THE LIGHT NOVEMBER 2013 VOLUME 3 ISSUE 30

The Nativity of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church 12326 Spotswood Furnace Road Fredericksburg, VA 22407 540-548-2665 www.nativity.va.goarch.org Office Email - nativityofthetheotokos@verizon.net

FROM THE DESK OF FATHER JOHN

Thanksgiving and Stewardship Father Alexander G. Leondis

We are found in the season of Thanksgiving when we offer gratitude to God as a nation and as indi-

viduals for His blessing and love for us. On November 21st our church celebrates a unique feast of

gratitude, the Entry of the Theotokos to the Temple.

Joachim and Anna were childless for many years. They promised God that if they had a child, the

child would be given to the service of God in the Temple. At three years of age, Joachim and Anna

offered Mary to God in thanksgiving and fulfilled their promise.

Zacharias led Mary into the Holy of Holies, where the High Priest would enter only once a year. No

one else was allowed to enter. Zacharias was led by the Holy Spirit to take the three -year-old child

into this most sacred area of the Temple. The significance of the act was that God was preparing his

vessel, his bridge, his new Temple, Mary, in order for His Son to enter the world.

She was led into the Holy of Holies, because God was telling the world that Mary would become the

new Temple. Mary became the new temple because she bore God for nine months. She was his

physical temple, for she gave Christ her flesh, her blood and her bones, which replaced the wood,

metal and stone of the Temple.

In the Temple, Mary prepared herself to become the Mother of God. The entry of Theotokos marks

the fulfillment of the promise of Joachim and Anna to give Mary to God as an act of thanksgiving.

This month we will celebrate Thanksgiving Day. In the first year the Pilgrims landed in America,

half of them died from lack of food and a severe winter. The Indians taught them to plant corn,

which prepared them and helped sustain them for the following winter. In 1621, Governor William

Bradford, wanted to set aside a day of feasting and prayer in thanksgiving to God for surviving the

winter.

The settlers invited the Indians to this meal to give thanks to God for their many blessings. The Pil-

grims recognized God as the Giver of all good things and offered him thanksgiving and gratitude.

See Father John, page 8

P a g e 2 T h e L i g h t

Father John C. Katsoulis, Parish Priest 540-645-1427 fr.john_katsoulis@verizon.net FATHER’S OFFICE HOURS—TUESDAY—FRIDAY 9 A.M.—3 P.M. OTHER HOURS BY APPOINTMENT

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT: nativityofthetheotokos@verizon.net OFFICE HOURS: TUES. & THURS. 9 A.M.—3 P.M. TREASURER: pctreasure@verizon.net WEBSITE: www.nativity.va.goarch.org FACEBOOK: NTGOC Friends

PARISH COUNCIL PHILOPTOCHOS AHEPA Carl Fulmore, President Maria Yiasemides, President John Manolis, President Dr. Bill Kaltsounis, Vice President Dr. Paul Fallon, Secretary SUNDAY SCHOOL GOYA Jim Malamas, Treasurer Yvonne Rigopoulos, Director Christine Fulmore, Advisor Maxine Calamos, Assistant Treasurer Anthony Hatzis FUND RAISING COMMITTEE DANCE Dennis Makrinos Judy Marrs, Chair Danny Kartoudi, Judy Marrs Kiki Georges Chrysoula Brickey STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE BUILDING/MAINTENANCE CHOIR Michael Euripides, Chair Harry Yiasemides, Chair Mary Moody

SACRAMENTS IN OCTOBER

MEMORIALS Thomas Sideropoulos, beloved husband of Arxontoula

PASTORAL GUIDELINES

WEDDING Marriages are not performed on fast days, during fasting seasons, or on the feasts of the church, spe-

cifically September 14 (Exaltation of the Holy Cross), December 13-25 (Nativity), January 5 & 6 (Theophany),

Great Lent and Holy Week, Pascha (Easter), Pentecost, August 1-15 (Dormition Fast and Feast), and August 29

( Beheading of St. John the Baptist) Exceptions can only be made with the permission of the respective hierarch.

BAPTISM A person who wishes to sponsor a candidate for Baptism or Chrismation must be an Orthodox Chris-

tian in good standing and a supporting member of an Orthodox parish. A person may not serve as a godparent if

the Church has not blessed his or her marriage, or, if civilly divorced, he or she has not been granted an ecclesiasti-

cal divorce, or for any other reason he or she is not in communion with the Orthodox Church. Baptisms may not

be performed from Christmas Day through the Feast of Theophany (December 25-January 6), during Holy Week,

or any of the Great feast days of the Lord.

FUNERAL Funeral services are permitted on any day of the year, except for Sundays, and Holy Friday, unless

permission is granted by the Archbishop or Metropolitan.

MEMORIAL Memorial services may not be chanted from the Saturday of Lazarus through the Sunday of

Thomas, or any Feast days of the Lord or the Theotokos.

Please contact Father if you wish to schedule a sacrament, or know of a parishioner who is sick or in the hospital.

THE LIGHT PAGE 3

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

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9 A.M.

Liturgy

2

11 A.M.

Athenian

Practice

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9 A.M. Or-

thos

10 A.M.

Liturgy

Philoptochos

Mtg.

9 A.M.

Liturgy

10 A.M.

Liturgy at

St. Nektarios

Monastery

Emmitsville,

MD

11 A.M.

Athenian Prac-

tice

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 9 A.M.

Orthos

10 A.M.

Liturgy

GOYA MTG.

5 P.M.

Philoptochos

Dinner Dance

9 A.M.

Liturgy

9 A.M.

Liturgy

6 P.M. Holy

Unction

Service,

Richmond,

VA

9 A.M.

Liturgy

10 A.M.

The Whole

Shebang

Vendor

Event

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 9 A.M.

Orthos

10 A.M.

Liturgy

PC elections

9 A.M.

Liturgy

11 A.M.

Athenian

Practice

Merryman

Hall

Rental

24 25 26 27 28 29 30 9 A.M. Orthos

10 A.M.

Liturgy

AHEPA MTG.

Philoptochos

Bake Sale &

Blood Drive

6 P.M. Great

Vespers, Falls

Church, VA

9 A.M.

Liturgy

6 P.M.

Vesperal

Divine

Liturgy

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ATTENTION STUDENTS

Mathematics, French, Greek tutors for middle, high

school, and college students. Cost: free will offer-

ing to benefit AHEPA. Contact: Demetrios

Serakos, Ph.D. 540.663.2523, for math, and Dr.

John Manolis, 540-373-0808 for Greek or French.

IMPORTANT NEWS!

During the month of November we will be updat-

ing our church database. An information sheet is

in the center of this newsletter and will be included

in the weekly bulletins. In addition, we will place

this on our website and send it as an email attach-

ment. Please fill it out and return it by November

29th, in the offering tray. Thank you for your

assistance!

CHRISTMAS CARDS

Information has been emailed and hard copies of

the order form are in the fellowship hall.

CHRISTMAS PAGEANT

This year’s event has been scheduled for Saturday,

December 21, at 5 P.M. The pageant will be per-

formed, carols will be sung, the tree will be deco-

rated, and our church family will sit down for a pot

luck dinner. Parts will be assigned during Sunday

School on November 3rd. If your child wishes to

participate, he/she must be in attendance.

COFFEE HOUR

Hosts and/or hostesses are needed for the coffee

hour after church. If you would like to host, please

sign-up on the bulletin board in the fellowship hall.

HALL RENTAL

The fellowship hall is available for rent. Please

spread the word, and refer all inquiries to our

website, www.nativiy.va.goarch.org.

40 Day Churching of Konstantine

Panagiotis, son of Georgia and Alex Zotos.

2 n d L t . S a m a n t h a M o r r i s o n a c -c e p t s h e r g o l d m e d a l f r o m C a p t . L a r r y V a s q u e z , c o m m a n d i n g o f -f i c e r o f N a v a l B a s e V e n t u r a C o u n t y , J u n e 1 , f i n i s h i n g f i r s t a m o n g w o m e n a g e s 1 8 t o 2 4 a n d b e a t i n g t h e A i r F o r c e ’ s 3 5 - y e a r I r o n m a n r e c o r d b y n e a r l y a n h o u r . M o r r i s o n , w h o g r a d u a t e d t h r e e d a y s e a r l i e r f r o m t h e A i r F o r c e A c a d e m y , w o n t h e A r m e d F o r c e s N a t i o n a l C h a m p i o n s h i p s i n h e r f i r s t r a c e a s a n a c t i v e -d u t y A i r F o r c e o f f i c e r .

CONGRATULATIONS TO

BARB AND BOB MORRISON

50 YEARS OF WEDDED BLISS!

Shown below is a list of families & individuals

who are participating in The Nativity of the

Theotokos Stewardship Program as of October

25, 2013. We would like to thank all of these fami-

lies and individuals for responding to the needs of

our parish. If your name does not appear, and

you have filled out a stewardship card, please see

Maxine Calamos or Jim Malamas.

Fr. John & Pres. Stacy Katsoulis

Ladies Philoptochos Society

Kyriacos & Yiannoulla Adamou

Anastasia Atsiknoudos

Paul & Helen Bardis

Richard & Angela Beamer

Michael & Ornela Bizhyt i

Mary Booth

Nancy Costas Breckinridge

K e vi n & Ch r ys o u l a B r i c ke y

Maxine N. Calamos

Mike & Angelina Campbell

M a r ia Ch r i s t o f o r a t o s

Costas & Sophia Constantine

Markella Countouroudas

Leonard Cowherd

Victoria Dobrescu

Lucretia Edreos

Michael and Evanthia Euripides

Paul & Hannah Fallon

Lucas & Nina Frank

Helen Frazier

Carl & Christine Fulmore

Angela & Maria Galatis

Eric & Maria Garecht

Kiki Georges

Julia Getsos

Jim & Katherine Giannopoulos

Theofilos Giannopoulos

Pauline Gorton

Thomas Harris

Anthony & Kai Hatzis

Phillip & Monica Hicks

Bill & Stella Kaltsounis

George Kapataidakis

Paraskevi Kapataidakis

Jim & Bessie Karellas

Kosta & Chryse Kartoudi

Helen Katsarelis

George & Chrissy Katsourakis

Michael Kavros

Maria Kipreos

Michael & Kathy Klezaras

Dennis & Anthoula Makrinos

James & Koula Malamas

John & Maria Manolis

Gino & Marika Marchica

Peter & Jennifer Margaros

Judy Marrs

Efthalia Martin

Cynthia & Daniel Miller

Da wn M i l l e r

David & Mary Moody

Phil & Jane Moore

Robert and Barbara Morrison

Ioanna Nicholas

Bil l & Dorothy Nosal

Elena O’Donaghue

Chr is tos Papanas tas io

Aslanis Pappas

George & Sarah Parent

Jason & Sara Pol la rd

Stamo Poulos

Georgia Pournaras

Emanuel & Sophia Psaras

Mitchel & Georgia Raftelis

Chris & Yvonne Rigopoulos

Nicholas & Melissa Roman

Ste l i os Sa laga ras

Gamal Salama

Halina Schreckinger

Di mi t r i Se rakos

Wayne & Liz Skinner

J im & Chr i s t i na Smi t h

Alin and Andrea Son

Michael & Mar i a S taf fo rd

Mary Stram

Carrie K. Swann

Stefan & Niki Theodore

Georgia L. Tidler

Vasilios & Helen Troupos

Bill & Sandy Winkler

Joe & Mar ia Wins low

John & Ellen Xydias

Chris & Darlene Yiasemides

Eleni Yiasemides

Harry & Maria Yiasemides

Vicki Yiasemides

Paul and Martha Ziegenfuss

Christos & Lambrini Zourzoukis

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STEWARDSHIP HONOR ROLL

PAGE 6 THE LIGHT

St. Nectarios was born on October 1, 1846, in Selymbria in Thrace to a poor family. His given name was Anastasios Cephalas. At the age of 14 he moved to Constantinople (Istanbul) to work and further his edu-cation. In 1866 he left to the island of Chios to take a teaching post. He then became a monk at the age of thirty. Three years after becoming a monk he was ordained a deacon, taking the name Nectarios. He graduated from the University of Athens in 1885. During his years as a student of the University of Ath-ens he wrote many books, pamphlets, and Bible commentaries.

Following his graduation he went to Alexandria, Egypt, where he was ordained a priest and served the Church of Saint Nicholas in Cairo with great distinction. In recognition of his piety and brilliance as a preacher, as well as his administrative ability, he was consecrated Bishop/Metropolitan of Pentapolis (an ancient diocese in Cyrenaica, in what is now Libya) by the Greek Orthodox Patriarch Sophronios in 1889. He served as a bishop in Cairo for one year, but was then unjustly removed from his post. This was a re-sult of lies made up by jealous clerics who envied his popularity with the people. Patriarch Sophronios refused to listen to St. Nectarios, who was sent away from Egypt without trial or explanation and was never given an oppor-tunity to defend himself.

After his dismissal, he returned to Greece in 1891 and spent several years as a preacher (1891-1894). He was then appointed director of the Rizarios Ecclesiastical School for the education of priests in Athens, where his service was exemplary for

fifteen years. He developed many courses of study and wrote numerous books, all while preaching widely throughout Athens. In 1904 at the request of sever-al nuns, he established a monastery for them on the island of Aegina. The mon-astery was named Holy Trinity Monastery. In December of 1908, at the age of 62, St. Nectarios resigned from his post as school director and withdrew to the Holy Trinity Convent on Aegina, where he lived out the rest of his life as a monk. He wrote, published, preached, and heard confessions from those who came from near and far to seek out his spiritual guidance. While at the monas-tery, he also tended the gardens, carried stones, and helped with the construc-tion of the monastery buildings that were built with his own funds. He was also the Metropolitan of the island of Aegina.

St. Nectarios died on the evening of November 9, 1920, at the age of 74, fol-lowing hospitalization for prostate cancer. His body was taken to the Holy Trini-

ty Convent, where he was buried by a Priest-Monk named Savas, who later painted the first icon of St. Nectarios. The funeral of St. Nectarios was attended by multitudes of people from all parts of Greece and Egypt. Many people regarded St. Nectari-os as a saint during his lifetime because of his prayerful life, his humility, his purity and other virtues, and his writings, as well as the miracles he performed. St. Nectarios also had the gift of prescience.

The relics of St. Nectarios were removed from the grave on Septem-ber 2, 1953, and gave out a beautiful fragrance. Official recognition of Nectarios as a saint by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constanti-nople took place on April 20, 1961. Thousands of miracles have been attributed to his intercession, particularly cases of cancer or other serious illnesses being cured.

SAINT NEKTARIOS St. Nectarios (1846-1920), Metropolitan of Pentapolis and Wonderworker of Aegina, was officially recognized as a saint by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in 1961. His feast day is celebrated on November 9. He is often referred to as Nectarios of Pentapolis or Nectarios of Aegina, and his name is sometimes spelled Nektarios.

The Whole Shebang! A Multi Vendor and Craft Event

10 A.M., November 16, 2013 Dozens of Crafters & Vendors

Snack Bar to benefit The Athenian Dancers

No Admission Fee

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The Ladies’ Philoptochos

Cordially invites you and your family to their Annual Family Dinner Dance

Sunday, November 10th 2013 From 5:00 to 9:00 PM

Full Course Buffet Including Assorted Mezedakia (Appetizers)

Chicken in White Wine Sauce/Served With Greek Lemon Potatoes

Beef Tips in Burgundy Sauce Served Over Rice Pilaf Pastichio, Assorted Vegetables, Salad, Dinner Rolls

Large Dessert Table For Your Sweet Tooth Wine, Beer, Drinks (Cash Bar)

Music for your dining and dancing pleasure will be performed by

“ALEXANDER ZOGRAPHOS”

TICKETS are $20.00 for Adults and Children 12 years and older

$10.00 for Children ages 5 to 11 Children under the age of 5 are free

****Child-care (ages 3-7) will be available free of charge****

ALL PROCEEDS WILL BENEFIT THE MANY PHILANTHROPIC PROJECTS

OF THE LADIES’ PHILOPTOCHOS

Payment and reservations can be taken for tables of 8 or more

Advance purchased tickets appreciated to help in food quantity preparation

For reservations please see

Maria Yiasemides (540-373-6468) or Mary Moody (540-891-9451)

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From Father John, page 1

We are often called upon to express our thanksgiving and gratitude to God, like Joachim and Anna

and the Pilgrim Fathers. "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes

in him should not perish but have eternal life." God gave, by setting the ultimate example, and en-

courages us to experience the joy of giving. He asks us to give in order to continue his work on

earth by supporting his Church.

Our goal as a parish should be to support the entire Ministries and Operating Budget through our

Stewardship Program. We should be responsible to support fully the work of Christ at our Church.

We invite you today to help us reach 100% of our goal by increasing your giving "not until it

hurts," but "until it feels good."

If we increase our giving each year, as the Lord has blessed us, then we will keep pace with infla-

tion and support and grow all our programs through Stewardship.

A pastor once said to his congregation: "My friends, it takes faith to make the church walk!" They

shouted, "Let it walk, Pastor, let it walk." He went on, "Brethren, it takes love to make the church

run!" They shouted, "Let it run, Pastor, let it run." "Beloved," he continued, "It takes money to

make the church fly." Back came the answer: "Let it walk, Pastor, let it walk."

In Byzantine icons the angels are pictured with wings to denote the speed with which they fly to

carry out God's will. I'm sure we can all try to imitate the angels in this respect. The Church should

not walk or run; it should fly like the angels, because its purpose is to promote and expand the love

of Christ among us. Whether the Church walks, runs or flies depends on how well we have pre-

pared. Joachim and Anna prepared to fulfill their promise by dedicating Mary's life. The Pilgrims

prepared by following the advice of the Indians to plant for the coming year. Each was thankful for

the blessings bestowed upon them.

We, as Orthodox Christians, have much to be thankful for. Yet, how well have we prepared? God's

love is abundantly evident as we look around us. Stewardship is the privilege of responding to

God's love with thanksgiving and gratitude. Today, we have the great privilege of assisting Christ

by our 2014 Christian Stewardship Commitment. We have the privilege of participating in spread-

ing the good news of his love now and in future generations. Look at the young people in our

Church feed the little and big sheep of his flock.

At the Liturgy the Priests offers the gifts of bread and wine saying:

"Your own gifts, from your own, we offer to you." All we are and

have are a gift from God. All is His. We are merely the stewards, the

managers of the time, talent and treasures He has given to us.

I ask that you prayerfully decide the portion of God's gifts to you

that you will offer to His Church through the Christian Stewardship

Program of our Parish.