Η ΓΕΦΥΡΑ THE BRIDGE. On FASTING By St. John Chrysostom. November-December 2016 FATHER S MESSAGE

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THE BRIDGE Η ΓΕΦΥΡΑ Rejoice, bridge that truly leads us from death to life! Akathist Hymn DORMITION OF THE MOTHER OF GOD GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH 600 South Willard St.

Papayiannis, Proistamenos 802-881-9459 E-mail: priest@gocvt.org November-December 2016 Rev. Father Robert Athas, Retired 802-865-4416 FATHER S MESSAGE On FASTING By St.

1 THE BRIDGE Η ΓΕΦΥΡΑ Rejoice, bridge that truly leads us from death to life! Akathist Hymn DORMITION OF THE MOTHER OF GOD GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH 600 South Willard St., Burlington, VT Mailing address: P. O. Box 8122 Burlington VT (802) Fax: CLERGY Rev. Father Andreas M. Papayiannis, Proistamenos November-December 2016 Rev. Father Robert Athas, Retired FATHER S MESSAGE On FASTING By St. John Chrysostom Fasting is a medicine. But medicine, as beneficial as it is, becomes useless because of the inexperience of the user. He has to know the appropriate time that the medicine should be taken and the right amount of medicine and the condition of the body which is to take it, the weather conditions and the season of the year and the appropriate diet of the sick and many other things. If any of these things are overlooked, the medicine will do more harm than good. So, if one who is going to heal the body needs so much accuracy, when we care for the soul and are concerned about healing it from bad thoughts, it is necessary to examine and observe everything with every possible detail. Fasting is the change of every part of our life, because the sacrifice of the fast is not the abstinence but the distancing from sins. Therefore, whoever limits the fast to the deprivation of food, he is the one who, in reality, abhors and ridicules the fast. Are you fasting? Show me your fast with your works. Which works? If you see someone who is poor, show him mercy. If you see an enemy, reconcile with him. If you see a friend who is becoming successful, do not be jealous of him! If you see a beautiful woman on the street, pass her by. In other words, not only should the mouth fast, but the eyes and the legs and the arms and all the other parts of the body should fast as well. Let the hands fast, remaining clean from stealing and greediness. Let the legs fast, avoiding roads which lead to sinful sights. Let the eyes fast by not fixing themselves on beautiful faces and by not observing the beauty of others. You are not eating meat, are you? You should not eat debauchery with your eyes as well. Let your hearing also fast. The fast of hearing is not to accept bad talk against others and sly defamations.

Let the mouth fast from disgraceful and abusive words, because, what gain is there when, on the one hand we avoid eating chicken and fish and, on the other, we chew-up and consume our brothers?

2 Let the mouth fast from disgraceful and abusive words, because, what gain is there when, on the one hand we avoid eating chicken and fish and, on the other, we chew-up and consume our brothers? He who condemns and blasphemes is as if he has eaten brotherly meat, as if he has bitten into the flesh of his fellow man. It is because of this that Paul frightened us, saying: If you chew up and consume one another be careful that you do not annihilate yourselves. You did not thrust your teeth into the flesh (of your neighbor) but you thrusted bad talk in his soul; you wounded it by spreading disfame, causing unestimatable damage both to yourself, to him, and to many others. If you cannot go without eating all day because of an ailment of the body, beloved one, no logical man will be able to criticize you for that. Besides, we have a Lord who is meek and loving (philanthropic) and who does not ask for anything beyond our power. Because he neither requires the abstinence from foods, neither that the fast take place for the simple sake of fasting, neither is its aim that we remain with empty stomachs, but that we fast to offer our entire selves to the dedication of spiritual things, having distanced ourselves from secular things. If we regulated our life with a sober mind and directed all of our interest toward spiritual things, and if we ate as much as we needed to satisfy our necessary needs and offered our entire lives to good works, we would not have any need of the help rendered by the fast. But because human nature is indifferent and gives itself over mostly to comforts and gratifications, for this reason the philanthropic Lord, like a loving and caring father, devised the therapy of the fast for us, so that our gratifications would be completely stopped and that our worldly cares be transferred to spiritual works. So, if there are some who have gathered here and who are hindered by somatic ailments and cannot remain without food, I advise them to nullify the somatic ailment and not to deprive themselves from this spiritual teaching, but to care for it even more. For there exist, there really exist, ways which are even more important than abstinence from food which can open the gates which lead to God with boldness. He, therefore, who eats and cannot fast, let him display richer almsgiving, let him pray more, let him have a more intense desire to hear divine words. In this, our somatic illness is not a hindrance. Let him become reconciled with his enemies, let him distance from his soul every resentment. If he wants to accomplish these things, then he has done the true fast, which is what the Lord asks of us more than anything else. It is for this reason that he asks us to abstain from food, in order to place the flesh in subjection to the fulfillment of his commandments, whereby curbing its impetuousness. But if we are not about to offer to ourselves the help rendered by the fast because of bodily illness and at the same time display greater indifference, we will see ourselves in an unusual exaggerated way. For if the fast does not help us when all the aforementioned accomplishments are missing so much is the case when we display greater indifference because we cannot even use the medicine of fasting. Since you have learned these things from us, I pardon you, those who can, fast and you yourselves increase your acuteness and praiseworthy desire as much as possible.

3 PARISH MINISTRY DIRECTORY PARISH COUNCIL: Georgia Maheras (President) - georgiajohn@gmail.com (c) Nectar Rorris( V-Pres.) Angelike Contis (Secretary) - angelike.contis@gmail.com (c) Justin Griffing (1 st Treasurer) - justin.m.griffing@gmail.com Eleni Churchill - echurchill@ccrpcvt.org (c) Paul Henninge - phenninge@gmail.com (c) Lynne Lambesis - llambesis@hotmail.com Jacqueline Maria (2 nd Treasurer) - jmaria226@gmail.com (c) Sotos Papaseraphim - sotosandmaria@gmail.com Nancy Trombley - nancy05464@myfairpoint.net Stephen Yialiades - workingbirds@aol.com EDUCATION COORDINATOR: Georgia Maheras PHILOPTOCHOS BOARD: President, Presvytera Anthe Athas ORDER of AHEPA: President, Dr. John Tampas PROTOPSALTIS: Presvytera Mary Papayiannis PARISH COUNCIL NEWS Georgia Maheras, Parish Council President Time, Talent, and Treasure As we turn up our thermostats against the increasingly harsh fall and winter temperatures, I have been thinking about how I can use my own time, talent, and treasure as an Orthodox Christian. The life of an Orthodox Christian is to be faithful in our stewardship with what God has entrusted to us. We should have comfortable, warm homes, means of transportation, and food. We should also pray, frequently. The prayers should be in thanks, as well as for grace. In my prayers, I ask for guidance on how to use my meager skills to transform what I can in the world. What can I do to minimize food insecurity in Vermont? What can I do to ensure all Vermonters have enough wood, oil, and gas for this Winter and every winter? What can I do to use my time, talent, and treasure to serve my Church? Can my Stewardship, my time, talent, and treasure, help not only my Church, but help to reach those less fortunate than me? If I was able to wave my magic wand and just transform the world, would I do it? Yes, of course! Who wouldn t? We all have a magic wand- it is our Stewardship. In the coming months, we can use our time and talent to volunteer and bake for the upcoming Take-Out Dinner and Bake Sale (Nov. 12 th ). We can use our treasure to fulfill our 2016 financial support of our Church. We can bring canned goods in to help those in need Chittenden County (through Nov. 13). We can also look to 2017 and determine what we can each do to make the world a better place. To truly live the Christian life.

Philoptochos News and Announcements The Philoptochos Society is the official philanthropic organization of the Greek Orthodox Church in America.

4 Philoptochos News and Announcements The Philoptochos Society is the official philanthropic organization of the Greek Orthodox Church in America. Come and join us in doing the charity of our Orthodox Christian faith in this place. Philoptochos means friend of the poor. All women of our parish are invited to become members. The Thanksgiving Food Drive is going on through November 13. Collection boxes are in the Church Hall. Money Donations toward the purchase of foodstuffs by our Philoptochos Society are gratefully accepted. - Please send your check to The Philoptochos Society, Dormition Greek Orthodox Church, P. O. Box 8122, Burlington, VT and note Food Drive in the memo. Mark Your Calendars: NOVEMBER - Sunday, Nov 6 Celebration of our patron Saints Cosmas & Damian, Tray for the support of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Artoclasia, and Pot Luck Luncheon. Please bring a dish (entrée, salad, dessert, bread, beverage). There is a sign-up sheet in the Church hall. - Mon. 7 9:30 a.m. Bake Sale prep (Nuts & boxes etc.) & Koulourakia - Tues. 8 Election Day & Liturgy for the Archangels (Taxiarchae) -10:00 a.m. -Baklava & Crescent baking. - Fri a.m. - cupping and set up for bake sale Give thanks to the Lord for His merciful love endures forever! Ps 136:1 - Sat Bake Sale and Take out Dinner 10 a.m. Closing Please sign up for a shift. - Sun. 13 Last day to bring your donations for the Thanksgiving Food Drive - Sun. 20 Regular Philoptochos Meeting 12:30 p.m. - All women of our parish are invited to attend. DECEMBER - Christmas Toy Drive begins. Please bring a new, unwrapped toy. There will be a barrel in the Church Hall. - December 18 Philoptochos Christmas Gathering & Meeting Watch your for details. Thank you to everyone who has helped out with our work. God bless you!

5 DORMITION GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF BURLINGTON, VT November 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat th of Luke 12:00p Parish Assembly 13 John Chrysostom 12:00p Parish Council 20 9 th of Luke 12:00p Philoptochos th of Luke 10:00a Divine Liturgy 7 6:00p Vigil(Vespers/Orthros) 7:00p Divine Liturgy 14 Apostle Philip 21 Entrance of the Theotokos 28 1 Kosmas & Damian & Agiasmos 10:30a* Bible Study 8 Holy Archangels Nektarios the Wonderworker Apostle Andrew :00p Monthly Paraklesis 24 Thanksgiving Day 5 11 Veterans Day 12 11:00a Bake Sale & Take-Out Dinner Great-Martyr Katherine Holy Mysterion of Repentance & Confession following Saturday Great Vespers, and by appointment Notes: Fasting Rules: No meat, dairy products (includes eggs), fish, wine or olive oil may be consumed; No meat, dairy products or fish (shellfish is permitted) may be consumed; No meat or dairy products may be consumed. Parish Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: 9:00 am 11:00 am; Thursday: 7:00 pm 8:30 pm

DORMITION GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF BURLINGTON, VT December 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Notes: Fasting Rules: No meat, dairy products (includes eggs), fish, wine or olive oil may be consumed; 1 2

6 DORMITION GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF BURLINGTON, VT December 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Notes: Fasting Rules: No meat, dairy products (includes eggs), fish, wine or olive oil may be consumed; No meat, dairy products or fish (shellfish is permitted) may be consumed; No meat or dairy products may be consumed. 4 Gt-Martyr Barbara STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY 5 6 St Nikolaos 7 8 6:00p Vigil(Vespers/Orthros) 7:00p Divine Liturgy 9 Conception of the Theotokos th of Luke 12:00p Parish Council 12:15p Philoptochos 18 Before Nativity 10:00a Divine Liturgy & Christmas Pageant 12 St Spyridon :00p Vigil(Vespers/Orthros) 7:00p Divine Liturgy St Eleutherios 7:00p Monthly Paraklesis :30a Royal Hours & Typika Forefeast of Nativity 8:00a Orthros 25 Holy Nativity of our Lord 10:00a Divine Liturgy Protomartyr Stephanos Holy Mysterion of Repentance & Confession following Saturday Great Vespers, and by appointment. Parish Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: 9:00 am 11:00 am; Thursday: 7:00 pm 8:30 pm 30 31

Parish. Can you help the week of November 7 th with prep (baking, skewering, set-up)?

7 NOVEMBER 12 th is our ANNUAL FALL TAKE-OUT DINNER AND BAKE SALE 10am-6pm VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! We need people to help every day from November 7 th -November 12 th to help with this major fundraiser for the Philoptochos and the Parish. Can you help the week of November 7 th with prep (baking, skewering, set-up)? Can you help by taking a shift on November 12 th? Either serving, preparing food, washing dishes, clean-up, cashier? Please sign up with either (or both!) the Philoptochos or Parish Council to let us know when you can help.

8 Please attend our Fall Parish Assembly On November 6, 2016, Sunday, we shall have a General Assembly meeting as defined in the UPR and our own Charter, which call for two to be held annually. This General Assembly will be immediately after Church in the Fellowship Hall. The agenda for this meeting is as follows: 1. Call to Order - election of meeting Chair 2. Opening Prayer 3. Pastoral Report 4. State of the Parish 5. Reading and Approval of Spring Parish Assembly Minutes 6. Financial Reports: a. Accounts Update a. Community Center Update by Trustees b closeout c Year-to-Date d. Stewardship Update 7. Philoptochos Update 8. Committee Updates: a. Buildings and Grounds Committee: i. Ramp Update 9. Old Business: a. Redeemers b. Majestic use of parking lot c. Movement of fence 10. New Business a. Pappas Bequest b. Selection of Board of Elections c. Selection of Board of Auditors d. Nominations for Community Center Trustees e. Nominations for Parish Council Officers 11. Other a. Community Center Trustee elections: December 11 th b. Parish Council elections: December 11 th c. Stewardship Sunday: December 4 th 12. Closing Prayer 13. Adjourn

THE BRIDGE Η ΓΕΦΥΡΑ. February-March Rejoice, bridge that truly leads us from death to life! Akathist Hymn

THE BRIDGE Η ΓΕΦΥΡΑ. February-March Rejoice, bridge that truly leads us from death to life! Akathist Hymn THE BRIDGE Η ΓΕΦΥΡΑ Rejoice, bridge that truly leads us from death to life! Akathist Hymn DORMITION OF THE MOTHER OF GOD GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH 600 South Willard St., Burlington, VT 05401 Mailing address: