INSIDE THIS ISSUE Fr. Nick s Net

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1 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Fr. Nick s Net Parish News & Events From the Inter-NET Around the World Pg. 2 Pg. 3 Pg. 5 Pg. 6 HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH STEUBENVILLE, OHIO SEPTEMBER VOLUME VI ISSUE 8 ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS ISSUE: September Calendar House Blessing Schedule Pancake Breakfast Flyer General Assembly Agenda and Minutes Nativity of Theotokos Existence of Holy Trinity Flyer THE MISSION OF THE HOLY TRINITY PARISH IS TO SEEK AND ACHIEVE ONENESS WITH GOD IN HIS REVEALED SON, JESUS CHRIST THROUGH DAILY SACRAMENTAL AND SACRIFICIAL LIVING. WE WILL STRIVE FOR THE PEACEFUL AND LOVING UNITY WITH OUR NEIGHBORS IN CHRIST WHICH MAKES US HIS DISCIPLES. / 1 The Net October 2011

2 Fr. Nick s Net The Net is the Monthly Newsletter of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church PARISH INFORMATION PARISH PRIEST: FR. NICHOLAS M. HALKIAS PHONE: (740) HOME: (724) FRNICK@HOLYTRINITYSTB.ORG ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT(S): MARY ANNE JACOBS & KIM PALUCH OFFICE@HOLYTRINITYSTB.ORG PARISH ADDRESS: 300 SOUTH FOURTH STREET P.O. BOX 788 STEUBENVILLE, OH PHONE: (740) FAX: (740) OFFICE@HOLYTRINITYSTB.ORG WEB: Holy Trinity Church is a parish of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh (pittsburgh.goarch.org) and Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America ( under the Spiritual Jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople ( PARISH MINISTRIES PARISH COUNCIL Tony Mougianis John Scavdis Susan Vogagis Rikki Kamarados Nick Riley Greg Matzorkis George Berris Steve Pahides John Synodinos President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Asst. Treasurer Asst. Treasurer Don Kronstein Connie Shea Marianne Balakos Philoptochos... Rikki Kamarados Religious Education... Stewardship... GOYA... Rikki Kamarados JOY... Maria Matzorkis HOPE... Maria Matzorkis Choir... Pete Caleodis Library / Bookstore... Mary Romios Senior Citizens... Barbara Lee Maragos Chian Society... John Synodinos Pan-Icarian Brotherhood... Stacey Kotsanis AHEPA... Tommy Kotsanis September 2014 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Christ is in our midst! He is and always shall be! The message that Christ is in our midst is one of the most important messages that we can spread to the entire world. The simplicity of God s very existence and concern for our lives is what makes this such a needed realization for the world. While it is true that many people imagine that God exists, so many feel that He stands far off and is distant from our day to day activities. The understanding of Christ s presence and closeness to us is knowledge that empowers us to be confident to make choices and decisions that always praise His Name. However, in a world that sees so much hatred and violence, that causes so much destruction and war, many people reject the idea that God could possibly exist. And even those who concede in God s existence, blame Him for His apparent indifference to our suffering and struggles. After all, they ask, how could a God Who is as loving and as powerful as your God allow for this kind of pain and suffering to exist in His *perfect* world? That, my dear brothers and sisters, is the most important and most difficult struggle of our times. Amidst the devastations of war, famine, genocide and so many other affronts to common decency in our world, the greatest threat to our Christian existence is faithlessness. It is one thing to look upon a world and weep over the hatred and intolerance of so many, but it is even more terrible to say that nothing can be done about it. I m not suggesting that all of us should physically fight in wars, nor am I suggesting that we should try to invoke political or societal tactics to try and imagine a way for God to end these horrific acts. What I am suggesting is that our God is more powerful than any of these forces on the earth, and that we must, in unity, call upon His mighty and holy Name to help rid us of the darkness that plagues our souls. After all, how dark could the world be, if each of us is filled with light? Faithlessness and hoplessness, like the kind that attacked the late Robin Williams, is the real danger here. If you have even the smallest true faith, a thousand may fall at your side, and then thousand on your right, but no harm will come to you. (Psalm 90:7). A person with true faith in God is the strongest person in the world. There is not a war, a plague, a natural disaster or anything big enough to truly shatter them, for their ultimate hope is in God, Who can restore all things. And if the calamity is so great that it claims their life, then their faith and sacrifice have just brought them that much closer to the God they were trying to reach in the first place. A person with faith says, Christ is in our midst, and doesn t look around to see proof. They already believe that whatever has happened isn t in spite of God s love, but serves as a mechanism for them to experience God s love more fully than they did before. So Christ is in our midst! In the face of our misfortunes, we say these words as proudly as we say them to each other when we embrace each other in the Eucharistic Liturgy! Christ is in our midst! Let the light of His eternal presence shine from our souls onto the faithless and the hopeless everywhere! He truly is in our midst, and He always shall be! God Bless You All!!! 2 The Net September

3 News & Events WORSHIP SCHEDULE Sunday Worship... September Beginning September 14 th we will begin our regular schedule for Orthros and Liturgy. Orthros will now begin at 9:00 am and Liturgy will begin at 10:00 am. Wednesday Paraklesis Services... September Paraklesis Services will be offered every Wednesday at 6:00 pm unless otherwise stated. SEPTEMBER These are the services for the month of SEPTEMBER. Please check your schedules and plan to attend. Monday, September 1... Ecclesiastical New Year 8:30 am Orthros 9:30 am Liturgy Wednesday, September 3 6:00 pm Paraklesis Monday, September 8... Nativity of Theotokos 9:00 am Orthros & Liturgy- Monastery in Saxonburg Tuesday, September 9 4:00 pm Confession Wednesday, September 10 6:00 pm Paraklesis Saturday, September 13 7:00 pm Great Vespers Holy Cross - Pittsburgh Wednesday, September St. Sophia and Her 3 Daughters 8:30 am Orthros 9:30 am Liturgy 6:00 pm Paraklesis Thursday, September 18 11:00 am Confession Saturday, September St. Eustathios 8:30 am Orthros 9:30 am Liturgy Wednesday, September 24 6:00 pm Paraklesis FUTURE EXISTENCE OF HOLY TRINITY Everyone is invited to a parish wide open forum that will be conducted by the Holy Trinity Ways and Means Committee on Sunday, September 14, 2014, following Liturgy discussing The Future Existence of Holy Trinity. Please come with your love for Holy Trinity and your dedication to seeing our parish thrive through the years! HAPPY BIRTHDAY The following people will be celebrating their birthday in the month of September: Mary Jean Mahfood George Berris Ryan Manneh Frankie Vostatek Andrew Shea Nicholas Maragos Giorgio Alexander Anthony Demitras Jessica Groves Julie Moutsatsos Antionette Caneris Irene Petrides Albert Bellas Donna Zende Alexis Satiropoulis Vincetta Tsouris Steve Pahides Constantine Moore Charles Rangos If your name was not listed and you had a birthday during this month, please contact the office and we will be happy to place it on our roster for next year. WELCOME KIM PALUCH We are happy to announce a new addition to Holy Trinity. Kim Paluch has joined the staff as our new secretary as of August 19, Kim will be working a Monday thru Friday schedule from 9 until 2 pm. We are sure she will do a great job in replacing Mary Anne. Welcome aboard Kim! SUNDAY SCHOOL REGISTRATION Registration for Sunday School will be held on September 7 th. Please fill out the form that has been sent to you via mail and bring it with you to registration. If needed, there are additional forms on the Pangari. RELIGIOUS EDUCATION GREEK SCHOOL... September Greek school is scheduled every Monday from 4:00 pm until 5:00 pm here at the church unless otherwise stated. Check the Bulletin each week for changes. 3 The Net September 2014

4 News & Events BIBLE STUDY... September The Bible Study group holds it meetings on the 2 nd and 4 th Monday of the month at 10:00 am FAMILY FUN NIGHT... TBA SUNDAY SCHOOL RESUMES Sunday School will begin again on Sunday, September 14 th. Please make note that Sunday School will begin at 10:00 AM. PARISH GROUPS AHEPA... September The AHEPA Society will now have their meetings schedule through our Notify-Now system. CHOIR... TBA Rehearsals are held weekly when possible and the times vary. Anyone who would be interested in joining the Choir is welcome to do so. Please contact Pete Caleodis if you are interested in joining. PHILOPTOCHOS... September 4 The next scheduled meeting of the Philoptochos will be scheduled for the first Thursday in September. They will be meeting at Scaffidi s Restaurant at 6:30 pm for a dinner meeting. PARISH COUNCIL... September 9 Parish Council meetings are held the 2 nd Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm at the church unless otherwise stated. OPA... TBA OPA has its monthly meeting at 6:30 pm at Lancelot s Restaurant in Wintersville. All women are invited to attend these meetings. THEOLOGY ON TAP... TBA Each month Theology on Tap meets at a different location. For the month of July they will meet at 6:30 pm at the home of Anthony Mougianis. METROPOLIS COUNCIL MEETING The Metropolis Council Meeting will be held on Saturday, September 6, METROPOLIS CLERGY-LAITY ASSEMBLY The 2014 Clergy-Laity Assembly will take place from September 25 through 27 at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Pittsburgh, PA. The program will begin on Thursday with the keynote address and committee meetings and will continue through Friday with Ministry sessions concluding on Saturday with the plenary session. Anyone desiring to represent our parish at the Metropolis Clergy-Laity Assembly should contact Fr. Nick for more information. HOUSE BLESSINGS On Tuesday, September 2, Father Nick will begin the Blessing of Homes. He plans to visit all the homes between the hours of 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Please review the schedule that has been placed in this issue of The Net for dates and times. The office will be contacting your residence a day or so prior to Fathers coming to make sure there will be someone at home. If there is a conflict in scheduling, please contact the office at any time and we will be happy to set up a make-up date for you. GYRO SALE Once again the Ladies Philoptochos Society will be having their famous Gyro sale once a month through February The month of September will be on September 9 th. Please help support these ladies in this endeavor. On September 9 th there will be Koulourakia cookies for sale. PANCAKE BREAKFAST AHEPA will be sponsoring a Pancake and Sausage Breakfast following Liturgy on Sunday, September 21, The menu will consist of pancakes, sausage, coffee, milk and punch. The cost is $5.00 with a family maximum of $ Youths 7 years and younger are FREE. It will be held at the Hellenic Hall at 300 South Fourth Street. This will benefit AHEPA Charities. Please come and support this organization. FOURTH STREET HEALTH CLINIC For the month of September we are asking for bowls, cereal bars, decaf coffee, regular coffee, crackers, creamer, cups, napkins, paper towels, plastic ware, plates Splenda packets, and sugar packets. Please be generous with your supplies as these go to a very worthy cause. JUNE AND JULY MONTHLY FINANCIALS June weekly income $12, July weekly income $ 9, June weekly expenses $ 9, July weekly expenses $ 8, The Net September

5 WHY DO WE HAVE OUR HOMES BLESSED? by Phyllis Meshel Onest, M.Div. From the Inter-NET Begin Everything with Prayer Since we are reminded in Scripture to begin whatever we do with prayer, it has been the practice of Orthodox Christians for centuries to have new dwellings blessed either before or just after settling in. This has been extended to one's business or office, and even college dorm rooms. "The service performed by the priest to bless the new dwelling is somewhat similar to the consecration of a church [in the Russian practice] in that holy water, holy oil, and incense are used and a lesson from the holy Gospel is read. All the rooms of the house are sprinkled with holy water and each of the four outer walls are anointed with the sign of the Cross with holy oil, a candle placed before them, and after the censing of the house, the lesson from the Holy Gospel is read [in Greek practice the service of the Small Blessing of Waters is generally done]. At the conclusion of the blessing, the inhabitants are blessed with holy water: the husband first, followed by the wife and then the children - the oldest first. Relatives and friends present are then blessed." (Marriage and the Christian Home, by Rev. Michael B. Henning, p.24.) Back to "The Fall" From Scripture we know that whatever God created was good, but with "the Fall", evil entered the world, corrupting the creation. God the Father sent His Son Jesus to save it by effecting a "new creation". This is celebrated at Theophany, specifically with the Great Blessing of Water. "The consecration of the waters on this feast places the entire world - through its 'prime element' of water - in the perspective of the cosmic creation, sanctification, and glorification of the Kingdom of God in Christ and the Spirit." (The Orthodox Faith, Vol. II, Worship, by Fr. Thomas Hopko, p.127.) All the readings, hymns, prayers, and actions of the day speak of God's presence in our entire world and universe, His creation. Through water all of the creation is once again sanctified by God, becoming good again, the way God had intended. The Feast Of Theophany The Feast of Theophany (or Epiphany) commemorates the Baptism of our Lord in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. We know from the troparion of the day that "the Trinity was made manifest" to us. But there's more to it than this. "When Jesus descends into the depths of the river, there occurs a profound upheaval. It is not the one baptized who is purified, for he is spotless; but it is the water that is transfigured and illumined. This water, which was believed to be transparent and purifying, is in fact polluted, inhabited by evil spirits, servants of the old gods. By purifying the elements, by sanctifying matter, Jesus frees the cosmos from the powers of evil." (The Incarnate God, Vol. I, Catherine Aslanoff, French edition editor, translated by Paul Meyendorff, p.163.) The Great Blessing of Water and the Home The Great Blessing of Water takes place at the end of that day's Liturgy. Since our homes cannot be brought to the Church, the Church - through the priest and cantor - go to the homes. There the service of blessing, which began in the church, is finished with the sprinkling of water in the home. Traditionally, in most Orthodox parishes, the priest personally visits all his parishioners each year to pray with them in the place where they live, and to bless their surroundings with the newly sanctified water of Theophany (January 6/13). By sanctifying our living quarters, our private place, we extend the grace of God to our individual dwellings. (In very large parishes a yearly visit may not be possible. In areas of the country where the winter is harsh, I know of at least one parish where houses are blessed at the beginning of the ecclesiastical year in September.) We also bring the blessed water to our homes to use throughout the year to bless our homes and to drink whether we are ill or as part of our daily prayer life. "There are many occasions in family life when a sip of holy water can help to remind us of the blessing that was given 'to bestow sanctification', 'unto healing of soul and body', 'to be a fountain welling forth unto life eternal', as the priest prayed in the litany of Epiphany day." (Little Falcons: Water, Vol. 5, No. 2, 1998, p.33.) Weaving Christ into Our Lives The blessing of homes by these holy waters maintains the spiritual association between the 'family church' and the parish, as well as again providing for the sharing of God's spiritual gifts. This annual blessing is not as elaborate as the blessing of the new dwelling, but because of this it should not be overlooked, for it is in this way that the grace of God is extended to individual dwellings." (Marriage and the Christian Home, p.25.) If the priest comes to bless the home when the children are present, they have the opportunity to see the parish priest in a different and personal situation. If the priest permits, they can lead the way through the house, or hold a candle. They can show him their rooms or pets or favorite toys. They receive a blessing with water. For children, the house blessing shows the connection of the Church to the home. In Summary What does it mean to ask God to bless something? All things in the world have been spoiled right along with us. God must bless His world again in order for it to be the way that He wants it to be. For this reason God sent His Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit to the world: to bless everyone and everything that He made, to make all things good again. When the priest comes to bless our homes, he asks God to have mercy on the house, to rid it of every evil and to fill it with every blessing. What a wonderful way to begin the [Ecclesiastical] New Year! Taken from: The Net September 2014

6 Around the World STATEMENT BY HIS ALL-HOLINESS ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW ON THE PRESENT VIOLENCE IN IRAQ 8/13/2014 The recent wave of violence against innocent families and children in Iraq has rendered the world shocked and horrified. We will not remain indifferent or silent before such irrational persecution, cultural intolerance and appalling loss of life, especially when it is caused by religious hatred and racial hostility. The targeting of tens of thousands of Christians (including Arameans, Chaldeans, and Assyrians) and other religious minorities (including Turkmens, Yazidis, and Kurds) can never be justified in the name of any religious creed or conviction. What we are witnessing before our eyes in Iraq is the uprooting not simply of a religious minority in this case the Yazidis, whose very existence is being threatened but of an entire civilization. The victimization and extermination of women and children, as well as of the elderly and disabled, for any reason whatsoever much more so in the supposed name of religious conviction is a repudiation of our own future. Such calamity and cruelty of adherents to one religion can never be defended by cowardly and falsely invoking another religion. Such brutal acts are categorically unacceptable and unjustifiable before both God and humankind. Violence never is pacified by violence, and hatred is only overcome by tolerance. Knowing that true and lasting peace only comes to pass through genuine encounter and dialogue, we call upon religious leaders and political authorities in this wounded region to promote conversation to resolve dispute, and to support peaceful means to overcome conflict. We implore the same of all leaders in other parts of the world, especially in Gaza and Israel, in order that those conflicts, too, may not further escalate at the expense of more human life. It is precisely for this reason that, at the invitation of Pope Francis, we gathered in Rome for an interfaith summit of peace with Presidents Peres and Abbas last June. The situation in Iraq is especially critical. The humanitarian predicament is more urgent than ever. Our response must be immediate and tangible. Therefore, we appeal to every responsible organization and every person of good will beyond any support through perpetual and persistent prayer to assist with material and humanitarian resources so that these innocent victims may no longer endure hunger, suffering, and death. It is our wholehearted hope and fervent prayer that the God of love worshipped by Jews, Christians and Muslims alike may prevail over the false idols of fanaticism and prejudice. May the compassionate Lord grant peace to all. At the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the 13th of August, BARTHOLOMEW of Constantinople Your fervent intercessor before God 6 The Net July/August

7 The Net-Minders The Parish of Holy Trinity would like to thank the following benefactors for making this Monthly Newsletter possible: Place your AD Here In Loving Memory Of Nicholas Mougianis 7 The Net September 2014

8 Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church P.O. Box South Fourth Street Steubenville, OH NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE P A I D STEUBENVILLE, OH PERMIT NO. 83 Submissions for THE NET are to be submitted by the 20 th of each month About the Icon on the Cover ST. JOHN, THE EVANGELIST & THEOLOGIAN This Apostle was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and was the son of Zebedee and Salome, and the brother of James the elder. First a fisherman by trade, he became an Apostle and the beloved Disciple of Christ. Only he of all the Disciples followed Him even to the Cross, and was entrusted with the care of our Savior s Mother, as it were another son to her, and a brother of Christ the Teacher. After this, he preached throughout Asia Minor, especially in Ephesus. When the second persecution against the Christians began in the year 96 during the reign of Domitian, he was taken in bonds to Rome, and there was cast into a vat filled to the brim with boiling oil. Coming forth therefrom unharmed, he was exiled to the island of Patmos, where he wrote the Book of Revelation. Returnig again to Ephesus after the death of the tyrant, he wrote his Gospel (after the other Evangelists had already written theirs) and his three Catholic Epistles. In all, he lived ninety-five years and fell asleep in the Lord during the reign of Trajan in the year 100. When it was time for the departure of the Apostle John, he went out beyond the city limits of Ephesus with the families of his disciples. He bade them prepare for him a cross-shaped grave, in which he lay, telling his disciples that they should cover him over with the soil. The disciples tearfully kissed their beloved teacher, but not wanting to be disobedient, they fulfilled his bidding. They covered the face of the saint with a cloth and filled in the grave. Learning of this, other disciples of St. John came to the place of his burial. When they opened the grave, they found it empty. He was called the Theologian because he loftily expounded in his Gospel the theology of the inexpressible and eternal birth of the Son and Word of God the Father. It is for this cause that an eagle-a symbol of the Holy Spirit, as Saint Irenaeus says is depicted in his icon, for this was one of the four symbolic living creatures that the Prophet Ezekiel saw (Ezek. 1;10). Taken from: and