1

SAINT NICHOLAS GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL 1607 West Union Boulevard Bethlehem, PA 18018 ORTHODOX Witness VOLUME 28 ISSUE 304 APRIL 2016

TABLE OF CONTENTS Church Information 2 Father Nick’s Notes 3 Kontakion of the Crucifixion 4 Greek School Corner 6 Calendars 8 FROM GOOD FRIDAY TO RESURRECTION 9 PARISH COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES 13 Boast not Except in the Cross of the Lord 15 Parish News 18 Mission News 19

A ST. NICHOLAS GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL PUBLICATION 1607 WEST UNION BOULEVARD – BETHLEHEM, PA 18018 PHONE: 610-867-1327, FAX: 610-867-9487, KITCHEN: 610-867-5459

2

Under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, His Eminence Demetrios Archbishop of the Greek

Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and His Eminence Metropolitan Savas of Pittsburgh. The mission of St. Nicholas

Greek Orthodox Church is to keep and proclaim, pure and undefiled, the Orthodox Christian Faith and traditions in

conformity with the doctrine, canons, worship, discipline, and customs of the Church

Fr. Nicholas Palis, Oikonomos (Proistamenos ) Dean 610-440-0995

Fr. Nicholas Kossis Protopresbyter 610-694-0948 Fr. Alexander Petrides, Presbyter 610-867-1327 Mrs. Despina Kotsatos, Secretary 610-867-1327

OFFICE HOURS: Monday-Friday 9:00 πμ – 12:00 μμ

1:00 μμ -5:00 μμ

SUNDAY SERVICES Orthros 7:15 AM

Divine Liturgy 1 Greek 8:30 AM

Divine Liturgy 2 English 10:15 AM

WEEKDAY SERVICES Orthros 8:00 AM

Divine Liturgy 9:00 am

THURSDAY Paraclesis 6:00 PM

SATURDAY Great Vespers 7:00 PM Please see the calendar in the web page for weekday services

CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS BUILDING ENDOWMENT TRUST George Vasiliadis

John Diakogiannis

Vivian Zumas

Cosmos Valavanis

Nikolaos Varvarelis

ACADEMY ST. NICHOLAS Debbie Hrousis

CHOIR

Director Dr. James Chiadis

Organist Nicos Elias : 610-740-0990

GREEK SCHOOL : Theodore Evangelou 610-366-1450

MOMS & TOTS: Presvytera Stephanie Petrides

GOYA/YAL Fr. Alexandros Petrides

MISSIONS

Coordinator : Roger Hall

Deputy Coordinator: Nitsa Vasiliadis

Secretary: Dina Evangelou

PHILOPTOCHOS : Debbie Mouhlas

SENIOR CITIZENS: Mary Moukoulis SUNDAY SCHOOL Thalia Schmidt, Stratoniki Hahalis

WEBSITE: www.stnicholas.org

EMAIL: secretary@stnicholas.org

Name of Publication: Orthodox Witness

Publication: April 2016 Year 28, Issue : 4

PARISH COUNCIL 2015 Argeros William

Dectis Peter

Economedes Emmanuel,

Economou Dimitri

Fliakos Valante, Vice President

Garcia Joel,

Gentis Athanasios, Secretary

Hristofas Kostas, Treasurer

Kapsalis Nick

Lioudis George

Mouhlas George, President

Tatalias Helen

Tatalias V. Emmanuel

Vasiliadis Stylianos

Zannakis John

DEADLINE FOR PUBLICATIONS

WEEKLY BULLETIN – PLEASE SUBMIT ANNOUNCEMENTS

to church office by Thursday.

MONTHLY BOOKLET–

Please submit announcements to church

office by the 15th of the prior month.

Please Note – All articles are subjected to

approval and editing.

3

And so Christ came, Life to make death sleep.

Hades takes Christ like every man.

He swallows as bait the Heavenly Bread

and is caught by the hook of the Godhead.

And Hades gave out heart wrenching shouts:

“My belly is cutting me, Him whom I swallowed I cannot digest.

A strange and different taste. That which I ate offered me.

All those I ate previously, not even one ever bothered me.

Is it I wonder Him whom Adam foretold to me,

that “He will whip me, when he comes,

with the Resurrection?”

St. Romanos the Melodist

April 2016

Dear Parishioners and Friends, at the end of this month we have Holy Week, which is

the Liturgical Holy of Holies of our year. In preparation for Holy Week and Pascha our Church offers

us beautiful, compunctionate daily services every night! Please make an effort to attend these

beautiful services and prepare for the Passion and Resurrection of Christ, spiritually with the

sacrament of Holy Confession. Please don’t wait till the last minute.

I hope that you can come and experience the Passion and Resurrection of our Lord, through the

daily morning and evening services of Holy Week!

In this bulletin there are wonderful articles which have to do with the themes of Holy Week.

They are: From Good Friday to the Resurrection Elements of Greek Folk

Religiosity” by Manolis C. Varvounis, “Kontakion of the Crucifiction

by Saint Romanos the Melodist”and “Boast Not Except in the Cross of the Lord”

By Proigoumen Basil of Iveron, all taken from the wonderful magazine Peiraike Ecclesia.

I pray that these articles will help you have a fruitful, soul benefitting Holy Week and

Resurrection!

With much love,

In Christ!

Fr. Nicholas Palis

4

Kontakion of the Crucifixion

by Saint Romanos the Melodist

1. Pilate placed three crosses on Calvary, two for the robbers and One for the Life-Giver. Which Hades saw

and he said to those beneath: "Oh my servants and my forces, who pierced a nail in my heart? A wooden

spear pierced me suddenly and I will burst. My insides hurt, my belly is in pain. My sensory organs agitate

my spirit and I am forced to spew out Adam and those from Adam, who were given to me from the wood.

Wood brings them back into Paradise."

B. As soon as the malicious snake heard these things, crawling he runs and cries: "Hades, what’s the

matter? Why are you moaning in vain? Why are you offering lamentations? This tree, which made you

shudder, for the Son of Mary from of old I prepared it. I pointed it out to the Jews for our benefit. For this is

the cross upon which I nailed Christ, because I want with a tree to murder the Second Adam. Don’t let it

scare you, then, it will not tear you to shreds. Continue having those you are holding. Certainly of those

whom we are governing nobody is going back to Paradise again."

C. "Come to your senses, O Devil," cries Hades, "run, open your eyes and see the root of the tree inside my

soul. It descended down into my depths, to pull Adam as iron. This image Elisha once the predepicted

when he took the pickaxe out of the river. With something light the prophet pulled up what was heavy to

prepare you and to teach you, that with Wood Adam will be brought up from hardship back to Paradise."

D. "Who gave you such an idea, O Hades? For what reason did you cower and get scared now, there where

there was no fear? From an insignificant dried up and fruitless Tree which was made to kill villains and

bloodthirsty people? For Pilate discovered it listening to my counsels. And you trembling before it and

think it strong? That which punishes everywhere do you consider salutary? Who deceived you? Who

convinced you that he who fell because of the wood with wood gets up and is called to dwell back again in

Paradise? "

E. "Foolish did you the previously wise snake become. The Cross swallowed all your wisdom, and in your

trap you were caught. Lift up your gaze and look that you fell into the pit, which you opened on your own.

Truly, there is that wood which you call dry and fruitless, it blossoms a fruit, from which as soon as the

Thief tasted, he became heir to the goods of Eden. Indeed this acted more than the rod that took out the

Israelite people then from Egypt, because he introduces Adam back into Paradise."

F. "Stop, miserable Hades, don’t say unmanly phrases, since these words of yours betray your thoughts.

You feared the Cross and the Crucified One? Therefrom, no one shook me, because it is a result of my

plans. I will review again and will open a tomb and inside I will bury Christ, so that you can have

completely your cowardice double from His Tomb and His Cross. And I, who will see you, will mock you.

As, in other words, Christ will be being buried, I will come and I shall tell you: "Who takes Adam back into

Paradise?

G. And now, Hades, sigh, with you I will also cry. Let us cry looking at the tree that we planted becoming a

holy trunk, underneath which camped, and in its branches thieves, murderers and publicans and

prostitutes nestle, to harvest a sweet fruit from the Tree that seems fruitless, since they are embracing the

Cross as the Wood of Life. They support themselves on It and swimming they arrive with it and dock as if

in a calm harbor again in Paradise."

H. And suddenly Hades cried out to the devil. An invalid to a blind one, a blind one tells a blind one:

"Look, you are walking in darkness, grasp so that you do not fall, and what I say understood, lazy and

5

foolish one, that what you are doing put out the sun. This wood that is, where you are boasting, shook up

everything. It shocked the Earth, it darkened the sky, it tore rocks to pieces and the veil to the Temple

together, and raised the dead from the graves and they shout loudly: "Understood, O Hades, Adam is

going running back to Paradise."

I. And the demon spoke again with strange voice and said, "Accept me, Hades, you are my refuge, because

I suffered the same things with you, since I didn’t believe you. I saw the Wood that you feared reddened

with Blood and Water. And I shuddered, I tell you, not from the Blood, but from the Water, because the one

declares Jesus’ slaughter, and the other His life. Since life sprang from His Side. Not the first one, in other

words, but the second Adam brought Eve, the mother of all those who live again to Paradise. "

J. "Wait, wretched Hades," the demon said sighing. "Be silent, keep watch, insert your hand to your mouth,

because I hear a voice presaging joy. A sound came of a good harbinger. Words from the Cross as rustling

leaves were heard. Since Christ as one about to die "forgive them", he shouted, "Father" • But what he

subsequently said, upset me, that "the lawless ones don’t understand such evil that they are doing." But we

know that it is the glorious Lord Who suffered and that He wants to put Adam again into Paradise."

17. "So swear, tyrant, then, to no longer crucify anyone anymore." "Tartarus, you also decides to not to kill

anyone also." "We became experienced, let's pick up our hands. Let it become a lesson for the future

lessons. Let none of us anymore tyrannize the race of Adam. Since he was sealed with the Cross as treasury

which had in a cheap case, an untouched pearl, which on the Cross the very brilliant Thief completely stole.

They crucified him who stole, he robbed and they called him again into Paradise. "

(From the book Hymns of St. Romanos, Armos Publ. ed. Details from the Crucifixion, mosaic of St. Mark,

Venice, 12th century. Rendered in Modern Greek by Archimandrite Ananias Koustenis).

(Translated from Peiraike Ecclesia, April 2015, Vol. 269, pp. 12-15.)

6

7

8

APRIL 2016 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1 8 AM Presanctified

Liturgy

7 PM Salutations

2 7 PM Great Vespers

3 VEN. OF CROSS

7:45AM Orthros

9:10 AM Liturgy 10:30 AM Procession

1:30 PM Baptism 5:30 PM JOY Synaxis 7:00 PM Vespers

4 12 PM Visitation

Committee

5:30 PM Missions Com.

7 PM Great Compline

5 6 PM OCF Meeting

7 PM Great Compline

6 5:45 PM Presanctified

Liturgy

7 7 PM Great Compline

8 8 AM Presanctified

Liturgy

7 PM Salutations

9 8 AM Orthros

9 AM Liturgy

7 PM Great Vespers

10 ST. JOHN CLIMACUS

7:15 AM Orthros 8:30 AM Liturgy 9:45 AM Sun. School 10:15 AM D. Liturgy 4:00 PM Vespers (St. Matthews)

11 12 PM Senior Citizens

7 PM Parish Council

7 PM Great Compline

12 6 PM OCF Meeting

7 PM Great Compline

13 5:45 PM Presanctified

Liturgy

14 5 PM Acad. Exec. 6:00 PM Acad. PTO 6 PM Great Compline & Canon of St. Andrew

15 8 AM Presanctified

7 PM Akathist Hymn

16 10 AM Academy Easter

Egg Hunt in Hall

7 PM Great Vespers

17 ST. MARY EGYPT 7:45AM Orthros

9:10 AM Liturgy

10:30 AM Sun. School 11:00 AM Gen.Assembly

4:00 PM Vespers (St. Mary’s Ukrainian Church)

18 7 PM Great Compline

19

7 PM Great Compline

20 5:45 PM Presanctified

Liturgy

21 7 PM Great Compline

22 8 AM Presanctified

23 7 PM Great Vespers

24 Palm Sunday 7:45 AM Orthros 9:10 AM Liturgy 10:30 AM Sun. School 11:00 AM Fish Dinner 7:00 PM Bridegroom

25 8 AM Presanctified 4:30 PM Greek School 7:00 PM Bridegroom

26 8 AM Presanctified 7:00 PM Bridegroom

27 8 AM Presanctified 4 PM Unction 7 PM Orthros of the Mystical Supper

28 8:30 AM St. Basil’s

Liturgy

10 AM Egg dying

7 PM Passion Service

29 8 :30 AM Royal

Hours

12:30 Youth Retreat

3 PM Apokathelosis

7 PM Lamentations

30 8:30 AM St.

Basil’s Liturgy

11 PM Canon

12 AM Resurrection &

Paschal Liturgy

2:30 AM Pascha Meal

9

From Good Friday to the Resurrection

Elements of Greek Folk Religiosity

Manolis C. Varvounis

For Greek religious folklore, Good Friday is a day with particular religious and

customary value, a special day, which the Greek people honors and respects with a

universal holiday and absolute fast. From a customary viewpoint, furthermore, the

customs of this day are linked both with those of Holy Thursday, and with the analogous

ones of Holy Saturday. These three days are interrelated in the popular religious

consciousness and practice, so for this reason also, their customs are mentioned and

examined together, and, as a characteristic trilogy of customs, which defines the passage

from death to life, from the Cross to the Resurrection.

Good Friday is a day of absolute public holiday, religious piety and general church

attendance for the Greek people. In many regions of the Peloponnese, children sing carols

at the village's houses, singing the Passion of Christ and receiving round breads or money

eggs as gifts. In Lesvos, they used to visit nine or thirteen chapels, light up the vigil lamps

of the icons and cense. In general it’s regarded as a day dedicated to the dead, so for this

reason also, they visit cemeteries, decorate the graves of the dead with flowers and

wreaths and do Trisagions for them.

The popular devotional customs of Good Friday are an essential continuity of

analogous custom of Holy Thursday, which from a customary standpoint, is one of the

most important days of Holy Week. Then they kneaded ritual Easter breads, in the dough,

in which they put various herbs and nuts, and which they braded in various shapes, with

a red egg on them, and decorations from dough. Together they also made small buns for

the children, which had the shape of a man, whereas they gave particularly importance to

the prosfora which they kneaded on this day, with special ritual instructions and

precautions. They also, dyed red eggs, so for this reason, they called this day "Red fall" or

"Redfall".

Usually the dye was made with floral colors, while to the first egg that they painted

they attributed wondrous properties. After the dye they covered the red eggs so that their

color would not show until Easter, whereas in some areas they would send them in a

basket to the church, to be liturgized in the morning liturgy or in the service of the

Passions, while sometimes they would leave them beneath the holy altar table, or at the

altar, or the bishop’s throne until the Resurrection. The shells of these "evangelized” 'eggs

they considered fruitful, and averting of destructive storms and hail, so for this reason

also, they put them on trees or buried them at the boundaries of their fields.

10

Similarly they kept the ypsoma* [the upper portion of the seal on the prosforon], and

the antidoron from the liturgy of Holy Thursday, whereas in Western Macedonia they

would bring to the church buns and would distribute them, for the souls of their dead.

Similar offerings having to do with the dead, we encounter in other Greek places as well,

such as at Elliniko of Ioannina, where they would take prosforon and boiled wheat to the

church, believing that on that day, souls come out of Hades to go back there on the eve of

Pentecost. During the service of the Passions - the "Twelve Gospels" - they used to bring to

the church bread, salt, eggs and water to be sanctified. In Rhodes, they light and jump over

customary ritual fires, while they sanctify fabrics, threads, water etc. placing them under

the three-pronged stand where the priest places the Gospel, to use them in magic religious

cures of diseases of humans and animals, as the belief in the curative value and the

sanctity of the day, is very strong.

Elsewhere, like in Samos, they mold out of wax, twelve crosses, one for each Gospel

lesson, and they place them as a phylacteries behind the doors of their homes. Also the

candles they light during each Gospel, they keep and light them in cases of bad weather,

believing that they will stop, or prevent harmful insects. The women used stay up at night

before the Crucified One in the church, decorating the sepulcher and singing "Laments of

the Virgin", where the passion of Christ is recounted. There are many superstitions and

prejudices of the day: they do not sweep for the ants to leave (Gythio), they wash the thick

fabric so that the moth does not bother them (Epirus), or conversely they do not wash

clothes so that the crops are not damaged (Thrace), they eat once a day to commemorate

the Last Supper (Kydonies), while on Holy Thursday they usually send the Easter gifts

(meat, buns, eggs, sugar, breads, etc.) to their in-laws and their godparents.

The main devotional events are the unknailing of the morning service of Good

Friday and the procession of the Sepulcher at the Matins of Holy Saturday, which are

usually celebrated on the evening of that day. In some areas, such as in Zakynthos, the

procession of the Crucified One is held at noon on Good Friday. The children usually pass

three times under the sepulcher, while during the return from the night procession, they

usually hold it high above the entrance of the church, for all the believers to pass beneath,

for the sake blessing. In many areas, the right to hold the cross, the sepulcher, etc. during

the procession was gained after a related customary ecclesiastical auction.

A key element of popular devotional customs of Holy Friday is the sepulcher, the

flower covered canopy, in which is placed and through which the gold-embroidered

depiction of the burial Lamentation of Jesus Christ is processed, in church services on

Holy Friday, is particularly dear to the people, as the iconic tomb of the Lord. The four-

sided and sometimes carved construction is decorated with flowers by the girls and the

women of the parish, on the night of Holy Thursday evening and on the morning of Good

Friday, before and after the service respectively, and placed in the center of the church,

where it is exposed throughout the day for veneration. The children pass three times

11

under it, while at night it is processed, often following a customary ecclesiastical auction

to obtain the right to hold it.

In many areas the sepulcher is lead to the cemetery, where a trisagion is chanted for

the dead, or it passes over the graves of the dead of the parish, and at each one, a

corresponding petition is chanted. Also during the procession, at the intersections of three

streets, or in front of the chapels of the village, the procession stops, and a petition is

chanted. In villages and towns where there are several parishes, it is customary for the

sepulchers to meet in the square, and a common petition to be offered, while upon

returning to the church, they hold it high above the door, for all the adult parishioners to

pass beneath it. Its flowers are detached and distributed at the end of the evening service

of Good Friday or Holy Saturday morning service, to the faithful, who keep them in the

family iconostass as myrrh.

In front of the sepulcher, in many areas, the women at noon of Good Friday sing the

nationwide known song of the "Lamentations of Our Lady", or other similar folk

lamentations of the Theotokos, that often have a medieval origin and provenance. Despite

its Western origin, the sepulcher is particularly loved by the people, who respect its

sacredness and venerate it, considering it the real festive symbol of the days of Holy Week

and of the Divine Passion.

In the villages of Serres, along with candles and the incense, they would also take

plates with unripe barley or lentils, out to the windows of the houses, when the sepulcher

would pass under, while elsewhere the circular procession, beyond the boundaries of the

village included the cemetery also, where they would pass the sepulcher over the graves,

reading trisagions. In seafaring areas, those holding it, used to enter into the sea, so that

the sea water could be blessed, which was the main source of work, to ensure a livelihood.

Elsewhere they would light outside their doors, customary pyres and burn incense, At

Metres of Thrace, during the procession they would also burn a likeness of Judah, picking

up the ashes to throw them, on the following day, on the tombs of their dead, or in their

fields, in a case of customs having to do with the dead, chthonic folk religious customs,

and ritual practices.

The candles and the flowers of the sepulcher are considered sanctified and powerful

for the treatment of diseases and the prevention of evil: The first ones they smoke in the

censer, in the case of sickness, while the second ones, they light ritually, in cases of bad

weather and stormy winds. They even take the dirt from the places where the sepulcher

stops for a petition to be held, usually at the intersections of three streets, with the belief

that this miraculously repels the harmful insects. In eastern Crete, while the priest reads

the first Gospel of the Great Hours, the priest’s wife inside the church, makes leaven,

which she then distributes to the women in the village. The day is a general fast from oil,

usually a dry fast is kept, or foods without oil are prepared. In Samos, they prepare a

12

special bread, the "ftazymo" (seven dough) while often, there is the ritual of vinegar

consumption, in memory of the vinegar that they gave Christ on the cross.

Holy Saturday is a liturgical and customary continuation of Good Friday. This day

also has great customary and religious significance for the Greek people, as it is

considered and celebrated as the harbinger of the Resurrection. During Vespers that is

celebrated in the morning, with the Divine Liturgy of Basil the Great, the priest scatters at

the "Arise O God,' bay leaves, which they keep at the iconostasses of their houses as"

myrrh,” while at the same time, they break earthenware vessels, producing ritual noises,

with which they declare the joy of the Resurrection, but mainly they thwart evil during

that critical passing marginal moment, as the people perceive it, moments of passage from

death to the resurrection, from decay to eternity, from the death of winter to the

blossoming of spring in the produce of summer.

In Madytos, they would light a customary fire in the churchyard, while in Corfu,

they throw large clay pots full of water from the windows onto the street, producing a big

bang. In Lassithi, they used to prepare a new dough and yeast with the flowers from the

sepulcher, while in other areas, they kneaded the Easter breads, a bread with five red eggs

they would hang at the icons and leave it there till Mayday, when they would eat it.

On Holy Saturday, they would usually slaughter the Easter lamb of the festive table,

the "lamprioti" or "paskati" lamb, with Old Testament origins and the sacrificial

teleturgical practice of slaughter. They would also send paschal gifts such as eggs,

pastries and breads to fiancees, parents and their in-laws, as appropriate. In many areas,

they would visit the graves of the dead, they would do trisagions and distribute breads

and sweets in their memory, while at Koroni they would boil wheat and distribute it with

a slice of bread, for the repose of the souls of their dead. On Holy Saturday, a strict fasting

from oils, and dry eating is kept, as it is the only Saturday of the year, that the Church

requires fasting from oil "for the godbody burial of the Lord."

It is generally considered that death on this day is a good sign for the fate of the soul

of the deceased, while at Kydonies, before the Resurrection, they would even lift the brood

hens from the eggs, so that not even they are working during that sacred, critical marginal

passing moment. In fact, in many areas, the priest would not say the "Christ is risen" If all

capable people did not gather in the church. The expectation of Easter is that which

dominates and gives the essential tone for the customs of that day.

(Translated from Peiraike Ecclesia, April 2015, Vol. 269, pp. 48-51.)

13

PARISH COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8 2016 MEETING MINUTES

OPENING PRAYER & SPIRITUAL THOUGHTS

- Father Nicholas Palis opened the meeting with a prayer, and shared the story of Saint Photios.

REPORT OF PRIESTS

The following update on the youth was provided:

Camp Nazareth registration opens February 22. This year up to $3,000 was approved and will provide

$100 scholarships for first 30 campers from St. Nicholas. Last year less than 30 youth participated.

- GOYA Hoagie fundraiser was successful. Special thanks to Yianni’s Taverna, The Parkland, Copperhead,

Golden Gate Diner, Oasis Restaurant, Dairy Hill Market, and Starlight Diner for donating Supplies.

February 5th.

- GOYA has a number of events going on in the near future including:

Bible Study on February 14th.

Basketball on February 26th.

Dodgeball Tournament on March 5th.

Reading Soup Kitchen on March 29th.

Soccer Tournament on June 4th. - JOY will hold a Synaxis on February 21st along with a make your own pizza event.

TOTS have had Gym Nights and will have MOM’s event on February 12th. The group is growing

ROLL CALL & ACTIONS ON EXCUSES FOR ABSENCE

Absent: Athanasios Gentis William Argeros. Manny Economedes, Manny Tatalias, John Zannakis

Present: Father Nicholas Palis, Father Alexandros Petrides, George Mouhlas, Valante Fliakos, , George

Lioudis, , Kosta Hristofas, Peter Dectis, Stanley M. Vasiliadis, Dimitri Economou, Ellen Tatalias, Joel

Garcia, Nicholas Kapsalis

MEETING MINUTES AND COMMUNICATIONS

- Kosta Hristofas presented to council three (3) communication letters:

Letter from the City of Bethlehem regarding the status of our church replanting the trees that have been

cut down in front of the church.

Thank you letter from Doctors without Borders.

Thank you letter from the Metropolis of Corfu

The Minutes for the January Council Meeting were presented. Stanley M. Vasiliadis made a motion to

accept the minutes as resented, seconded by Kostas Hristofas. The motion passed unanimously

STEWARDSHIP UPDATE

- Kosta Hristofas reports that 99% of budgeted stewardship contributions have been satisfied for 2015

Additionally Kosta reports 6% of budgeted stewardship contributions have been stratified for 2016.

TREASURER’S REPORT

- Kostas Hristofas reports that the total income for the time period between January 1, 2016 and January 31,

2016 totaled: $29,941.73. Additionally, Kosta Hristofas reported that the expenses for the same time

period totaled: $49,884.19. Net Income totaled: -$19,942.46.

- George Lioudis made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s report as presented. The motion was seconded

by Peter Dectis. The motion passed unanimously.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

- George Mouhlas reports that there is no new updates for the Walk through History.

14

- Building Committee:

- Dome Update—Peter Dectis reports that there is no new update on the engineering study report.

OLD BUSINESS

- George Mouhlas reports that the Trust Committee has met and has decided to take out the Scholarship provision.

George Mouhlas looks to council to find a few ideas to create a scholarship committee that is operated by council

possibly using previous funds that were allocated towards the building fund.

- Council members are still meeting with vendors regarding a new lease for the copier.

The television in the Chapel is not broadcasting a signal for parents to view during services. Abe will be

asked to look into this problem

NEW BUSINESS

- Nick Douglas has offered to assist in upgrading the sound system and has met with a company that who is in the

process of conducting an investigation and producing a proposal.

- Father Alexandros Petrides has been approached when the second trays are being passed during the services and

that it is not appropriate to pass them out right before communion. Council agrees that the second tray during the

First service will continue to be passed out before communion and that during the second service the second tray

will be passed during the announcements at the end of the Liturgy.

- The Spring Festival will be held May 19th to May 22nd.

- Next Council Meeting will be held Monday March 7th at 6:30pm.

Motion to Adjourn by Peter Dectis. Seconded by George Lioudis. Motion passed unanimously.

Father Alexandros Petrides gave the closing prayer.

Respectfully Submitted:

Rev. Nicholas Palis Athanasios Gentis George Mouhlas

Dean Secretary President

Rev. Nicholas Palis Athanasios Gentis George Mouhlas

15

Boast Not Except in the Cross of the Lord

By Proigoumen Basil of Iveron

“I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago, such a one grabbed up to the third

heaven.” He was grabbed up in Paradise -With or without the body, I do not know, God

knows-. And he heard ineffable words which cannot be said in a human language. "For

such a one I shall boast, while for myself I shall not boast, except in my illnesses". This

experience sealed him forever. He remembers precisely when it happened ("fourteen years

ago"). Thisfeeds him constantly. It is the quintessence of his life. The source of his theology

and preaching. We can say that this rapture "up to the third heaven" is the second and

most important – calling of the Apostle from the Lord. After this experience and his

relationship with the ineffable mysteries, the Lord allowed, “so that (the Apostle), is not

puffed up”for some insufferable trial. «A thorn in the flesh, an angel of Satan” to find him.

For this issue three times he begged the Lord three times to deliver him from the

trial. But the Lord told him: "My grace suffices for you, for my strength is perfected in

weakness". And Paul, perceiving the word of the Lord concludes: "Delightfully therefore,

rather I shall boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell upon

me…For when I am weak, then I am strong." This is the freedom in Christ. The gospel of

joy. The new creation, Paradise for everyone. This is the overthrowing of the fallen

condition and logic: To boast of the sufferings and trials.

For you to be strong, when you are weak. So, Paul, as a new Moses, descending from

the mountain of divine rapture, records the new law of Grace, not on stone tablets, but

on the slabs of the human heart (cf. II Cor. 3:3). The ineffable words that he heard are

disclosed with this divine change and extreme humility in his life and conduct. He reveals

and lives the fact that death was abolished, by confessing "When I am weak, then I am

strong». And when I am dying for Christ, then I am really living.

"Let it not be to me that I should boast, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the

world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." (Gal. 6:14). The world died, it is crucified, it

does not exist for Paul. The Apostle died for the world, is crucified, it does not exist for

him. So indeed the Apostle exists, lives truly. And the world exists for him. Paul has the

dispassion and the extreme sensitivity of him who, "as from the dead is living”(Cf. Rom.

6:13), he partakes in real life and actually helps the whole world. For this reason, when the

Lord, on Good Friday, is dead on the Cross, after the "it is finished" –at that moment when

we cannot utter a word- Paul speaks.

Rather, the Church gives the word to the Apostle of the gentiles. And he speaks "in

fear and dread" about the word of the Cross. And his preaching is not done "in superiority

of speech or of wisdom ... but in proof of spirit and power” (I Cor. 2:1-4). He confesses that

he does not know anything else, except "only Jesus Christ and him crucified" (1 Cor. 2:2).

16

And he knows Christ crucified, because Paul himself is also crucified. For this reason, with

his speech and silence he clearly says: "For the word of the Cross to those being lost is

foolishness,

while to those being saved it is the power of God” (I Cor. 1:18):

For the Jews, who want signs, it is a scandal. For the Greeks, who seek wisdom, it is

foolishness. For the believers, Jews, and Greeks, it is the power of God and the wisdom of

God. And he continues: "I shall abolish the wisdom of the wise and the prudence of the

prudent I shall put down". Neither human wisdom saves us, nor is prudence enough for

us. The Crucified Christ saves us, the crucified Love, that is for everyone, Jew and Gentile,

the power of God and the wisdom of God. "Now is the judgment of the world" (Jn. 12:31),

of the believer and the unbeliever. Of the one near and far. Love judges us that "never

fails" (1 Cor. 13:8). During the Passion "he who wraps the heaven in clouds is wrapped

with a false purple robe"*.

We all dressed him with a fake purple robe, false piety and theology. But in the

center of our falsehood and our perversion there is the unchanged truth of Love, which, as

a large explosion is presented. He creates the world, he comprises it, he maintains it, he

increases it. And finally he transfigures it into new creation.

“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision applies" (Judaism), "nor uncircumcision

"(Hellenism),"but new creation"(Gal. 6:15). "The ancient things passed ... Everything

became new" (II Cor. 5:17). We go from the supposed wisdom to real salvation. And from

the searching for signs as miracles, to the plenitude of life. Here all of Judaism dies and

resurrects anew. The enmity between them dies, and peace and reconciliation dawn. "For

in Christ Jesus neither circumcision" (Judaism) “applies, nor uncircumcision" (Hellenism),

"but faith activated by love"(Gal. 5:6).

At this time of the great Sabbatization, of absolute silence, all are true, all are all-pure

and fraternal. Love won. He whom we crucified won for us. He is the King of Glory. Dead

on the wood of the Cross. "For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the

middle wall of partition between us” ... through the Cross, killing the hatred in it" (Eph. 2, 14-

16). He killed the enmity in his own flesh, not the other 's. And He brought the true

redemption and peace to the world.

The in Christ of Paul, namely the New Creation, abolishes the shackles of

whatsoever slavery, which, just like the illusion of whatsoever freedom, giving man from

now, the freedom of the future age." For he that is called a slave in the Lord, is the Lord's freeman:

likewise also he that is called free, is Christ's slave." (I Cor. 7:22). "There is neither Jew nor Greek,

there is neither slave nor freeman, there is neither male and female. For all of you are one

in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:28)."For you see your calling, brethren" (I Cor. 1:26). For because in

the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching

to save them that believe " (I Cor. 1:21). "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God" (I

Cor. 3:19).

17

For this reason, "God chose the infants of the world, to shame the wise, and the weak

ones of the world God chose, to shame the strong ones" (1.Cor. 1, 27). Thus every weak

and devastated one takes courage and hope. And each imaginary wise and powerful

person can be helped, to recover. “And base things of the world, and things which are despised,

hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are: "(I Cor. 1, 28). Here

we reach the utter majesty of the divine calling. Something reminiscent of the production

of everything from non being.

God calls the non beings, the nonexistent ones. And there is no more godly action

than the humility, which brings you into non existence, or the (in the hope) acceptance of

the trial that frees you. "To bring to naught things that are". And there is no greater blessing for

the beings than their own abolition. Beings do not suffer this existence outside of liturgical

grace. The beings are worthy and await a blessing. And this is their abolition, for the state

of corruption to stop. And to achieve the reason of their existence. And they do not await

the whatsoever abolition, neither from anyone whatsoever, but from the non beings (the

non-existent ones) who achieved their return to non-being, with total humility and their

grateful offering to God.

And now they are called into being by God himself. They come to the paradise of the

New Creation by Him. For this reason, they boast only about God. Him they have as their

only consolation and strength. They are sensitive and omnipotent, because they are weak

and moved by God. Like Paul, who confesses: "When I am weak, then I am strong." The

whole creation awaits its liberation from the law of corruption from these free children of

God. If someone brags about his capabilities and his successes and if he remains in this self

admiration, consciously or unconsciously, then he is estranged from the whole, he reveals

how much he is spiritually inefficient and dangerous, even if he is presented as a spiritual

leader. He tortures himself condemning himself to the prison of selfishness. And he

wounds and puts down the others.

But when he boasts in the Cross of the Lord, like Paul. When he boasts and rejoices

for his sicknesses and his pains, that make him a communicant of divine grace. Then it is

as if he is boasting and rejoicing for all the sick and afflicted ones. He is a joy for the whole

world, because he shows that for everyone there is hope of salvation, at the moment when,

in the New Creation, the trials and sufferings are changed into qualifications.

18

PARISH NEWS / UPCOMING EVENTS Stewardship is like oxygen for our church! Stewardship is the most important financial source we have to sustain our

church, and our church needs loving and heartfelt support! Our fixed monthly costs at St. Nicholas are aroun

$48,000.00. This means that the treasurer (rain, snow, or sunshine) must find $48,000.00 to pay the obligations of the

church each month. Currently, one third of our parish‘s income is derived from the stewardship pledges. This means

that we depend on other, external, sources to sustain 70% of our church needs. If this is OUR community, why should

we expect someone else to pay for it?! We thank you for your continued stewardship effort, by giving of your time,

talent and treasure as God has provided you the ability to.

ICONOGRAPHY: God-willing, we will soon be completing one of the last major phases of the iconography for the church.

The following scenes and saints will complete the right side of the Nave. Please see Fr. Palis, Steve Kandianis or Niko

Tatalias with questions, or if you are interested in donating an icon in honor of your family:

Miracles of Christ: The Wedding at Cana, Christ healing the Paralytic at Bethesda, Christ speaking with St. Photini at

Jacob's Well, Christ healing the Blind Man, Christ feeding the 5,000, Christ walking on the water; (by the side door) The

young Christ with the Elders in the Temple. Male Saints (Full-body): St. Philoumenos the Cypriot, St. Pachomius the

Great, St. Symeon the New Theologian, St. Athanasios the Athonite, St. Savas of Kalymnos, St. John the Romanian, or a

saint of your choice (see one of the committee members mentioned above)

PARISH NEWS

SENIOR CITIZENS: Next meeting will be held on Monday April 8 at 12:00 pm. in the Cambanes Ηall. Everyone is welcome

ages 50 and over.

TO OUR FAITHFUL CONGREGATION: WE’RE ASKING YOUR KINDNESS TO PLEASE HELP DONATE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS

NEEDED FOR SPECIAL SERVICES DURING GREAT LENT,

HOLY WEEK AND PASCHA. If anyone is interested to donate please send a check to St. Nicholas Cathedral or call the Office

for more information at 610-867-1327.

FLOWER DONATIONS: The following are needed for the celebration of the special services during Great Lent, Flowers for

the Salutations Service, (Friday every week) the Bridegroom

Service, Epitaphio, flowers for Holy Cross Sunday and Palm Sunday, and the Resurrection service.

PRIESTS PASCHAL CANDLES Donations For the three Priests.

BAY LEAVES for Holy Saturday morning Resurrection Orthros service, 2 large baskets

Prosforon (Altar bread) for Lenten services and Holy Week 4-5 loaves/week…

EASTER BANQUET DONATIONS We are accepting donations for legs of lamb ($30.00 each) for the Resurrection meal on

Easter morning. You may send your checks to the Church Office. Donations are greatly appreciated!

EASTER EGGS for the Resurrection need #60 dozens brown eggs and red dye. We are accepting donations. For more

information please call the Church office. Donations are greatly appreciated!

MICHAEL ZANAKOS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Homer Chapter #65, Order of AHEPA, of Bethlehem, PA offers a $1,000 Scholarship and a $500.00 Scholarship. Eligible

applicants include members of the Bethlehem AHEPA, and Members of the Bethlehem AHEPA auxiliary organizations

(Daughters of Penelope, Sons of Pericles, and Maids of Athena), and sons and daughters of members. Applicants should

contact one of the following for more information:

Mike Roumeliotis Gus Loupos Jacob Kazakia Bill Kandianis

610-868-6282 610-865-0082 610-838-5839 610-691-8234

THE FOLLOWING SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES AND UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS:

Order of Ahepa Lehigh Chapter #60 Allentown, PA, Daughters of Penelope Scholarship, Scholarship, Pan-Karabournian

Society, Theodoridis Scholarship. Applications, rules and information at the Church Office, or at

http://www.stnicholas.org,also at www.GOARCH.org

The Greek School is organizing a trip to Philadelphia on April 17th for the Greek Independence Day parade. The

Evzones from Greece will be there! We encourage everyone to come with us. We are taking one bus, reserved first for

students and their parents, but before you decide if you'll take your own car, check with the church office to see if there

are available seats on the bus, after April 12th. The bus will leave from church at 11:00 am.

We look forward to seeing everyone there to cheer for not only the Evzones but the entire Greek-American community

and to proclaim that "Greece Never Dies!"

19

MISSION NEWS

“Mission is the Duty of Christians of all Ages”

It is not a question of “can we”? But an imperative command “we must”. “Go ye therefore and teach all

nations.” Go ye into the entire world and preach the Gospel to every creature.” There is no “consider if

you can,” there is only a definite, clear-cut command of Our Lord…. If we let ourselves rest peacefully in

the habitual inertia in the matter of missions, we are not simply keeping the pure light of the Faith “under

the bushel”, but we are betraying one of the basic elements of our Orthodox tradition. For Missionary

work has always been a tradition within the Orthodox Church…. Missionary activity is not simply

something “useful” or just nice, but something imperative, a foremost duty, if we really want to be

consequent to out Orthodox Faith.

The faithful do not respond because they have to, but because they have a strong desire springing from

their love for God, and an inner necessity to proclaim the Gospel. This need comes directly from one’s

union with God that dwells deep within every baptized Orthodox believer.

Church without Mission is a contradiction in terms. Mission enables unreached people to freely enter into

the church and willingly begin their journey of salvation in the life of the Holy Trinity. If the Church is

indifferent to the apostolic work with which she has been entrusted, she denies herself, contradicts herself

and her essence, and is a traitor to the warfare in which she is engaged. A static Church which lacks

vision and a constant endeavor to proclaim the Gospel to all people could hardly be recognized as the

one, holy catholic and apostolic Church to whom the Lord entrusted the continuation of His work.

Inertia in the field of Mission means, in the last analysis, a negation of Orthodoxy, a back-slide into the

practical heresy of localism… It is unthinkable for us to speak of “Orthodox Spirituality” of a “life in

Christ”, of emulating the Apostle Paul, founder of the Church, while we stay inert as to mission; it is

unintelligible to write about intense liturgical and spiritual living of the Lord’s Resurrection by us, while

we abide slothful and indifferent to the call of missions, with which the message of the Resurrection is

interwoven.

The Gospel is addressed to all peoples, and therefore the work of the Church remains incomplete as long

as it is restricted to certain geographical areas or social classes. Its field of action is universal and is active

in both sectors that welcome the good tidings and those which at first may reject them. Mission was not

the duty of only the first generation of Christians. It’s the duty of Christians of all ages. Everyone should

contribute and participate in it, whether be directly or indirectly.

It is not simply obedience, duty or altruism. It’s an inner necessity. “Necessity is laid upon me” said St.

Paul, “Woe to me if I don’t preach the Gospel” (I Cor. 9:16) Let us not deceive ourselves. Our spiritual life

(both the Church and every believer) will not acquire the fervor, the broadness, the genuineness that it

should, if we continue to regard and live Christianity limited within the narrow boundaries of the

community to which we belong forgetting its universal destiny.

Excerpts taken from the book: Monks, Missionaries and Martyrs: Making disciples of All Nations”