Holy Trini ty Gr eek Or thodox Cathedral

Transcription

1 HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL 1900 MAIN STREET COLUMBIA, SC RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED NON PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID COLUMBIA, SC PERMIT 617 Holy Trini ty Gr eek Or thodox Cathedral M a i n S t r e e t, C o l u m b i a, S C ( p h o n e ) ( f a x ) N O V E M B E R Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: We are approaching the anniversary of the greatest event to date in the incredible and much blessed life of our parish, that is, the Third Anniversary of the naming and the consecration of the Cathedral Church. As I reflect on that, I call to mind and pray for all of those who prayed, labored, and sacrificed: from the days before this Cathedral parish worshiped in the humble church on Franklin Street, and then in the beautiful and stately church on Sumter Street. May their memory be Eternal and their labors not ever be in vain. Today I am grateful as I recall the incredible, beautiful consecration weekend when we circled the Cathedral three times in procession covered by the blue sky and surrounded by the bright autumn leaves. That weekend was the Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos. Providentially, our Cathedral was consecrated on the very day that we celebrate the Temple of God being entered and consecrated by the living Temple of God, the Panaghia and Ever-Virgin Mary. The Cathedral has been further transformed since that weekend by the completion of our iconography. Please take a few minutes to pray and to study it. Please look up into the Narthex Dome to see the Icon of the Theotokos and Christ. In the drum of the Dome, see Anna praying. See Joachim. See Anna giving birth to Panaghia. Finally, see Anna being presented to the Temple the feast that we celebrate this month and the feast which commemorates our Cathedral consecration. God has reached out to us to be close to us and to be with us: to abide in us so that we may abide in Him. This is evident in the wonderful creation icon in the large dome s drum; in His visit to Abraham and Sarah as three angels in the Holy Trinity icon above the Nave entrance; as the Logos in the burning bush reaching out to Moses: in His annunciation; His birth; His Crucifixion and Death; His Resurrection; His ascension in the Flesh our human flesh to Heaven; and, finally, in His sending of His Holy Spirit to the Apostles at Pentecost (and to us at our baptism!) Indeed, God Is with Us. We can live in this reality, if we wish. Especially weekly, in the life giving mystery of the Mystical Supper which is our Divine Liturgy. In closing, the Panaghia s Entrance to the Temple, Her consecration, the consecration of our Cathedral, the transformation of the iconography and the liturgical and sacramental life of the church is an invitation and as well the means to our own consecration, transformation and sanctification. May it be Blessed and not neglected Amen. Father Michael

2 Synaxarion of the Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple On the 21st of this month [November], the Entrance of our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary Verses Within the temple, Gabriel feeds you, O Daughter, And shortly he shall come and shall say to you: Rejoice. On the twenty-first Mary entered the sacred temenos. The Entrance of the Lady Theotokos into the Temple of the Law, is the cause of a wonderful and universal feast for Orthodox Christians. Also because this took place in a paradoxical manner, and it is an introduction to the majestic and awesome mystery of the incarnation of God the Word, Who through the Theotokos was destined to be born into the world. The starting point for this feast of the Entrance took place as follows: Anna, who is known to all, because she was barren nearly all her life and unable to have a child, after supplications to the Master of creation with her husband Joachim, was granted a child. And having been granted what they longed for, immediately they dedicated the child born to them to God. Therefore in a paradoxical way was born the one who would produce the salvation of the race of men, the cause of the refashioning of fallen Adam, and of his resurrection and theosis. We call her the Most Holy and Lady Theotokos Mary. Wherefore, when she turned three years old, her parents took her and offered her on this day to the Temple. And in fulfillment to the obligations they made, they dedicated their daughter to God Who gave her to them. So they handed her over to the priests, and the High Priest of that time Zechariah. Having received her, he took her into the innermost section of the Temple, where only the High Priest entered once a year. This was done according to God's will, because she was soon destined to give birth, for the restoration and salvation of the world. Therefore, the Virgin remained there for twelve years, fed in a strange manner by the Archangel Gabriel with heavenly food. She was made worthy by God of these appearances, until the time came for the divine Annunciation, and that heavenly and supernatural message, which stated that it was God's good pleasure to receive flesh from her for the love of mankind, to refashion this world corrupted by sin. Then the Theotokos came out of the Holy of Holies and was given to her betrothed Joseph, that he may guard her and testify to her virginity. And also to serve her and the child born without seed, from the time of their flight into Egypt until their return to the land of Israel. Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone Today is the prelude of God's good pleasure, and that which was foretold of the salvation of men. The Virgin appears openly in the temple of God, and foretells Christ to all. So let us cry to her with loud voices: Rejoice, you who are the fulfillment of the Creator's economy. Kontakion in the Fourth Tone The most pure Temple of the Savior, the most precious bridal chamber and Virgin, the sacred treasury of the glories of God, today enters into the house of the Lord, bringing with her the grace that is the Divine Spirit. And the Angels of God sing of her: She is the heavenly tabernacle. LEADERSHIP STAFF The Reverend Father Michael A. Platanis, Dean Rev. Fr. Chrysostom J. Mitchell, Efemerios 2018 Parish Council: President, Maria Melonas-Bates; Anita Rickman, Vice President; Ben Singleton, Secretary; Philip Lawrence, Assistant Secretary; Evan Hobbs, Treasurer; John Metropol, Assistant Treasurer; Pete Poulos, George Mavroftas, Mike Psillos, Tom McCloghry, Roy Alexander, Mike Malone, and John Zourzoukis. Linda Sheetz, Office Administrator Michael Hart, Financial Administrator Despina Houlis, Choir Director Michael Payne, Custodian (website) htgocc@gmail.com (church office ) CELEBRATING OVER 75 YEARS Mission Statement of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral Columbia, SC The diakonia (ministry) of the Parish will include proclaiming and teaching the Gospel in accordance with the Orthodox Faith, sanctifying the faithful through God s grace in worship, the Divine Liturgy and the other sacraments; enhancing its parishioners spiritual life, and adding to the numbers of the faithful by receiving persons into the Church through instruction, baptism and/or chrismation. In addition, the Parish shall establish educational and philanthropic activities to foster the aims and mission of the Parish and to edify its parishioners in the Faith and ethos of the Church. The Parish shall also engage in such inter-orthodox, ecumenical and interfaith activities as are consistent with the policies of the Archdiocese. (Uniform Parish Regulations of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Part Three, Chapter One, Article 15, Section 4)

3 Saturday, December 1 6:00 PM Great Vespers Sunday, December 2 8:45 AM Orthros 10:00 AM Divine Liturgy Sunday School Greek School Tuesday, December 4 Barbara the Great Martyr Wednesday, December 5 Savas the Sanctified 5:30 PM Paraclesis Thursday, December 6 Nicholas the Wonderworker Saturday, December 8 6:00 PM Great Vespers Sunday, December 9 8:45 AM Orthros 10:00 AM Divine Liturgy Sunday School Greek School Wednesday, December 12 Spyridon the Wonderworker 5:30 PM Paraclesis Saturday, December 15 Eleutherios, Bishop Illyria 6:00 PM Great Vespers Sunday, December 16 8:45 AM Orthros 10:00 AM Divine Liturgy Sunday School Greek School NEXT MONTH: DECEMBER GENERAL CALENDAR Monday, December 17 Daniel & the Three Holy Youths Tuesday, December 18 5:30 PM Parish Council Meeting Wednesday, December 19 5:30 PM Paraclesis Thursday, December 20 Forefeast of the Nativity Saturday, December 22 6:00 PM Great Vespers Sunday, December 23 8:45 AM Orthros 10:00 AM Divine Liturgy Sunday School Monday, December 24 Services TBA Tuesday, December 25 Holy Nativity Services TBA Sunday, December 30 8:45 AM Orthros 10:00 AM Divine Liturgy Schedules and Times can be found on our website: Clicking on Parish Calendar and/or This Week s Schedule Clicking on Monthly Bulletin gives you the present Monthly Newsletter and also has the present monthly calendar. NOTE: This schedule is subject to change. Please consult the December bulletin for final dates and times. A Message from Father Chrysostom November 2018 When I gaze in meditation and with faith upon the holy icons in Church, and upon all its appurtenances, then I am lost in wonderful contemplation; the whole temple appears to me to be sacred history in action, a wonderful scripture of the works of God, accomplished in the human race. Here I see the history in action of our fall and of our restoration by God s wonderful ordering, and our elevation by the Lord s incarnation, our being made godly, and our exaltation into heaven; here I picture to myself the archangel Gabriel announcing the Birth of the Son of God of the Virgin; here I see the Birth itself of the Child God, the Virgin Mother, the manger at Bethlehem; here is the Circumcision; there is the Baptism; further is the meeting of the Child God in the temple by Simeon; there is the Transfiguration of our Lord, and the effusion of light on Mount Thabor; there the Entrance into Jerusalem of the righteous Savior, meek King; the Lord s Supper, and the institution of the all-saving Sacrament of the Holy Communion; there are the all-saving sufferings of the Lord of glory; I see as though it were Golgotha itself, and the Lord crucified for the sins of the world; I see the descent into hell of the Conqueror of hell, and the deliverance of the captives of hell, His Resurrection, Ascension into heaven, all for the sake of mankind, and for my sake. In the Church, I am lost in Divine contemplation, and thank the Lord for having so greatly loved me, for having so greatly honored and blessed me. But when I look within myself in my own heart, my God, what do I see! I see an abyss of voluntary and involuntary sins, an abyss of infirmities, temptations, afflictions, oppressions, fears, snares of the enemy, impenetrable darkness, thousands of falls, thousands of destructions and deaths. Sometimes I see within myself the very hell itself. My Life in Christ (p. 327) by Saint John of Kronstadt

4 Hope/Joy Fall Festival Saturday, October 20 HOLY TRINITY NEWS Thank you to the following people who volunteered to host COFFEE HOUR after liturgy for November November 4 Daughters of Penelope November 11 St. Katherine s Luncheon November 18 Stewardship November 25 General Assembly Meeting WELCOME COMMITTEE for November November 4 Mary Bellios and Maria Taylor November 11 Mark Hobbs and Anna Maria Hobbs November 18 Sarah Shafer and Dale Rothman November 25 Rebekah Metropol and Susan Zourzoukis FINANCIAL UPDATE Through September: Pledges Received: $294, Candles $ 26, Easter Offering 3, Other Income 65, Total Income $389, Expenses through September $455, Shortfall: (66,376.41) Congratulations: Baptisms held on October 20 Michael and Alexandra Troidl on the baptism of their son Henry Grayson. Theodore and Teresa Xanthakis on the baptism of their sons, Noah Diamond and Michael Curtis. Matt and Lindsey Mazzola on the baptism of their daughter, Savannah. Alexa Magdalene Kerouac NEXT HOPE/JOY MEETING WILL BE ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10th FROM 5 PM TO 7PM IN THE FELLOWSHIP HALL.

5 Hope/Joy Fall Festival (Continued) 2019 St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival Topics Junior Division (Grades 7 9) 1. Martyrs of the Church and some of the early monastics are both described as athletes. What does it mean to be an athlete for Christ? 2. On January 30th, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Three Hierarchs: St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory the Theologian, and St. John Chrysostom. Select one of these Church Fathers and discuss his contribution to the Church. 3. Discuss the significance of water in the Church Baptism, Theophany, holy water, etc. and what this suggests about our responsibility for the natural world. 4. Discus the new commandment of John 13:34: Love one another, even as I have loved you What does it mean to love one another as Christ loved us? In 1 Timothy 6:10, St. Paul writes, For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. How should Orthodox Christians relate to money and wealth? Senior Division (Grades 10 12) 1. Many of the Church s services employ objects from the natural world (such as wheat, wine, oil, or water) in order to confer a blessing upon the faithful. Why does the Church do this, and what does this suggest about our responsibility for the natural world? 2. From ancient Greece to the present, politicians have aligned themselves with religious concepts and constituencies. How is an Orthodox Christian to discern whether today s politicians do this out of genuine piety or in order to manipulate the electorate? 3. The hymns of the Church contain the whole of its theology. Pick one hymn from the Lenten or Holy Week period and describe how it speaks to you personally. 4. Describe how science and technology should always be at the service of humanity and, ultimately, of God, in harmony with His purposes. 5. In view of St. Paul s exhortation in Colossians 3:16, Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, discuss the importance of being biblically literate today. NEXT GOYA MEETING WILL BE ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11 FROM 5 PM TO 7 PM IN THE FELLOWSHIP HALL.

6 In celebration of the St. Katherine Feast Day later in November, our St. Katherine s Philoptochos will be hosting their Annual Luncheon on Sunday, November 11. Philoptochos will provide the meat course, and the community is asked to bring a covered dish: A-M Vegetable N-R Dessert S-Z. Salad As November 11 is also Veteran s Day, voluntary donations will be collected for Healing Wounds, a local veteran support organization that focuses on helping with acute combat stress injuries such as PTSD until the Veteran Administration can step in. Please join us in this great tradition for fellowship, good will and great food! TUESDAY MORNING BREAKFAST GROUP 7:30 AM All early birds are invited to join our Tuesday Morning Breakfast. ADULT FELLOWSHIP GROUP For those of us who need a little more sleep but still wish to learn more about our Orthodox faith, the Tuesday Books at 11:00 group might be just for you! The book study will be on St. John s Revelation. The book is entitled Revelation on the Seven Golden Lampstands. We meet for about an hour in the parish hall each Tuesday, beginning at 11:00 am. Save the Date! Our annual parish Nativity Choir Concert will be the evening of Sunday, December 2nd at 5:30 pm. Come usher in the season with song and joy!

7

8 SCENES FROM THIS YEAR S FESTIVAL! Famous Throw of all Festival T-shirts designed by Stan Papajohn, our Artist!