The Trophy-Bearer A monthly publication of Saint George Greek Orthodox Church New Castle, Pennsylvania

Transcription

1 The Trophy-Bearer A monthly publication of Saint George Greek Orthodox Church New Castle, Pennsylvania November 2017 Volume I, Issue 3 Saint Arsenios of Cappadocia November 10th

2 ΙΕΡΟΣ ΝΑΟΣ ΑΓΙΟΥ ΓΕΩΡΓΙΟΥ SAINT GEORGE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH 315 W. Englewood Avenue - New Castle, PA Church: (724) Fr. Michael A. Gavrilos - Parish Priest FrMichael@stgeorgenewcastle.org Parish Council Members President Sotiri Kolovos Vice-President John Christou Treasurer Nicholas Ligerakis Secretary Melissa Sotiriou Artie Christou Deno Neofotistos Helen Ritchie Marie Smilek Elias Tsiris Service Times Please Check the Monthly Calendar for Services Services Times Unless Otherwise Noted Sunday Orthros: 8:15 a.m. Sunday 9:30 a.m. Monday-Saturday Orthros: 8:30 a.m. Monday-Saturday : 9:30 a.m. Evening Services: 6:00 p.m. Information for The Trophy-Bearer If you would like an article, or photos in The Trophy-Bearer, submit them electronically to Fr. Michael (FrMichael@stgeorgenewcastle.org) by the 15th of the month. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. -James 5:14 If you or your loved one is sick, in the hospital, or need a priest, please contact Fr. Michael so that he will be able to visit them.

3 Fr. Michael s Message Christ is in our Midst! In the world we live in today, we often fall into the temptation of celebrating and wanting materialistic things. We are told that the worldly way of doing things is the correct way, when in reality the correct way of living is to follow the Church s teaching and to follow Christ. When we watch television and a sports figure scores a point, they can often times be seen beating their chest or raising their arms while signaling it was me, it was me who did this! But if they do not score that game winning shot, you see them in a completely different demeanor, almost prayer-like, asking God why He let that happen. If we are blessed with something good in our lives, or if we are struggling, we must always be giving thanks to what God has blessed us with. Every year, the fourth Thursday of November is set aside to celebrate Thanksgiving Day in the United States. Even though Thanksgiving has historical roots in religious and cultural traditions, it has long been celebrated as a secular holiday as well. It is a blessing every year for all of us to gather with family and friends on the fourth Thursday of November, and to give thanks for all that we have. However this should not be the only day that we show our gratitude and thanks towards God. It is of the upmost importance that we give thanks to God daily for everything that he sends our way. Every time we celebrate the, we are showing our thanks to God. The body and blood of Jesus Christ that we receive during the is called the Holy Eucharist; Eucharist comes from the Greek word ευχαριστώ (efharisto) which means thanks! As Orthodox Christians, every day that we have on this Earth is its own thanksgiving day, we do not set aside only one day a year to do this. On Thanksgiving Day, we are given an opportunity, and often times we remember and give thanks for all that we have been blessed with in our lives. Fr. Alexander Schmemann of blessed memory served his last on Thanksgiving Day Below is an excerpt of his sermon on that Thanksgiving Day: Everyone capable of thanksgiving is capable of salvation and eternal joy. Thank You, O Lord, for revealing Yourself to us and giving us the foretaste of Your Kingdom. Thank You, O Lord, for helping us to overcome all difficulties, tensions, passions, temptations and restoring peace, mutual love and joy in sharing the Communion of the Holy Spirit. Thank You, O Lord, for the sufferings You bestow upon us, for they are purifying us from selfishness and reminding us of the one thing needed Your eternal Kingdom. Thank You, O Lord, for giving us this country where we are free to Worship You. Thank You, O Lord, for this parish, where the name of God is proclaimed. In our earthly lives, we are going to have good days, and we are going to have bad days. When we fall into temptation, we have to be able to pick ourselves back up and give thanks to the Lord. If we are blessed during a day we must give thanks to the Lord. It is through Christ that we give thanks, and it is through Christ where we are able to instill in our hearts that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens (Philippians 4:13) With Love in Christ, Fr. Michael A. Gavrilos

4 November 2017 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Fr. Michael away at the National Presbyters Retreat October 31-November 3rd Orthodoxy 101 6:30 p.m. Great Vespers Archangel Michael Campbell 6:30 p.m. Holy Archangels St. Nektarios St. John Chrysostom Holy Unction Nativity Fast Begins 8:45am Orthros & 9:30 am St. Matthew 8:45am Orthros & 9:30 am Orthodoxy 101 6:30 p.m Entrance of the Theotokos in the Temple Thanksgiving Day St. Katherine 26 NO SUNDAY SCHOOL 27 Orthodoxy 101 6:30 p.m St. Andrew

5 December 2017 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 St. Porphyrios of Kafsokalyvia St. Barbara Orthodoxy 101 6:30 p.m. St. Savas 7:00 Great Vespers St. Nicolas Youngstown St. Nicholas Conception of St. Anna St. Spyridon St. Eleftherios St. Ignatios St. Anastasia 6:00 p.m. Great Hours of Christmas 24 Great Vespers 25 Nativity of Christ

6 COVER ICON Saint Aresenios of Cappadocia November 10th The life of Saint Arsenios of Cappadocia was written by Elder Paisios (now Saint Paisios) the Athonite, who was baptized by St. Arsenios prior to the Saint's death, and who safekept the sacred skull of the Saint in his Cell. Cappadocia (in eastern Turkey) is virtually devoid of Christians now, but in 1840, when St Arsenios was born there, there were still vital Orthodox communities. He became a monk and was sent to his native town, Farasa, to serve the people as a priest. He became known as a mighty intercessor before God, praying for all who came to him, Muslims as well as Christians. His countless miracles of healing became known throughout Cappadocia; those who could not come to see him would sometimes send articles of clothing for him to pray over. He became known as Hadjiefendis, a Muslim term of honor for pilgrims, because he made pilgrimage to the Holy Land every ten years on foot. He never accepted any gifts in return for his prayers and healings, saying: "Our faith is not for sale!" He concealed his holiness as much as he could beneath a rough and sharp-tempered exterior. If anyone expressed admiration for him, he would reply: "So you think I'm a saint? I'm only a sinner worse than you. Don't you see that I even lose my temper? The miracles you see are done by Christ. I do no more than lift up my hands and pray to him." But as the Scriptures say, "the prayers of a righteous man avail much", and when St Arsenios lifted up his hands, wonders often followed. He lived in a small cell with an earthen floor, fasted often and was in the habit of shutting himself in his cell for at least two whole days every week to devote himself entirely to prayer. Father Arsenios predicted the expulsion of the Greeks from Asia Minor before it happened, and organized his flock for departure. When the expulsion order came in 1924, the aged Saint led his faithful on a 400-mile journey across Turkey on foot. He had foretold that he would only live forty days after reaching Greece, and this came to pass. The Theotokos appeared to St. Arsenios three days prior to his repose and took him to all the monasteries and churches of Mount Athos, which he had longed to visit and see. His last words were: "The soul, the soul, take care of it more than the flesh, which will return to earth and be eaten by worms!" Two days later, on 10 November 1924, he died in peace at the age of eighty-three on the island of Kerkyra. In 1958 Elder Paisios transferred the relics of St. Arsenios from Kerkyra to his village in Konitsa, and the same once again transferred the holy relics to the Monastery of St. John the Theologian in Souroti near Thessaloniki. Since 1970, many apparitions and miracles have occurred near his holy relics, which reside in the Monastery of Souroti near Thessaloniki. He was officially glorified by the Patriarchate of Constantinople on 11 February Apolytikion in the Third Tone Your godly life well-spent, as a vessel of the Spirit, honourable, you shone, Arsenios inspired by God. Endowed with the grace of miracles, you swiftly send aid to all. Beseech, Blessed Father, Christ our God, to grant us His great mercy. Kontakion in the Fourth Tone Cappadocia's new-sprung flower and precious vessel of virtues, Holy Arsenios, let me hymn. For as an angel he lived in the flesh, and now resides with all the Saints. With them, he ever prays to Christ to grant us forgiveness of our sins. SOURE:

7 A note from Parish Council Secretary: Melissa Sotiriou, Fr. Michael, Metropolitans SAVAS, & Helen Ritchie at the Annual Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh Clergy Laity Assembly hosted by Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral Columbus, Ohio I just wanted to give a big thanks to everyone for affording my mother and I the opportunity to attend the clergylaity conference this year. It was a truly enlightening experience. There were a lot of new ideas about how we can bring the Word to a wider group of listeners, while also strengthening our faith as a whole. We learned a lot that I hope we may bring to the board for review. The possibility of being able to implement these ideas in our own community is very exciting and I feel that they can only help us to grow more in Christ. Sincerely, Melissa Sotiriou Beginning of the Sunday School Year

8 Saint George Greek Orthodox Church 315 W. Englewood Avenue New Castle, PA 16105

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