April Volume 10, Issue 4

Transcription

1 April 2015 Volume 10, Issue 4

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. April 2015 Page 2

3 Table of Contents Registry Page 4 Father s Message Page 5-6 President s Message Page 7 Philoptochos Page 8 Thank Yous Page 9 Stewardship Page Ministries Page 11 Services Page Posters 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 21 Church & Metropolis News Page 22 Calendar Page 23 Coffee Hour/Prosforo Page 24 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? April 2015 Page 3

4 Registry and Vital Statistics Baptisms: Chrismations: On Wednesday, March 18th Livia Hagen Daughter of Fred and Rena Hagen was Churched after the 40 Days. Welcome home, Rena! Weddings: Να ζή σετε! Να εί στε ευτυχίσμε νοί! Funerals On Tuesday, March 9, Maggie Bovis was laid to pious rest in Memorial Park. ζωή σε σας 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. April 2015 Page 4

5 My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Father Dimitri s Message In light of the services soon to come, I wish to share a little insight into perhaps my favorite service: The Proti- Anastasi Liturgy Holy Saturday Morning. Within the Passion narrative, this service takes place as Christ descends into hell. There, he utterly annihilates the power of death and frees our first parents Adam and Eve as St. John the Baptist points out to the kings Solomon and David that this is He of whom he told that would come, the One they had always hoped to see. Prior to this moment, all mankind (with the exception of Enoch [Gen. 5:24] and Elias [2 Kings 2:11]) went to hell when they perished, the good and the bad because all had sinned. When the Author of Life descended into hell, he freed all of those believing in him and they rose from the dead (Matthew 27:52). This changed the dynamic of our lives forever! Now, with Christ pulling us up, as he did with our ancestors, we too can be pulled from hell. Paradise has opened and we can share in the Resurrection of Christ! As exciting as this is, this is not why this service is my favorite. Perhaps when I was a child, I simply enjoyed listening to the psaltis chant Τὸν Κύριον ὑμνεῖτε, καὶ ὑπερυψοῦτε εἰς πάντας τοὺς αἰῶνας. Sing a hymn to the Lord, and exalt Him beyond measure, unto all the ages. Perhaps I loved watching the priest shower the church with Bay Leaves and Flowers while singing, Ἀνάστα, ὁ Θεός, κρίνων τὴν γῆν, ὅτι σὺ κατακληρονομήσεις ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ἔθνεσι. Arise, O God; judge the earth, for You shall inherit all the Gentiles. But as an adult, I realized I loved the service most because of the allegorical messages embedded in the Old Testament Readings. We read the Prophesy of Jonah (Jonah 1-4) and listen to the story of how he spent 3 days in the belly of the sea monster. This is an obvious allegory to Christ spending 3 days in the tomb., made especially clear when Jonah exclaims, I cried out in my affliction to the Lord, my God, And He heard my voice; Out of the belly of Hades, You heard the cry of my voice (Jonah 2:2). Further, the Lord Himself brings our attention here when he exclaims in Mathew 12:39, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. Of Further note, during times of antiquity men and women would pray aloud, standing up with their arms in the Orans Position, as displayed to the left. Jonah would have certainly prayed in this manner from the sea monster. The body is in the shape of the Cross. So we see within Jonah our freedom from Hell and the method in which it is accomplished: The Holy Cross. And He said to them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily*, and follow Me (Luke 9:23 *Alexandrian translation). The statement of daily, while not a universally accepted text within this verse, can be universally accepted as our daily struggle and salvation found within our personal crosses. But for me, the most powerful image is that of the three Hebrew Children (Daniel 3:1-56). We see three young men robbed of everything by the foul king Nebuchadnezzar. Their beautiful names of Hananiah "Jah who is gracious," Misha'el "Who is like God?," and Azariah "Jah has helped" were replaced with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. If one has never seen the television series Roots, there is a terrible scene in which the protagonist Kunta Kinte, one of 98 slaves brought to Annapolis, Maryland, is whipped because he refuses to take his slave name of Toby. In this gut wrenching scene we see him courageously endure the whip until he finally is broken and woodenly declares, My name is April 2015 Page 5

6 Toby. To be robbed of one s name is to be robbed of one s identity. Yet these unbelievably faithful youths never wavered in their determination to worship the one True God. As they were thrown into the fire that killed even those heating it, the three dance with the Wondrous Angel (Jesus Christ) and were not harmed. This brings to mind the story of Malachi 3:3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver. There is a popular story of a Bible Study surrounding this verse: There was a group of women in a Bible study on the book of Malachi. As they were studying chapter three they came across verse three. This verse puzzled the women and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out about the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study. That week the woman called up a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest in silver beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that, in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest so as to burn away all the impurities. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot - then she thought again about the verse, that He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver. She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. For if the silver was left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's the easy part -- when I see my image reflected in it." The thought of bearing our Cross daily or being placed within Fire can seem very daunting, terrifying. But we, THANK GOD!, do not have to do this alone. We have a God who loves us enough to help us carry our Cross (whatever it may be), and who will not let us be destroyed in the fire. God will not give us more than we can handle. More, that heat is not endured alone and it is not without purpose. If we give it to God, we will become more and more like Him. We will eventually take on the qualities of that purifying fire (The Holy Spirit) and we will dance in the fire like the Hebrew Children. This service, more than the Little or First Resurrection, gives me hope for the present and future in how I, together with Christ, can experience His joy and victory. It is in this service that we see the power of Hell crushed. It is here we see Death vanquished. It is within this service that we recognize the power of Christ to free us from death (hades/the belly of the monster) and suffering (the terrible fire). Both have been transfigured. Death has become Life and the Fire of destruction has become the Fire of the Holy Spirit. Let us come together like Jonah and the Three Youths Hananiah, Misha'el, and Azariah in joy as we are delivered from whatever afflicts us. Let us, as a family, chant triumphantly the Doxastikon of the Orthros of Pascha: It is the day of the Resurrection. Let us shine brightly for the festival, and also embrace one another. Brethren, let us say even to those who hate us, "Let us forgive everything for the Resurrection." And thus let us cry aloud, "Christ is risen from the dead, by death trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life." Please visit our website! Listen to classes, sermons, reflections online I remain your servant in Christ, Fr. Dimitri Tobias, Proistamenos April 2015 Page 6

7 President s Message Lenten Greetings, We have now arrived at what is the busiest time of the Ecclesiastical Year in our church. April brings not only showers for flowers, but also Great and Holy Pascha. For many Orthodox Christians, Great and Holy Pascha is the highest of heights at the end of a 40 day journey. This journey has and will continue to bring selfexamination and emotion to many of the faithful of Holy Trinity as a result of what Our Lord and Savior suffered during His Passion for you and me. As we continue our journey through Great and Holy Lent, I would like to remind you of the many services that are made available to us through our Holy Church. From the Monday evening Great Compline Services all through The Akathist Hymn, to Saturday of Lazarus and throughout Holy Week, our spiritual home provides us with many additional opportunities to become more aware of our faith and closer in our relationship with God AND each other. I wish you all a continued Kali Tessarokosti and a Kalo Pascha! I am looking forward to seeing all of you throughout Great Lent and Holy Week. The Parish Council would like to extend a sincere Thank You to Fr. Christodoulos. It was very kind of him to offer time to our Parish Family. The Sacrament of Confession is very important to all Orthodox Christians, especially during Great Lent. It offers us the opportunity to wipe the slate of all our sins clean. It creates a window for us to lessen our pain and hurt from things we may have done. It also gives us a time to ask for forgiveness from our Creator. The faithful of Holy Trinity are very grateful to Fr. Christodoulos for his time and advice in order for us to better understand the struggles we all face in this life. Once again, the Daughters of Penelope will be having their annual Easter Tsoureki Bread sale. The ladies will be baking on Thursday, Apr.2 nd. The delicious loaves will be ready for pick-up on Friday, Apr. 3 rd through Sunday, Apr.5 th. If you would like to volunteer to help or would like to place an order, please contact Joan Vlahoulis at You may also use the order sign-up sheets that will be located in the Church Hall to place your order. Please support the Daughters of Penelope. Your Parish Council Social Committee Co- Chairs, Mary Baryo and Maria Schultz, would like to invite everyone to the Break the Fast Fellowship Hour that will take place following the Holy Saturday Resurrection Service. The ladies and their committee will be preparing a wonderful me zeh for this very early morning celebration. Please join us for this great opportunity to celebrate Our Risen Lord TOGETHER as a Parish Family! On Sunday, April 12 th, following the Agape Service, the Parish Council will be sponsoring the Annual Easter Celebration in the Church Hall. It s time to feast! Be sure to look for more details in this issue of the Koinonia. Thank you to ALL those involved who have worked hard in order to make this event possible. If you haven t made any plans for your Pascha Celebration, now is the time! Please see Mary Baryo for tickets. Our Stewardship Team continues to work hard collecting Stewardship Cards. Filling out a Stewardship Card offers each of us the opportunity to make that family connection at Holy Trinity. That commitment that says I want to belong! and I am willing to give. As our Stewardship Team Leader Dr. Kosta Antonopoulos can attest to, the word give does NOT apply only to monetary giving. A Stewards monetary giving is only a portion of a TOTAL commitment. A Stewards giving of Time and Talent help make the Stewardship commitment complete. Please think for a moment.. Where would Holy Trinity be without Her people and their gifts of Time and Talent? Without Her STEWARDS, there would be NO Time, NO Talent and certainly NO Treasure! Because there would be No Holy Trinity. I strongly urge ALL of you to please fill out and complete a Stewardship Card. Keep in mind that a Stewardship Card is not complete until you have indicated you ministry interest located on you Stewardship Card. YOUR spiritual health and salvation, along with the health of Holy Trinity, depends on each and EVERYONE of us doing our part. TOGETHER as a Parish Family. Thank you to those who have completed and returned their cards. I look forward to seeing all of you in church over the next few weeks as together we arrive at the end of our Lenten journey Great and Holy Pascha. 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 April 2015 Page 7

8 Philoptochos News PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS On behalf of the Philoptochos membership, we wish you all a blessed Easter holiday! The first Sunday of the month this April will be Palm Sunday and the Philoptochos will be preparing the annual Palm Sunday Fish Dinner. We hope you will all support us by attending this delicious meal. We also wish to thank the Milbrodt and Kounas families for their kind and generous donation yet again this year towards the expenses of the dinner. We also extend our sincere condolences to the family of Fr. Constantine Balomenos, who fell asleep in the Lord. "Father B." served our parish for several years. May his Memory Be Eternal! This spring we will have elections for the Philoptochos Executive Board and from this board, the officers are then selected. Please see Maria Schultz if you are interested in being a member of the Executive Board. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as your president for the past several terms, but it's time to pass this responsibility on to another member anxious to guide this worthy group as we attempt to focus on the less fortunate and the needy in our society as well as support the needs of our church. Please see the dates in this month's Koinonia for Grecian Dinner preparations. Our 'busy' season is about to begin and I hope to see everyone at one time or another step up and help to prepare for the Grecian Dinner and the Festival. I will close this month's Koinonia contribution with the final paragraph of the Philoptochos Prayer which ends with these relevant words; "We also ask You, O Lord, to guide our deliberations, our decisions, our fellowship, and all our labors, so that in all we do, or say, we may bring glory to Your Holy Name, of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." With sisterly love, -Mary Baryo Philoptochos President April 2015 Page 8

9 Thank You! To the Daughters of Penelope, and for several families* for their generous donation of the Oil Candles for the Passion Service Candelabras. As each of the twelve candles is lit for the twelve Gospels of the Passion Service our church will be bathed in their pious light. *The names of the families (which are still coming in) will be printed in their entirety in the May Koinonia. THANK YOU! To the Anonymous Donor who donated the funds necessary to fix our Kitchen s Mixer. April 2015 Page 9

10 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. & Mrs. Sid Baumert Mr. & Mrs. Emmanuel Bikakis Mr. & Mrs. Dimitri Bostinelos Mr. & Mrs. John Bostinelos Mr. & Mrs. Greg Boucher Mr. & Mrs. John Chioros Mr. & Mrs. George Demetroulis Mr. & Mrs. Kosta Demetroulis Mr. & Mrs. Vassilaki Emanuel Stewardship Time-Talent-Treasure Holy Trinity 2015 Stewards Mr. & Mrs. Tom Fountoulakis Mr. Vaios Gennatos Mr. & Mrs. James Giasafakis Mr. & Mrs. Vasilios Holevas Mr. & Mrs. Rick Jones Dr. Fotene Karantinos Mr. & Mrs. Dean Karras Mr. & Mrs. Alex Karras Mrs. Stella Kasotakis Mr. & Mrs. Alex Kazos Mr. & Mrs. Dave Kjos Mrs. Bessie Klimiades Mr. & Mrs. George Klimiades Mrs. Anna Kounas Mr. & Mrs. John Kounas Mr. & Mrs. Chris Kounas Mr. & Mrs. Harry Kouris Mr. John Lazaris Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Margeas Mrs. Daisy Margeas Mr. & Mrs. Steve Margeas Mr. & Mrs. Tim Margellos Mr. & Mrs. Mike Michelakakis Mr. & Mrs. Ted Mihelakakis Mr. & Mrs. Dale Milbrodt Mr. & Mrs. George Paradise Mr. & Mrs. Michael Paradise Mrs. Maria Rigas Mr. & Mrs. Roger Schultz Mr. & Mrs. Zachary Schultz Mrs. Nancy Selleris Mr. & Mrs. Richard Sharp Mr. & Mrs. Spero Siganos Mrs. Anna Theros Mr. & Mrs. Costa Tsiobanos Mr. & Mrs. George Tsiobanos Mrs. Joan Vlahoulis Mr. John Vlahoulis Mr. Spyro Yianopoulos From God every family in heaven and on earth is named Most often, we stress the importance of stewardship of the great gifts of God s material world, but which of God s gifts is greater than family, whether it be our natural family or our parish family. As our roles within our families evolve, we become stewards of the authority and influence which we hold in the family. This requires balance which is tempered by love and respect. As St. Paul wrote to the Ephesians, Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. (5:21) St. Paul further instructs us, Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church April 2015 Page 10

11 and gave himself up for her (5:25) Throughout our lives and the roles we assume within the family, we are stewards of the love, authority, trust and respect that exist among members of the family. These things are not diminished with time or by use. But if mishandled, they can be lost. These things require the most diligent stewardship, because once they are lost, they are most difficult to recover. As Orthodox Christians, we are also stewards of our Parish family. These are the individuals whom we worship, fellowship and serve the community. In the same way that we care for our immediate family, we also care for our Christian brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, sons and daughters. In the Gospel of Saint Matthew (6:19), Jesus instructs us, Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal Often in life, we pursue and collect those things that do not last. We must ask, One hundred years from now, where will our possessions be? Our greatest blessing is our family. As orthodox Christians, we are called to be stewards of this great gift. If we are faithful to this calling, perhaps our Lord will say to us as he did to the faithful steward, Well done good and faithful servant (Mt 25:23) As Pascha approaches it is important to remember your role as a steward in our natural and Parish families. It is imperative to understand that the many Church ministries we have at Holy Trinity will only be successful through your involvement. Please take the time to familiarize yourself with the ministries while you turn in your stewardship commitment cards as there are ministries for all age groups. Dr. Kosta Antonopoulos YOUTH CORNER On March 12th the Youth came to the Church for a little Spring Cleaning. With help from some adults in the community they polished the Altar Items. Working together, they emptied the main closets of the Church, threw out garbage, and placed the items we need back into the closets in a careful, organized manner. We thank our children for their love of Church and helping to make sure She remains beautiful. The GOYA also bowled on March 21st. Our kids have some mad bowling skills! :) April 2015 Page 11

12 April 14-Renewal Tuesday: The Commemoration of Saints Raphael, Nicholas, Irene, and the Other Newly-revealed Martyrs of Lesbos Orthros begins at 9:00 a.m. 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 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-yearold 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. April 17 Renewal Friday The Lifegiving Font 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 "Life-giving 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 -- April 2015 Page 12

13 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. April 23 St. George the Trophy Bearer Celebrated at St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Rock Island, IL 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. April 25 St. Mark the Evangelist 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. April 2015 Page 13

14 Holy Week Liturgical Schedule Saturday, April 4 Saturday of Lazarus Orthros 9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy 10:00 a.m. Sunday, April 5 Palm Sunday Orthros 9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy 10:00 a.m. Holy Monday Orthros Orthros 6:00 p.m. Monday, April 6 Holy Tuesday Orthros Orthros 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 7 Holy Wednesday Orthros Orthros 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 8 Unction Ευχέλιον Service Unction 3:00 p.m. Holy Thursday Orthros Orthros 6:00 p.m. (With Unction) Palm Sunday Fish Luncheon Adults $8.00 Children $5.00 The Philoptochos wish to thank the Milbrodt and Kounas families for their kind and generous donation towards this year s dinner expenses. April 2015 Page 14

15 Thursday, April 9 Vesperal Divine Liturgy Vesperal Liturgy 9:00 a.m. The Passion Service Orthros 6:00 p.m. Friday, April 10 The Hours Hours 9:00 a.m. The Apokatheilosis Vespers 3:00 p.m. (The Removal from the Cross) The Lamentations Lamentations 6:00 p.m. Saturday, April 11 The Protianastasi (Little Resurrection) Vesperal Liturgy 9:00 a.m. The Orthros of the Resurrection Orthros 11:00 p.m. Sunday, April 12 The Resurrection Come Receive the Light 12:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy 12:30 a.m. Light Meal Following The Agape Vespers Vespers 12:00 p.m. Easter Egg Hunt for the Children AGAPE Luncheon 1:00 p.m. Adults $25 Children 5 yrs. no Charge Youths 6-18 $10 April 2015 Page 15

16 CALLING ALL YOUNG LADIES We need our darling myrofores (myrrh bearing women) for Holy Friday Night Please wear a white dress and see Michelle Bostinelos if you are interested in your child participating! CALLING ALL STRONG ARMS We need volunteers to carry the Kouvouklion around the Church Holy Friday Night. Please participate in the honor of carrying the bier of our Lord Jesus Christ. See John Vlahoulis if you are interested participating! Please Join us following the Proti-Anastasi Liturgy April 11th Holy Saturday Morning to wrap the Easter Eggs for the Paschal Service! AGAPE VESPERS SUNDAY APRIL 12 Please contact Fr. Dimitri to read the Gospel in a Foreign Language! Looking for: Spanish Italian Chinese Tigrinia Latin Russian Romanian Swahili German Arabic Oromo English French Japanese Amharic ETC. April 2015 Page 16

17 A PASCHA PARISH CELEBRATION AND LUNCHEON EASTER SUNDAY APRIL 12 TH FOLLOWING AGAPE SERVICE SERVING A TRADITIONAL GREEK EASTER FEAST! APPETIZERS ROASTED LAMB BAKED HAM OVEN POTATOES SPANAKOPITA TYROPITA SALAD *DESSERTS & BEVERAGES ADULTS $ AND UNDER $ AND UNDER NO CHARGE Contact Mary Baryo for reservations *Bring your favorite dessert to share! April 2015 Page 17

18 Daughters of Penelope Daughters Pascha Bread and Tsoureki Sale to take place Thursday April 2 nd. 9:00 a.m. Please see Joan Vlahoulis to place your orders or Sign Up in Parish Hall. Calling all Baklava, Dolmades and Spanakopita Makers!! Friday, April 17 th, and Saturday, April 18 th at 9 a.m. for Baklava, Dolmades, and Spanakopita making as we begin to prepare for Grecian Dinner and Festival. April 2015 Page 18

19 Grecian Dinner Prep Week Sunday, April 26 Following Fellowship DIPLES MAKING Tuesday, April 28 Starting at 11:00 a.m. CUTTING THE BEEF Wednesday April 29 Starting at 9:00 a.m. TSOUREKI MAKING Thursday April 30 Starting at 9:00 a.m. BREAD MAKING Friday, May 1 Starting at 5:00 p.m. SOUVLAKIA SKEWERING Saturday, May 2 Starting at 9:00 a.m. PREPARATIONS FOR DINNER April 2015 Page 19

20 Philoptochos Spaghetti Luncheon April 19th Free will donation to benefit the rebuilding of the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and Shrine at Ground Zero in NYC. September 11th attacks. The church was destroyed in the 6 Month Memorial of Anna Giasafakis Thank You! Presbytera Vicki Balomenos along with her daughter Maria; her son-in-law Tom; her son Jim; and her grandchildren, Pamela, Casey, Anthony, Kassitti, and Matthew wish to extend their heartfelt appreciation for the out powering of love they experienced from the Holy Trinity Family during the passing of the Reverend Father Constantine Balomenos. Through the gifts of food, cards, well wishes, remembrances, chanting, reading of Psalms, cooking, serving, and many other offerings, Holy Trinity honored their former priest. Presbytera says she cannot thank you all enough for supporting her during her hour of need. MAY HIS MEMORY BE ETERNAL! April 2015 Page 20

21 STAVROPROS- KINISEOS TOP Greek Independence Day and 2nd Annual Fakes Cook Off April 2015 Page 21

22 Parish News April 2 - April 4 - April 11 April 4-12 April 12 April April 19 April 26 May 2 May 3 May 17 Daughters of Penelope Tsoureki Sale Saturday of Lazarus Palm Cross Workshop Wrapping Easter Eggs after morning Liturgy Holy Week PASCHA PARISH CELEBRATION AND LUNCHEON Baklava, Dolmades, and Spanakopita Making Philoptochos Spaghetti Dinner Prep Week Grecian Dinner Stewardship Appreciation Luncheon Metropolis News April Metropolis of Chicago Clergy Retreat Fr. Dimitri will be out of town for this period. All pastoral emergencies that cannot be handled over the phone should be directed to Rev. Fr. Lucas Rice (712) mobile April 2015 Page 22

23 26 9:00 am Sunday Orthros 10:00 am Divine Liturgy 11:30 am Choir Practice 27 Clergy Retreat- Fr. Dimitri Out of Town 28 BREAD Clergy Retreat- Fr. Dimitri Out of Town 29 Clergy Retreat- Fr. Dimitri Out of Town 4:30 pm Healthy Body Healthy Soul 5:00 pm Greek Dance Practice 30 MEAT CUTTING Clergy Retreat- Fr. Dimitri Out of Town 19 Spaghetti Dinner 9:00 am Sunday Orthros 10:00 am Divine Liturgy 11:30 am Choir Practice :00 am Office Hours :00 am Office Hours 4:30 pm Healthy Body Healthy Soul 5:00 pm Greek Dance Practice Divine Liturgy of St. George at Rock Island, IL 24 Visitations 25 9:00 am Orthros of St. Mark the Evangelist 10:00 am Divine Liturgy of St. Mark the Evangelist 12 12:30 am Pascha Divine Liturgy 12:00 pm Agape Vespers 1:00 pm Paschal Lunch Liturgy of SS. Raphael, Nicholas & Irene 9:00 am Orthros 15 9:00 am Office Hours 4:30 pm Healthy Body Healthy Soul 5:00 pm Greek Dance Practice 16 9:00 am Office Hours 5:00 pm Byzantine Musc Class 17 BAKLAVA, DOLMA- DES & SPANI Visitations 9:00 am Orthros 10:00 am Liturgy of the Life Giving Spring 18 BAKLAVA, DOLMA- DES & SPANI :00 am Sunday Orthros 6:00 pm Orthros of Holy Tuesday 6:00 pm Orthros of Holy 9:00 am Office Hours 10:00 am Divine Liturgy 11:30 am Choir Practice Wednesday 6:00 pm Othros of Holy Monday NIGHT 7:00 pm Parish Council Meeting Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 Fr. Christodoulos April 2015 Page 23 5:00 pm Greek Dance Practice 6:00 pm Orthros of Holy Thursday 8 9:00 am Office Hours 3:00 pm Holy Euchelion Service 9 9:00 am Vesperal Divine Liturgy of the Mystical Supper 6:00 pm The Passion Service 10 9:00 am The Royal Hours 3:00 pm The Apokatheilosis Service 6:00 pm The Lamentations Service 11 9:00 am Vesperal Liturgy of the Protianastasi 11:00 pm Orthros of the Resurrection 5:00 pm Greek Dance Practice 6:00 pm Youth & Family 4:30 pm Healthy Body Healthy Soul 9:00 am Office Hours 2 TSOUREKI SALE 9:00 am Office Hours 5:00 pm Byzantine Musc Class 3 Visitations 4 Saturday of Lazarus Palm Cross Workshop 9:00 am Orthros 10:00 am Divine Liturgy of the Raising of Lazarus Holy Trinity GOC April 2015

24 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 April 5 Sun April 12 Sun April 19 Sun April 26 PALM SUNDAY LUNCHEON PASCHA PARISH LUNCHEON Philoptochos Spaghetti Luncheon 6 Month Memorial Anna Giasafakis Coffee Hour: