Who among us is born Orthodox? None, Orthodoxy does not come from DNA, but through water and the Holy Spirit.

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1 THE MESSENGER Newsletter of All Holy Spirit Greek Orthodox Church Who among us is born Orthodox? None, Orthodoxy does not come from DNA, but through water and the Holy Spirit. August 2015 True Christianity is Worlds Apart from Everything Else There has been much talk about faith in America lately. One misconception about the Christian faith is that it is like Judaism and Islam. While it is true that Christianity was birthed out of the teachings of Jesus who sought to bring greater revelation to his fellow Jews of what God desired for His creation, it is distinct in one unique way. Judaism and Islam are deeply entrenched in culture and heritage because they are born into it. All you need to truly be a Jew or a Muslim is to be born. Yes, you can convert, but Jews and Muslims are born Jews and Muslim. Christianity is not something you re born into. Yes, you can be born into a household that lives Christian principles and doctrines, but you are not automatically Christian simply because your family is Christian. Christianity is a faith whereby you must be born again. This precept was set when Jesus presented to a Pharisee seeking Nicodemus what the Kingdom was and how one may enter it. Jesus let him know that unless a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3). The word see has two distinct implications in this verse. The first implication is that a person is not able to perceive or understand the Kingdom. The second implication that this word presents is that it the Kingdom cannot be experienced apart from the second birth. Both of these implications perplexed and frustrated Nicodemus because he could not fathom how it was possible to be born again. Yet Jesus explained further that it was not a natural birth that was required, but a spiritual one. The reality of a Christian life is as foreign to the world as would the life of an Eskimo be to someone from Brazil. Paul told the Corinthians that the life of a Christian is so divergent from how the world operates, that it seems foolishness to them, and that same foolishness is confounding to them. You cannot hope to make it make sense to the world until or unless they have come to a place where they have heard the truth of the gospel that speaks uniquely to them. The good news is that the Gospel is for everyone who has an ear to hear it. The bad news is that not everyone has their ears tuned to receive it. When true Christians begin to focus attention on presenting the gospel in places and to people who truly and genuinely have an ear to hear it, the less burdensome it will be trying to deal with people who have no interest in hearing or desire in seeing or experiencing the Kingdom. Darkness is incapable of perceiving the light. However, darkness can be overcome by light if light would simply be the light. So while Christianity may not be like Judaism and Islam in the sense that you simply are one by birth, there great gospel truth of the matter is that anyone can be born again; even Jews and Muslims. Those who are as foreigners to the reality of the Christian faith don t have to remain foreigners. The requirements for becoming a citizen of the Kingdom are truly simple and the King is not one desiring to deport. If you already are a Kingdom citizen, remember who you called to reach and disciple. Do not be discouraged by those who have no perception or desire to experience the Kingdom. You can only pray for them and be a light unto the until the time that they can perceive it. -Brian Taylor frmilovan.wordpress.com

2 PROSPHORA It s a great honor to offer the bread that will become the body and blood of Christ during Divine Liturgy. We still have a few openings. A Prosphora chart is posted in the fellowship hall. If you would like to offer Prosphora please sign on the Sundays you prefer. Thank you to Mary Moustakes, Joanne Sgourakis, and Voula Kotrotsios for providing Prosphora in July. Thank you to Voula Kotrotsios for making the Artoklasia on July 26 Paraskevi the Righteous Martyr of Rome Xronia Polla (Many Years) Voula Kotrotsios Darcy Jackson Vivian Kokkalas SOCIAL HOUR We still have many openings for social hour. A chart is posted in the fellowship hall if you would like to donate treats for a special Sunday. Let the office know if you are going to bring your own treats. If not, donuts will be picked up and the cost is $30. Please Make checks out to All Holy Spirit. Thank you to Spiro & Mary Moustakis, Adrian & Alina Dozsa, Knox & Anastasia Jones, and Joe & Kiki Papke for sponsoring coffee hour in July. Thank you to Chris & Nadine Saklar for picking up donuts, making coffee, setting up and cleaning for the Sunday Morning Social Hour. ALTAR FLOWERS Would you like to beautify the Altar for a special occasion? We still have openings on the chart. Please sign up in the fellowship hall on the Sunday you would like and contact Nikki Moravec at for more information. Thank you to Andy & Sandy Karavas for providing flowers in July. We have several fellowship events coming up in the next few months. If you are interested in sponsoring an event, please contact Tammy Gill at Thank you all for your continued support!! It is greatly appreciated. Memorial A 40 day memorial was offered on June 10th for Boulos (Paul) Ishak Boulos Father of Matt Boulos MAY HIS MEMORY BE ETERNAL *NOTE PARAKLESIS ON MONDAY AUGUST 10TH WILL BE AT 6:00 DUE TO THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING Office Hours: Monday Friday: 10am 5pm Phone: PARISH INFOMATION Address: 9012 Q Street, Omaha, NE Website: Church: AHSoffice@allholyspirit.com Fr. Alexander Lukashonok: FrAlexander@allholyspirit.com Services: Each Sunday Morning Prayers 8:30 am Divine Liturgy 9:30 am 2 All Holy Spirit Greek Orthodox Church December

3 BAPTISMS Congratulations to Kyle and Melissa Darling on the baptism of their daughter Stella Evangeline Stella s baptismal name is Stavroula Godparent: Stephanie Diamantis Myracle Congratulations to Adrian & Alina Dozsa on the baptism of their son Daniel Dozsa Daniel s baptismal name isdaniel Godparents: Candin & Christina Jurca CHRISMATION AXIOS Katherine Krug was received into the Orthodox Church through the Sacrament of Chrismation on July 19th She took the name Macrina FASTING As we fast from food, let us abstain also from every passion...let us observe a fast acceptable and pleasing to the Lord. True fasting is to put away all evil, To control the tongue, to forbear from anger, To abstain from lust, slander, falsehood and perjury. If we renounce these things, then is our fasting true and acceptable to God Let us keep the Fast not only by refraining from food, but by becoming strangers to all the bodily passions. The reason for fasting, then, is precisely this: Fasting is a way of emptying ourselves from the cares and concerns of this world A means of preparation and conditioning, which will enable us serve God and grow closer to Him. Dormition Fast August 1 14 August

4 DORMITION FEAST CELEBRATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 14 (Outdoors weather permitting) Vesperal Divine Liturgy 6:30 Dinner to follow The Fellowship Committee will need help with set up, clean up and coordinating miscellaneous activities. Please contact Tammy Gill The Parish Council will be grilling Souvlakia and we are asking everyone to bring food. If your last name begins with : A - H bring a side dish I -P bring a salad R - Z bring a dessert BYOB Mark your calendars! SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13th > Beginning of the new church year > Liturgy on the land (180th & Harney) >Beginning of Sunday School > Family Picnic Check your weekly bulletin for more details! Join the choir for the start of the new ecclesiastical year! Monday, August 31st 6:00 Pizza provided, BYOB 7:00-8:00 Rehearsal All parishioners welcomed and encouraged to attend! Contact Pete Wilger All Holy Spirit Greek Orthodox Church

5 Apostle to the Dead On August 29 the Church remembers the Beheading of John the Baptist. John dared to reprove a powerful man, King Herod. Herod knew John to be a just and holy man, and even benefited from listening to John's words. But his awareness of his own moral weakness also made him fear this bluntly truthful preacher. Saint Justin answers the question by saying that among John's many titles Baptizer of the Lord, Holy Forerunner, Seal of All the Prophets, God-Sent Messenger there is another he might be given, and that is Apostle to those in Hades, the Dead. Father Justin writes: John reproved Herod for unlawfully marrying his brother's wife, Herodias. Furious at this insult, she convinced Herod to imprison John. She really wanted him executed, but Herod hesitated, because John was revered as a prophet among the people. But her chance came at Herod's birthday celebration. Herodias used her daughter Salome to entice Herod with a sensuous dance, knowing he would lavishly promise to grant any request the girl made. Her request startled and saddened him, but he couldn't lose face in front of his important guests. John's severed head, which Herodias had told her daughter to ask for, was delivered on a charger, or large plate. How did Jesus react to the news of His cousin John's death? Matthew 14: 13 tells us that He went into a "lonely place apart" but was soon followed by a crowd. He did not take time alone to grieve, but compassionately began healing the sick among them. Saint Justin Popovich, along with other commentators on John's beheading, asks this question: Why didn't Jesus raise John from the dead, as He had raised, for instance, the daughter of Jairus? Why not bring this man back to life to continue his important work? "The Forerunner had to become the Forerunner in Hades as well, in death's kingdom, so that he might preach there as well: Lo, the One whom all you Righteous Ones have been awaiting...is working signs and wonders such as you, all of you taken together, have never seen. And lo, I go before Him to preach to you as well this best of all news: He will come down here to us as well...the kingdom of death will be destroyed when, in a little while, the Lord appears here, and you will be led out of this horror and into heavenly joy, into the Kingdom On High." Those in Hades had to be prepared for something new: a Messiah who could lead them to eternal life. On this same day we read Mark 2: 18-22, which calls us to be ready for something new. Christ compares His saving message to new wine, which requires new wineskins, because old ones can't expand enough to hold it. Can we "expand" our minds to receive Christ's message? John the Baptist was willing to give his life to preach the Good News to those in Hades. We, still having our lives, can honor him by hearing it and rejoicing in it. August

6 All Holy Spirit was given a wonderful opportunity to express God's love for all people. Through our Lutheran Family Services and Family in Need outreach program, we were able to help a refugee family begin a new life in the United States. **Sadly millions of people are forced to flee their homes each year to escape political, religious or ethnic persecution. Those who can never go back have few options. Some spend decades in policed tent camps. Their dream is to be granted special refugee status so they can start over in a new country, like the United States. In 2014 LFS welcomed 605 adults and children to Nebraska, they estimate welcoming 1200 adults and children in We are humbled and so very grateful to everyone at All Holy Spirit for your help in making this very meaningful project a success. Each and everyone of us somewhere in the history of our genealogy had someone immigrate to the United States for a better life. For our Orthodox community to play a small part in this families journey, transition and success will be a connection to their history and All Holy Spirit for generations to come, what a blessing. We can not begin to list all the names of parishioners that exhibited such generous acts of kindness toward this refugee family. This was a community effort in every way, thank you. All for His Glory, Brenda Denich Debbie Birge (** from Lutheran Family Services literature ) 6 All Holy Spirit Greek Orthodox Church

7 August

8 In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. From the row of icons of the Twelve Great Feasts on the icon-screen, we see that the very last one on the right has been taken down and placed in the middle of the church. With the Feast of the Dormition, the Falling-Asleep of the Most Holy Mother of God, we come to the ending of the Church's Year. And we are reminded that the Church's Year begins in September with the Birth of the Mother of God, as we see from the icon of that Feast to the extreme left of the screen. Today's Feast also explains to us the origin of the hymn that we sing to the Mother of God: 'More honourable than the cherubim, beyond compare more glorious than the seraphim'. These are not simply elegant words that a pious hymnographer sat down and wrote, they have an origin in a spiritual revelation, as all that is in the Church. For this Feast reminds us of how our Lord from the Cross entrusted the care of His Mother to the Apostle John the Divine. It reminds us of how the Holy Virgin, then aged about sixty, was visited three days before her falling-asleep by the Archangel Gabriel, who long before had announced to her the conception of Christ in her womb. We recall how the Apostles were miraculously brought to Jerusalem to make their farewells. We recall how the Virgin gave away all her earthly possessions to poor widows as she made ready for her burial in Gethsemane, next to her parents Sts Joachim and Anne and also her kinsman Joseph. We recall how she comforted the grieving, how her house was filled with light, her face shone and her body was fragrant, as Christ came with the angels to take her soul, as we can see from the icon of this Feast. We are reminded how her soul was taken up by Her Son, together with the cherubim and the seraphim, and now we understand the origin of our hymn: 'More honourable than the cherubim, more glorious beyond compare than the seraphim'. We remember how the Apostles, singing in procession, took her body to the tomb which then they sealed. We recall how the Apostle Thomas arrived, delayed for three days, and wanted too to make his farewell; and so the tomb was unsealed and found empty except for the burial clothes and the wonderful fragrance. And from the very beginning we Orthodox have piously taken this to mean that the body of the Holy Virgin was so pure that it too had been taken up to Heaven, and that is why we have nowhere any bodily relic of the Mother of God. And we understand by this that the first in the Kingdom of Heaven after Christ is the Holy Virgin. We understand by this that even given the weakness of human nature it is possible for our bodies to attain to utmost holiness. The Mother of God is, after Christ, the first-fruit of the Resurrection and shows us the way to the life of the Resurrection. Of course there are people who will tell you that none of this is written in the Bible. But for us Orthodox the Holy Scriptures are only part of the ongoing Revelation of the Holy Spirit, which we call the Tradition. We are not dead to the Spirit, the Spirit speaks to us still, with ever more revelations about the life of the Coming Kingdom. I began by saying that with this Feast we come to the ending of the Church's Year. In it we also come to the ending of human life on earth. It is a tradition with us that our cemetery churches are mainly dedicated either to the Resurrection or else to the Dormition. It is a privilege for Orthodox to die on one of these Feasts. For it is indeed our destiny to die; it is the only certain thing in this life; every day that passes we draw one day nearer to our deaths. However, whatever our destiny, our ambition is not to die, but rather to fall asleep, in the manner of the Virgin, and have our souls taken to heaven by the holy angels, that death might become a mere passage from mortal life to immortality, from this deathly life to deathlessness in the Everlasting Kingdom of Christ and all His saints. Most Holy Mother of God, Save us! Amen. 8 All Holy Spirit Greek Orthodox Church - Fr. Andrew Anglorus

9 Congratulations to Jordan Fox on his promotion on July 11, 2015 to Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. NAVY! Thank you for your dedication and service to our country. May God bless you always! AHS GOYA Going Back To School Fundraiser August 2015 Throughout the month of August your GOYANS will be holding their first annual fundraising sales drive. Please stay tuned for more information!!! PLEASE SUPPORT AHS GOYA We are the future of AHS TODAY! August

10 June 2015 by Fr. Milovan Katanic The Blind See A Blind Woman s Sight is Restored We always tend to rely on a miracle in our faith. But the Lord works miracles precisely in the moments when we really need them, says Hieromonk Joseph, head of the delegation from Mt. Athos who is guarding the reliquary, reports AgionOros.ru. Having venerated the hand of St. George the Victory-Bearer, a blind woman with a cane left the church. In the street she opened her eyes and exclaimed in joy and tears: I can see! O God, I can see! although for the past ten years she was virtually blind. Dozens of believers, including ourselves, were eyewitnesses of this miracle. Fr. Joseph adds that the Athonite monks do not pay too much attention to cases of physical healings and do not keep records of them. The most important miracle is the rebirth, the eternal salvation of a human soul. And we have seen such miracles in St. Petersburg more than once. We have seen this in eyes of the faithful, in their smiles, their tears. According to the hieromonk, the faithful in St. Petersburg feel with all their heart that Holy Great Martyr George revives and blesses all the people who call upon him. Even if we leave the testimonies of physical cures which are not always recorded, we can definitely bear witness to the presence of a special, unusual grace inside the church. Volunteers and all the worshippers alike notice this. A relief in difficult situations comes at once. Those who come here with their sorrows, with a heavy heart, leave the temple absolutely transformed, relates Priest Dmitry Dmitriyev, head of the volunteer service at the St. Petersburg Diocese s youth department. 10 All Holy Spirit Greek Orthodox Church

11 August 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 9:30 Divine Liturgy- Holy Cross 2 9:00 Matins 9:30 Divine Liturgy 3 6:30 Paraclesis 4 5 6:30 Vespers 6 TRANSFIGURATION 9:30 Divine Liturgy :00 Matins 9:30 Divine Liturgy 106:00 Paraclesis 7:00 Parish Council /Ministry Leadership Meeting :30 Paraclesis 13 6:30 Vesperal Divine Liturgy Dinner to follow :00 Matins 9:30 Divine Liturgy :00 Matins 9:30 Divine Liturgy :00 Vespers 30 9:00 Matins 9:30 Divine Liturgy 31 6:00 Choir Kick off USHER SCHEDULE If you are unable to usher on your assigned Sunday please find a replacement within your group. August 8/2 Josh Busch, Jim McDonnell, Chris Hoegemeyer, & Shelly Reiling September 9/6 John & Elaine Berger, John Birge, & Matt Boulos 8/9 Bill & Cindy Lambert, Andy Karavas, & Steve Thomson 8/16 Mike & Nikki Moravec, Nick Petrow, & Chris Bakke 8/23 Mike & Sandi Kriha, John Sgourakis, & Phil Bitzes 8/30 George Poullos, Paul Bitsos, John & Kathy Treantos 9/13 Brian & Sheila Zachariae, Dora Bitsos, & Joe Carter 9/20 Mike Bouzis & Jim McDonnell Chris Hoegemeyer, & Nikki Diamantis 9/27 George Poullos, Paul Bitsos, Andy Karavas, & Jason Gill 9/30 Mike & Nikki Moravec, Nick Petrow, & Zach Hennings August

12 All Holy Spirit Greek Orthodox Church 9012 Q Street Omaha, NE (402) office PRESORT STANDARD U.S. Postage PAID Permit No Omaha, NE SAVE THE DATE! FRIDAY, AUGUST 14th DORMITION FEAST CELEBRATION Who among us is born Orthodox?.1 Community Activity..2&3 Upcoming Events..4 Meet the Church Fathers...5 Outreach- Refugee Family..6&7 The Dormition....8 Community Activity....9 Fr. Milovan Katanic August Calendar....11