Venerable Athanasius of Athos Fifth Sunday of Matthew. Divine Liturgy

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1 2015 St. George Church Staff and Organizations July 5, 2015 Tone 4 / Eothinon 5 Pastor The Very Rev. Anthony G. Sabbagh Assistant Pastor Rev. Joseph Landino Administrative Committee Elias Gharzouzi, Chairman Albert Bitar, Treasurer Rehab Tabchi Robert Mimari Nasser Sabbagh George Nassoor Office Administrator Donna Becker Custodian Adnan Sabbagh Building/Planning Dr. George Nassoor Dave Davis Altar Servers Peter Attar, Subdeacon Choir Gail Ortner, Director Naida Abraham, Treasurer Members: Kh. Minerva Sabbagh Mary Landino Christina Attar Jouhayna Al-Amm Sean Thornton Wayne Burke David T. Davis George Nassoor Vilma Abraham Delores Edwards Helena Yurconic Amjed Khalil Chanters Hweida Moussa Marwan Sabbagh Antoun Saba The Fellowship of St. John the Divine Khouria Mary Landino Sawsan Khalouf, Chair Amjad Khalil Ghazal Stity, Treasurer Ladies Altar Society Lamia Younes, President Gina Mamari, Vice President Fay Moses, Treasurer Hind Azar, Corresponding Secretary Reem Tannous, Recording Secretary Children s Relief Fund Kh. Minerva Sabbagh Sunday School Ebtisam Moussa, Director Teachers: Khouria Mary Landino Abe Assad Dr. Rehab Tabchi Christina Attar Hope Sabbagh Assistants Mark Zaiter Rita Mamari Teen SOYO The Very Rev. Anthony G. Sabbagh, Spiritual Advisor Khalil Yacoub, Advisor Reem Haddad,Advisor Hilda Souid, President Jack Barakat, Vice President Jayson Saleet, Treasurer Clara Yazji, Recording Secretary Jack Yacoub, Corresponding Secretary St. George Bookstore Mary Landino, Chair Kh. Minerva Sabbagh, Treasurer Rehab Tabchi Website Elie Jabbour George Issa Charitable Ministries Pastoral Discretionary Fund The Very Rev. Anthony G. Sabbagh Albert Bitar Newcomer Committee Alex Khalil THE EPISTLE (For St. Athanasius) Venerable Athanasius of Athos Fifth Sunday of Matthew Commemoration of venerable Lampados of Irenoupolis; Hieromartyr Cyprian of St. George Kelli on Athos; synaxis of the 23 martyrs of Lesvos; uncovering of relics of Sergios the wonderworker of Radonezh Divine Liturgy The saints shall boast in glory, and they shall rejoice upon their beds. Sing unto the Lord a new song; His praise is in the church of the saints. The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Galatians. (5:22-6:2) BRETHREN, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us have no self-conceit, no provocation of one another, no envy of one another. Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Look to yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. THE GOSPEL (For the Fifth Sunday of Matthew) The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (8:28-9:1)

2 AT THAT TIME, when Jesus came to the country of the Gergesenes, two demoniacs met Him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. And behold, they cried out, What have we to do to Thee, O Son of God? Art Thou come here to torment us before the time? Now a herd of many swine was feeding at some distance from them. And the demons begged Him, If Thou castest us out, send us away into the herd of swine. And He said to them, Go. So they came out and went into the swine; and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and perished in the waters. The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, and what had happened to the demoniacs. And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw Him, they begged Him to leave their neighborhood. And getting into a boat He crossed over and came to His own city. Holy Bread The Holy Bread is sponsored by: The Makhoul Family in loving memory of Nedal Makhoul The Holy Bread is offered before the Altar of God by Father Anthony for the living servants of God: Metropolitan Joseph; Bishop Nicholas; Kh. Nadia, Nicklas, Sousan, George, Helen, Nebal Khouli; Naela and Family; Norven and Family; The Makhoul Family; Najah Dayoub; George, Hiyam, Simon, Melissa, Resam Tabchi; Leo, Rehab and Naomi Martin; Neph; Jaklin Makhoul; Mazhar Hanna; Lena Georges; Emad Deeb and Family; Rafeek Deeb and Family; Jamal Deeb and Family; Zahieha Hanna; Joseph and Mouna Salloum; George Salloum and Family; Bashar Salloum and Family; Issam Salloum; Zakieh Hanna; Afifeh and Jehad Safi and Family; Samer Nakhla and brothers; Monifa; Afifeh Skaf; The Saba Family; George Saba and Family; Faisal and Nadia Daher; Bashar Hanna; Rahmeh Hanna, children and grandchildren; Lawahiz Assad; Abe, John and Kate Assad; Mary Assad; Tom Pavlick and Joshua Assad Pavlick; George Assad; Naife Khalouf; Nour Atiyeh; Mona, Wail, Heather, Mitchell, Mallory, Abeer, Elyssa and Eyanna; Albert, Shadia, Christian and Michael Bitar; Naify Hanna; Layal, Samantha, Alfred and Rita Hanna; Georges Bitar; for the departed servants of God: Patriarch Elias, Patriarch Hazim; Metropolitan Philip; Fr. George Khouli; Nicola, Halon Khouli; Nedal Makhoul; Jamie Dayoub; Brahim, Resmeh, Nawal, Janet, Mtanios, Milia, Marie Hanna; Sulieman and Hanna Tabchi; Mikhaiel Deeb; Jarjoura and Zakeiha Salloum; Zaki Skaf; Georges, Tony Hanna; Nadima, Mtanios Hanna; Abdallah Safi; Badiah, Tannous Salloum; Jabra, Afifeh Safi; George Safi; Elias Nakhla; Elias Saba; Jamileh Abboud; Hanna Daher; Wajih Hanna; Elias and Danny Khalouf; Youssef Atiyeh; John Ray and Sameer Assad; Michael and Badih Bitar; Alfred Hanna; Bassam, Khalil and Nizha Bitar. Memorial Service A Memorial Service is held for the rest of the souls of the servants of God: Nedal Makhoul May the Lord grant rest to His servants and remember them in His kingdom, now and forever. Please join us for Coffee Hour We thank the following family for sponsoring today s Coffee Hour. The Makhoul Family Special donations to the Church We acknowledge families and friends who have honored dear ones with monety gifts given in the spirit of loving kindness. $ Kh. Nadia Khouli to the Church for the good health of Nicklas, Sousan, George, Helen, Nebal Khouli; Naela and Family; Norven and Family; in loving memory of Fr. George Khouli; Nicola, Halon Khouli. $ Nejah Dayoub to the Church in loving memory of Jamie Dayoub (15-year memorial); for the good health of Najwa Dayoub. $ George and Hiyam Tabchi to the Church for the good health of Simon,

3 Melissa, Resam Tabchi; Leo, Rehab and Naomi Martin; Neph; Jaklin Makhoul; Mazhar Hanna; Lena Georges; in loving memory of Fr. George Khouli Brahim, Resmeh, Nawal, Janet, Mtanios, Milia, Marie Hanna; Sulieman and Hanna Tabchi. $ Emad Deeb and Family to the Church for the good health of Emad Deeb and Family; Rafeek Deeb and Family; Jamal Deeb and Family; Zahieha Hanna; in loving memory of Mikhaiel Deeb. $ Joseph and Mouna Salloum to the Church in loving memory of Jarjoura and Zakeiha Salloum; Zaki Skaf; for the good health of George Salloum and Family; Bashar Salloum and Family; Issam Salloum. $ Zakieh Hanna to the Church in loving memory of Georges, Tony Hanna; Nadima, Mtanios Hanna. $ Afifeh Safi to the Church in loving memory of Abdallah Safi; Badiah, Tannous Salloum; Jabra, Afifeh Safi; George Safi; for the good health of Afifeh and Jehad Safi and Family. $ Samer Nakhla to the Church in loving memory of Elias Nakhla. $ Samer Nakhla to the Church for the good health of Samer, his brothers; his mother, Monifa. $ Afifeh Skaf to the Church in loving memory of Zaki Skaf. $ The Saba Family to the Church in loving memory of Elias Saba. $ George Saba and Family to the Church in loving memory of Elias Saba. $ Faisal and Nadia Daher to the Church in loving memory of Jamileh Abboud; Hanna Daher; Georges Daher; for the good health of Faisal and Nadia Daher. $ Bashar Hanna to the Church in loving memory of Wajih Hanna; for the good health of Rahmeh Hanna, children and grandchildren. $ Abe Assad and Mary Assad to Church School for the good health of the Assad and Pavlick Families; Lawahiz, Abe, John, Kate Assad, Mary Assad; Tom Pavlick and Joshua Assad Pavlick; George Assad; in loving memory of John Ray and Sameer Assad. $ Naife Khalouf to the Church in loving memory of Elias and Danny Khalouf; Youssef Atiyeh; for the good health of Nour Atiyeh. $ The Bitar Family to the Church in loving memory of Michel and Badih Bitar; for the good health of Mona, Wail, Heather, Mitchell, Mallory, Abeer, Elyssa and Eyanna; Albert, Shadia, Christian, and Michael Bitar. $ Naify Hanna to the Church in loving memory of Alfred Hanna. $ Layal Hanna and Family to the Church in loving memory of Alfred Hanna; for the good health of Layal, Samantha, Alfred and Rita Hanna. $ Georges Bitar to the Church in loving memory of Bassam, Khalil and Nizha Bitar; and Elias Saba. Within the Church We wish each parishioner and friend of St. George Church a Happy Birthday or Anniversary. May God s blessings shine down upon them throughout the coming year. Keep the Church Office informed of birthdays, anniversaries and special events. Call (610) Happy Birthday 7/5 Lamia Younes 7/10 Diane Gharzouzi Nicola Skaf Emily Mamary Josephine Toumeh Abed Makhoul Ann Marie Saliby Hilaneh J. Nehmeh Kenaz Awad 7/11 Sarkis Ibrahim 7/6 Wajiha Figueroa Suzanne Dayoub Samia Sabbagh Anna Makoul Happy Anniversary John Sabbagh 7/6/90 John & Amal Eskander 7/7 Naida Abraham 7/7/12 Rami & Hellen Khoury Rokaya Layoun 7/9/11 Shadi & Rania Jarjous Jessica Hamoui 7/10/04 James & Shennan Kayal Kamal Manuel Abboud 7/10/10 Omar & Nancy Zoudeh

4 Kibbee, Spinach and Meat Pies for sale The Ladies Altar Society is selling Kibbee at $40/doz. and Spinach and Meat Pies for $30/doz. Please see Lamia Younes during Coffee Hour or stop by the church office weekdays. Lebanese Heritage Days Festival on Aug. 1-2 Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church will sponsor their 38th Annual Heritage Day celebration on Saturday, Aug. 1, 5 p.m.-midnight and on Sunday, Aug. 2, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. There will be a variety of Middle Eastern foods, dance troupes and music by Singers Amin Sultan and Eddie Ossama and Ensemble. Free admission; held rain or shine. Our Lady of Lebanon Church is located at 54 S. 4th St., Easton; (610) ; Thank you for your support at festival We d like to gratefully acknowledge all who supported our 2015 Heritage Festival. Through your effort, time, faithfulness and dedication, you helped make your Festival a success. Thank you to everyone who donated money, helped at the booths, or sponsored an advertising sign. Thank you to our dancers and their instructors, our musical entertainment, to our great cooks and all who assisted in food preparations; to those who set-up, cleaned-up or supported us in any way your work, donation and dedication is greatly appreciated. Christ our Lord has emphasized his generosity for those who are generous to His Holy Church if you give one-fold, God will return a hundred-fold back to you. May God reward your work with every good and perfect gift that comes from above and may His blessings be upon you all. Syrian refugees risk lives to find safety In Greece June 30, 2015 Brothers Bayas, 11, Abdurrahmal, 6, and Aymullah, 4, enjoy a moment of fun and relaxation on the Greek island of Chios as their weary mother, Amina looks on. The Syrian family endured a long and grueling trip by land and sea to escape war in their country. IOCC is providing Syrian refugees arriving at the Greek immigration reception center with access to improved shower and sanitation facilities so that they can take care of their personal hygiene in privacy and with dignity. photo: Rebecca Loumiotis/IOCC Baltimore, MD (IOCC) Summer is the height of tourist season in the Greek isles, but Amina, 35, isn t on the island of Chios with her husband and three young sons for a vacation. The Syrian refugee family is in flight from Damascus. Their long and arduous trek took them through Lebanon and into Turkey, where they hiked a grueling 200 miles across the country to reach a boat that would carry them to safety in Greece. Also part of their group were several Syrian youth under 18 traveling alone or with distant relatives, like Sahir, 17, a member of Amina s extended family. They travel at great risk with the hope to reach Western Europe and register as underage refugees, which would allow their parents to join them. The eastern Aegean isles have been inundated by the flow of Syrian refugees arriving by sea. The island of Chios, which lies just four miles from Turkey, has received more than 7,000 newcomers since last March. The influx of refugees has overwhelmed local authorities on this small island of

5 only 32,000 inhabitants as they struggle to register refugees and provide basic shelter and food to the men, women, and children who arrive daily at Chios small and outdated immigrant reception center. International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) with its local partner, Apostoli, the humanitarian arm of the Church of Greece, is responding to the dire needs of the refugees by improving poor hygiene and health conditions in the crowded reception centers. Newly installed portable showers along with renovated plumbing and sewage systems provide the travel weary refugees with a place to take care of their personal hygiene in privacy and with dignity. IOCC is also providing 1,700 personal hygiene kits customized to meet the needs of men, women, or infants, and reinforcing good hygiene practices through bilingual posters in English and Arabic and one-on-one awareness talks with refugees of all ages. In addition, school kits filled with writing and coloring supplies, will be distributed to 200 school-aged children including Amina s three boys, Bayas, 11; Abdurrahmal, 6; and Aymullah, 4. I just want my children to be safe and happy, said the tearful and exhausted mother. There was nothing we could do in Syria, with our lives in danger all the time. In spite of her tired state, Amina and her husband were already eager to move their family on to the next step of the journey to a new country where their children can receive a good education and grow up far from the memories of war. HOW YOU CAN HELP You can help the victims of poverty and conflicts around the world by making a financial gift to the IOCC International Emergency Response Fund which will provide immediate relief, as well as long-term support through the provision of emergency aid, recovery assistance and other support to help those in need. To make a gift, please visit iocc.org or call toll free at IOCC (4622), or mail a check or money order payable to IOCC, P.O. Box 17398, Baltimore, MD ABOUT INTERNATIONAL ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHARITIES IOCC is the official humanitarian aid agency of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America. Since its inception in 1992, IOCC has delivered $534 million in relief and development programs to families and communities in more than 50 countries. IOCC is a member of the ACT Alliance, a global coalition of more than 140 churches and agencies engaged in development, humanitarian assistance and advocacy, and a member of InterAction, the largest alliance of U.S. based secular and faith-based organizations working to improve the lives of the world s most poor and vulnerable populations. To learn more about IOCC, visit iocc.org Bishop Raphael, Archpriest Constantine Doumany, Archdeacon Emmanuel Abohatab and parishioners at St. Michael Church in Beaumont, Texas, around Jubilee Year of the Repose of St. Raphael of Brooklyn First in a series on The Life of Our Father among the Saints Raphael Hawaweeny The Life of Our Father among the Saints Raphael Hawaweeny, Bishop of Brooklyn Good Shepherd of the Lost Sheep in America whose sanctity was officially proclaimed by the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America on Wednesday, March 29, 2000 In the last decades of the nineteenth century, America received into her open arms a steady flow of immigrants from the Middle East. Known generically as Syrians, many of these immigrants, Orthodox in faith and Arab in culture, left their ancestral towns and villages to seek new and brighter horizons for

6 themselves in the New World. As their numbers increased in America, so too did their need for spiritual leadership. Although we do not quite know how, these struggling new Americans learned of a young, pious Syrian priest, Father Raphael (Hawaweeny), at the time an archimandrite and professor of Arabic language at the Kazan Theological Academy in Imperial Russia. Through the auspices of their lay leader, Dr. Ibrahim Arbeely, they contacted the young priest with the request to come to America to be their shepherd and spiritual father. Several themes emerge as the story of St. Raphael s life unfolds. The first is the mysterious way in which God led him from his native homeland to the shores of the American continent. The second is his submissive attitude to the providence of God. And the third is his love for the people of God. Though during his lifetime he was neither a wonder-worker nor a clairvoyant elder, St. Raphael embraced a life of total abandonment of self for the service of God and his fellow man: a life of true spiritual asceticism. His message for us as we approach the end of the twentieth century is as simple and profound as the Man who first uttered it: if anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me (Matthew 16:24). St. Raphael reveals for us the royal path to salvation. He did not seek honor for himself. What is most striking is the total lack of concern for self which is evident through his life and ministry. He followed his Master. Whatever the cost, whatever the price, he followed. However heavy the Cross, however few the rewards, he followed. A brilliant man, capable of conversing in several different languages and educated in both Greek and Russian theological schools, St. Raphael does not strike us primarily as a deep thinker or theologian, but as a good shepherd who laid down his life for his sheep. His writings and his sermons are eminently practical, based on Holy Scripture and his own experiences of life. He followed Christ. In the words of the Prophet Isaiah, devoid of any personal agenda, he simply said at every time and in every place: Here I am, send me (Isaiah 6:8). To be continued next week

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