mr. & Mrs. Michael Mars, Mrs. Irene Papoulias, Mr. & Mrs. Tom Anonymous (1) * Life Members Endowment Fund +Blessed Memory ANNOUNCEMENTS Attention Sunday School Families! You have special seating reserved for you right up front in the Cathedral every Sunday: The first two pews on the left side. Do take advantage of this beautiful view of the Divine Liturgy. Your children will likely be more engaged in the service through increased visibility. The Why of Orthodox Belief and Practice with Father Allan Boyd. For those wishing to become Orthodox and for those who have been Orthodox their whole lives, but wish to experience their Faith more meaningfully. This class offers you an expanded experience of everything we do; from the way we cross ourselves, to the Sacraments of the Church, to our Major Feast Days and our Divine Liturgy. People who have already been Orthodox for 60 years have remarked that what they learned about their Faith from this class was like going from a tiny black & white TV set to experiencing it in IMAX. This class meets Monday nights at 7:30-8:30 PM, upstairs in the General Assembly room of the Huffington Center. Joy of Parenting Classes in the Huffington Center. Join your fellow parishioners in a lively discussion of parenting of children of all ages, from toddlers to teens and beyond on Sunday, June 1, following Holy Communion. We conclude at 12:15 p.m. Come with your concerns and questions or just listen; there is no pressure to speak to the class. It s a wonderful way to get acquainted with other parents. There is no fee to attend. Classes are held in the Work/Study Room, upstairs near the left-hand side staircase, in the Huffington Center. The Joy of Parenting Ministry is facilitated by Barbara Kappos, LCSW and Nikolaos Stefanidis, Ph.D. June 1st is the last Joy of Parenting session of the Sunday School year, bring your questions. It's open topic day! Hope to see you. To be on the Joy of Parenting list, please send your info to: L.A.GreekChurchLady@gmail.com. Attention Middle & High School Students! The first Sunday of each month has been officially named Youth Sunday. In addition to a Sunday School student reading the Epistle, the Parish Council of Saint Sophia Cathedral invites middle and high school students to volunteer in the Narthex during Divine Liturgy. You'll be paired with a seasoned Parish Council member to train you. If you'd like to volunteer in the Narthex and/or pass the baskets, please sign up by contacting L.A.GreekChurchLady@gmail.com. Send your name, phone number, age and what day you'd like to volunteer. Please arrive at church at 9:45 a.m. so you may be trained. Upcoming date: June 1, 2014.

6 Page 6 Kastania, Messenian Mani Kastania, located at the crossroads of Messenia and Lakonia, is a village that has retained its distinctive Byzantine character. Once the fifth largest settlement in the Mani, Kastania is first mentioned in a Venetian legal decision of 1278 as Castagnia (from κάστανα, chestnuts). Connected to Byzantine Mystras by overland routes, the village is home to numerous medieval churches, including St. Peter, St. John the Baptist, St. Nicholas Maroulainas, and St. Nicholas Trikambanos. These exquisite structures exhibit the high quality monumental painting that is characteristic of the late Byzantine period in the Peloponnese, as well as eleventh-century marble reliefs carved by Niketas, a well -known ecclesiastical sculptor in the Mani. Architectural remains in Kastania like the Dourakis Pyrgos, the fortified tower of a local clan ruler, testify to Greece s years under Ottoman rule. Famously, the village served as a place of refuge for Theodoros Kolokotrones, O Geros tou Morea ( The elder of the Morea ) and a hero of the Greek War of Independence. Kastania s neighborhoods, defined by narrow streets lined with stone homes, transport modern-day visitors to a medieval village of grand significance. Kastania was recognized in 1965 and 2002 as a historical landmark. stunning portrait of the enthroned bishop and a scene from his Life reveal the church s dedication and highlight the local popularity of this episcopal figure. Framed saints, imitating portable icons, decorate the upper registers of the walls. Surrounding the faithful are tender portraits of archangels, military saints, and female saints. The style of the painting is linked to Mystras, the most important artistic center in the late Byzantine Peloponnese and the seat of the Despotate. You can make a Difference Restoration work at Saint Nicholas Trikambanos will be undertaken by the 26th Directorate of Byzantine Antiquities (Kalamata, Messenia) with the support of the community of Saint Sophia Cathedral, Los Angeles, and with encouragement of Father John Bakas, Dean of the Cathedral. Work will include architectural restoration of the building and cleaning and consolidation of the wall paintings. With the help of the Los Angeles community, this important chapel will be restored to its 15th-century splendor. Checks supporting the Saint Nicholas Trikambanos Saint Nicholas (Agios Nikolaos Trikambanos) is built against the sloping hills that frame Kastania. Constructed in a cruciform shape, the chapel is decorated with wall paintings of the fifteenth century. Although the images on the church interior are badly damaged, the painter s virtuosity is revealed in faces and figures that can still be discerned under centuries of smoke and salt accretions. Images of Saint Nicholas a restoration of Saint Nicholas Trikambanos can be made out to: Saint Sophia Cathedral Byzantine Church Restoration Project

7 Page 7 PHILANTHROPIA NEWS PHILOPTOHOS VIP Get on the Bus: This program was introduced to us by Sister Catherine Marie, a chaplain at the women s jail. With your generous support, we reached our goal of $1,500 to sponsor a bus in 2013 that scheduled visits with hundreds of children who boarded buses to travel from cities all over the State of California to be united with their incarcerated moms and/or dads, on Mothers Day and Fathers Day respectively. Please give generously again this year so that we may reach our goal of $1,500 for Donations may be sent to the PHILANTHROPIA office at 6357 Crebs Avenue, Tarzana, CA We will keep you posted as the day approaches. Thank you and God Bless! City of Hope: The 2014 Pediatric Celebration of Life which recognizes all the children that have succumbed from cancer will be held this year on Wednesday, November 12th at the City of Hope Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, 1500 E. Duarte Road, Duarte, CA Tel: (626) We sponsor the service and booklet for this memorial. Thank you again for your contribution Used Clothing and Canned Goods: Thank you for all the generous donation of used clothing during the Lenten season and beyond. This is a year-long project, so please continue your donations as there are still many we need to reach. Please label all clothing donations on the outside of the bags by indicating whether they are for men, women or children. The two new receptacles for "used clothing" and "canned goods" are working great. They are located side by side, in the general area of the nursery. Thank you! We will be visiting the beautiful Getty Villa in Malibu to see the Heaven and Earth-Art of Byzantium exhibition from Greece. J. Paul Getty has been collaborating with the Benaki Museum in Athens and the Hellenic Ministry of Culture. Since we Greeks love our Greek Heritage this is one event you will not want to miss seeing the artifacts such as icons, mosaics, frescoes, jewelry, sculptures etc. and it is here only for a few months. Mark the date Thursday, June 26, Please be at the Church by 9:00 am as the bus will depart from the Church at 9:15 am sharp and return to the Church by 3:00 P.M. The cost is $30.00 which includes the bus, museum and lunch. Coogie's in Santa Monica will offer 3 choices: angel hair pasta, hamburger, or turkey sandwich. Chairman for the trip is Petsa Schwartz Call Co-Chairperson Vickie Deryiades at to reserve your place. Make checks payable to Philoptohos VIP and mail to Petsa Schwartz at 4151 Via Marina Del Rey,# 212 CA Father John Bakas will be the Docent. In His Service, Athina Lolonis, VIP President The Wall-Las Memorias Project: We continue to support Richard Zaldivar, Executive Director, in their quest to achieve the same goals we have for continued AIDS education, awareness and prevention. Street Outreach: Dr. Nikos Stefanidis, Ph.D. a Staff Psychologist at Children s Hospital, L.A., is the Clinical Director of this High Risk Program. Your continued help will assure that these children are cared for year round by purchasing new items such as the following: T-Shirts (M-L); Boxers (M-L); White Socks; Blankets; Sleeping Bags; Sweatshirts; Snacks; Water/Juices; Bus Tokens; Sneakers; Hygiene Items (Travel Size); Tooth Brushes & Toothpaste; Shampoo; Deodorant; Sun Screen -- be sure to label them for Dr. Nikos Stefanidis and leave them by the clothing bins. We will make sure that he picks items up. Thank you. thank Perry Lambert who is coordinating our website. (Note: We will be preparing a Spring-Summer combined issue of the newsletter again this year while Presbytera fully recovers from her hospitalization earlier this year. Thank you for your understanding.) God bless you! Father Peter Philanthropia Website: The Winter issue of the PHILANTHROPIA Newsletter that was mailed recently, will be on the website shortly at: We

8 Page 8 MINISTRIES Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral Very Reverend Father John S. Bakas, Dean Reverend Father Allan (Gabriel) Boyd Jim Kollias, Choir Director Dimitris Liogris, Protopsaltis Michael Kontaxis, Assistant Psaltis Christopher Yokas, Organist James Karatsikis, Sexton FOUNDATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES Executive Officers George E. Preonas, President Andrew Evangelatos, Executive Vice President Dr. James A. Demetriou, Vice President & C.F.O. Constantine M. Boukidis, Secretary Tina Callas, Treasurer Members V. Rev. Fr. John S. Bakas Nicholas Bissias Timi Loomos Freshman Alek Haidos Steve Hanna Michael Huffington Gig Kyriacou Brent Noyes John T. Pappas Jim Zaferis Presidential Appointments Anthony A. Demetriou, Presidential Assistant John G. Marakas III, Sr. Advisor to the Board Andrew J. Demetriou, Foundation General Counsel PARISH COUNCIL BOARD OF DIRECTORS Executive Officers Brent Noyes, President John Kopatsis, Vice President Irene Andreadis, Recording Secretary Karen Sarames, Corresponding Secretary Michael Kraios, Treasurer & C.F.O. Members Bertha Angels Eleni Constantine Manolelis Jeanine Hanna Glenn Lianos Loula Moschonas Peter Pallas Dean Peratsakis Dorothy Spirus Tom Ward Anna Yallourakis Auditing Committee James Ananias Anthony Demetriou Tom Moore PHILOPTOHOS SOCIETY Executive Officers Virginia Noyes, President Helene Ballas, 1st Vice President Marianna Politis, 2nd Vice President Mary Gallanis, Recording Secretary Lola Gialketsis, Corresponding Secretary Scarlett Billis, Treasurer Dina Oldknow, Advisor Honorary Life Members Jennie Doumak Members Christine Peratis Allison Stavaridis Frances Bissias Judith Christopoulos Pauline Evangelatos Olga Jordan Tricia Kremer Coni Manders Sophie Mastor Jan Pastras Christina Peratsakis Mary Tassop Jayne Poullos Sonia Stathes Maria Toczek OFFICE STAFF Helen Ellis, Office Administrator Jessica Benitez, Admin. Assist. Noah Johnson, Sacraments and Events CUSTODIAL STAFF Marcial Cerna Oscar Castro Mauricio Mira Miguel Rosales ALTAR BOYS Chris Halekakis BASKETBALL Gig Kyriacou & Paul Cooper BIBLE STUDY Very Rev. Father John Bakas Rev. Father Allan Boyd BOOK STORE William Striglos CAMP ZOE Very Rev. Father John Bakas CHILD CARE Kathy & Marsha Zagorianos CHOIR Jim Kollias COFFEE HOUR Ann Pappas Georgia Vasila DOCENTS Faye Demetriou EASTER PICNIC Ted Pappas GREEK DANCE GROUPS Barbara Kappos GREEKS in HOLLYWOOD Dina Demetrius HELLENIC ACADEMY Andri Christodoulidou HOSPITALITY Niki Korbakis Maria Pelargos L.A. GREEK FEST Parish Council Executive Board MR. & MRS. CLUB Dean & Christine Peratsakis ODOS The Way Helen Lambros PARENTING Nick Stefanidis Barbara Kappos PHILANTHROPIA Rev. Father Peter Lambert PHILOPTOHOS V.I.P. Athina Lolonis, President SAINT SOPHIA CAMP Melanie O Regan Jack Stumpus (Golf Event) Tony Mastor (Tennis Event) Mary-Kay Demetriou (Tennis Event) SUNDAY SCHOOL Eleni Yokas YOUTH Rev. Father Allan Boyd

9 Page 9 SACRAMENTS AND MEMORIALS June 7 June 21 June 28 WEDDINGS Sereen Bartse and George Hreis Vasiliki Nikolau and Juston Scherer Sponsor: Peter Mitchell Lena Godas and Bobby Livingston Sponsor: Ion Danes June 1 Solon Soteras Mary Katsapis Fred Fuller - 2 years June 15 William T, Golf Lambros J. Stamatiades MEMORIALS June 22 Panos P. Morphos - 35 years Hellen Kappos - 5 years Michael Kappos - 6 years Clarence Colyer - 2 years Nickolas Papanicolau June 29 Perry D. Caiopoulos June 14 June 21 June 28 June 1 June 8 June 15 June 22 June 29 BAPTISMS Stavros Vourakis Son of Aki and Adriana Vourakis Sponsor: Erica and James Schwalm Alexandros Andrews Son of Paul Andrews and Konstandina Pantazis-Andrews Sponsor: Demetrios Papantonopoulos Colette Kalkanis Daughter of James and Amanda Kalkanis Sponsor: Peter Tsandoulas Elias Schrieber Son of David and Kathleen Schrieber Sponsor: John Schrieber EPISTLE READERS Evangelos Christifides Steve Hanna Jim Boltinghouse Jon Boatright Noah Johnson Sunday School YOUTH NEWS Youth Program Contacts ALTAR BOYS Chris Halekakis cjhmgmt@gmail.com BASKETBALL Paul Cooper mrpaul599@sbcglobal.net CAMP ZOE Fr. John Bakas frbakas@stsophia.org GREEK DANCE Barbara Kappos Bkappos@aol.com HELLENIC ACADEMY Sunday, June 1 Regular Schedule (Last day of regular classes Sunday, June 8 Last Day of Sunday School - End-of-Year Youth Celebration following Liturgy in the east parking lot June Activities Andri Christodoulidou andri.christodoulidou@cantab.net ODOS The Way Orthodox Development of Spirituality Helen Lambros HLambros@aol.com SAINT SOPHIA CAMP Melanie O Regan mell0n@aol.com saintsophiacamp.org SUNDAY SCHOOL Eleni Yokas eyokas@college.usc.edu Hellenic Academy Saturday, June 7 Graduation Sunday, June 8 Youth Ministries End of Year celebration

10 Page 10 Saint Sophia Philoptohos Debutante Ball Teen girls and their parents from all over Southern California gathered in the Huffington Center last month for an informational meeting on the upcoming biennial Saint Sophia Philoptohos Debutante Presentation Ball, which will be held on January 18, Applications to participate are due by July 1st. Katrina Beers is the Ball Chairwoman COMMUNITY NEWS Mother s Day Luncheon and Fashion Show The Saint Sophia Philoptohos Society held its annual Benefit, the Mother s Day Luncheon and Fashion Show, at the Sheraton Universal Hotel on May 10, The highlight of the event was the presentation of Mother of the Year to Mrs. Joan Tsioutsias Anast, a woman who has spent decades of her life devoted to her family, church, and community. In joining Philoptohos in the 1970s, she served and chaired various committees including Saint Sophia s Debutante Presentation Ball, Mother s Day Luncheon, revitalizing the local G.O.Y.A., and leading events like Adopt a Child from Cyprus, and various Pan-Orthodox sports tournaments many of which continue to this day. Philoptohos President Virginia Noyes said, We were proud to give this deserved recognition to Mrs. Joan Anast for her tremendous dedication to the Philoptohos Society, the church choir, and the Saint Sophia Cathedral community. She is a treasure and we appreciate her continual devotion. Constance Manders and Christina Peratsakis, cochairwomen of the event, created a beautiful day filled with tributes to Joan by family and friends, followed by a gourmet lunch and fashion show. The Saint Sophia Philoptohos Society serves many philanthropic activities locally, nationally, and internationally. Fundraising events such as the Mother s Day Luncheon and Fashion Show allow Philoptohos to continue its worthy work in assisting individuals and families in need and in supporting a variety of charities. Joan Tsioutsias Anast was born in Fresno, California to John George Tsioutsias and Nekoletta (Neka) Telegadas Tsioutsias November 12, Joan, along with her sister Rita, joined the choir under the direction of beloved Frank Desby. Joan was also involved in the Greek Orthodox Youth of America (G.O.Y.A), served on various committees and served as secretary at the time that the Los Angeles G.O.Y.A. hosted the successful National Convention in Participating in her church life and G.O.Y.A. brought her life s greatest gift, her life s partner and husband, Ernest William Anast. As Joan began to serve G.O.Y.A. as secretary, Ernie was G.O.Y.A. treasurer. Soon thereafter, Joan and Ernie married in In the early 1960 s, Joan joined Saint Sophia Philoptohos. From the beginning, being a participant in the liturgy was an important part of Joan s spiritual growth and life. For more than forty years, Joan was a dedicated and active choir member, singing in the six hour consecration of Saint Sophia Cathedral in 1952 and singing in the Western States Choir for the visit of Patriarch Demetrios I to San Francisco in She has created a legacy of love of and participation in liturgical music, bringing her children to choir to sing when they were young, and now seeing her granddaughter Anastasia participate in the Saint Sophia Choir. Ernie, a member of the Board of Trustees for 35 years, Parish Council for ten years including tenure as President, Vice President and Treasurer, was given the honor as an Archon of the Order of Saint Andrew by the Ecumenical Patriarchate which was conveyed by Archbishop Iakovos in Ernie and Joan are the proud parents of Katrina Anast Beers and William Ernest Anast and feel blessed to have their son in law Gregory Kevin Beers and daughter in law Laurie Lamkin Anast, in their lives. Their precious grandchildren Alexandra Nekoletta Anast, Kassiani Margarita Anast, Elleni Noel Anast, Anastasia Beers and John Gregory Beers.

11 Page 11 The Mayor of Los Angeles is coming to the L.A. s number one Greek food and wine festival again this year because it s the best Greek food and kefi in town. Tell all your friends about it. Come and experience authentic Greek food and wine like nowhere else. Enjoy Greek Epicurean delights in a festive atmosphere that can only be found in a real Greek glendi. See, taste, smell, hear and touch the millennia-old Greek culture. Chaired by the Saint Sophia Parish Council Executive Board

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14 Page 14 By John Kopatsis Baptism with The Holy Spirit Pentecost (Πεντηκοστή [ἡμέρα],"the fiftieth [day]") is the feast commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ,120 in all, and it is described as the "Birthday of the Church. Pentecost is celebrated 50 days after Easter Sunday, hence its name Pentecost falls on the tenth day after Ascension Thursday. In Acts of the Apostles an account is given of the day of Pentecost when the twelve Apostles, as well as Mary and people of many nationalities were gathered in one place. All at once the sound of a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the room: And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:2-4) The Fathers of the early Church found in this story as they did in so many passages in the New Testament a salvific reversal of an earlier, Old Testament story, namely that of the Tower of Babel. When Babel collapsed, humanity was divided into a multitude of races speaking a multitude of different languages. The Pentecostal gift of tongues, allowing the Apostles to preach God s word to all men, held out the promise of a reunification of man, through conversion and baptism, within a single blessed Christian community. Domenikos Theotokopoulos (Δομήνικος Θεοτοκόπουλος), a Greek native of Crete, first studied Byzantine art with the intention of becoming an icon painter. Crete was a Venetian colony at that time and at about age twenty Domenikos went to Venice to study the paintings of masters such as Titian. Following his stay in Venice, he worked and taught in Rome and then moved to Spain where he became known simply as El Greco (The Greek). Spain became his home for the remainder of his life and by the time The Pentecost was painted for an Augustinian seminary in Madrid, his style was dramatically different from his earlier work. In this late style, El Greco s Pentecost, now in the Prado Museum, Madrid, was painted to be an altarpiece. Its height above floor level would place the seminarians at the lower part of the painting and they would see the subject matter increase in complexity as their gaze moved upward toward Mary the Mother of God, dressed in red and blue and seated in the center with the Apostles gathered around her, and the plumes of fire. He squeezes the miracle into a tall, thin composition which emphasizes the miraculous descent of the Holy Spirit, represented by the dove within a sunburst at the top of the picture; its wings are spread and the light that surrounds it is radiating downward over the gathering. From it come emanations in the form of tongues like flames of fire that alight on the heads of the Apostles. Two other women are included in the painting thought to be Mary Magdalene and the fourth person from the left side, Martha. El Greco also included himself in this painting. His face is second from the right; he is the man with a white beard who seems to be in deep thought and is not looking up toward the dove, but looking out of the picture, making eye contact with the viewer in real space. The two men in the foreground at the bottom of Detail of The Pentecost a short flight of stairs have lifted their arms and are leaning back slightly in order to gaze directly into the visionary apparition, thus guiding the viewer s gaze into transcendental space. The opposite directionality of the composition of these gazes relates the outside world and the image-world creating vertically extended multi-layered composition. Painting is by necessity a silent medium, but El Greco manages none the less to convey the mighty rushing wind of the biblical text in the windblown, brightly polychromatic draperies of his reeling and ecstatic figures. Visited by the miraculous flames of the Holy Spirit, the Apostles themselves seem to turn flame-like, their bodies flickering and twisting and aspiring heavenwards. El Greco s paintings have elements of expressionism and often are described as having a sense of mystery. Although the term, Expressionism, did not come into use until the twentieth century, it is an apt term for El Greco s late paintings. Expressionism is the result of an artist s effort to project emotional intensity and inner feelings into a work. The figures in The Pentecost are not posing for a formal group portrait. They are an animated informal mix of people who in body language and facial expression are reacting individually, and yet they are part of the collective experience. They are responding with awe and excited emotional involvement as they take part in this miraculous. The strong spiritual emotion transfers from painting directly to the audience. El Greco's preference for exceptionally tall and slender figures and elongated compositions led him to disregard the laws of nature and elongate this composition to ever greater extents than a tall altarpiece. A significant innovation of El Greco's Pentecost and other mature works is the interweaving between form and space; a reciprocal relationship is developed between the two which completely unifies the painting surface. This interweaving would re-emerge three centuries later in the works of Cézanne and Picasso.

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