VOL. XXXVI, NO. 7/8

“I AM THE VINE, YOU ARE THE BRANCHES” (John 15:5)

JULY/AUGUST 2019

HOMILY ON MARRIAGE

(excerpt) By Saint John Chrysostom

A certain wise man, when enumerating which blessings are the most important included “a wife

and husband who live in harmony (Sir. 25:1). In another place he emphasized this: “A friend or a

companion never meets one amiss, but a wife with her husband is better than both .” (Sir. 40:23).

From the beginning God in His providence has planned this union of man and woman, and has

spoken of the two as one: male and female He created them (Gen. 1:27), and there is neither male

nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:28). There is no relationship between human

beings so close as that of husband and wife, if they are united as they out to be. When blessed

David was mourning for Jonathan, who was of one soul with him, what comparison did he use to

describe the loftiness of their love? Your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women (II

Sam. 1:26). The power of this love is truly stronger than any passion; other desires may be strong,

but this one alone never fades.

This love (eros) is deeply planted within our inmost being. Unnoticed by us, it attracts the bodies

of men and women to each other, because in the beginning woman came forth from man, and from

man and woman other men and women proceed. Can you see now how close this union is, and how

God providentially created it from a single nature? He permitted Adam to marry Eve, who was

more than sister or daughter; she was his own flesh! God caused the entire human race to proceed

from this one point of origin. He did not, on the one hand, fashion woman independently from

man, otherwise man would think of her as essentially different from himself. Nor did He enable

woman to bear children without man; if this were the case she would be self-sufficient. Instead as

the branches of a tree proceed from a single trunk, He made the one man Adam to be the origin of

all mankind, both male and female, and made it impossible for men and women to be self -

sufficient. Later, He forbade men to marry their sisters or daughters, so that our love would not be

limited to members of our families, and withdrawn from the rest of the human race. All of this

implied in Christ’s word: He who made them from the beginning made them male and female

(Matt. 19:4).

The love of husband and wife is the force that welds society together. Men will take up arms and

even sacrifice their lives for the sake of this love. St. Paul would not speak so earnestly about this

subject without serious reason; why else would he say, Wives, be subject to your husbands, as to

the Lord? Because when harmony prevails, the children are raised well, the household is kept in

order, and neighbors, friends and relatives praise the result. Great benefits, both for families and

states, are thus produced. When it is otherwise however, everything is thrown into confusion and

turned upside down. When the generals of an army are at peace with each other, everything

proceeds in an orderly fashion, and when they are not, everything is in disarray. It is the same here.

THE VINEYARD A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA

(714) 827-0181

*****************

REV. FR. JOHN KARIOTAKIS, PROISTAMENOS

REV. FR. CONSTANTINE TRUMPOWER, ASSISTANT

REV. DEACON JOHN ALEVIZOS

Parish Council President ......................................................................... Kostas Kapogianis

Philoptochos President .............................................................................. Christine Pappas

Religious Education .................................................................................. . Christina Baglin

Chantor.......................................................................................................Ross Spyropoulos Sexton..................................................................................................................Bluy Derseh

Senior Citizens (St. John’s Golden Stars) ........................................................... Julie Sarres

Organist/Choir Director ................................................................................... Elsa Libowitz Office Manager...............................................................................................Pennie Contos Secretary………………………………………………………………….Petronela Eftimie

Custodian .............................................................................................................José Perez

Schedule of Sunday Worship Services Orthros & Divine Liturgy.....................................9:00 A.M.

Memorials at Conclusion of Divine Liturgy

Fellowship in Church Hall Following Divine Liturgy

WEEKDAY/HOLY DAY SERVICES......9:00 A.M.

Parish Programs ALTAR BOYS - Each boy serves in the Altar once every other week

STUDIES IN THE FAITH - Tuesdays - 11:00 a.m.

EVENING STUDIES IN THE FAITH - As scheduled

CATECHISM CLASS - As scheduled

GREEK LANGUAGE SCHOOL FOR YOUTH - Wednesdays - 4:00 p.m.

GREEK LANGUAGE SCHOOL FOR ADULTS - Wednesdays - 6:00 p.m.

CLASS FOR THOSE ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED - As scheduled

FOLK DANCE GROUPS - Rehearsals Sundays - Small Hall 12:00 p.m.. - Large Hall 1:00 p.m.

GOYA - See Parish Calendar

PHILOPTOCHOS SOCIETY - First Wednesday of the month - 7:00 p.m.

CHURCH SCHOOL - September to June each year

CHOIR PRACTICE - Wednesdays - 7:00 p.m..

ST. JOHN’S GOLDEN STARS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS - 1st Tuesday of the Month

WELCOMING COMMITTEE - In the Narthex during Liturgies

Please visit us at: www.stjohnanaheim.org

Email: info@stjohnanaheim.org

PLEASE NOTE! St. John the Baptist is now on FACEBOOK! Follow us at

St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church or @StJohnAnaheim

Follow our Philoptochos Chapter at

St. John Anaheim Philoptochos or @StJohnPhiloptochos

FRIENDLY REMINDER

Please remember to submit

a 2019 Stewardship Pledge Form.

June 15, 2019 June 22, 2019

Maria Foskaris and Steve Aust Allyn Takeshi Lim and Erenie Katerina Maridakis

Sponsor (s): Catherine Christ Sponsor (s): George Maridakis and Victor Maridakis

CHURCH REGISTRY

May 4, 2019 June 1, 2019

Brynn Elise Miner Constantine James Penir

Proud Parent (s): Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Miner Proud Parent (s): Mr. & Mrs. Johnathan Penir

Godparent (s): Mr. & Mrs. Konstantinos Ballas Godparent (s): Ms. Angeliki Mendoni

BAPTISMS

WEDDINGS

CONGRATULATIONS!

May 24, 2019 May 31, 2019 June 5, 2019

Bess Stavrakes Antonios Fidelis Eleni (Helen) Giannetakis

May 12, 2019 Katherine Bisbas Cote—40 Days

Antonios Vatakis—40 Days George Glavas—6 Months Doris Alta Bookas—1 Year

May 19, 2019 Lula Tassop—5 Years

James Tassop—18 Years

May 26, 2019 Trisagion for the victims of the

Pontic Genocide

June 23, 2019 Bessie P. Stavrakes—40 Days Maria Papaioannou—1 Year Helen Mikirelos—5 Years

Zacharias Mikirelos—10 Years Konstandina Mikirelos—19 Years Fr. Nicholas Andrews—6 Years

MEMORIALS

FELL ASLEEP IN THE LORD

+MEMORY ETERNAL+

TEAM A

Argiri Alexopoulos

George Bovetas

Theodore Bovetas

Alex Dourbetas

George Gatsinaris

Alex Krantz

Kosta Loukatos

Dimitrios McLain

Chris Sigas

George Sigas

Nick Sigas

Peter Sigas

1) Acolytes should be in the altar and vested by

10:00 A.M.

2) Clothing preference is white (or light) shirt and

tie with dark shoes.

NO SNEAKERS PLEASE

ACOLYTES OF

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST

TEAM B

Christopher Bangos

Anthony Christofer

Thanasi Halfhill

Kostas Kazas

Pano Kazas

Dimitri Kouloumbis

Yanni Kouloumbis

Spiro Papachristou

Anthony Petros

Nick Pieratos

Anastasios Tasigeorgos

Sat

JULY 2019 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

2

Byzantine Chant

Class, 7pm

Catechism

Class, 8pm

3

4 CHURCH

OFFICE CLOSED

5 6

7

3rd Sunday of

Matthew

Orthros 9am &

Divine Liturgy

10am

8 9

Byzantine Chant

Class, 7pm

Catechism

Class, 8pm

AHEPA

Meeting, 7pm

10 11

12 13

14

Sunday of the

Holy Fathers

Orthros 9am &

Divine Liturgy

10am

15 16

Parish Council

Meeting,

6:30pm

17 18

YAL Rocks &

Brews,

7-9pm

19

20

21

5th Sunday of

Matthew

Orthros 9am &

Divine Liturgy

10am

22 23

Byzantine Chant

Class, 7pm

Catechism

Class, 8pm

24 25 26

Saint

Paraskevi Orthros &

Divine Liturgy,

9am

27

28

6th Sunday of

Matthew

Orthros 9am &

Divine Liturgy

10am

29 30

AUGUST 2019

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

Small

Paraklesis,

7pm

2

3

4

7th Sunday of

Matthew

Orthros 9am &

Divine Liturgy

10am

5 Great Vespers of

Transfiguration,

7pm

6

HOLY TRANSFIGURATION

Orthros &

Divine

Liturgy 9am

7

Small

Paraclesis,

7pm

8

9

Small

Paraclesis,

7pm

10

11

8th Sunday of

Matthew

Orthros 9am &

Divine Liturgy

10am

12

Small

Paraclesis,

7pm

13

AHEPA

meeting, 7pm

14

Great Vespers

at the

Assumption of

the Virgin

Mary,

Long Beach,

7pm

15 DORMITION

OF THE

THEOTOKOS

Orthros &

Divine Liturgy,

9am

YAL Rock &

Brews, 7pm

16

17

18

9th Sunday of

Matthew

Orthros 9am &

Divine Liturgy

10am

19

20

Parish Council

Meeting,

6:30pm

21 22 23 24

AHEPA Summer

Picnic, 4:00pm

25

10th Sunday of

Matthew

Orthros 9am &

Divine Liturgy

10am

26 27 28

29

BEHEADING

OF

JOHN THE

BAPTIST

Orthros &

Divine Liturgy,

9am

30 31

ORANGE

INTERNATIONAL

STREET FAIR

Friday, August 30

thru Sunday, September 1st

ΛΟΓΟΣ ΚΑΙ ΠΕΙΝΑ

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Greek Street is back! Save the dates :

August 30, 31 and September 1

Volunteers are needed for the Committee.

Contact Pennie at the Church Office

at 714-827-0181.

ST JOHN THE BAPTIST ORTHODOX BOOKSTORE

Visit the St. John’s Orthodox Bookstore after service! Here you

will find lovely icons, a variety of religious articles, delightful

Christian books for adults & children, baptismal candles and

beautiful bibles. You’re sure to get gift ideas for your loved

ones! The Bookstore is also available during the week by

contacting the Church Office at 714-827-0181.

Our church school year officially ended with the awards presentation on June 2, 2019.

Congratulations to all the graduates!

The students celebrated with burgers and bounce house fun

at our end of the year party. Thank you to our families for

their donations and a special thank you to the Sigas Family

for their food donations and meal preparation.

We wish you all a blessed and happy summer!

First Day of Church School is

Sunday, September 8, 2019.

UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS

"Behold, I send my messenger before thy

face, who shall prepare thy way; the

voice of one crying in the wilderness:

Prepare the way of the Lord, make his

paths straight -- "

(Mark 1:2-3)

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage

P A I D

Buena Park, CA

Permit No. 65

St. John the Baptist

Greek Orthodox Church

405 N. Dale Street

Anaheim, CA 92801 (714) 827-0181