INSIDE THIS ISSUE Fr. Nick s Net

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1 News & Events INSIDE THIS ISSUE Fr. Nick s Net Parish News & Events From the Inter-NET Around the World Pg. 2 Pg. 3 Pg. 5 Pg. 6 HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH STEUBENVILLE, OHIO MAY, 2016 VOLUME VIII ISSUE 5 ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS ISSUE: May Calendar Parish Assembly Minutes May Parish Assembly Agenda Mothers Day Name Sheet Memorial Day Name Sheet THE MISSION OF THE HOLY TRINITY PARISH IS TO SEEK AND ACHIEVE ONENESS WITH GOD IN HIS REVEALED SON, JESUS CHRIST THROUGH DAILY SACRAMENTAL AND SACRIFICIAL LIVING. WE WILL STRIVE FOR THE PEACEFUL AND LOVING UNITY WITH OUR NEIGHBORS IN CHRIST WHICH MAKES US HIS DISCIPLES. / 1 The Net July /August 2015

2 Fr. Nick s Net The Net is the Monthly Newsletter of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church PARISH INFORMATION PARISH PRIEST: FR. NICHOLAS M. HALKIAS PHONE: (740) HOME: (724) FRNICK@HOLYTRINITYSTB.ORG ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT: CYNTHIA RICHARDS OFFICE@HOLYTRINITYSTB.ORG PARISH ADDRESS: 300 SOUTH FOURTH STREET P.O. BOX 788 STEUBENVILLE, OH PHONE: (740) FAX: (740) OFFICE@HOLYTRINITYSTB.ORG WEB: Holy Trinity Church is a parish of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh (pittsburgh.goarch.org) and Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America ( under the Spiritual Jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople ( PARISH MINISTRIES Tony Mougianis Nick Riley Pete Caleodis Rikki Kamarados Don Kronstein Joanne McCraley Marianne Balakos George Berris John Josai PARISH COUNCIL President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Asst. Treasurer Asst. Treasurer Steve Pahides Connie Shea Tina Van Dijk Philoptochos... Rikki Kamarados Religious Education... Stewardship... GOYA... Rikki Kamarados JOY... Maria Matzorkis HOPE... Maria Matzorkis Choir... Pete Caleodis Library / Bookstore... Louise Kronstein Senior Citizens... Barbara Lee Maragos Chian Society... John A. Kamarados Pan-Icarian Brotherhood... Stacey Kotsanis AHEPA... Tommy Kotsanis 2 The Net May 2016 May 2016 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen! Was it worth it? All the fasting All the prayer All the works of mercy Were they worth it your life? Were those minor inconveniences a small price to pay to experience a small taste of the true joy that the Lord has waiting for you in the next life? Indeed, there is so much that does await us. It is hard to describe. St. Paul says, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. (1 Corinthians 2:9) Even St. Paul, as articulate as he is, cannot describe the full extent of the delight that we will experience, once we truly give our hearts over to Christ. We become unweighted by the cares of this life. We become unaffected by its worries. We become unwavering in our zeal and dedication to our Lord, because we are aware, to a degree, of the incredible blessings that God is currently giving us. And we further know that these blessings are only a drop in the bucket of what is coming if we can but hold on a little longer to our faith -- if we can endure until the end. What love of our Lord we will see! That is why the Paschal season is such a bright and joyful experience. That is why we constantly sing the Lord s victorious hymn over sin and death. That is why we are called to live in such a way where we, can take that victory and make the Lord victorious over the real enemies in our lives. And those enemies are not the people who hate us or despise us. Those enemies are not the people who slander us and seek to do evil to us. They are not even the ones who successfully hurt us. Those enemies are the same enemies that Christ endured: Sin and Death. There are no worse enemies to God and us than these. Sin is our enemy because it places its own desire ahead of the desire of the Lord for us. Most of the time we sin, not because we wish to go against God, but because we truly believe that we know better. As silly a statement as that is, it is the truth. If we actually stop and think about our truly sinful decisions, almost all of them are us deciding that we know better than God what is best for our lives. And the fruits of those choices serve to distance us from our true selves and from God. Death is our enemy because we were made for immortality. We were made to live forever. Death, therefore, is not at all what God really wants for us. The experience of all those who died before Jesus resurrected was indeed a tragedy. Good or bad, all went to Sheol or Hades, which was a dead end. It was a holding place for all souls; none could make it out, because our own powers and abilities were incapable of defeating its power. Christ came to destroy the power of death. He broke the gates of death, so that we could not be contained there anymore. Our experience now that Christ has risen from the dead, will be an experience of the everlasting love of God. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39). The only thing that can stand in our way of that joyful experience is our inability to give our Lord our entire lives. Whatever we truly give to Him will die to itself and be resurrected as a healed part of our lives. After all, if none of those powers above, as St. Paul says, can separate us from God s love, what can? Our fallen human reasoning in other words our stubborn sinful ways. But that is why we are given Lent as a time to give God small parts of our lives. This way we can see for ourselves, how He redeems and strengthens those small things. How much more will He redeem our entire lives, if we will give ourselves completely over to Him. Let us begin that journey by proclaiming His victory over sin and death! And may His victory become our victory over sin and death! Christ is Risen!!! Truly He is Risen!!!

3 News & Events WORSHIP SCHEDULE Sunday Worship... May Our regular schedule for Sunday Worship is that Orthros will begin at 9:00 A.M. and Divine Liturgy will begin at 10:00 A.M. We will also be having Hymnology the first Sunday of the month starting at 11:00 A.M. Paraklesis Services... May Paraklesis Services are normally offered every Wednesday at 6:00 P.M., unless otherwise scheduled. MAY These are the services for the month of May. Please check your schedules and plan to attend. Sunday, May 1... Great and Holy Pascha 11:00 A.M. Agape Vespers (Easter Egg Hunt following) Monday, May 2... St. George the Trophybearer 8:30 A.M. Orthros 9:30 A.M. Liturgy Wednesday, May 4 6:00 P.M. Paschal Matins Thursday, May 5... St. Irene the Great 9:30 A.M. Divine Liturgy Friday, May 6... Life-Giving Font 10:30 A.M. Liturgy - Martins Ferry at Martins Ferry Tuesday, May 10 4:00 P.M. Confession Thursday, May 19 11:00 A.M. Confession Saturday, May Sts. Constantine & Helen 8:30 A.M. Orthros 9:30 A.M. Liturgy Sunday, May Sunday of the Samaritan Woman Pastoral Visit of His Eminence Metropolitan Savas to Holy Trinity, Steubenville, OH Monday, May Memorial Day Cemetery Visits 9:00 A.M. Fort Steuben 10:30 A.M. Union Cemetery HAPPY BIRTHDAY The following people will be celebrating their birthday in the month of May. Lucianna Petrides May 01 Gage Strickler May 02 Richard Mahfood May 03 Stella Parikakis May 05 Alan Locascio May 05 Pete Atsalis May 10 Katelyn Rebon May 10 Nicholas Kirsch May 12 Luke Zorne May 12 Faye Christ May 14 Alexandria Caras May 14 Vasso Espinosa May 15 Sophia Panagis May 21 Marie Economos May 22 James Rebon May 23 Charles Rebon May 23 John Tressler May 24 Mark Al Kaed May 24 Darryl Shekas May 26 Erik van Dijk May 26 Enza Tsouris May 26 If your name was not listed and you had a birthday during this month, please contact the office; and we will be happy to place it on our roster for next year. PASTORAL VISIT FROM HIS EMINENCE His Eminence Metropolitan Savas of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh will be honoring us with a pastoral visit on Sunday, May 29. It is his yearly visit with our parish. We are so grateful that he has chosen to take time out of his incredibly busy schedule to visit with us! Let us all come and greet our Spiritual Father with great love and joy! ANNUAL ST. PHOTIOS AWARDS BANQUET His Eminence Metropolitan Savas of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh is hosting the third annual St. Photios Awards Banquet on Saturday, May 7, 2016, at the Sheraton Pittsburgh Hotel at Station Square; Hors d oeuvres will be served at 4:00 P.M. and dinner at 5:25 P.M. The net proceeds of this event will benefit the Metropolitan Benevolence Fund. We are proud to announce that Rikki Kamarados and Nick Maragos were selected to be honored at this event. Congratulations to both Rikki and Nick! MEMORIAL DAY We will be celebrating Memorial Day with a visit to Fort Steuben Burial and Union Cemetery. Fort Steuben will begin at 9:00 A.M. with Union Cemetery following at 10:30 A.M. Please join us as we pray for and remember the departed. GRADUATE PICTURES The Holy Trinity family is very proud of all our graduating seniors. If you have a graduate and would like to share his or her graduation picture for publication, 3 The Net May 2016

4 News & Events please bring a small one to the office. Also include a note with the graduate s name, current school and intended school s name. Thank you and may God bless all graduates. 4 The Net May 2016 ANNOUNCEMENTS AHEPA Pancake Breakfast... May 15 Pancake and sausage breakfast at noon in the Fellowship Hall. Parish Assembly Meeting... May 15 The Parish Assembly meeting will begin at approximately 11:30 A.M., following Divine Liturgy. All members in good standing of our parish are encouraged to come and vote. One- Year Memorial... May 22 At noon there will be a One - Year Memorial for Roberta Atsalis with kolyva and lunch in the social hall. May her memory be eternal! RELIGIOUS EDUCATION GREEK SCHOOL... Resumes in Fall, 2016 Pam Makricosta would like to thank Fr. Nick, the Greek School Community, parents and children for their support during the school year. BIBLE STUDY... May 4, 25 The Bible Study group normally holds it meetings on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month at 10:00 A.M. PARISH GROUPS CHOIR... TBA Rehearsals are held whenever possible and the times vary. Please contact Pete Caleodis if you are interested in joining. Thank You. PHILOPTOCHOS... May 5 The Philoptochos Ladies will have their Annual Luncheon at Noon. on Thursday, May 5, at Janoskis. PARISH COUNCIL... May 10 Parish Council meetings are held the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm at the church unless otherwise stated. FESTIVAL BAKING SCHEDULE A tentative baking schedule is out for the month of May. Please note that these dates are subject to change. You will be notified through your weekly bulletin if there is a change. May 3 9:00 A.M. Koulourakia May 10 9:00 A.M. Kataifi May 12 9:00 A.M. Koulourakia (tentative) May 17 9:00 A.M. Galatobouriko May 24 9:00 A.M Raisin Filled Cookies May 31 9:00 A.M. Souzoukakia FESTIVAL NEWS Twas the Night Before... I am sure most of you know and can even recite most of the famous poem, Twas the Night Before Christmas. Well, guess what! It s May the month before Festival Thirty, and all is going as planned. The bakers are even a bit ahead of schedule, even though they interrupted their routine to make hundreds of loaves of their famous Easter bread. In addi-tion last month s festival meeting revealed some exciting changes for this year s festival layout including combining the tavern and gyro booths. The ads for the souvenir album and placemats are coming in well, and work has started on the layout for both. Though things look good for the moment, we are still in great need of help from YOU. I am reminded of the poster of Uncle Sam (during the war years) pointing out to the reader with the caption, Uncle Sam needs YOU! Today, the poster might feature a picture of our beloved church with the caption, Holy Trinity needs YOU! Yes, one of the few remaining needs we have is people to work during the various shifts. If you haven t already done so, decide when you can work and let our scheduling chairperson, Stacey Kotsanis, know; but, remember, your day doesn t have to end when your shift is over. Just ask who needs help, and I am sure you will find there is more to do. Okay? Until next month, Twas the month before Festival, and all through the church, many people were stirring... MARCH MONTHLY FINANCIALS March weekly income $2, March weekly expense $4, HAPPY MOTHER S DAY Mother s Day is more than just a day for cards, chocolate and reservations at crowded restaurants. Mother s Day is a celebration that finds solid support in biblical principles and commands. In Exodus 20:12, God commands us to: Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. Happy Mother s Day to all mothers and may you always be honored and revered! Please turn in the name sheet included with this newsletter.

5 It was the worst news I could get as an atheist: my agnostic wife had decided to become a Christian. Two words shot through my mind. The first was an expletive; the second was divorce. I thought she was going to turn into a self-righteous holy roller. But over the following months, I was intrigued by the positive changes in her character and values. Finally, I decided to take my journalism and legal training (I was legal editor of the Chicago Tribune) and systematically investigate whether there was any credibility to Christianity. Maybe, I figured, I could extricate her from this cult. I quickly determined that the alleged resurrection of Jesus was the key. Anyone can claim to be divine, but if Jesus backed up his claim by returning from the dead, then that was awfully good evidence he was telling the truth. For nearly two years, I explored the minutia of the historical data on whether Easter was myth or reality. I didn t merely accept the New Testament at face value; I was determined only to consider facts that were well-supported historically. As my investigation unfolded, my atheism began to buckle. Was Jesus really executed? In my opinion, the evidence is so strong that even atheist historian Gerd Lüdemann said His death by crucifixion was indisputable. Was Jesus tomb empty? Scholar William Lane Craig points out that its location was known to Christians and non- Christians alike. So if it hadn t been empty, it would have been impossible for a movement founded on the resurrection to have exploded into existence in the same city where Jesus had been publicly executed just a few weeks before. Besides, even Jesus opponents implicitly admitted the tomb was vacant by saying that his body had been stolen. But nobody had a motive for taking the body, especially the disciples. They wouldn t have been willing to die brutal martyrs deaths if they knew this was all a lie. HOW EASTER KILLED MY FAITH IN ATHEISM By LEE STROBEL - Apr 16, 2011 From the Inter-NET Did anyone see Jesus alive again? I have identified at least eight ancient sources, both inside and outside the New Testament, that in my view confirm the apostles conviction that they encountered the resurrected Christ. Repeatedly, these sources stood strong when I tried to discredit them. Could these encounters have been hallucinations? No way, experts told me. Hallucinations occur in individual brains, like dreams, yet, according to the Bible, Jesus appeared to groups of people on three different occasions including 500 at once! Was this some other sort of vision, perhaps prompted by the apostles grief over their leader s execution? This wouldn t explain the dramatic conversion of Saul, an opponent of Christians, or James, the onceskeptical half-brother of Jesus. Neither was primed for a vision, yet each saw the risen Jesus and later died proclaiming He had appeared to him. Besides, if these were visions, the body would still have been in the tomb. Was the resurrection simply the recasting of ancient mythology, akin to the fanciful tales of Osiris or Mithras? If you want to see a historian laugh out loud, bring up that kind of pop-culture nonsense. One by one, my objections evaporated. I read books by skeptics, but their counter-arguments crumbled under the weight of the historical data. No wonder atheists so often come up short in scholarly debates over the resurrection. In the end, after I had thoroughly investigated the matter, I reached an unexpected conclusion: it would actually take more faith to maintain my atheism than to become a follower of Jesus. And that s why I m now celebrating my 30th Easter as a Christian. Not because of wishful thinking, the fear of death, or the need for a psychological crutch, but because of the facts. -Taken from The Net May 2016

6 Around the World JOINT DECLARATION BY POPE FRANCIS, PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW, & ARCHBISHOP IERONYMOS II April 16, The Island of Lesvos, Greece We, Pope Francis, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece, have met on the Greek island of Lesvos to demonstrate our profound concern for the tragic situation of the numerous refugees, migrants and asylum seekers who have come to Europe fleeing from situations of conflict and, in many cases, daily threats to their survival. World opinion cannot ignore the colossal humanitarian crisis created by the spread of violence and armed conflict, the persecution and displacement of religious and ethnic minorities, and the uprooting of families from their homes, in violation of their human dignity and their fundamental human rights and freedoms. The tragedy of forced migration and displacement affects millions, and is fundamentally a crisis of humanity, calling for a response of solidarity, compassion, generosity and an immediate practical commitment of resources. From Lesvos, we appeal to the international community to respond with courage in facing this massive humanitarian crisis and its underlying causes, through diplomatic, political and charitable initiatives, and through cooperative efforts, both in the Middle East and in Europe. As leaders of our respective Churches, we are one in our desire for peace and in our readiness to promote the resolution of conflicts through dialogue and reconciliation. While acknowledging the efforts already being made to provide help and care to refugees, migrants and asylum seekers, we call upon all political leaders to employ every means to ensure that individuals and communities, including Christians, remain in their homelands and enjoy the fundamental right to live in peace and security. A broader international consensus and an assistance programme are urgently needed to uphold the rule of law, to defend fundamental human rights in this unsustainable situation, to protect minorities, to combat human trafficking and smuggling, to eliminate unsafe routes, such as those through the Aegean and the entire Mediterranean, and to develop safe resettlement procedures. In this way we will be able to assist those countries directly engaged in meeting the needs of so many of our suffering brothers and sisters. In particular, we express our solidarity with the people of Greece, who despite their own economic difficulties, have responded with generosity to this crisis. Together we solemnly plead for an end to war and violence in the Middle East, a just and lasting peace and the honourable return of those forced to abandon their homes. We ask religious communities to increase their efforts to receive, assist and protect refugees of all faiths, and that religious and civil relief services work to coordinate their initiatives. For as long as the need exists, we urge all countries to extend temporary asylum, to offer refugee status to those who are eligible, to expand their relief efforts and to work with all men and women of good will for a prompt end to the conflicts in course. Europe today faces one of its most serious humanitarian crises since the end of the Second World War. To meet this grave challenge, we appeal to all followers of Christ to be mindful of the Lord s words, on which we will one day be judged: For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you visited me; I was in prison and you came to me Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me (Mt 25:35-36, 40). For our part, in obedience to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, we firmly and wholeheartedly resolve to intensify our efforts to promote the full unity of all Christians. We reaffirm our conviction that reconciliation (among Christians) involves promoting social justice within and among all peoples Together we will do our part towards giving migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers a humane reception in Europe (Charta Oecumenica, 2001). By defending the fundamental human rights of refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants, and the many marginalized people in our societies, we aim to fulfil the Churches mission of service to the world. Our meeting today is meant to help bring courage and hope to those seeking refuge and to all those who welcome and assist them. We urge the international community to make the protection of human lives a priority and, at every level, to support inclusive policies which extend to all religious communities. The terrible situation of all those affected by the present humanitarian crisis, including so many of our Christian brothers and sisters, calls for our constant prayer. Bartholomew I Francis Ieronymos II -Taken from The Net May

7 The NET-Minders The Parish of Holy Trinity would like to thank the following benefactors for making this Monthly Newsletter possible: In Loving Memory Of Nicholas Mougianis 7 The Net May 2016

8 Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church P.O. Box South Fourth Street Steubenville, OH NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE P A I D STEUBENVILLE, OH PERMIT NO. 83 Submissions for THE NET are to be submitted by the 18 th of each month. About the Icon on the Cover FIFTH SUNDAY OF PASCHA - SUNDAY OF THE SAMARITAN WOMAN One of the most ancient cities of the Promised Land was Shechem, also called Sikima, located at the foot of Mount Gerazim. Near to this town, Jacob, who had come from Mesopotamia in the nineteenth century before Christ, bought a piece of land where there was a well. This well, preserved even until the time of Christ, was known as Jacob's Well. This town was taken into possession by Samaria. In the time of the Romans it was called Neapolis, and at present Nablus. When our Lord Jesus Christ, then, came at midday to this city, which is also called Sychar (John 4:5), He was wearied from the journey and the heat. He sat down at this well. After a little while the Samaritan woman mentioned in [the] Gospel passage came to draw water. As she conversed at some length with the Lord and heard from Him secret things concerning herself, she believed in Him; through her many other Samaritans also believed. Concerning the Samaritans we know the following: In the year 721 before Christ, Salmanasar (Shalmaneser), King of the Assyrians, took the ten tribes of the kingdom of Israel into captivity, and relocated all these people to Babylon and the land of the Medes. From there he gathered various nations and sent them to Samaria. Although they were later instructed in the Jewish faith and believed in the one God, they worshipped the idols also. Furthermore, they accepted only the Pentateuch of Moses, and rejected the other books of Holy Scripture. The Jews rejected them as heathen and foreigners, and had no communion with them at all, as the Samaritan woman observed, "the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans" (John 4:9). Therefore, the name Samaritan is used derisively many times in the Gospel narrations. After the Ascension of the Lord, and the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the woman of Samaria was baptized by the holy Apostles and became a great preacher and Martyr of Christ; she was called Photine, and her feast is kept on February 26. -Excerpted from: