THE ORTHODOX POST. Pastor s Message by Fr. Nathan Preston. President s Message. The Orthodox Post Page 3 INSIDE THIS ISSUE. It s about POOL!!!!

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1 Page 3 THE ORTHODOX POST July - August Volume X, Issue 7 St. Nicholas Albanian Orthodox Church, Midland Parkway, Jamaica Estates, New York, NY Web site: fr.nathan@stnicholasalbanian.org Tel: (718) Pastor s Message by Fr. Nathan Preston I often have cause to speak to people when they are at their lowest. Whether felled by sickness or tragedy, some loss frequently occasions my visits, and I go as your representative a sign that our community of St. Nicholas Church stands by the hurting in the hour of their need. Grief takes many forms, but whether silence or tears or anger, there is at least one message I know needs to be made clear beyond the pain. When we deal with loss, we very often are confronted by feelings of impotence, that sense that we are unimportant or insignificant in the shadow of what is beyond our control. For some, it comes as a surprise that they cannot shield or push off or vanquish the hard things that have come; for others, better adjusted to the rude realities of this world, they accept these limitations. But to both, I need most often to communicate the same thing the gift of self. The process of grief is to claim the pain, to know and endure it, to know also in a very real sense of our own weaknesses, but then to move forward shaped by this, changed by the knowledge that we can and will make it through these things unabandoned by God and each other. The gift of self is then our obligation to serve, to love, and to be present for others, to use our own weakness as strength by insisting that God is with us however hard the situation. We become witnesses of hope when we choose to dwell in the hard places of others. When we give ourselves away while accepting our own limitations, God lives up to His word that where two or three are gathered, there He is too. Some of you know that I routinely visit one of the local prisons, trying to offer there some prayers, some assurance that those residing there have not been forgotten by the Church or by God, trying to bring a little bit of hope. And though the hardships there are of a different sort, they are no less tragic and no less grievous. When I think of what powerlessness and incapacity and impotence mean, I think of that place. INSIDE THIS ISSUE Pastor s Message & President s Message 1 Daughters Corner & Kendi Shqip 2 Tirana Cathedral Consecration 3 Church Picnic June List of 2014 Pledgers 6 July-August Feast Days 7-8 Merchant Ads 9-11 Major Events & Ushers Sunday Schedule 12 It is a place with a distinct culture and one that I am still struggling to learn to be part of. Yet, when I go there, confronted so directly by the imposed limitations of that institution and culture, I sense every more keenly how vital and necessary it is for us to learn to give ourselves to each other. Whether we are prisoners behind bars, prisoners confined to our beds, prisoners of our physical or mental health, prisoners of tragedy and loss, we are all bound; we are all limited, and the great temptation is for us is to despair because we are deprived of all those normal means of service and generosity, of fending off feelings of powerlessness. What remains is ourselves; what remains is our weakness; what remains is God s assurance to carry us through if we will but trust and be grateful, not trying always to be useful or powerful. When I pass through the many doors and gates of the prison, waiting and being scanned and being checked, I am always trying to come up with some way to remind the men I will meet there that they have something to give that is more important than the money and time and freedom they do not possess. I tell them that their prayers are powerful, and that God is with them. I remind them that where they reside is a holy place too because God is there too. I enjoin them to give of themselves to others with generous patience and love. This is what it means to live the good news of the Gospel, this simple and humble gift of self. President s Message by Jim Liolin It s about POOL!!!! The summer months are here and hopefully you will be enjoying your vacation with family or friends. Maybe your vacation will take you to a resort where there is one or more POOLS. Or maybe you ll be invited to someone s home who has a POOL. And then you may play a game of POOL. No matter which POOL you are into it encourages a community event. People gather to play, others teach younger ones to swim, while others hold a watchful eye. Our Church community is a POOL of sorts. We come together and POOL our talents, time and treasure so that we can continue to enjoy the blessings GOD has gifted to us. Our Church POOL needs everyone to jump in and offer their help. We need teachers, singers, ushers, translators, administrators, simply we need volunteers. Talk to Father Nathan about what you would like or can do for the Church. In this issue, we thank those Parishioners who made a financial Pledge for Their names are listed on page 6. Enjoy the summer and come back refreshed and ready to throw yourself into the Church community POOL.

2 Page 2 KENDI SHQIP (The Albanian Corner) by A. Llupa Qershor, 2014 Këtë muaj po japim një pjesë për urinë shpirtërore dhe një paragraf nga libri Shqiptarët i Edwin E. Jacques. të bekuar janë ata që kanë uri dhe etje për rrugën e drejtë, sepse ata do të ngopen dhe do t a shuajnë etjen Të gjithë kemi provuar uri dhe etje te papërshkruar fizike. Është një ndjenjë shumë e forte e cila nuk shuhet deri sa te ngopemi. Në të njejtën mënyrë, Kristianët duhet të kultivojnë një dëshire të zjarrtë për të përqafuar një jetë të drejtë, duke kërkuar gjëra shpirtërore. Kjo nevojë shprehet shumë bukur në lutjen 42;1-2: Ashtu si dreri i etur kërkon përrenjte për të pirë ujë, ashtu dhe shpirti im të kërkon Ty, o Zot i gjallë. Zoti premton se ata që kërkojnë rrugën e drejtë do t u plotësohet dëshira. Ai do t u japë atyre qetësi dhe kënaqsi të brendshme, duke i bërë të lumtur me njohurinë e të vërtetave të Tij të shenjta. Do të ngopem kur lavdija Jote do të manifestohet tek unë. Shqiptaret shkruar nga Edwin E. Jacques më 1995.Njerzit pyesin Ku e kanë zanafillën shqiptarët? Mos janë ata pasardhës modernë të grekëve apo të romakëve, të sllavëve ballkanas apo ndoshta të turqve? Per t iu përgjigjur këtyre pyetjeve, së pari do të shqyrtojmë gjetjet arkeologjike, pastaj punën kërkimore shumë të hollësishme të ekspertëve të gjuhësisë dhe në fund traditat popullore të ruajtura në kronikat më të hershme të dijetarëve të lashtë Ky popull i lashtë pellazg shënon një datë më të hershme se zhvillimi i civilizimeve të Greqisë dhe Romës. Vendosmeria e tyre për të ruajtur identitetin e vet etnik, pasioni i tyre për tokën, gjuhën dhe lirinë e tyre u kërcënuan nga të dyja perandoritë e krishtera, e Lindjes dhe e Perëndimit, dhe më vonë nga turqit Otomane. Pse shqiptarët, historikisht të krishterë, do te ktheheshin kryesisht në myslimanë?... Daughters Corner by Linda Foundos Our Fathers Day picnic was a beautiful day! It s always so pleasant to enjoy fellowship, some sports, a little barbeque, swimming & laughs on a gorgeous, sunny day. Thank you to Christina Foundos, Angela Mile & Thea Pavlo for face-painting all the little faces & hands lined up with excitement. Thank you to Edi Sera for managing the races for the children and to Tina Peters for the prizes. Enjoy your summer travels! Congratulations to all the graduates; and good luck as you move on! Welcome home to all those that have been away at school; we missed you! We re looking forward to having a Daughters luncheon in the fall. Our annual Flea Market/Bake Sale will take place the end of October. The date is to be firmed up. Wisdom: Never take someone for granted, Hold every person close to your heart, Because you might wake up one day and realize, That you ve lost a Diamond, While you were too busy collecting stones. What is a Paraclesis Service? by Fr. Nathan The Paraclesis service is a series of hymns and prayers chanted either in times of especial need or during certain season of the Church year. Traditionally, during the first two weeks of August as we fast in preparation of celebrating the Dormition of the Theotokos, these short services are offered almost every day. In them we praise the Mother of God while also remembering the needs of those in our community. As we gather each year for Memorial Saturday prayers, recalling all of those who have gone before us, these Paraclesis services offer us a similar opportunity for remembrance, but here our petitions are for those still living. Take a look at the calendar for August and see when you can come to participate in these special prayers, and, when you do, be sure to bring a list of names for Father to remember then. Sacrifice is at the heart of every religion this idea that faithful people have an obligation to give. As Christians, we don t always think much about this, but we should for we have sacrifice as an essential part of our unique calling, our unique relationship with God. We do not give with the hope of getting back, making offerings from our time and our resources with the expectation that we will be rewarded. No, we give because in turning over something that we think of as our own we begin to understand that everything that passes through our hands, every blessing and wealth, is not ours: we are but custodians of God s gifts. We need to give because we need to acknowledge that God is our rich benefactor, king, and Father, and we are His servants, His children. When we peel away a little bit of what He has bestowed on us and offer this in obedience to His Church, we come to recall ourselves as His own. So giving, too, is an act of prayer, a way to live our lives oriented toward our Creator.

3 Page 3 Archbishop Nikon represents OCA at Consecration of Tirana, Albania s New Cathedral June 1, 2014 His Eminence, Archbishop Nikon of Boston, New England, and the Albanian Archdiocese represented the Orthodox Church in America at the consecration of the recently completed Resurrection of Christ Cathedral in Tirana, the capital of Albania, on the weekend of May 31-June 1, His All-Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, presided at the consecration and Divine Liturgy, together with His Beatitude, Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and All Albania and the Primates and/or representatives of the world s Orthodox Churches. Archbishop Nikon was among those who concelebrated. [See details in related story posted June 2, 2014 at In addition to participating in the services and other events surrounding the consecration, Archbishop Nikon addressed the students, faculty, and missionaries at Saint Vlash Seminary; visited the neighboring Home of Hope, a residence for abused and abandoned children; and visited numerous other sites. Archbishop Nikon presented a personal gift of the relics of Saint Tikhon of Moscow to Archbishop Anastasios. Article and pictures courtesy of the OCA 4/19/2014 The Orthodox Natural Church Development team is very happy to share with the Saint Nicholas Community our learnings after going through the eighteen month process of understanding how the community views our Church and what key factors we can For focus articles, on to videos help keep and us photographs all moving in forward English, as see a loving community. and (click little British flag for English) Objective: Per artikuj, video dhe foto ne gjuhen Shqip: Shiko Facebook.com: "Kisha Orthodokse e Shqiperise"

4 Page 4 A Fun Day for All Sunday, June 15, Fathers Day, was a picture perfect day for a Picnic. Parishioners gathered to honor fathers and grandfathers..enjoying blue skies, sizzling grills, music in the air, plenty of action, laughter and lots of conversation. What an enjoyable special summer day! Children participated with great enthusiasm in face painting, races, basketball shots, and other games. They were delighted with their prizes, lollipops & ice cream afterwards. Also, for the older crowd, there was frisbee, volleyball, soccer, basketball and chess. Finally, a special Thank You goes to all who worked so hard to make this Picnic a fun event and a social success!!!

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6 Page Pledge Program Pledgers List Every year, St. Nicholas Church conducts a Pledge Program asking each parishioner for a financial pledge to support the Church. The Pledges provide the money that enables the Church to serve the community, to perform its day-to-day operations and to be there when we need the Church. It is important that everyone participates in the Annual Pledge Program. To Thank all those who have made a Pledge for 2014 and to assure that the office has recorded all submitted Pledges, a list of those Parishioners whose Pledge for 2014 was received is provided below. If you made a Pledge for 2014 and you are not on the list, or you want to make a Pledge for 2014, please contact Jim Liolin, Bill Peters or Lou Foundos. Also, advise us of any spelling corrections or the addition of a spouse s name. Looking ahead, the Pledge Requests to Parishioners for next year, 2015, will begin this October. St. Nicholas Church needs your financial support! Please do your best to make a generous Pledge. Again, to all of you who made a Pledge for 2014 and who will make a Pledge for 2015, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!! Apostolu Lenore Joanidhi Zhani Peter Lenora Bakalli Emil & Angelina Jones Stephen & Diane Peters Bill & Tina Baltadori Stefan & Juliana Jorgji Adrian & Dea Peters Damian & Jenny Beno Dr. Dhimiter & Diana Kallinikos Viola Petro Kristaq & Romana Beno Thoma & Christine Kasuli Richard & Georgianne Phillips Helen & Nicholas Celo Roland & Anila Kehoe Alexandra & Michael Pochari Charles Coka Jorgji & Eleni Kelapire Betty Preftes Christe & Jean Deonas Linda Kondili Fotaq & Lina Prela Tatiana & Stefan Dervishi Hektor & Jonida Korra Robert & Tina Preston Fr. Nathan Diacosavvas Alice & Savvas Kutali Andrea & Silvana Prifti Dhiogjen & Dhiandrella DiTullio Laura & Gregory Ladd Alison & Marc Prifti Naum & Rina Filipi Altin & Blerta Liolin Elizabeth Psirakis Panagiotis & Despina Filis Nicholas & Barbara Liolin James & Christina Pucca Martha Floed Sam & Elida Llupa Roland & Adelina Qeramixhi Pandi & Efigjeni Foundos Albert Logore Pauline Rehova Stavraq & Kostanza Foundos Lauren Luka Ilia & Agathia Rehova Thoma & Iliana Foundos Louis & Linda Mertiri Mitro & Vitori Rupp Violet Foundos Phillip & Johanna Meta Frank & Evelyn Sera Edi & Oneda Foundos Steven Mezini Ermira Sheti Kozara, Ralf & Drilona Fundo Alfred & Elisabeta Mile Ardian & Irma Skendi Thomas & Odeta Fundo Ilir & Dr. Fjona Mitrollari Artjan & Sirena Slane Tina Fundo Thomaq & Dr. Suzana Mone Thomas & Concetta Stroka Altin & Elda Fundo Christian & Ariona Nache Agatha Topore Andrea & Adriana Gjika Spiro & Mira Nasi William Trako Marjanthi Gjoka Arben & Ira Oswald Jim & Donna Troja Dr. Petrika & Eli Gradt Ellen Gradt Panajoti Jani & Liri Tsamblakos Isidoros & Beti Beno Grazhdani Kostandin & Mimoza Panajoti Peter & Helen Vangjel Kristaq & Mimoza Haile Britu Haile Panariti Kristaq & Beatrika Vani Albert Halilaj Gezim Papalexis Mark & Barbara Vesho Alma Haxhiaj Zanina & Agron Papalilo Helidon & Odeta Zacharias Rosalie Heiser Joanne & Douglas Patelis Aphrodite Zekthi Agron & Elona Jance John Jance Pavllo Nasi Jance Larry Jance Pecani Vasil & Suzana

7 Page 7 GREATMARTYR MARINA (MARGARET) OF ANTIOCH IN PISIDIA Commemorated on July 17 th (Reading and Icon courtesy of OCA website) The Holy Great Martyr Marina was born in Asia Minor, in the city of Antioch of Pisidia (southern Asia Minor), into the family of a pagan priest. In infancy she lost her mother, and her father gave her into the care of a nursemaid, who raised Marina in the Orthodox Faith. Upon learning that his daughter had become a Christian, the father angrily disowned her. During the time of the persecution against Christians under the emperor Diocletian ( ), when she was fifteen years old, St Marina was arrested and locked up in prison. With firm trust in the will of God and His help, the young prisoner prepared for her impending fate. The governor Olymbrios, charmed with the beautiful girl, tried to persuade her to renounce the Christian Faith and become his wife. But the saint, unswayed, refused his offers. The vexed governor gave the holy martyr over to torture. Having beaten her fiercely, they fastened the saint with nails to a to torture. Having beaten her fiercely, they fastened the saint with nails to a board and tore at her body with tridents. The governor himself, unable to bear the horror of these tortures, hid his face in his hands. But the holy martyr remained unyielding. Thrown for the night into prison, she was granted heavenly aid and healed of her wounds. They stripped her and tied her to a tree, then burned the martyr with fire. Barely alive, the martyr prayed: Lord, You have granted me to go through fire for Your Name, grant me also to go through the water of holy Baptism. Hearing the word water, the governor gave orders to drown the saint in a large cauldron. The martyr besought the Lord that this manner of execution should become for her holy Baptism. When they plunged her into the water, there suddenly shone a light, and a snow-white dove came down from Heaven, bearing in its beak a golden crown. The fetters put upon St Marina came apart by themselves. The martyr stood up in the fount of Baptism glorifying the Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. St Marina emerged from the fount completely healed, without any trace of burns. Amazed at this miracle, the people glorified the True God, and many came to believe. This brought the governor into a rage, and he gave orders to kill anyone who might confess the Name of Christ. 15,000 Christians perished there, and the holy Martyr Marina was beheaded. The sufferings of the Great Martyr Marina were described by an eyewitness of the event, named Theotimos. Up until the taking of Constantinople by Western crusaders in the year 1204, the relics of the Great Martyr Marina were in the Panteponteia monastery. According to other sources, they were located in Antioch until the year 908 and from there transferred to Italy. Now they are in Athens, in a church dedicated to the holy Virgin Martyr. Her venerable hand was transferred to Mount Athos, to the Batopedi monastery. MAJOR FEAST DAYS IN JULY Prophet Elijah Saint Christina Dormition of Martyr Parasceva Greatmartyr and Venerable Angelina of Tyre Saint Anna of Rome Healer Panteleimon of Serbia July 20 July 24 July 25 July 26 July 27 July 30

8 Page 8 TRANSLATION OF THE IMAGE NOT-MADE-BY-HANDS - Commemorated on August 16 th The Transfer from Edessa to Constantinople of the Icon of our Lord Jesus Christ Not-Made-by-Hands occurred in the year 944. When the Savior was preaching, Abgar ruled in Edessa. He was stricken all over his body with leprosy. Reports of the great miracles worked by the Lord spread throughout Syria and reached even Abgar. Without having seen the Savior, Abgar believed in Him as the Son of God. He wrote a letter requesting Him to come and heal him. He sent with this letter to Palestine his own portrait-painter Ananias, and commissioned him to paint a likeness of the Divine Teacher. Ananias arrived in Jerusalem and saw the Lord surrounded by people. He was not able to get close to Him because of the large throng of people listening to the preaching of the Savior. Then he stood on a high rock and attempted to paint the portrait of the Lord Jesus Christ from afar, but this effort was not successful. The Savior saw him, called to him by name and gave him a short letter for Abgar in which He praised the faith of this ruler. He also promised to send His disciple to heal him of his leprosy and guide him to salvation. Then the Lord asked that water and a cloth be brought to Him. He washed His Face, drying it with the cloth, and His Divine Countenance was imprinted upon it. Ananias took the cloth and the letter of the Savior to Edessa. Reverently, Abgar pressed the holy object to his face and he received partial healing. Only a small trace of the terrible affliction remained until the arrival of the disciple promised by the Lord. He was St Thaddeus, who preached the Gospel and baptized Abgar and all the people of Edessa. Abgar put the Holy Napkin in a gold frame adorned with pearls, and placed it in a niche over the city gates. On the gateway above the icon he inscribed the words, O Christ God, let no one who hopes on Thee be put to shame. For many years the inhabitants kept a pious custom to bow down before the Icon Not-Made-by-Hands, when they went forth from the gates. But one of the great-grandsons of Abgar, who later ruled Edessa, fell into idolatry. He decided to take down the icon from the city wall. In a vision the Lord ordered the Bishop of Edessa to hide His icon. The bishop, coming by night with his clergy, lit a lampada before it and walled it up with a board and with bricks. Many years passed, and the people forgot about it. But in the year 545, when the Persian emperor Chozroes I besieged Edessa and the position of the city seemed hopeless, the Most Holy Theotokos appeared to Bishop Eulabius and ordered him to remove the icon from the sealed niche, and it would save the city from the enemy. Having opened the niche, the bishop found the Icon Not-Made-by-Hands: in front of it was burning the lampada, and upon the board closing in the niche, a copy of the icon was reproduced. After a church procession with the Icon Not-Made-by-Hands had made the circuit of the city walls, the Persian army withdrew. On August 16, the icon of the Savior was placed in the Tharossa church of the Most Holy Theotokos. There are several traditions concerning what happened later to the Icon Not-Made-by-Hands. According to one, crusaders ran off with it duringtheir rule at Constantinople ( ), but the ship on which the sacred object was taken, perished in the waters of the Sea of Marmora. According to another tradition, the Icon Not-Made-by-Hands was transported around 1362 to Genoa, where it is preserved in a monastery in honor of the Apostle Bartholomew. It is known that the Icon Not-Made-by-Hands repeatedly gave from itself exact imprints. One of these, named On Ceramic, was imprinted when Ananias hid the icon in a wall on his way to Edessa; another, imprinted on a cloak, wound up in Georgia. Possibly, the variance of traditions about the original Icon Not-Made-by-Hands derives from the existence of several exact imprints. MAJOR FEAST DAYS IN AUGUST Procession of Transfiguration St. Herman Dormition of Martyrs Florus and The Beheading the Holy Cross of The Lord of Alaska The Theotokos Laurus of Illyria of St. John Aug 01 Aug 06 Aug 09 Aug 15 Aug 18 Aug 29

9 Page 9 Ads from Merchants Who Support the Church Please look at the Ads and support these Merchants by buying goods and services from them, whenever possible. Tell the Merchant that you are from St, Nicholas Church and saw their Ad in the Church s Monthly Newsletter!!! For New Ads Please Contact - Tomi Beno at (917) TH Avenue New York, NY (212) SABITA J. BALL00, EA Income Tax Services ANTON ARMSTRONG SALES & LEASING SPECIALIST Jamaica Avenue Tel: Richmond Hill, NY Fax: sabitaballoo@aol.com Cell: (516) Fax: (516) aa1nissan@aol.com Referrals - $250 Finders Fee

10 Page 10 Regency Hotel - Korca Tel: /8/9 hregencyko@hotmail.com

11 Page 11 Bruni Electric Frank Meta th Street, Long Island City, NY Office: Cell: Proprietor: Frank Meta ROLANDO MECHANICAL CORP PIPING & HEATING REPAIR LICENCED MASTER PLUMBER Cell: (917) ROLAND HYSENAS Tel: (718) / th Avenue Fax: (718) Astoria, NY BENO GROUP, LLC Real Estate Investments Phone: (917) Fax: (516) Litras Funeral Home Bernard F. Dowd and Tracy B. Dowd Parsons Boulevard Jamaica, New York

12 Page 12 Major Church Activities and Events Vespers every Saturday at 5:00 p.m. July 12, 19 and 26 (except July 5) ; August 02, 09, and 30 Sun, July 06: Liturgy, 10:00 a.m. Sun, July 13: Liturgy, 10:00 a.m. Thurs, July 17: St. Marina Prayers, 11:00 a.m. Sun, July 20: Liturgy, 10:00 a.m.; Prophet Elijah Thurs, July 24: Parish Concil Meeting, 7:00 p.m. Sat, July 26: Prayers for Health, 5:00 p.m. Sun, July 27: Liturgy, 10:00 a.m. Thurs, July 31: Vespers, 7:00 p.m.; Holy Cross Fri, Aug 01: Prayers, 10:00 a.m.; Procession of the Holy Cross Sun, Aug 03: Liturgy, 10:00 a.m. Mon, Aug 04: Paraclesis, 7:00 p.m. Tues, Aug 05: Vesperal Liturgy, 7:00 p.m.;transfiguration Wed, Aug 08: Paraclesis, 11:00 a.m. Sun, Aug 10: Liturgy, 10:00 a.m. Mon, Aug 11: Paraclesis, 7:00 p.m. Wed, Aug 13: Paraclesis, 7:00 p.m. Thurs, Aug 14: Vespers, 7:00 p.m.; Dormition Fri, Aug 15: Liturgy, 10:00 a.m.; Dormition Sun, Aug 17: Liturgy, 10:00 a.m. Sun, Aug 24: Liturgy, 10:00 a.m. Sun, Aug 31: Liturgy, 10:00 a.m. Ushers Schedule for Sunday Services Lista e sherbimit te dielave ne kishe July 06: Robert KORRA / Lou FOUNDOS July 13: Roland LLUPA / Edi SERA July 20: Ilia LUKA / Bill PETERS July 27: Stefan BALTADORI / Izzy TSAMBLAKOS Aug 03: Aug 10: Aug 17: Aug 24: Aug 31: Nasi PAVLLO / Ardian MILE Jim OSWALD / Tomi BENO Andrea KUTALI / John JANCE Robert KORRA / Lou FOUNDOS Roland LLUPA / Edi SERRA We re on the Web! Visit us at: St. Nicholas Albanian Orthodox Church Midland Parkway Jamaica Estates, New York Customer Name Street Address City, State Zip Code