May Volume 11, Issue 05

Transcription

1 May 2016 Volume 11, Issue 05

2 Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church 900 6th Street Sioux City, Iowa Church Office Rev. Fr. Dimitri Tobias, Proistamenos Telephone: Office Fax: Parish Council President: Costa Tsiobanos Worship Hours: Sundays: Weekdays: Esperinos: Thursdays: Orthros 8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy 9:00 a.m. For Major Feasts 6:00 p.m. Paraklisis Service 6:00 p.m. 1st of Every Month: Agiasmos Service 8:30 a.m. unless there is a service, in which case it will take place 30 minutes prior to Orthros Year Long Ministries Weekly Sunday School: (During School Year) Following Holy Communion Greek Dance: (During School Year) Wednesdays from 5:00 6:00 p.m. Healthy Body/Healthy Soul Wednesdays from 4:30 5:00 p.m. Monthly Orthodoxy on Tap Check Calendar Philoptochos Check Calendar Youth Ministries JOY GOYA- 1st Wednesday 6:00 p.m. 2nd Wednesday 6:00 pm Seasonal Ministries to begin in Fall: Bible Study: Thursdays from 8:30 9:30 a.m. Blessed Darkness (Adult Education): Thursdays 7:00 8:00 p.m. St. Basil s Students (Adult Education): Tuesdays from 6:30 7:30 p.m. Minerva Faith Group (Adult Education): Tuesdays from 12:30 2:00 p.m. St. Moses the Black Men s Group (Adult Education) Wednesdays from 9:30 10:30 a.m. Athletics Check Calendar May 2016 Page 2

3 Table of Contents Registry Page 4 Father s Message Page 5-7 President s Message Page 7 Stewardship Page 9 Philoptochos Page 10 Ministries Page Services Page Posters Page Outreach Page 16 Pictures Page Church Staff Parish Priest/ Editor: Rev. Fr. Dimitri Tobias Parish Council President: Costa Tsiobanos Office Director Mary Sharp Philoptochos President: Dr. Fotene Karantinos Book Store: Kiki Karras & Dr. Fotene Karantinos Sunday School Director: Shanda Antonopoulos Greek Dance Director: Leah Brockway Youth Directors: Dean & Amy Karras Stewardship: John Bostinelos Orthodoxy on Tap Shanda Antonopoulos Patriarchs: Afrodity Segos We Knead You: Janet Antonopoulos Church & Metropolis News Page 22 Calendar Page 23 Coffee Hour Page 24 Mission of the Parish: To build our Church Family through bountiful religious services, educational classes, fellowship opportunities and outreach. The pillars of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving will feature prominently in the ministries of the Parish. Vision for the Parish: A Dynamic Church, equally strong at home as at the Parish, fortified by Ministries that bring the faithful closer to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, His Holy Mother, and all the Saints. ABRAHAM S PANTRY: Please donate! Foods from Abraham s Pantry are distributed to the local Food Pantries to feed the poor. Check the expiration Date!!! Abraham served the best he had. If we would not eat it, why should we expect someone else to risk getting sick? May 2016 Page 3

4 Registry and Vital Statistics Baptisms: Chrismations: Weddings: On May 7th Casandra and Tom Ketchelos will be married in the Orthodox Church On May 29th, Angela Konidas will be wed to Nicholas Stabile. Funerals On Saturday, April 2nd John Sidney Baumert was laid to rest at Memorial Park. May his memory be eternal. ζωή σε σας Holy Trinity Greek Dancers Commencing May 11th Wednesdays 5:00 pm 6:00 pm Please contact Leah Brockway for questions (712) May 2016 Page 4

5 Father Dimitri s Message My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Christ is risen! As we contemplate the victory of the Resurrection, let us look to its ramifications to us. Too often we try to relegate our Savior to a simple mathematical equation. God is love and God loves me ergo I cannot do anything that would cause God to not love me. By this same line of thinking, God made me this way so clearly He wants me to behave this way. God gave me these desires. This sort of justification can be used for any number of sinful behaviors and life style choices. The alternative that I hear just as often, is the expression, Well, I am only human, which implies that because Jesus is God He cannot expect me to live up to His level of Holiness. WRONG! That line of thinking could not be further from the truth on either end. First and foremost the term Son of God, is only found 35 times in the Bible. Compare that to the 173 times Son of man, is uttered and you begin to see the more important of those epithets. Jesus Christ more often than any other title, refers to Himself as the Son of man. This is because He desires to show kinship with us. He was 100% Man with 100% human will, and 100% human energies. That does not change the fact that He is also 100% God with 100% divine will and 100% divine energies. This paradoxical yet perfect union is one of the primary subjects of the Seven Ecumenical Councils in seeking to answer the question of Who and What is Jesus Christ. Let us not forget our Lord s humanity. He wept, He slept, He ate, He was tempted. He experienced every aspect of our humanity. As St. Gregory the Theologian states, That which is not assumed, is not saved. If Jesus Christ was not a perfect and complete human being, none of us could be saved. Jesus would have been a pretender, a fraud, a hoax, a supernatural being parading in a human suit. Because He suffered and died for us as a perfect human being, He became the new Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45 49), the new (Anthropos). (adam hebrew) Humanity, ἄνθρωπος א ד ם And let us be clear. He is the only true and real human being. He is the only Human with true free will. Those who have become like him have become real humans, the saints. As St. Athanasios writes, God became man so that man could become like God. After all, is it real free will if you can only choose between A or B? Without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). We can only choose between following our passions as which are orchestrated for our downfall by the enemy, or become voluntary slaves of God. Δούλοι του Θεού. A servant cannot serve two masters (Luke 16:13 and Matthew 6:24), gives May 2016 Page 5

6 clear recognition that we are slaves, one way or another. That is not freedom. Our only freedom is choosing which master to follow. And yet, we were made with free will, the highest of gifts. The reality is that by becoming voluntary slaves of God and emptying ourselves, we acquire the Holy Spirit and we open the eyes of our heart/soul (our Nous Νοῦς) to see the mystical reality of the world. Real free will entails being able to choose to do good without the influence of God. Only the Saints who have achieved Deification θέωσις (theosis) can truly claim to be human. To say, I am only human as a sign of weakness denigrates the word. We are the height of Creation. Human weakness is better expressed as the personal failings of our passions that are a result of the Fall of Mankind. Our weaknesses and sinful desires do not come from God the Creator but from him who warps that creation into a mockery of the divine; who replaces humility with arrogance, self control with gluttony, generosity with avarice, forgiveness with wrath, simplicity with vanity, diligence with sloth, and love with carnal lusts. The evil one sends all manner of thoughts our way, hoping that even one of the thousands upon thousands thrown will stick to us and cause us to think on that irrational and sinful thought more deeply. He hopes that by thinking of that thought more deeply, we will contemplate enacting it; that we will justify it in our minds; and finally do the dark thought. His victory is complete when that dark thought is repeated in action until it becomes a habit, a habit that require spiritual surgery to remove. You see, the most evil moment of that progression is the step in which we justify our sin. We try to tell ourselves that God made us a certain way or that He would approve of our decision given the circumstances. Instead of following obediently the Commandments of God, we follow our own perversions and our own made-up reality of what we think God is. This makes God an idea or a principle. But God is not an idea or a principle. He is a person. He is a human being with a human will in addition to His divine will. This is why His death and resurrection mean so much! May 2016 Page 6

7 By dying for us He freed us from the ancient error. He ransomed Himself for our sins and became the final Blood Sacrifice. Through Him we become heirs of the Most High. We become partakers of Divinity. We can truly learn what it means to be free. It is true that God is love and there is no sin that He won t forgive outside of blaspheming the Holy Spirit, but that forgiveness requires repentance, requires love, requires obedience to Him. This obedience is not arduous. He helps us carry our cross. He is our true example of humanity and humility. Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. I remain your servant in Christ, Fr. Dimitri Tobias, Proistamenos President s Message Friends and family of Holy Trinity, Leading up to this week I have struggled on what to write for this month s message. I wanted to talk about the beauty of this Holy season, but I don t feel I have the knowledge or that it is my place to preach from this paper, so I simply will not. What I would like to do is thank everyone who has made another Pascha season possible at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. Thank you to all current and past stewards who helped with their sweat and tears. Thank you to all current and past stewards who have helped with monetary donations. Let us honor all past stewards by keeping Holy Trinity going for many years to come. I would also like to thank Father Dimitri for his guidance and leadership during this Holy time. Since I did not get to do so in person, I would also like to take the time to thank Fr. Christodoulos for coming from his church St. Nicholas in Illinois. Fr. Christodoulos took the time to come to Sioux City to hear confessions of anyone who was willing. God bless you and thank you Costa Tsiobanos 2016, Parish Council President May 2016 Page 7

8 Congratulations Mia Michaels is graduating from Williams Field High School in Gilbert, AZ on May, 25, Mia is the daughter of Dean and Karen Michaels and the granddaughter of K i r k a n d t h e l a t e L e t i Michaels. After graduation, Mia will be pursuing a degree in Early Childhood Education. Calling all Dolmades Makers!! Friday, June 10 th at 10:00 am Saturday, June 11 th at 9 a.m. for Dolmades making as we begin to prepare for the Festival. May 2016 Page 8

9 Stewardship Time-Talent-Treasure Our General Assembly was not well attended which is too bad considering all the information we received about projects now and in the future. Don t know how you feel about the Festival but I sure am enthused with the proposed increase in community involvement. The Stewards of Holy Trinity have a lot of work to do to prepare for the Festival. Our Festival is expanding and providing more options for our customers. I hope you all took my comments at the General Assembly to heart about donating a one time extra donation to the Church this year. Give treasure instead of talent and time to help offset the loss of income we ll have without the Grecian Dinner this spring. You can do it. Father s sermon Sunday, April 17, regarding attending the holiest service of the year on Easter Sunday at midnight, may not have intentionally caused guilt, but did serve as a strong reminder that part of our Stewardship effort should be attending services with emphasis on Easter. I will be there and I hope many others will join me. John Bostinelos, Stewardship Chair Fr. Dimitri & Presbytera Mary Tobias Mr. & Mrs. Perry Antonopoulos Dr. & Dr. Kosta Antonopoulos Mr. & Mrs. Tony Antonopoulos Mr. & Mrs. John Baryo Mr. Tom Baryo Mr. & Mrs. Sid Baumert Mr. & Mrs. George Belbis Mr. & Mrs. Emmanuel Bikakis Mrs. Chris Bikakis-Miller Mr. & Mrs. Dimitri Bostinelos Mr. & Mrs. John Bostinelos Mr. & Mrs. Greg Boucher Mr. Nick Bovis Mr. & Mrs. Pete Bovis Mr. & Mrs. Beau Brockway Mr. Rob Conyers and Mrs. Athena Ladeas-Conyers Mr. & Mrs. George Demetroulis Mr. & Mrs. Kosta Demetroulis Ms. Georgia Diavastes Mrs. Mary Eliades Mr. & Mrs. Emmanuel Eliades -Kennelly Mrs. Coula Foundoulakis Holy Trinity 2016 Stewards Mr. Vaios Gennatos Mr. & Mrs. James Giasafakis Mr, & Mrs. Casey Glanzer Mr. & Mrs. Craig Golden Mr. & Mrs. Tom Haddad Mr. & Mrs. Vasilios Holevas Mr. & Mrs. Rick Jones Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Karantinos Dr. Fotene Karantinos Mr. & Mrs. Dean Karras Mr. & Mrs. Alex Karras Mr. & Mrs. Alex Kazos Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Ketchelos Mr. & Mrs. Dave Kjos Mrs. Bessie Klimiades Mr. & Mrs. George Klimiades Mr. & Mrs. Tim Konidas Ms. Anna Kounas Mr. & Mrs. Chris Kounas Mr. John Kounas Mr. & Mrs. Harry Kouris Mr. John Lazaris Mr. & Mrs. Lyle Listamann Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Margeas Mrs. Daisy Margeas Mr. & Mrs. John Margeas Mr. & Mrs. Steve Margeas Mr. & Mrs. Tim Margellos Mr. & Mrs. Ray McAvoy Mr. & Mrs. Mike Michelakakis Mr. & Mrs. Ted Michelakakis Mr. & Mrs. Dale Milbrodt Mrs. Olympia Niederecker Mr. & Mrs. George Paradise Dr. & Mrs. Michael Paradise Mr. & Mrs. George Poulos Mrs. Maria Rigas Mr. & Mrs. Roger Schultz Mr. & Mrs. Zachary Schultz Mrs. Nancy Selleris Mrs. Richard Sharp Mrs. Helen Siganos Mr. & Mrs. Eric Smith Mrs. Anna Theros Dr. Andrew Tobias Dr. & Mrs. Richard Tobias Mr. & Mrs. Costa Tsiobanos Mr. & Mrs. George Tsiobanos Mr. George Vlahoulis Mrs. Joan Vlahoulis Mr. John Vlahoulis Mr. Spyro Yianopoulos 75 Stewardship Families May 2016 Page 9

10 Philoptochos News Christos Anesti! I write this as Lent ends and Holy Week leads us to the Resurrection. This has been definitely a very active Lenten season with the Koulouma potluck to the weekday services, to our joint hosting of Presanctified Liturgies and dinners with St. Thomas parishioners, to our Sunday feasts celebrated here at Holy Trinity. Personally, I was amazed at the turnouts for the Wednesday night services, and I was pleased to see the fellowship among our two communities. At one point, I asked why do we have so many events during Lent! Then, I realized we are taking this Lenten journey together and all the potlucks and dinners are a way to sit down with each other amidst this very busy season. So, whether you attended, helped plan a meal, helped in the kitchen or helped clean afterwards, I would like to express my gratitude! Additionally, I would like to thank the Kounas/Mildbrodt families for donating the Palm Sunday Dinner in memory of their parents. Again, what an amazing turnout for this Great Feast. As Philoptochos heads into our summer break, we will hold our last meeting on May 22nd right after church. At the meeting, we will focus on a special project for the new Martha and Mary House. Just a little background on the house The Martha and Mary house is an Orthodox Maternity home. The house provides a safe place for women who choose Life. The women have access to healthy meals, counseling services, spiritual guidance, life and parenting skills, and doctors visits. The house gives the women practical and spiritual support so they can choose the best path for them and their children. The house is a new Metropolis endeavor that opened this past fall, and is a one of a kind in our Archdiocese! The home is located in the northwest suburbs of Chicago and operates under a PanOrthodox board with the guidance of His Grace Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos. My hope is to offer our support of this ProLife ministry of the church as they start out! With Sisterly Agape, Dr. Fotene Karantinos, Chapter President We would like to thank the: Diavastes, Georgescu, Kasotakis (Emmanuel), Lazaris, and Kasotakis (Stella) Families who were not m e n t i o n e d i n t h e P a s c h a Community Card. May 2016 Page 10

11 Youth Corner We thank the youth of the Parish for making palm crosses for palm suday and decorating the Church for Holy Week. Out of the mouths of babes comes perfect praise! Sunday School Last Day of Sunday School May 22 nd Graduate Sunday is May 22 nd Please send in any information you would like published in the Bulletin for your Graduate. SAVE THE DATE VACATION CHURCH SCHOOL June 6-9 Traveling on the Ark of Salvation Feasts of the Theotokos 10:00 am 1:00 pm Lunch included May 2016 Page 11

12 2016 Vacation Church School Registration Form Family Name Dad Name Mom Name Address Cell Phone $25 per Family. Please make checks out to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church June 6-9 Traveling on the Ark of Salvation Feasts of the Theotokos 10:00 am 1:00 pm Lunch included Child 1 Child 4 Name Baptismal Name Grade (K - 5th) List any Allergies Child 2 Name Baptismal Name Grade (K - 5th) List any Allergies Child 3 Name Baptismal Name Grade (5-12th) List any Allergies Child 5 Name Baptismal Name Grade (K - 5th) List any Allergies Name Baptismal Name Grade (K - 5th) List any Allergies May 2016 Page 12

13 May 2 Renewal Monday:St. George the Trophy Bearer At Holy Trinity Divine Liturgy 9:00 a.m. George, this truly great and glorious Martyr of Christ, was born of a father from Cappadocia and a mother from Palestine. Being a military tribune, or chiliarch (that is, a commander of a thousand troops), he was illustrious in battle and highly honoured for his courage. When he learned that the Emperor Diocletian was preparing a persecution of the Christians, Saint George presented himself publicly before the Emperor and denounced him. When threats and promises could not move him from his steadfast confession, he was put to unheard-of tortures, which he endured with great bravery, overcoming them by his faith and love towards Christ. By the wondrous signs that took place in his contest, he guided many to the knowledge of the truth, including Queen Alexandra, wife of Diocletian, and was finally beheaded in 296 in Nicomedia. His sacred remains were taken by his servant from Nicomedia to Palestine, to a town called Lydda, the homeland of his mother, and then were finally transferred to the church which was raised up in his name. (The translation of the Saint's holy relics to the church in Lydda is commemorated on November 3; Saint Alexandra the Queen, on April 21.) If April 23 falls on or before Great and Holy Pascha, the Feast of St. George is translated to Bright Monday. Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone Liberator of captives, defender of the poor, physician of the sick, and champion of kings, O trophy-bearer, Great Martyr George, intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved. May 3 Renewal Tuesday: St. Mark the Evangelist The Commemoration of Saints Raphael, Nicholas, Irene, and the Other Newly-revealed Martyrs of Lesbos Orthros begins at 9:00 a.m. Mark was an idolater from Cyrene of Pentapolis, which is near Libya. Having come to the Faith of Christ through the Apostle Peter, he followed him to Rome. While there, at the prompting of Peter himself and at the request of the Christians living there, he wrote his Gospel in Greek, and it is second in order after Matthew's. Afterwards, travelling to Egypt, he preached the Gospel there and was the first to establish the Church in Alexandria. The idolaters, unable to bear his preaching, seized him, bound him with ropes, and dragged him through the streets until he, cut to pieces on rocks, gave up his soul. It is said that he completed his life in martyrdom about the year 68. He is depicted in holy icons with a lion next to him, one of the living creatures mentioned by Ezekiel (1:10), and a symbol of Christ's royal office, as Saint Irenaeus of Lyons writes. If April 25 falls on or before Great and Holy Pascha, the Feast of St. Mark is translated to Bright Tuesday. Apolytikion in the Third Tone O Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark, intercede to our merciful God, that He may grant our souls forgiveness of sins. On the island of Mytilene (Lesbos in ancient times), near the village of Therme, the villagers had a custom of ascending a certain hill on this day to celebrate the Divine Liturgy in the ruins of a small chapel, although no one knew whence the tradition sprang. In the year 1959, certain villagers began seeing persons who spoke to them, first in dreams, then awake, both by day and by night. Through these wondrous appearances, which were given to many people independently, the holy May 2016 Page 13

14 Martyrs Raphael, Archimandrite of the ancient monastery, and Nicholas, his deacon, together with other Saints who had been martyred on the island, told the villagers the whole account of their martyrdom, which had taken place at the hands of the Moslem Turks ten years after the fall of Constantinople, in The twelve-year-old Irene had been tortured, then burned alive in a large earthenware jar in the presence of her parents. On Tuesday of Renewal Week, Saint Raphael had been tied to a tree and his head sawn off through his jaws; Saint Nicholas had died at the sight of this. Although the feast is celebrated today because it is the day of their martyrdom, through the appearances of the Saints as living persons five hundred years after their martyrdom, it is also a singular testimony to the Resurrection of Christ. Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone On Lesbos, ye strove in contest for the sake of Christ God; ye also have hallowed her with the discovery of your relics, O blessed ones. O God-bearer Raphael, with thee, we all honour Nicholas the deacon and Irene the chaste virgin, as our divine protectors, who now intercede with the Lord. May 6 Renewal Friday The Lifegiving Font Celebrated at the St. Iakovos Retreat Center in Wisconsin Outside of Constantinople, towards the district of the Seven Towers, there was in ancient times a very large and most beautiful church named in honour of the Theotokos; it had been built about the middle of the fifth century by the Emperor Leo the Great (also called "Leo of Thrace," he is commemorated on Jan. 20). Before he became Emperor, he had encountered there a blind man, who being tormented with thirst asked him to help him find water. Leo felt compassion for him and went in search of a source of water but found none. As he became downcast, he heard a voice telling him there was water nearby. He looked again, and found none. Then he heard the voice again, this time calling him "Emperor" and telling him that he would find muddy water in the densely wooded place nearby; he was to take some water and anoint the blind man's eyes with it. When he had done this, the blind man received his sight. After Leo became Emperor as the most holy Theotokos had prophesied, he raised up a church over the spring, whose waters worked many healings and cured maladies by the grace of the Theotokos; from this, it came to be called the "Lifegiving Spring." The Church of Christ celebrates the consecration of this church on this day. After the fall of the imperial city, this church was razed to the ground and the materials from it were used for building the mosque of Sultan Bayezid. Nothing remained of that church's ancient beauty, except for a small and paltry chapel, almost completely buried in the ruins. This chapel had twenty -five steps going down into it, and a transom window on the roof, wherefrom it received a little light. Toward the western side of the chapel was the aforementioned holy Spring, fenced about with a railing, and with fish swimming in it. Such was the condition of the Spring until Then even that little remnant was destroyed, occasioned by the uprising of the Greek nation against the Ottoman Empire; the sacred Spring was buried with it and disappeared altogether. But in the days of Sultan Mahmud, when those subject to him were rejoicing in their freedom to practice their religion, permission was sought by the Orthodox Christian community to rebuild at least part of the chapel. Thus the work was begun on July 26, When the excavation had been made, and the foundations of the ancient church were found, there was rebuilt -- by a later writ of permission from the Sultan -- not merely a chapel of the holy Spring, but another new church, constructed upon the foundations of the ancient one. The building of this spacious, beautiful, and most majestic temple began on September 14, 1833, and the work was completed on December 30, On February 2, 1835, the Ecumenical Patriarch Constantine II, serving the Liturgy together with twelve hierarchs and a great company of clergy, as well as a boundless multitude of Christians, performed the consecration of this sacred church and dedicated it to the glory of the Mother of God. On September 6, 1955, however, it was desecrated and destroyed again by the Moslem Turks; it has been restored again, but not to the former magnificence. Apolytikion in the Third Tone As a life-giving fount, thou didst conceive the Dew that is transcendent in essence, O Virgin Maid, and thou hast welled forth for our sakes the nectar of joy eternal, which doth pour forth from thy fount with the water that springeth up unto everlasting life in unending and mighty streams; wherein, taking delight, we all cry out: Rejoice, O thou Spring of life for all men. May 2016 Page 14

15 May 21 SS. Constantine & Helen Equal to the Apostles Orthros begins at 9:00 a.m. This great and renowned sovereign of the Christians was the son of Constantius Chlorus (the ruler of the westernmost parts of the Roman empire), and of the blessed Helen. He was born in 272, in (according to some authorities) Naissus of Dardania, a city on the Hellespont. In 306, when his father died, he was proclaimed successor to his throne. In 312, on learning that Maxentius and Maximinus had joined forces against him, he marched into Italy, where, while at the head of his troops, he saw in the sky after midday, beneath the sun, a radiant pillar in the form of a cross with the words: "By this shalt thou conquer." The following night, our Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him in a dream and declared to him the power of the Cross and its significance. When he arose in the morning, he immediately ordered that a labarum be made (which is a banner or standard of victory over the enemy) in the form of a cross, and he inscribed on it the Name of Jesus Christ. On the 28th Of October, he attacked and mightily conquered Maxentius, who drowned in the Tiber River while fleeing. The following day, Constantine entered Rome in triumph and was proclaimed Emperor of the West by the Senate, while Licinius, his brother-in-law, ruled in the East. But out of malice, Licinius later persecuted the Christians. Constantine fought him once and again, and utterly destroyed him in 324, and in this manner he became monarch over the West and the East. Under him and because of him all the persecutions against the Church ceased. Christianity triumphed and idolatry was overthrown. In 325 he gathered the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, which he himself personally addressed. In 324, in the ancient city of Byzantium, he laid the foundations of the new capital of his realm, and solemnly inaugurated it on May 11, 330, naming it after himself, Constantinople. Since the throne of the imperial rule was transferred thither from Rome, it was named New Rome, the inhabitants of its domain were called Romans, and it was considered the continuation of the Roman Empire. Falling ill near Nicomedia, he requested to receive divine Baptism, according to Eusebius (The Life of Constantine. Book IV, 61-62), and also according to Socrates and Sozomen; and when he had been deemed worthy of the Holy Mysteries, he reposed in 337, on May 21 or 22, the day of Pentecost, having lived sixty -five years, of which he ruled for thirty-one years. His remains were transferred to Constantinople and were deposed in the Church of the Holy Apostles, which had been built by him (see Homily XXVI on Second Corinthians by Saint John Chrysostom). As for his holy mother Helen, after her son had made the Faith of Christ triumphant throughout the Roman Empire, she undertook a journey to Jerusalem and found the Holy Cross on which our Lord was crucified (see Sept. 13 and 14). After this, Saint Helen, in her zeal to glorify Christ, erected churches in Jerusalem at the sites of the Crucifixion and Resurrection, in Bethlehem at the cave where our Saviour was born, another on the Mount of Olives whence He ascended into Heaven, and many others throughout the Holy Land, Cyprus, and elsewhere. She was proclaimed Augusta, her image was stamped upon golden coins, and two cities were named Helenopolis after her in Bithynia and in Palestine. Having been thus glorified for her piety, she departed to the Lord being about eighty years of age, according to some in the year 330, according to others, in 336. Apolytikion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone He beheld the image of Your Cross in the Heavens and, as Paul, he too did not receive the call from men. Your Apostle among Kings placed the care of the Royal City in Your hands. Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O only Loving Lord, keep it ever in peace. May 2016 Page 15

16 Save the Date! 2016 GreekFest July 29, 30, &31st Please see Festival Chairs Christine McAvoy and Shanda Antonopoulos for more information Festival Meetings: May 2-7:00pm May 15- after church June 5 - after church June 19 - after church July 10 - after church at St. Thomas: Meeting to be held at Holy Trinity July 17 - after church July 24 - after church Matthew 25: The Last Judgement For I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me drink: Please donate food to Abraham s Pantry. Please volunteer at the Soup Kitchen. Upcoming Philoptochos Program I was a stranger, and you took me in: Please welcome our Catechumens Naked, and you clothed me: Please consider donating clothes to Abraham s Pantry I was sick, and you visited me: Please pray for the speedy recovery of: Barbara, Sophia, Nicholas, Chris, Polyxeni, Stavros, Mary, Maria, Maria, Nicholas, Chris, Stavros, Nicholas I was in prison, and you came unto me: Please pray for and consider visiting our shut-ins. Stella Kreekos (Westwood Nursing home), Maria Baumert (Embassy Rehab), Georgia Diavastes (at home), Betty Pavlushik (at home) May 2016 Page 16

17 The Dick and Mary Sharp Scholarship $500 Attention High School Seniors! The Dick and Mary Scholarship has been established for the memory of Dick Sharp. Any 2016 Seniors interested and plan to attend a technical school or college may contact either: Shanda Antonopoulos Niki Margeas Helen Siganos Please contact by May 20th. Requirements: Please write a 1-page essay telling us about yourself including: church involvement, community service, your interests, school academics, and activities. The Sid and Maria Baumert Scholarship $1,000 Attention High School Seniors! The Sid and Maria Baumert Scholarship was established by the Baumerts for the aid of our faithful Youth. Any 2016 Seniors interested and plan to attend a technical school or college may contact either: Shanda Antonopoulos Niki Margeas Helen Siganos Please contact by May 20th. Requirements: Please write a 1-page essay telling us about yourself including: church involvement, community service, your interests, school academics, and activities. May 2016 Page 17

18 Graduation Parties Please join us as we celebrate the High School Graduation of Arianna Ketchelos Sunday, May 22nd At Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church Following Divine Liturgy Christopher Konidas Open House Sunday, May 22nd 1626 Hiawatha Trail 4:00 7:00 pm May 8th MOTHER S DAY The youth of our parish honor all of the ladies with a carnation on Mother's Day. Be sure to come and receive your flower from the youth May 30th Memorial Day It is the tradition of many Greek Orthodox Christians to extend the memorial of this day to all of those who have fallen asleep in the hope of the Resurrection. There will be a general Memorial Service held at the Church 9:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. Memorial Park 11:30 a.m. Graceland 1:00 p.m. Other Cemeteries by Appointment May 2016 Page 18

19 Marriage Seminar by Fr. Dimitri Tobias & Fr. Lucas Rice Sunday, June 5 th at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church 6:00 p.m. Small Vespers 6:30 p.m. Dinner 7:00 p.m. Seminar May 2016 Page 19

20 2016 Palm Sunday May 2016 Page 20

21 Stavroproskiniseos Sunday The Passion The Mystical Supper The Resurrection May 2016 Page 21

22 Liturgies for the Month. Please note that this is a tentative list and subject to change. Please check Weekly Bulletins for places and times of Services. Liturgies Bright Monday May 2 St. George the Trophybearer (if after April 23) at Holy Trinity St. Mark the Evangelist & SS. Nicholas, Raphael Bright Tuesday May 3 and Irene at St. Thomas Bright Friday May 6 The Lifegiving Spring Parish News at St. Iakovos Retreat Center May 9 th Prophet Isaiah & St. Christopher HT at Holy Trinity May 15 th St. Pachomius the Great ST at St. Thomas May 21 st Mid Pentecost May 25 SS. Constantine & Helen HT Mid Pentecost at Holy Trinity at St. Thomas May 1 May 2 May 4-6 May 8 May 15 PASCHA PARISH CELEBRATION AND LUNCHEON Festival Meeting Pilgrimage Trip to Retreat Center Mothers Day Appreciation Festival Meeting after Church May 15 There will be a second tray on Mirofores Day, the only tray in which all the proceeds remain wholly in the local Philoptochos. Coffee Hour will be held by Philoptochos in honor of this Feast. May 22 May 22 May 22 May 30 June 5 June 19 June 20 Philoptochos Meeting Graduation Party for Arianna Ketchelos following Divine Liturgy Graduation Party for Christopher Konidas Memorial Day Marriage Seminar at Holy Trinity Pentecost Monday of the Holy Spirit (Our Feast Day) May 2016 Page 22

23 Holy Trinity GOC May 2016 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 Pascha 12:00 pm Agape Vespers 1:00 pm Parish Paschal Luncheon ans Easter Egg Hunt 2 3 9:00 am Divine Liturgy of St. George at Holy Trinity 6:00 pm Parish Council Meeting 7:00 pm Festival Meeting 9:00 am Divine Liturgy of St. Mark the Evangelist at St. Thomas 4 Retreat to St. Iakovos Retreat Center 5 Retreat to St. Iakovos Retreat Center 6 Retreat to St. Iakovos Retreat Center 7 8 Mother's Day 9 Metropolis of Chicago Clergy Retreat go Clergy Retreat go Clergy Retreat go Clergy Retreat 10 Metropolis of Chica- 11 Metropolis of Chica- 12 Metropolis of Chica :30 am Sunday Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy 11:30 am Choir Practice 15 Festival Meeting :30 am Sunday Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy 11:30 am Choir Practice 12:00 pm Sunday of the Myrrbearers Tray 4:30 pm Healthy Body Healthy Soul 6:00 pm Daily Vespers at St. Thomas :00 pm Office Hours 5:00 pm Byzantine Music Class 6:00 pm Paraklisis Service 9:00 am Divine Liturgy of SS. Constantine & Helen at Holy Trinity 22 Philoptochos Meeting 8:30 am Sunday Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy 11:30 am Choir Practice :30 pm Healthy Body Healthy Soul 6:00 pm Daily Vespers at St. Thomas :00 pm Office Hours 5:00 pm Byzantine Music Class 6:00 pm Paraklisis Service 29 8:30 am Sunday Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy 11:30 am Choir Practice 30 Memorial Day 31 May 2016 Page 23

24 Prosforo to be offered by the following Families on the following Dates: May 1 Mrs. Mary Sharp Presbytera Vasiliki Mr. & Mrs. Robert Mrs. Maria Rigas Balomenos Ladeas-Conyers May 8 Mr. & Mrs. Rick Jones Dr. & Dr. Kosta Antonopoulos Mrs. Spero Siganos Mrs. Mary Eliades May 15 Mr. & Mrs. Roger Schultz Dr. Fotene Karantinos Mr. & Mrs. Ted Mihelakakis Ms. Cornelia Ketchelos May 22 Mr. & Mrs. Steve Margeas Fr. Dimitri & Presbytera Mary Tobias Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Ketchelos Mr. Bill Margellos May 29 Mr. & Mrs. Timothy Davenport Mr. & Mrs. Alex Karras Mr. & Mrs. Tim Konidas Mr. Chris Jones June 5 Mr. & Mrs. Tony Antonopoulos Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Margeas Mr. & Mrs. Tim Margellos Mr. Chris Margellos June 12 CHURCH AT ST. THOMAS June 19 Mr. George Vlahoulis Mr. & Mrs. Dean Karras Mr. & Mrs. Vasilios Holevas June 26 Mr. John Vlahoulis Mr. & Mrs. Emmanuel Mr. & Mrs. Vassilaki Bikakis Emanuel Mr. Spero Vlahoulis Mr. Spyro Yianopoulos We need Coffee Hour Sponsors! Does a loved one have a name day, birthday, anniversary, memorial coming up? Why not honor that loved one by sponsoring the Coffee Hour in his/her/their honor? Check the Coffee Hour Section of the Website to see open days. Sun May 1 Sun May 8 Sun May 15 Sun May 22 Sun May 29 AGAPE LUNCHEON Coffee Hour: Maria Baumert 40 Days Memorial for John Sidney Baumert Prosforo offered by the Pasiourtis Familiy for the 6 Month Memorial for their mother Evangelia Moskos Coffee Hour: Philoptochos Coffee Hour: The Ketchelos Family Graduation of Arianna May 2016 Page 24