January, February, and March, Winter Issue:

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1 Ecumenical Patriarchate Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church 1 Marycrest Road, West Nyack, New York (845) westnyack@optonline.net Parish Priest: Father Samaras Welcome to our Parish Family Winter Issue: January, February, and March, 2019 Published Quarterly Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Under the Auspices of His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios Sunday Church Services Proskomidhvv Qeiva Leitourgiva Proskomidi Orthros Divine Liturgy 8:15 p.m. 8:45 p.m. 10:00 p.m. 8:15 a.m.

2 Parish Roll For any emergencies or spiritual need, please call Father Samaras on the Parish cell phone: (845) Parish Council: President: Naoum Hatzis Vice-President: Nick Anagnostopoulos* Treasurer: John Livanos Secretary: George Hanos* Members: Constantine Dolianitis Michael Dolianitis Gus Drivas* John Fellas Alex Kalos Demetre Karavanas* Bobby Kostopoulos Kyriakos Lazaridis Michael Tribunella (*Past Council President) Sometimes, we only have a few people to do a lot and sometimes, it can be overwhelming. Thus, we extend our thanks to all who help our Parish. If, by any chance, we inadvertently leave out anyone s name from a mentioned list, we apologise for the accidental oversight. We welcome any and all volunteers to help us lighten and share our efforts. For they who insult us are more senseless than children. Neither let us even seek to be free from insults, but when we are insulted to bear them. For this is the only secure honor. Saint John Chrysostom Always a Spiritual Focus, First Dearest Parish Family Members, I always find it humourous to see all the year-end notices in the media, all the placards proclaiming how terrible our concluding year has been and how we are just tired of the year and, finally, how hopeful we are for the coming new year. No wonder the traditional illustration of the old year depicts a tired, long-beared, white-haired man and the new year is a plump, swaddled baby. As we now say goodbye to 2018 and hello to our hopes and dreams in 2019, perhaps the best spiritual present we may give ourselves is simply not to focus on weariness, but on any measure of gratitude. What were we thankful for in 2018? Perhaps, as long as we are still breathing, we can be thankful for any measure of health we may still possess. We still have a chance to work on improving ourselves. Despite the conditions of our world and this country, we personally can grow closer to God and really work on that. I always listen carefully to the scriptural readings of Saint Paul in which he details the dire circumstances of the Christians who, despite all their challenges in their countries and their realities, still managed to persevere and establish the Christian Church. I listen carefully to the lives of the saints and see how close they came to God, despite their circumstances. By comparison, I know how easy we have it in our current century. So, I choose to focus on gratitude: we have shelter and heat; we have air-conditioning; we have food; we have a community we can drop in on anytime we like; we have people we can talk with, when we need to talk and to be listened to. Above all, we have resources and avenues of compassion and isn t this a living definition of Christianity? So, for all of the Goodbye, 2018 grievances I see waved on New Year s Eve celebrations, I would venture to add a small thank you, 2018 for all the good chances we were given, and what we were able to accomplish: our Faith, our worship, our improvements made to our Church Community. I suggest we welcome 2019 with gratitude, and a willingness to keep getting closer in prayer and community. Faithfully, Father Samaras Page 2 Page 3

3 STEWARDSHIP Focus, Come and See Is Your Family Represented? Dear Stewardship families, Thank you for helping with our stewardship rolls in Please make an early signing-up for 2019, so we may continue providing for our ministries and returning to you. Stewardship figures will be available and presented in church. Faithfully, The Stewardship Committee Philoptochos We thank one and all for 2018 and our ministries in service. Please stay tuned for 2019 announcements. Sincerely, Lola Gabriel, Philoptochos President PTO News and Plans As always, the PTO is here to answer any and all questions. We will be communicating with parents via handouts and s and in person. Please do not hesitate to ask us any and all questions or concerns. Blessings, Health, and Happiness for our coming Church Year season and onward. Christina Zacharopoulos, Sunday School We profusely thank our parents and volunteers who helped our community again for a year of growth and Sunday School. You ll notice we have quite a large, new crop of youngsters who are being brought to church by their families. Let s get them all the support of our ministries by keeping them coming! We need more helpers and ask for others to come forward and help us help your children. Please consider this as a holy offering, a ministry you can participate in. Your children will thank you, as we thank you. Which of you parents will come forward for our Fall program? Most respectfully, Sunday School Teachers Greek School JAN. 3, Thurs. School Reopens JAN. 27, Sun. Three Hierarchs Presentation by Greek School Students FEB Winter Recess - School Closed MARCH 24, Sun. Annunciation, Presentation of Greek Independence Day program APRIL 7, Sun. *GREEK INDEPENDENCE PARADE (Student participation expected) APRIL 9, Tues. Parent Teacher Conferences; Greek School Registration Begins for Sept APRIL 21, Sun. Palm Sunday APRIL Holy Week School Closed APRIL 28 EASTER MAY 30, Thurs. Last Day of Classes JUNE 2, Sun. GRADUATION (All students participate in program) JUNE *Regents Week JUNE 17, Tues. Reorganization Meeting (*) Dates To Be Confirmed Page 4 Page 5

4 YOUTH PAGES HOPE Happenings (ages 3-7) Thank you to the parents and children who participated in our HOPE events this past year! We are continuing our children s programs and ministries these months. We are currently seeking new advisors for our Hope-aged children. Please call Father Samaras with your interest and commitment. JOY Happenings (Ages 8-12) All parents/ families of JOY-aged children (ages 8-12) are invited to meet with us, as we schedule our children s activities. Stay tuned for weekly announcements. Please send in your family s addresses, so all are happily communicated with. Our advisors are Bonnie Mavrommatis and Kristin Laoudis Rosenstein. They can be reached at: Kristin: tcbk64@aol.com or and Bonnie: nmavro@me.com most of our GOYA-aged children graduated, leaving us with only a few teenagers. Moreso, no adult/parent has yet to make the commitment to serve as a GOYA advisor and facilitator. We welcome all kids from ages to join with us. Please come to our Divine Liturgies on Sundays, to share in our fellowship and contribute to our planning. Parents, we need two people to step up and be advisors for our Goya-age teenagers. Please contact Father for sharing. We want to create an Athletics committee to help our kids prepare for next year s summer youth olympics held on Long Island over the Memorial Day Weekend. Who will step up and be advisors for our children? Please bring your teenagers for the next GOYA events, to help them bond with other Orthodox teenagers. We are striving hard to get our JOY and GOYA-aged children to make the commitment to return back to our Summer Olympics Program, held every Memorial Day Weekend in Long Island. Even if we can t staff a full soccer team or baseball team, we can at least do the individual sports activities with other Orthodox Children, and can at least staff a relay-race track team of four to five runners! We just need to help Father with adult advisors and helpers. Call Father for details. GOYA Happenings (Ages 13-18) In the past two years, we ve had no GOYA group, partially because Page 6 Page 7

5 CHOIR NEWS On Sunday, December 2, as in the last 12 or so years, members of our choir joined other area choirs and the West Point cadets for the traditional annual performance of Handel s Messiah at the Academy s cadet chapel. This year, it was the 60th anniversary of the occasion and maestro Craig Williams, the music director at the Academy, offered a few additional and extraordinary numbers from the great oratorio. Normally we limit the performance to only the first part of the three part opus, ending with the famous Hallelujah chorus of part two. However, because of the occasion, some exceptional numbers were added, including the beautiful finale of the entire work, the well known Amen. The participating members of our choir, as well as several of our parishioners in the full house audience, experienced a unique and unforgettable spiritual afternoon that gave us a taste of the true Christmas atmosphere. Leo Michaels, Choir Director Saint Basil the Great A psalm is the work of angels, a heavenly institution, the spiritual incense. A psalm implies serenity of soul; it is the author of peace, which calms bewildering and seething thoughts. For, it softens the wrath of the soul, and what is unbridled it chastens. A psalm forms friendships, unites those separated, conciliates those at enmity. Who, indeed, can still consider as an enemy him with whom he has uttered the same prayer to God? So that psalmody, bringing about choral singing, a bond, as it were, toward unity, and joining the people into a harmonious union of one choir, produces also the greatest of blessings, charity. A psalm is a city of refuge from the demons, a means of inducing help from the angels, a weapon in fears by night, a rest from toils by day, a safeguard for infants, an adornment for those at the height of their vigor, a consolation for the elders, a most fitting ornament for women. It peoples the solitudes; it rids the market place of excesses; it is the elementary exposition of beginners, the improvement of those advancing, the solid support of the perfect, the voice of the Church. It brightens the feast days; it creates a sorrow which is in accordance with God. For, a psalm is the work of angels, a heavenly institution, the spiritual incense. Page 8 Page 9

6 Our Families Need to Think Ahead Registrations for summer camps come suddently, in January, February or March. Check online for these Orthodox faithful opportunities for your chidlren and/or grandchildren. I know from experience that signing my child up for a summercamp program that enriches by our faith and culture often fills up in the first five minutes. This is why I ve previously had to sit online and register my child the second the registration period opens. Usually, the first two weeks become sold out within a matter of minutes. Here are two opportunities: 2019 Ionian Village Ionian Village is the international camping ministry of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America with campgrounds located in Peloponnesus, Greece. The mission of Ionian Village is to enrich the lives of its participants by bringing campers and staff into close contact with their Orthodox faith and Hellenic heritage by providing the opportunity for young people of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America to foster a life-long appreciation and love of Greece, Orthodoxy, and Hellenism. IV Next Dozens of colleges and universities offer study abroad programs in Greece, and many programs of our own diaspora offer similar opportunities for young adults to travel to Greece and see the sights. However, IV Next is the only travel-based program for young adults that has our Greek Orthodox faith as a core tenet of the program. Only IV Next combines professional development, international travel, and the Orthodox Faith into one all-inclusive program. IV Next is for participants ages and will run from June 2-13, 2019 Summer Camp The picturesque Ionian Village campgrounds sit along the shores of the pristine Ionian Sea and are equipped with a private beach, a renovated Olympic-sized pool, air-conditioned cabins, and various athletic courts and fields. Campers actively explore their Orthodox faith and heritage, both through the daily at-camp program and through excursions to culturally and religiously significant sites throughout Greece. Excursions include Ancient Olympia, Patras, Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Kalavrita, Aegina, and Athens. Each 20-day session is open to young people who will have completed grades 9 through 12. Session One: June 22 July 11, 2019 Session Two: July 21 August 9, 2019 For more information regarding any of our 2019 Summer programs, to apply to be a Staff, Medical, or Clergy Member, or to register for our Alumni Project please visit the Ionian Village website at www. ionianvillage.org. Camp Saint Paul CAMPER REGISTRATION BEGINS MONDAY, JANUARY 28TH, 2019, 12:00PM! Week One: June Week Two: July 1-7 Week Three: July 8-14 Week Four: July Week Five: July Campus Address: 83 Lennox Hill Road, Litchfield, CT campsaintpaul@goarch.org Campers experience a perfect balance of fellowship, educational and recreational activities, and Orthodox chapel and discussions. During the course of each day, our campers will travel between four core sessions. Page 10 Page 11

7 Orthodox Life: OL, as we call it at camp, is the main time for the campers to engage with local clergy about the theme of camp and their individual relationship with God and their faith. This year, our theme is If God is for us, who can be against us? from the book of Romans. Campers meet daily with their cabins to develop and discuss the theme with their assigned priest. More importantly, campers discover how the theme specifically affects them and their Orthodox Christianity. More than a simple question and answer period, OL is designed to be based on discussion and forming a relationship with a spiritual advisor. Often, the campers end up leading the discussion and the priest merely providing guidance. This is a favorite of many campers because of the opportunity to communicate openly with a priest about issues that are pertinent in their daily lives. Diakonia: Beginning in 2011, we introduced a new program called Diakonia, which means service. The purpose of this session is for the campers to explore different ways in which they can give back to the community, both locally and at large. Projects in 2013 included hygiene kits for IOCC, courage capes that will be sent to children with terminal illnesses, prayer pillows, and mosaic icons to beautify our camp. Diakonia helps campers learn the importance of working together and team building and allows them to experience the joy of service directly through their service project. Liturgical Hour: Liturgical Hour continues to explore and explain the often unseen and misunderstood traditions of the liturgical life of an Orthodox Christian that we so often take for granted. Our Orthodox faith is rich in heritage and tradition, and campers enjoy the up close and personal approach to various aspects of our liturgy. For example, campers learn about the vestments of the priest, about the proskomide, as well as about the icons and hymns of the church. At the end of the week, the entire Divine Liturgy is sung by the whole camp on Sunday! Greek Cultural Appreciation: This great program debuted in 2010 at Camp Saint Paul with raving reviews. In this session, campers learn more about our shared Greek Cultural heritage. They learn how to do Greek dances from all over Greece and sing traditional Greek songs that quickly become favorites at camp. Also, a big component of this session is the cooking. Last year, our campers learned about and made kollyva as well as other delicious snacks! In addition to the cooking, they learned several Greek dances and folk songs! Kali Parea Our Kali Parea group will have their luncheon meetings on the second Monday of every month. The coordinator for our group is Mr. Gianakouros. Please join this active group for fellowship and conversation. You can be a Parish Newsletter SPONSOR for any issue! An easy way to help sponsor the production of this great service and ministry to our parish community our parish newsletter is to sponsor an issue and its production costs. You may dedicate such an issue to the memory of someone, or to the celebration of someone s life or birthday or anniversary. Simply send in to our Church Office any photos, dedicational text, and remembrances, and a donation of $ which will cover all inks, papers, staples, labels, mailings, and productions. All to your doorstep, box, or mailbox, suitable for framing! Q: Why are other ethnic groups and other religious faiths so strong in their solidarity and community? A: Because they support each other, and patronize each other s businesses. Then, to likewise be strong, let us learn the lesson: Support and patronize our people s businesses. Good Day! Here is our Parish Calendar and Events for our Winter Season: January, February, and March, For the next Spring newsletter of April, May, and June, 2019, the deadline for all news items is March 1st. So, everybody think about what your group will be planning and doing for those months. All Church groups are asked to submit their materials in a timely fashion. Be sure to double-check our Sunday Church Bulletins for any possible scheduling changes or last-minute developments, additions, or deletions. Page 12 Page 13

8 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 Saint Basil the Great January, Royal Hours, 9 a.m. 5 Pre-Epiphany 8:45 Orthros; 10 a.m. Divine Liturgy Vespers, 7 p.m. 6 Holy Epiphany 7 Saint John/Baptist Kali Parea, 11:30 am. 8 9 Parish Council, 8 pm. 10 Greek Edu, 7 pm SAINT ANTHONY 18 SAINT ATHANASIOS Three Hierarchs 31 Page 14

9 February, 2019 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 Lord s Presentation 3 Three Hierarchs Presentation Parish Council 8 p.m Kali Parea, 11:30 am TRIODION BEGINS Publican/Pharisee 24 Prodigal Son Page 15

10 March, 2019 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 1st Sat/Souls 3 MEATFARE SUNDAY Parish Council 8 p.m nd Sat/Souls 10 CHEESEFARE SUNDAY 11 GREAT LENT BEGINS GREAT COMPLINE, 7 pm Pre-Sanctified DL, 7 pm Cairetismoiv / 1st Salutations, 7 pm. 16 3rd Sat/Souls 17 SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY Pre-Sanctified Cairetismoiv 2nd Salutations, 7 pm ANNUNCIATION Pre-Sanctified DL, 7 p.m Cairetismoiv / 3rd Salutations, 7 pm Veneration/Holy Cross Page 16

11 April, 2019 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Pre-Sanctified DL, 10am 4 5 Cairetismoiv / 4th Salutations, 7 pm Pre-Sanctified DL, 7 pm. 11 Greek Edu, 7 pm. 12 Akathist Hymn 7 pm SAT./LAZARUS COMM. BREAKFAST 21 PALM SUNDAY BRIDEGROOM, 7 pm 22 HOLY MONDAY Bridegroom Service, 7 pm. 23 HOLY TUESDAY Bridegroom Service, 7 pm. 24 HOLY WEDNESDAY Holy Unction, 3 pm. Last Supper, 7 pm. 25 HOLY THURSDAY Vesperal Liturgy, Saint Basil, 8 am. Passion Service, 7 pm. 26 HOLY FRIDAY Royal Hours, 8:30 am. Cross Descent, 3 pm. Lamentations, 7 pm. 27 HOLY SATURDAY Vesperal Liturgy, Saint Basil, 9 am Midnight Service, 11:00pm. 28 CHRISTOS ANESTI! AGAPE SERVICE 12:30 pm. 29 SAINT GEORGE 30 Page 17

12 May, 2019 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 Greek Educational Meeting, 7 pm. 3 Zoodogos Pygi 4 5 SUNDAY OF SAINT THOMAS 12 MYRRH-BEARERS MOTHER S DAY 6 Kali Parea, 11:30 am. 7 8 SAINT JOHN THEOLOGOS Parish Council Meeting, 8:00 p.m PARALYTIC 20 PARISH NAMEDAY VESPERS, 7:00 p.m. 21 PARISH NAMEDAY Youth Olympics Long Island 25 Youth Olympics 26 Samaritan Woman Youth Olympics 27 Memorial Day Page 18

13 June, 2019 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 ALL SAINTS VESPERS, EPITAFION 7 P.M. Parish Council Meeting, 8:00 p.m. 6 PARISH FESTIVAL HOLY ASCENSION 7 PARISH FESTIVAL 8 PARISH FESTIVAL 9 PARISH FESTIVAL 10 Kali Parea, 11:30 am Sat./Souls 16 PENTECOST ALL SAINTS DAY 24 SAINT JOHN/ BAPTIST BIRTH SAINTS PETER/PAUL 30 Holy Apostles Page 19

14 July, 2019 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Page 20

15 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday FASTING PERIOD, AUGUST 1ST THROUGH 15TH. FOR THE THEOTOKOS. August, Paraklysis, 7 pm. 2 Paraklysis, 7 pm TRANSFIGURATION 7 Paraklysis, 7 pm. 8 Paraklysis, 7 pm. 9 Paraklysis, 7 pm Paraklysis, 7 pm. 13 Paraklysis, 7 pm KOIMISIS Fanouropites Service for SAINT FANOURIOS Saint John/Baptist Page 21

16 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 LABOR DAY September, Theotokos Birth AYIASMO, CLASSES 9 10 Greek School Begins HOLY CROSS Kali Parea, 11:30 am. 17 Saint Sophia 18 Parish Council Meeting, 8:00 p.m Page 22

17 October, 2019 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Greek Education Committee. 7 p.m Kali Parea, 11:30 am. 8 9 Parish Council, 8 pm. 10 Greek School Open Night, 7:30 p.m SAINT LUKE SAINT IAKOVOS SAINT DEMETRIOS Page 23

18 November, 2019 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Greek School Comm. 7 pm. 1 SAINTS COSMAS, DAMIANOS Parish Council, 8 p.m. 7 8 Synaxis Archangels 9 Saint Nektarios Kali Parea, 11:30 am NATIVITY FAST BEGINS Entrance/Theotokou SAINT CATHERINE THANKSGIVING Saint Andrew Page 24

19 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 December, Saint Barbara 5 6 SAINT NICHOLAS Greek Educational, 7 pm SAINT SPYRIDON SAINT ELEFTHERIOS 16 Kali Parea, 11:30 am Parish Council, 8 p.m Christmas Play. Comm. Breakfast CHRISTMAS EVE Vesperal Liturgy Saint Basil, Vespers, 9:15 A.M. DL, 10 A.M. Compline, 7 p.m. 25 HOLY CHRISTMAS Liturgy of Saint John SAINT STEPHEN New Year s Eve Party Page 25