May Volume 10, Issue 5

Transcription

1 May 2015 Volume 10, Issue 5

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: John Vlahoulis Sundays: Weekdays: Esperinos: Thursdays: LENT) Worship Hours: Orthros 9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy 10:00 a.m. Orthros 9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy 10:00 a.m. For Major Feasts 6:00 p.m. Paraklisis Service 6:00 p.m. (EXCEPT DURING GREAT 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. Sunday School: (During School Year) Following Holy Communion Greek Dance: (During School Year) Wednesdays from 5:00 6:00 p.m. Bible Study: will resume in September Thursdays from 8:30 9:30 a.m. Olive Garden Faith Group (Adult Education): will resume in September Tuesdays from 12:30 2:00 p.m. Cyber Ministry Book Club (Adult Education): will resume in September orthodoxysiouxcity.boards.net Blessed Darkness (Adult Education): will resume in September Tuesdays from 6:30 8:00 p.m. St. Basil s Students (Adult Education): will resume in September Thursdays from 6:30 7:30 p.m. May 2015 Page 2

3 Table of Contents Registry Page 4 Father s Message Page 5-8 President s Message Page 9-10 Philoptochos Page 10 Posters Page 11 Thank Yous Page 11 Stewardship Page Ministries Page 13 Services Page Parish Priest/ Editor: Parish Council President: Office Director Philoptochos President: Book Store: Sunday School Director: Greek Dance Director: Youth Directors: Stewardship: O.P.A. Patriarchs: We Knead You: Church Staff Rev. Fr. Dimitri Tobias John Vlahoulis Mary Sharp Mary Baryo Kiki Karras & Dr. Fotene Karantinos Shanda Antonopoulos Leah Baryo Dean & Amy Karras Dr. Kosta Antonopoulos Shanda Antonopoulos Afrodity Segos Janet Antonopoulos Pictures Page Church & Metropolis News Page 18 Calendar Page 19 Coffee Hour/Prosforo Page 20 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 2015 Page 3

4 Registry and Vital Statistics Baptisms: Chrismations: Weddings/Engagements: Emmanuelia Baryo has become engaged to Beau James Brockway. Funerals ζωή σε σας Athanasios Baryo has become engaged to Katie Walker. Να ζή σετε! Να εί στε ευτυχίσμε νοί! We Welcome the following new families to the Parish! Now is the time to reach out to your loved ones who have fallen away for whatever reason and bring them back to Church. Now is the time to share your faith with others! Together we must grow. Together we must build the Body of Christ. Invite someone to a service, to a Bible Study, to a Church Event. We have one of the friendliest communities in the Archdiocese. Let us go out so that they will know we are Christians by our Love. May 2015 Page 4

5 Father Dimitri s Message My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I am pleased to announce that at the end of this month, as we celebrate the Εσπερινός Vespers of our Patronal Feast of Holy Trinity following the Divine Liturgy of Great and Holy Pentecost, we will be led by our Chancellor His Grace, Bishop DEMETRIOS of Mokissos. For our Feast we celebrate the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead and we commemorate the Holy Spirit s power to make the fisherman wise and through them illumine the whole world. This is the Seal and the Gift of the Holy Spirit we receive through Chrismation, my brothers and sisters. This is what unites us all to the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, for it is the Spirit that moves the Church to Christ through us. While the Holy Spirit may push non-orthodox towards good deeds and Christ, the Spirit moves inside of us. This fulfills the words of Christ in John Chapter 4:14 But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life. ` Thus, it is the Holy Spirit that has become the fruit of prayer and fasting that Jesus Christ mentions in Mark 9:29. Recall the story of the demon possessed boy So He [Jesus Christ] asked his father, How long has this been happening to him? And he said, From childhood. 22 And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us. The fire and water are the chief tools used by the evil one to DESTROY US. Fire is our passions. Picture a candle with a flame out of control. It will melt the wax quickly and burn up everything. These passions are gluttony; sloth; wrath; greed; lust; envy; and the most deadly of all, pride. Any one of these can spiral out of control to destroy us. Water is the cares of this world that seek to drown us in worry, stress, and fear. These can only be cast out through prayer and fasting. Casting out calls to mind emptying a glass of water. What do we then fill the glass with so that we will not be like the poor soul Jesus mentions in Matthew 12:43-45? 43 When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. 44 Then he says, I will return to my house from which I came. And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation. Casting out the impure passions is not enough. We must fill the house (glass of water) with something else so that there is no room for the demons to return. We must fill it with the Fruits of the Holy Spirit. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness... (Galatians 5:22). These fruits can only be acquired through prayer and fasting. It is no coincidence that Paul combats the seven deadly sins with these virtues. If we acquire these we will escape judgment, for against such there is no law. If we fill ourselves with the Holy Spirit we will have that water welling up to eternal life. We will be filled with courage, power from on high and Divine knowledge. Whenever May 2015 Page 5

6 you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit (Mark 13:11); and But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you (John 14:26). The Holy Spirit is and has always been the antithesis of the destructive FIRE and WATER. By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night (Exodus 13:21). It can be understood why, in the Holy Scriptures the Holy Spirit has appeared as Fire 1. The Burning Bush (Exodus 3:2) 2. The Tower of Flame leading the Israelites (Exodus 13:21) 3. The Fire of Elijah (1 King 18:38) 4. The Tongues of Fire over the Apostles (Acts of the Apostles 2:2) 5. The revealing Fire (1 Corinthians 3:11-15) And as Water 1. The Tower of Cloud leading the Israelites (Exodus 3:2) 2. As a water for the thirsty (Isaiah 44:3) 3. As a well unto eternal life (John 4:14) 4. As the Cloud on Mt. Tabor at the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1 9, Mark 9:2 8, Luke 9:28 36) 5. As the Cloud carrying the Savior up at Ascension (Acts of the Apostles 1:9) The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit (John 3:8). Let us fill the measure of our Baptism, for we were Baptized in Water and Spirit. Let us acquire through prayers and fasting the sweet fruits of the Holy Spirit. Let us be full of Him, that we can take on the attributes of Holy Fire so that we will not be burned in the Last Day, but be partakers in Divinity. Let us, like the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be united in love and concord. Let us be one even as THEY are one. God became man, so that man could become like God - St. Athanasios I remain your servant in Christ, Please visit our website! Listen to classes, sermons, reflections online Fr. Dimitri Tobias, Proistamenos May 2015 Page 6

7 His Grace Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos Consecrated: December 9, 2006 Name day: October 26 A native of Chicago born to first-generation Greek-Americans, Merope (nee Kossivas) and the late Christ J. Kantzavelos, Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos grew up as an active participant in the life of the city's historic Assumption Greek Orthodox Community. He went on to attend Hellenic College and Holy Cross School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts, where he obtained his graduate divinity degree with high distinction in Following graduation, he pursued post-graduate doctoral work in the philosophy program of Chicago's Loyola University, concentrating in the area of metaphysics. Having received monastic tonsure, Bishop Demetrios was ordained to the Diaconate October of In 1992, he was ordained to the priesthood, and in 1995 elevated to the rank of Archimandrite, all by the hand of Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago. Since then, he has served as assistant and deacon to the bishop, as associate pastor of Annunciation Cathedral of Chicago, and presently serves as Chancellor of the Metropolis of Chicago. Named as one of the twelve people to watch by The Chicago Sun-Times (January 5, 2003), Bishop Demetrios has worked extensively to build bridges of understanding and improve relationships between Chicago s Greek Orthodox Community with other local Orthodox bodies, as well as other Christian and non-christian groups. His ecumenical and interfaith commitments are numerous, coalescing around areas of social justice and advocacy. To this end, in February of 2003, he co-founded a local initiative to improve relations between the Turkish and Greek communities in Chicago, culminating in his being named the recipient of the 2010 Fethullah Gulen Award from the Niagara Foundation, a Turkish/Muslim-American group in Chicago, inspired by Fethullah Gulen, a leading Turkish Muslim, advancing interfaith and intercultural dialogue. Bishop Demetrios is the immediate past President ( ) of the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago. The Council is composed of chief leaders of the Greater Chicago faith Communities and embraces a broad diversity of theological and religious traditions. It is a microcosm of American religion as it exists in the American heartland. He is a current representative of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America to the National Council of Churches of Christ (NCCCUSA) and served as the chairperson of several of its committees over the past eight (8) years. In 1992, Bishop Demetrios established the Bishop's Task Force on AIDS, the first formal Orthodox Christian response to this pandemic in the western hemisphere. As this ministry received widespread recognition, its founder-coordinator Archimandrite Demetrios was named Outstanding Community Leader by the Cook County Board of Commissioners in 1995, and received the Jim Noone Award for Religious Leadership from the AIDS Pastoral Care Network in The Task Force has since become a resource for the entire Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. From 2001 until 2004, Bishop Demetrios also served as board member of Chicago s Alexian Brothers Bonaventure House, a premiere residential care facility for people living with HIV/AIDS. In August of 2005, he was honored with the Alexian Brothers AIDS Ministry 2005 President s Award. With an unyielding commitment to the sanctity of life, Bishop Demetrios works for justice and humanity in the prison system. He has served as a board member and past two-term President ( ) of the Illinois Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty and received the coalition s Cunningham -Carey Award in He has spoken and written extensively in support of abolition of the death penalty and has advocated extensively for individual death row inmates. Having met with the Illinois May 2015 Page 7

8 Governor on several occasions on the subject of Capital Punishment, Bishop Demetrios was recognized for his advocacy as an invited guest at the ceremony where Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed legislation abolishing the death penalty in For all these and related activities, in 2008 he was appointed as a member of the Illinois State Advisory Committee of the United States Commission on Civil Rights. In 2011, Bishop Demetrios was honored to be re-appointed for a second term on the Committee. Bishop Demetrios has also taken a leadership role in numerous Hellenic organizations and cultural events. In all of these, he has worked to instill a spirit of cooperation by all groups from the intertwined values of Christian Orthodoxy and ecumenical Hellenism. He is a regular contributor of editorials in local and national media outlets for issues concerning the Greek Orthodox Faith and Hellenic culture. Bishop Demetrios has also contributed to numerous publications including, but not limited to: Echoes From Calvary: Meditations on Franz Joseph Haydn's Seven Last Words of The Christ (Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc, 2005), edited by Richard Young; and, The Revolution: A Field Manual for Changing Your World (Relevant Books, 2006), edited by Heather Zydek. On October 30, 2006, Archimandrite Demetrios Kantzavelos was elected unanimously by the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople as Bishop of Mokissos, to serve as an auxiliary bishop of the Holy Archdiocese of America. He was assigned to serve the needs of the Holy Metropolis of Chicago at the direction of its hierarch, His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos. His episcopal ordination took place on December 9, 2006, at his home parish of the Assumption Church, in Chicago, Illinois, by the hand of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, with Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago, along with other revered Hierarchs of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and other Orthodox Christian jurisdictions. His Grace Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos continues to serve the Holy Metropolis of Chicago as Chancellor. On a personal note, I worked as His Grace Bishop Demetrios first assistant from when I served as the Registrar of the Metropolis of Chicago. He molded me through his loving example how to lead, how to preach, how to chant, how to serve and to seek the true spirit of the Gospel. He taught me to respect most Jesus Christ s command to love the least of these. Witnessing firsthand his dedication to social ministry, I saw a need to serve a broader community than those in our four walls. On January 14, 2012, His Grace married Presbytera Mary and I in Palatine, IL. He ordained me to the diaconate on June 29, the Feast of SS. Peter & Paul in His Grace also ordained me to the Holy Priesthood on September 2, the Feast of St. Mamas. His Grace Bishop Demetrios, well known to our community in his love for Holy Trinity, is like a father to me, as a true bishop should be. May 2015 Page 8

9 President s Message Christ is risen! Greetings Holy Trinity Family! It is my sincere hope that everyone enjoyed a blessed Pascha! It was truly a joy to see many of the faithful attending Holy Week services, especially Holy Friday and the Saturday night Resurrection Service. Many of our young people and their families were in attendance throughout Holy Week which serves as an example of the future of our beloved Holy Trinity parish. THANK YOU to everyone who was involved during Great Lent and Holy Week. From the choir to those who beautifully adorned the Kouvouklion with flowers. From the Altar boys to those who prepared the Breaking of The Fast Fellowship Hour. From our Stewards to the Chanters to those who prepared the Pascha Sunday Feast THANK YOU! It is because of the efforts of our Parish Family that we were all able to enjoy a blessed Pascha! And of course, THANK YOU Fr. Dimitri for your spiritual guidance and love during our Lenten Journey. Our spiritual home truly has become a spiritual haven for many of us thanks to your love, caring, and efforts. This is the time of year when we start gearing up for our Fundraising Events. Preparations are under way for our Spring Grecian Dinner which will be held May 3 rd. This is a great opportunity for our younger people - families, couples or singles- to get involved. There are many tasks that need to be completed in order to make this event successful. There is certainly something available for everyone! Please be sure to volunteer for this event. The more hands that are available will help guarantee additional success! Thank You to those who work hard for this semi- annual event. Whether you cook, serve, clean-up, or do one of the many other tasks involved THANK YOU! In addition to the Spring Grecian Dinner, the Festival Committee will begin to meet in the coming weeks in preparation for the 15 th Annual GreekFest which will be held June 12 th - 14 th, Can you believe it? Fifteen years and going stronger than ever! Who would have thought that it would grow to the magnitude it has become? With the continued hard work of EVERYONE in the Holy Trinity Family, Greekfest continues to be the PREMIERE and ONLY 3 day ethnic festival in Siouxland! Thank You to those who have worked so hard these past fifteen years to insure our success. Thank You also to those who have already indicated their willingness to help this year with the 15 th Anniversary of GreekFest. If you want to sign up in order to volunteer for GreekFest, the sign-up boards will be coming shortly and will be located in the Church Hall. This is a great opportunity for our young people and young couples to get involved. The ideas and opinions of our young people and couples are the future our beloved Holy Trinity. Your thoughts and ideas are welcomed as you are a VITAL part in the future growth of our church. Your voice can make a difference! Please be sure to attend the Festival Committee meeting in order to be heard. The date and time info will be announced accordingly. This past Wednesday, Apr. 22, I had the opportunity to attend the Tolerance Week presentation Rise at the Orpheum Theatre. This was a very moving, heavy, eye-opening event that explored photography, poetry and music that was made by survivors of the Holocaust during World War II while in captivity. Actual pictures and video recordings from the period were shown to those in attendance. On my way home following the presentation, with a heavy heart, I began to think about my grand-father on my mother s side who was brutally shot and killed by Nazis in the mountains of her home village of Livartzi, Greece in In 1944, three of her uncles were brutally murdered in a similar scenario in the same region. I also started thinking about how diversified the world has become and how humanity has moved forward, way beyond the thinking of that Dark period in world history. In today s modern world, diversity is everywhere. People of all ethnic backgrounds have moved to all corners of the earth searching for a better life for themselves and their families. Many have become educated and moved on into various professional fields. We see it in our cities, our schools, and even in our churches. Many churches today are made up of multi- ethnic backgrounds. There are people from Serbia, Syria, Eritrea, Romania, Russia, Ukraine and many other countries that make up many Christian church communities here in America, both Orthodox and non-orthodox. Even in the Metropolis of Chicago, many churches are now made up of 2 nd and 3 rd generations of Greek-Americans whose parents came from Greece. In the smaller rural communities, there is seen more of a blend of multiple ethnicities- Greeks, Russians, Syrians, Eritreans, Serbians, Ukrainians, etc.- all attending one church worshipping one God. We see even more diversity in our mixed marriages that are taking place more and more each year. Men and women- Orthodox and non-orthodox- are committing themselves to each other every day. They come from many other religious denominations to marry in the Orthodox traditions and continue to raise their families in the Orthodox teachings and way of life. Here at Holy Trinity, we began to diversify many years ago. When the Russian Orthodox Church here in Sioux City closed, the Russian Orthodox congregation had to decide where they wanted to worship. There were two choices at the time for those who wanted to continue the Orthodox way of life. Some chose to come to Holy Trinity while others chose to attend our sister church, St. Thomas Antiochian Church. Over the last decade, we have seen an input of other Orthodox ethnic groups align themselves with Holy Trinity. We have May 2015 Page 9

10 American-Greeks, Greek-Americans, Ukrainians, Syrians, Russians, Serbians, and more recently Eritreans come to worship alongside with us. As the world continues to diversify, and as Holy Trinity continues to diversify, I feel it is important that each of us thinks about what it takes to create an Orthodox atmosphere for everyone that enters our beloved spiritual home. We must think about being more tolerant, understanding, caring and most of all loving to those who want to worship with us. We must find a way to make fulfill their needs, along with our own, in order to see Holy Trinity grow. No matter if there are people of different religious backgrounds who marry into the faith and those who have already married into the faith or people of different ethnic Orthodox backgrounds, we must make them feel like Holy Trinity is their spiritual home. It is in this way that Holy Trinity will continue to grow. Our future depends on all of us being more acceptable, tolerant, caring, and loving to different ethnic and religious backgrounds. After all, as we all know, being Orthodox is not just a religion - it is a way of life. As YOUR Parish Council President, I make myself available to you should you have any concerns. You may contact me at If I do not answer, please leave a message. I WILL return your call. With heartfelt love for the Family of Holy Trinity, John Vlahoulis, 2015, Parish Council President Philoptochos News Christos Anesti!! Christ is Risen!! We are in the midst of conducting elections for the Board and the Officers of the local Philoptochos this month on May 17 th. We would greatly appreciate persons stepping up and accepting a spot on the board, as this is the mechanism that moves the entire group forward. Studies have shown that women want to service others and live their faith. They are talented and will freely offer charity to those in need. It has been shown that the 'time' factor is an issue that all must consider when joining such an organization. We gratefully accept any amount of time, talent and treasure you have to offer. Attending every meeting is not necessary if you are willing and able to put your faith into action through acts of philanthropy. Let's work together to help our wonderful organization move into the future strong and focused! In addition, I ran across this information regarding Amazon and online purchases. Please take a moment to read the info. National Philoptochos has an agreement by which 0.5% of every purchase we make through Amazon Smile is donated back to Philoptochos. See me for any questions. With sisterly love, -Mary Baryo Philoptochos President May 2015 Page 10

11 Thank You! To Tim Margellos, Dean Karras and Alex Karras for replacing the roof on the Church's utility shed! Graduation Party Graduation Open House for Anthony Fountoulakis Saturday, May 9 at 5pm until? Hwy 12 May 10th 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 of our parish!" May 25th 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 2015 Page 11

12 Fr. Dimitri & Presbytera Mary Tobias Dr. & Dr. Kosta Antonopoulos Mr. & Mrs. Periklis Antonopoulos Mr. & Mrs. Tony Antonopoulos Presbytera Vasiliki Balomenos Mr. & Mrs. John Baryo Ms. Leah Baryo Mr. Tom Baryo Mr. & Mrs. Sid Baumert Mr. & Mrs. Emmanuel Bikakis Mr. & Mrs. Dimitri Bostinelos Mr. & Mrs. John Bostinelos Mr. & Mrs. Greg Boucher Mr. & Mrs. Pete Bovis Mr. & Mrs. John Chioros Mr. & Mrs. George Demetroulis Mr. & Mrs. Kosta Demetroulis Mrs. Georgia Diavastes Mr. & Mrs. Emmanuel Eliades-Kennelly Mr. & Mrs. Vassilaki Emanuel Stewardship Time-Talent-Treasure Holy Trinity 2015 Stewards Mr. Nick Fondoulakis Mrs. Cula Fondoulakis Mr. & Mrs. Tom Fountoulakis Mr. Vaios Gennatos Mr. & Mrs. James Giasafakis Mr. & Mrs. Craig Golden Mr. & Mrs. Vasilios Holevas Mr. & Mrs. Rick Jones Dr. Fotene Karantinos Mr. & Mrs. Dean Karras Mr. & Mrs. Alex Karras Mr. & Mrs. Nick Kasotakis Mrs. Stella Kasotakis Mr. & Mrs. Alex Kazos Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Ketchelos Mr. & Mrs. Dave Kjos Mrs. Bessie Klimiades Mr. & Mrs. George Klimiades Mr. & Mrs. Tim Konidas Mrs. Anna Kounas Mr. & Mrs. John Kounas Mr. & Mrs. Chris Kounas Mr. & Mrs. Harry Kouris Mr. John Lazaris Mr. & Mrs. Lyle Listamann Mr. & Mrs. Paul Madsen Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Margeas Mrs. Daisy Margeas Mr. & Mrs. Steve Margeas Mr. Bill Margellos Mr. & Mrs. Tim Margellos Mr. & Mrs. Mike Michelakakis Mr. & Mrs. Ted Mihelakakis Mr. & Mrs. Dale Milbrodt Mr. & Mrs. George Paradise Mr. & Mrs. Michael Paradise Mr. & Mrs. George Poulos Mrs. Antonia Prewitt Mrs. Maria Rigas Mr. & Mrs. Roger Schultz Mr. & Mrs. Zachary Schultz Mrs. Nancy Selleris Mrs. Afrodity Segos Mr. & Mrs. Richard Sharp Mr. & Mrs. Spero Siganos Mrs. Anna Theros Dr. & Mrs. Richard Tobias Mr. & Mrs. Costa Tsiobanos Mr. & Mrs. George Tsiobanos Mrs. Joan Vlahoulis Mr. John Vlahoulis Mr. Spero Vlahoulis Mr. Spyro Yianopoulos To be a member of the Church is not the same as being a member of a club or group. The Church is the Body of Christ. Therefore, to be a member of the Church is to be a part of the living body of Christ. Just as every organ has a different function in the human body, we too have a specific function or calling in His Church. God did not create each of us to do the same thing. If an organ of the human body is missing or not functioning, the entire body does not reach its full potential. In the same way, without all the members of the Church participating and working together, our ministries do not reach their full potential. May 2015 Page 12

13 The Church needs not only to maintain its current ministries, but also to grow its ministries and add new ministries as needs or opportunities arise. Often new ministries come about because one member has an idea and the gifts, talent, training, abilities, education and skills to make it a reality. Each of us is called to offer our gifts as we have been blessed and serve according to the task that God has placed before us in service to His Church. I want to take this time and thank all of you who have turned in their commitment cards for stewardship. On June 7, 2015 we will be having a Stewardship Appreciation Luncheon. The purpose of this lunch is to thank all of you for all of your hard work, dedication and contributions to Holy Trinity. All parishioners are welcome to attend. If you have not turned in your commitment card, this would be a perfect time to do so. There will be NO COST for this luncheon. We will however, be accepting donations where all proceeds will go towards new chairs for the church hall. Again, THANK YOU for donating your time, talent and treasures to Holy Trinity. Dr. Kosta Antonopoulos Stewardship Chair YOUTH CORNER On Wednesday, April 29, the Youth traveled to the Siouxland Food Bank and put together over 500 food packs for needy children in the Siouxland Schools. Well done! We thank Niki Margeas for putting together this wonderful opportunity for our children to serve and learn to exemplify the Gospel! If you would like to learn more about Youth Ministries, please talk to Dean or Amy Karras during Coffee Hour! May 2015 Page 13

14 May 5 St. Irene the Great Martyr Orthros begins at 9:00 a.m. Saint Irene was the daughter of a princelet called Licinius; named Penelope by her parents, through a divine revelation she was brought to faith in Christ and at Baptism was renamed Irene. In her zeal for piety she broke in pieces all the idols of her father, who commanded that she be trampled underfoot by horses. But while she remained unharmed, one of the horses rose up and cast down her father, killing him. By her prayer she raised him to life again, and he believed and was baptized. Afterwards, in many journeyings, Saint Irene suffered torments and punishments for her faith, but was preserved by the power of God, while working dread miracles and converting many thousands of souls. At last she came to Ephesus, where she fell asleep in peace, in the first half of the fourth century. Two days after her death, her gravestone was found lifted off, and her grave empty. At least two churches were dedicated to Saint Irene in Constantinople, and she is also the patroness of the Aegean island of Thera, which is commonly called Santorin (or Santorini), a corruption of "Saint Irene." Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone O Lord Jesus, unto Thee Thy lamb doth cry with a great voice: O my Bridegroom, Thee I love; and seeking Thee, I now contest, and with Thy baptism am crucified and buried. I suffer for Thy sake, that I may reign with Thee; for Thy sake I die, that I may live in Thee: accept me offered out of longing to Thee as a spotless sacrifice. Lord, save our souls through her intercessions, since Thou art great in mercy. God, by his prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful. 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. May 2015 Page 14

15 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. Saying these things, He led them to the Mount of Olives, and raising His hands, He blessed them; and saying again the words of the Father's blessing, He was parted from them and taken up. Immediately a cloud of light, a proof of His majesty, received Him. Sitting thereon as though on a royal chariot, He was taken up into Heaven, and after a short time was concealed from the sight of the disciples, who remained where they were with their eyes fixed on Him. At this point, two Angels in the form of men in white raiment appeared to them and said, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into Heaven? This same Jesus, Who is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into Heaven" (Acts 1:11). These words, in a complete and concise manner, declare what is taught in the Symbol of Faith concerning the Son and Word of God. Therefore, having so fulfilled all His dispensation for us, our Lord Jesus Christ ascended in glory into Heaven, and sat at the right hand of God the Father. As for His sacred disciples, they returned from the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem, rejoicing because Christ had promised to send them the Holy Spirit. May 21 Ascension Orthros begins at 9:00 a.m. The Lord Jesus passed forty days on earth after His Resurrection from the dead, appearing continually in various places to His disciples, with whom He also spoke, ate, and drank, thereby further demonstrating His Resurrection. On this Thursday, the fortieth day after Pascha, He appeared again in Jerusalem. After He had first spoken to the disciples about many things, He gave them His last commandment, that is, that they go forth and proclaim His Name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. But He also commanded them that for the present, they were not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait there together until they receive power from on high, when the Holy Spirit would come upon them. It should be noted that the Mount of Olives is a Sabbath's day journey from Jerusalem, that is, the distance a Jew was permitted to walk on the day of the Sabbath. Ecumenius writes, "A Sabbath day's journey is one mile in length, as Clement says in his fifth Stromatis; it is two thousand cubits, as the Interpretation of the Acts states." They draw this conclusion from the fact that, while they were in the wilderness, the Israelites of old kept within this distance from the Holy Tabernacle, whither they walked on the Sabbath day to worship God. Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone O Christ our God, You ascended in Glory and gladdened Your disciples by the promise of the Holy Spirit. Your blessing assured them that You are the Son of God, the Redeemer of the world. May 2015 Page 15

16 Holy Week 2015 May 2015 Page 16

17 May 2015 Page 17

18 Parish News May 3 - May 6 - May 6,7 & 8 - May 8 & 9- May 15 & 16 - May 17 - May 31 June 7 June 7 June 7 - June Grecian Dinner Youth & Family Night Baklava for Greekfest Spanikopita for Greekfest Dolmades for Greekfest Philoptochos Elections Pentecost with His Grace Bishop Demetrios The Feast of Holy Trinity Monday of the Holy Spirit Stewardship Appreciation Luncheon Diples for Greekfest GreekFest Metropolis News May 2015 Page 18

19 Holy Trinity GOC May 2015 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 MEAT SKEWERING 2 DINNER PREP 3 Grecian Dinner 9:00 am Sunday Orthros 10:00 am Divine Liturgy 10 Teachers Meeting (Sunday School) Mothers' Day 9:00 am Sunday Orthros 10:00 am Divine Liturgy 11:30 am Choir Practice 17 9:00 am Sunday Orthros 10:00 am Divine Liturgy 11:30 am Choir Practice 24 9:00 am Sunday Orthros 10:00 am Divine Liturgy 11:30 am Choir Practice 4 5 9:00 am Office Hours 9:00 am Orthros of St. Irene 10:00 am Divine Liturgy of St. Irene :00 pm Parish Council Meeting 9:00 am Office Hours :00 am Office Hours 25 Memorial Day 26 9:00 am Office Hours 6 9:00 am Orthros 10:00 am Divine Liturgy of Mid- Pentecost 11:00 am Baklava 4:30 pm Healthy Body Healthy Soul 5:00 pm Greek Dance Practice 6:00 pm Youth & Family NIGHT 13 9:00 am Office Hours 4:30 pm Healthy Body Healthy Soul 5:00 pm Greek Dance Practice 6:00 pm GOYA 20 9:00 am Office Hours 4:30 pm Healthy Body Healthy Soul 5:00 pm Greek Dance Practice 9:00 am Baklava & Spanikopita 7 9 9:00 am Baklava 9:00 am Spanikopita 15 Visitations :00 am Dolmades 9:00 am Office Hours 9:00 am Dolmades 5:00 pm Byzantine Music Class 6:00 pm Paraklisis Service 21 ASCENSION 9:00 am Orthros of SS. Constantine & Helen 10:00 am Divine Liturgy of SS. Constantine & Helen 5:00 pm Byzantine Musc Class 6:00 pm Paraklisis Service 27 9:00 Hours 4:30 Music Class Service 5:00 28 am Office Hours 9:00 am Office pm Healthy Body Healthy 5:00 pm Byzantine Soul 6:00 pm Paraklisis pm Greek Dance Practice 22 Visitations Visitations 30 8:00 am Orthros 9:00 am Divine Liturgy of the Souls 31 PENETECOST 9:00 am Sunday Orthros 10:00 am Divine Liturgy May 2015 Page 19

20 Prosforo to be offered by the following Families on the following Dates: 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 3 Sun May 10 Sun May 17 Sun May 24 Sun May 31 GRECIAN DINNER Coffee Hour: Mary Sharp in honor of her parents: Stelianos & Eleni Stavros Coffee Hour: Coffee Hour: PENTECOST LUNCHEON