September 2014 Page

HERALD SEPTEMBER 2014

Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E

Dean’s Message 2

President’s Message 3

Philoptochos News 4

Stewardship 5

Philanthropia News 5

Philoptochos VIP 5

Ministries List 8

Sacraments/ Memorials 9

Choir News 9

Greek Fest Donations 12 &13

Feast Day Article 10

Orthodox Calendar 15

The Fieschi Morgan Staurotheke

Early 9th Century, Made in Constantinople

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City

Saint Sophia

Greek Orthodox

Cathedral

V. Rev. Fr. John S. Bakas,

Dean

Rev. Fr. Allan Boyd,

Assistant Priest

1324 S. Normandie Avenue,

Los Angeles, CA 90006

Tel. 323-737-2424

Fax. 323-737-7029

www.stsophia.org

September 2014 Page 2

DEAN’S MESSAGE

SAINT SOPHIA CATHEDRAL’S INSPIRATIONAL MEN

Contrast these two little stories:

Back in 1983, while flying from Dallas to Toronto a life-

threatening fire broke out onboard a DC-9, filling the entire

plane with toxic smoke. The spreading fire also burned

through crucial electrical cables that knocked out most of the

instrumentation in the cockpit, forcing the plane to instantly

choose an emergency landing site. The Air Canada pilot

immediately began an intense and rapid descent, knowing he

only had few critical moments to land the plane if anyone were

to survive the fire. At the scene of his emergency landing, as

soon as the rescue team opened the door, the whole aircraft

began sucking in oxygen which further escalated the flames

onboard into a blazing inferno. Sadly, there were some

fatalities and others suffered some burns, but because of the

pilot’s skill and the crew's commitment, many people were

rescued. The captain was the last one to leave the burning

airplane. He was pulled through the window with his uniform

on fire. Later, he received a well-deserved, tearful

commendation as a exemplary leader who inspired others by

his self-sacrificial commitment to his duty.

Last April, a ferry in Seoul, South Korea, capsized, killing

hundreds. Most of the passengers were high school students

who ultimately drowned merely awaiting instructions below for

when to abandon ship. The captain himself had fled the

sinking ship to make sure he alone would be safe on dry

ground. This, of course, prompted a chorus of scornful

reproach from the loved ones of those who were lost. The

teacher who had organized the trip despondently took his own

life, feeling that he had no right to be alive while most of his

students perished. Even the prime minister of South Korea

offered to resign because of this great tragedy. No celebration

there, no commendation of a brave man; just a series of

wrong decisions that resulted in the ultimate wrong decision of

a man who put himself first and failed to perform his duty.

In the Orthodox Church today, there is a crisis of spiritual

leadership among our men. The Epistle Reading in the

Orthodox marriage ceremony calls men to the role of priest of

their household, offering themselves up “just as Christ loved

the Church and gave Himself up for her.” Why? Our Lord

says it’s “to make her holy.” Essentially, our Lord wants men

to know that the most important role that men have is to lead

their families to heaven through self-sacrificial spiritual

leadership. But many men, like that Korean ferry captain,

have abandoned their spiritual duty to their family, opting

instead for more selfish pursuits. Meanwhile, their families are

in desperate spiritual need of someone more like that Air

Canada captain.

This selfless spiritual leadership begins, first and foremost,

with men’s enthusiastic Church attendance. This is strongly

suggested by the findings of a significant study from 2000

called, “The Demographic Characteristics of the Linguistic and

Religious Groups in Switzerland” by Werner Haug and Phillipe

Warner of the Federal Statistical Office, Neuchatel.

In that study, questions were asked to determine whether a

person’s religion carried through to the next generation, if so

— why or why not. What they discovered is powerful. They

discovered that there is one critical factor: “The religious

practice of the father of the family, above all, determines the

children’s future attendance at—or absence from Church.” In

short, the study determined that if a father does not go to

Church, no matter how faithfully his wife is devoted, only one

child in 50 will become a regular worshipper. However, if a

father enthusiastically attends Church services weekly,

regardless of the practice of the mother, then between two-

thirds and three-quarters of their children become active

Church goers.

This is because, when children begin to age into that period

of differentiation from home and engagement with the world

“out there,” they look increasingly to the father for his role

model. Where the father is indifferent, inadequate, or just

plain absent, that task of differentiation and engagement is

much harder. When children see that church is a “women and

children” thing, they will respond accordingly—by not going to

church, or going much less. Curiously, both adult women as

well as men will conclude subconsciously that Dad’s absence

indicates that going to church is not really a “grown-up”

activity.

So when children see their fathers attending Church services

weekly and enthusiastically participating in the ministries of

the Church; when they see their fathers becoming devoted

disciples (or students) of Christ’s teachings, then those

children will grow up realizing that this is what it means to be

mature. The chances are high that we will see those children

carry the Orthodox Christian Faith into their adulthood.

As we begin our new school year, there could be no more

important message than to call our men to participate in their

God-given role as priest of their household. Men, how do you

want your families to remember you? Will it be as the spiritual

version of that self-absorbed captain of the Korean ferry-

boat? Or will it be something inspiring, like that Air-Canada

pilot, whose selfless devotion to his passengers and crew

saved many lives? Save our children by making the

commitment today to become one of Saint Sophia Cathedral’s

inspirational men.

In Christ,

V. Rev. Fr. John S. Bakas, Dean

September 2014 Page 3

PARISH COUNCIL MESSAGE

Enliven Your Spirit to Enrich Your Soul

We are extremely excited to be celebrating our 16th Annual

L.A. Greek Fest – 2014 on the Cathedral grounds. This is one

of the events which brings all of our community together as

we all pitch in to help within booths and to serve up some

wonderful Greek hospitality and culture. We still need

additional volunteers, as well as more underwriting of

monetary donations. Please invite your co-workers and

friends to also attend this wonderful and special event. All

funds from the Fest help to offset the operations of the

Cathedral and the Huffington Center and also in assisting our

many ministries. Many thanks go to our Parish Council

Executive Board and Parish Council members, to our Fest

committee members, Fr. John Bakas and Fr. Allan Boyd, our

St. Sophia office staff and custodians and to the many

(countless) volunteers and supporters of our blockbuster

event. Get on board, we’re ready to welcome everyone to our

beautiful Saint Sophia Cathedral and to celebrate our 16th

Annual L.A. Greek Fest - 2014.

We should never forget that our L.A. Greek Fest became a

reality based upon the dreams, hard work and personal efforts

of Ted and Jan Pastras in 1999. Unfortunately our community

suffered a tremendous loss with the sudden death of Ted in

February, 2013. Not only did Ted develop the inception of the

L.A. Greek Fest, he contributed his talents in revitalizing the

neighborhood through the L.A. Neighborhood Initiative

(LANI), the creating of the B.L.Q. area with the establishment

of a Business Improvement District (BID) and the founding of

a charter middle school located nearby. In remembering Ted,

the words from Zorba the Greek rings so true: “Live life and

enjoy it”!

As the Saint Sophia Cathedral’s delegate to the 42nd

Biennial

Clergy-Laity Congress held in Philadelphia from July 6-10,

2014, I am not only happy to, but also required under Article 4

Section 8 of the Regulations to provide a report of the

proceedings of the Congress. You may also access the

Archdiocese’s website to be provided with the complete

presentations (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America). I

will include my own personal reflections and discuss more in

depth the general theme of the Clergy-Laity at the Fall’s

General Assembly.

The opening working session consisted of reports from

committees, ministries, and affiliated organizations and

institutions of the Church. The reports presented and

discussed were by the following: Administration, Finance,

Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, Philanthropy,

Chaplaincy, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate,

Leadership 100, Religious Education, Hellenic College Holy

Cross, Center for Family Care, Communications, Marriage

and Family, and Greek Education

Delegates explored the complex issues affecting the Orthodox

Christian Family based on the theme, “The Orthodox Christian

Family: A Dwelling of Christ and a Witness of His Gospel.”

The morning panelists spoke about the care for the individual,

the care for the family and the role of the parish in helping and

supporting people and families in need. The afternoon

panelists (including Metropolitan Gerasimos) dealt with

growing faithful families. It explored how faith is passed on in

families, and the practices that support faith formation across

generations.

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

addressed the delegates via a live feed (SKYPE). He

welcomed all the participants and sent special blessings of

love to all. Vice President Joe Biden addressed the delegates

at the Grand Banquet expressing support for the Ecumenical

Patriarchate, Cyprus and Greece. The Vice President spoke

of three issues, for which he said he is optimistic. First, the

relationship of the United States and Greece, the second, the

defense of Religious Freedom, the Ecumenical and the issue

of Halki, and the third, the continued occupation of Cyprus by

Turkish troops.

Further information about the Clergy-Laity, the beginning of

Greek School, Sunday School and other ministries, to follow

in the Weekly Bulletin, on the website, and next month’s

Herald.

Yours in Christ,

Brent A. Noyes, Parish Council President

September 2014 Page 4

PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS

Even though summer has been here and gone, Philoptochos has not had a ‘vacation’. We have been working through the summer taking care of our outreach cases and those who need help all year long. But now it’s September, time for meetings, projects to help the sick and the poor, and get ready for the Debutante Ball in January! There are projects and donation drives you may join if you wish. We have a stuffed animal drive this month, and then at Christmas time we have our Angel Tree project for those who need our help. Before we know it, the months will fly by and the holidays will be upon us!

The Fall Meeting Schedule for General Assembly Meetings is as follows:

Sunday, September 21 Speaker: Dr. Eve Tibbs

Sunday, October 26

Sunday, November 16 - Thanksgiving Luncheon Please look for the reservation flyer that will be in the Herald bulletins. Reservations - paid in advance - are mandatory as the room will fill up very fast. We only have room for about 100 people in the Pavilion.

There is no meeting in December so that everyone may enjoy the holidays.

We hope you will join us for the first meeting on Sunday, September 21. Dr. Eve Tibbs will be speaking to us after our meeting on “Beauty and Truth: How to Read Icons”. Lunch will be available and we would love to have you at our meeting. Everyone is welcome. Come and visit, if you have not been to a meeting we’d love to meet you!

Stuffed Animal Collection: Once again, we will be collecting NEW stuffed animals - large or small - for children undergoing cancer treatments, in memory of Ileana Schuman. Ileana was the niece of our board member Allison Stavaridis, and in her memory, we will collect new stuffed animals to distribute to children at their cancer treatment appointments. You may bring your donation to the meeting on September 21 or on any other Sunday if you wish, before October, for Philoptochos. Thank you.

Outreach: We’d like to update you on outreach. There are a number of ladies of Philoptochos who are working once a month preparing sandwiches, cookies and fruit for the people living on the streets in Hollywood. Some of our members go out with Dr. Nicos Stefanidis (since it is not safe to go out alone) and hand out the sandwiches and other items that we have collected. Also, once a month Dr. Stefanidis and the volunteers serve a hot meal out on the streets as well. If you ever wish to join in this project, please contact Philoptochos.

Philoptochos work is sometimes difficult and emotionally hard, but it is also very rewarding. If we did not have love and compassion for those we help, we would not be doing all the work we do. Yes, we put on fundraisers to fulfill our obligations to the Metropolis and to National, who then sends that money out in large numbers throughout the year. We help people in our community that are ill or on hard times, who would not have anything to eat or a place to live, without some assistance from us.

Mailing List: Please add your email address to our Philoptochos listing so that you don’t miss out on our projects and events! Send your information to us in care of the Cathedral and we’ll be happy to add you to our lists.

May 2015 will be Philoptochos Board of Directors

elections, so 2014 - 2015 is ‘an election year’. In order to

run for the Board: a member must be in good standing

with the church as a steward and a paid member of

Philoptochos. You must also have attended 4 general

meetings within the year before elections, meaning May

2014 through April 2015. Anyone running for the Board

must attend the election meeting unless you have been

excused for illness or an emergency.

With love in Christ’s service,

Virginia Noyes and the Philoptochos Board of Directors

September 2014 Page 5

Believe and Belong through Christian Stewardship

STEWARDSHIP FAMILIES June and July 2014

$10,000 To $14,999

Fling, Ms. Martha

$4,000 To $5,999

Bartzokis, Drs. George & Kelly

Duncan, Dr. & Mrs. Jan

Harkiss, Dr. Sam*

Kraios, Mr. Michael

$2,000 To $3,999

Kyriacou, Mr. & Mrs. Gig*

Kyriacou, Mr. & Mrs. Gig*

Anonymous (1)

$1,000 To $1,999

Eliopulos, Ms. Georgia

Hanberg, Mr. Julian

Koukis, Mr. & Mrs. Pandelis

Kouros, Dr. & Mrs. Philip

Mitchell, Mr. & Mrs. Peter

Roussos, Mr. & Mrs. Theodosios

Tsircou, Mr. & Mrs. Kyriacos

Anonymous (1)

$650 To $999

Anastassiou Jr., Mr. Thomas

Caiopoulos, Mrs. Ann+

Eliopoulos, Mr. & Mrs. Nick

Haraden, Mr. & Mrs. Marshall

Kroesch, Ms. Angelica

Manousogianis, Mr. & Mrs. Markos

Rangel, Mr. & Mrs. Armando

Ratzenberger, Ms. Nina

Stumpus, Mr. Jack

Anonymous (2)

OTHER

Dimtsios, Ms. Nicole

Estock, Mr. Paul

Giannoulis, Mr. & Mrs. Chris

Koustas, Mr. & Mrs. Peter

Kyriacou, Ms. Christianna

Kyriacou, Mr. Michael John

Peterson, Ms. Constance

Pilichos, Mrs. Efrossini

Savas, Dr. Diana

Zarras, Dr. & Mrs. Peter

Anonymous (2)

Used Clothing and Canned Goods: Thank you for all the

generous donation of used clothing. Please label all clothing

donations on the outside of the bags by indicating whether

they are for men, women or children. Thank you!

Street Outreach: Dr. Nikos Stefanidis, Ph.D. a Staff

Psychologist at Children’s Hospital, L.A., is the Clinical

Director of this High Risk Program. Your continued help will

assure that these children are cared for year round by

purchasing new items such as the following: T-Shirts (M-L);

Boxers (M-L); White Socks; Blankets; Sleeping Bags;

Sweatshirts; Snacks; Water/Juices; Bus Tokens; Sneakers;

Hygiene Items (Travel Size); Tooth Brushes & Toothpaste;

Shampoo; Deodorant; Sun Screen - be sure to label them for

Dr. Nikos Stefanidis and leave them by the clothing bins.

God bless you!

Father Peter

PHILOPTOCHOS VIP PHILANTHROPIA NEWS

* Life Members Endowment Fund +Blessed Memory

Philoptochos VIP is planning a trip on Thursday October 23,

2014 to visit Harah’s Resort in Southern California, formerly

Harrah's Rincon located north of San Diego near Temecula.

For Reservations call the Chairman Irene Mitropetros at (323)

346-5223, or co-chair Mary Kezios at (562)923-7110.

Write your check to Philoptohos VIP for $10.00 per person

and mail it to Irene Mitropetros at: 2318 4th Avenue. Los

Angeles CA.90018, or to Mary Kezios at 10409 Casanes

Avenue, Downey, CA 90241-2910. Make sure that you

include your full name, address and birthdate. Be at Saint

Sophia 8:30 am The Buss will depart 9:00 am and will be

back 6:00 pm.

In His Service,

Athina Lolonis, VIP President

September 2014 Page 6

September 2014 Page 7

Saint Sophia Cathedral Greek Folk Dance Ministry

Greek Folk Dance Ministry Annual Orientation and Registration Meeting.

Please join us September 14, 2014 at the General Assembly Room 1:00 PM

ATTENDANCE IS MANDATORY in order to complete your registration forms, pay your fees,

and receive updated information on the program. You may also access the registration forms on

Saint Sophia Cathedral’s website. If you are over 18 please plan on attending registration meeting.

The goal of our Saint Sophia Dance Ministry is to connect our children to a relationship with

our Lord Jesus Christ as expressed through our Orthodox Faith and as celebrated by our rich

culture and heritage of dance and song.

Thus, Please Note: It is mandatory that each dancer must attend Sunday School, on time, at

least 10 times from the beginning of the Fall Semester through January 26th.

We look forward to seeing you at the meeting on September 14, 2014

For further information please contact: Eleni Constantine Manolelis: 310) 420-8374, or Barbara Kappos:

(626) 358-7536, or Demitra Koutsos, (818) 903-7059. You can also e-mail us at:

st.sophia.folkdance@gmail.com

If your child is 5 years old by December 1st they are eligible to join our youngest group.

Dance practices will begin the weekend of September 22nd. Please check with your directors

for the time and location. If you are a new dancer, please contact the numbers listed below

for more information.

The Art of the Greek Dance Come and learn all the dances you need to know for

festivals, weddings and other Greek events. Ramsey will

teach pan-Hellenic dances as well as specialized regional

traditional dances (Παραδοσιακα) . Bring your dance

shoes and we will see you there.

WHEN: Saturdays, September 13 to November 11

WHERE: Huffington Center

TIME: 10:00 am – 11:45 am

FEE: $140 First Time / $120 Returning

INSTRUCTOR: Ramsay Seikaly,

ramdonseik@hotmail.com

CONTACT NUMBER: (818) 929-1180

September 2014 Page 8

MINISTRIES

Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral

Very Reverend Father John S. Bakas, Dean Reverend Father Allan (Gabriel) Boyd

Jim Kollias, Choir Director Dimitris Liogris , Protopsaltis Michael Kontaxis, Assistant Psaltis

Christopher Yokas, Organist James Karatsikis, Sexton

FOUNDATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Executive Officers

George E. Preonas, President

Andrew Evangelatos, Executive Vice President

Dr. James A. Demetriou, Vice President & C.F.O.

Constantine M. Boukidis, Secretary

Tina Callas, Treasurer

Members

V. Rev. Fr. John S. Bakas Nicholas Bissias

Timi Loomos Freshman Alek Haidos Steve Hanna

Michael Huffington Gig Kyriacou Brent Noyes

John T. Pappas Jim Zaferis

Presidential Appointments

Anthony A. Demetriou, Presidential Assistant

John G. Marakas III, Sr. Advisor to the Board

Andrew J. Demetriou, Foundation General Counsel

PARISH COUNCIL BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Executive Officers

Brent Noyes, President

John Kopatsis, Vice President

Irene Andreadis, Recording Secretary

Karen Sarames, Corresponding Secretary

Michael Kraios, Treasurer & C.F.O.

Members

Bertha Angels Eleni Constantine Manolelis

Jeanine Hanna Glenn Lianos Loula Moschonas

Peter Pallas Dean Peratsakis

Dorothy Spirus Tom Ward Anna Yallourakis

Auditing Committee

James Ananias Anthony Demetriou Tom Moore

PHILOPTOHOS SOCIETY

Executive Officers

Virginia Noyes, President

Helene Ballas, 1st Vice President

Marianna Politis, 2nd Vice President

Mary Gallanis, Recording Secretary

Lola Gialketsis, Corresponding Secretary

Scarlett Billis, Treasurer

Dina Oldknow, Advisor

Honorary Life Members

Jennie Doumak Christine Peratis

Members

Allison Stavaridis Frances Bissias Judith Christopoulos

Pauline Evangelatos Olga Jordan Tricia Kremer

Coni Manders Sophie Mastor Jan Pastras

Christina Peratsakis Jayne Poullos Sonia Stathes

Mary Tassop Maria Toczek

ALTAR BOYS

Chris Halekakis

BASKETBALL

Gig Kyriacou & Paul Cooper

BIBLE STUDY

Very Rev. Father John Bakas

Rev. Father Allan Boyd

BOOK STORE

William Striglos

CHILD CARE

Kathy & Marsha Zagorianos

CHOIR

Jim Kollias

COFFEE HOUR

Ann Pappas

Georgia Vasila

DOCENTS

Faye Demetriou

EASTER PICNIC

Ted Pappas

GREEK DANCE GROUPS

Barbara Kappos

Eleni Constantine Manolelis

Demitra Koutsos

GREEKS in HOLLYWOOD

Dina Demetrius

HELLENIC ACADEMY

Brent Noyes

HOSPITALITY

Niki Korbakis

Maria Pelargos

L.A. GREEK FEST

Parish Council

Executive Board

MR. & MRS. CLUB

Dean & Christine Peratsakis

ODOS “The Way”

Helen Lambros

PARENTING

Nick Stefanidis

Barbara Kappos

PHILANTHROPIA

Rev. Father Peter Lambert

PHILOPTOHOS V.I.P.

Athina Lolonis, President

SAINT SOPHIA CAMP

Melanie O’Regan

Jack Stumpus (Golf Event)

Tony Mastor (Tennis Event)

Mary-Kay Demetriou (Tennis

Event)

SUNDAY SCHOOL

Eleni Yokas

YOUTH

Rev. Father Allan Boyd

OFFICE STAFF

Helen Ellis, Office Administrator Jessica Benitez, Admin. Assist.

Noah Johnson, Events

CUSTODIAL STAFF

Marcial Cerna Oscar Castro Mauricio Mira Miguel Rosales

September 2014 Page 9

September 13 Nadia Hazu and Peter Youssef

September 14 Lydia Baskharoon and Mikel Boulos

September 21 Abby Ennabi and Tony Khaled Salem

Koumbara: Irene Mettias-Ghobrial

September 27 Marizol Cruz and Emad Daoud

WEDDINGS

MEMORIALS

September 7

September 26

James McDemas (2 years)

Tony McDemas (31 years)

Mary McDemas (24 years)

Dan McDemas (35 years)

BAPTISMS

September 20 Theodora Manolelis

Daughter of Nicholas and Eleni Manolelis

Sponsors: Kristin Thomas Lee and Yianni

Valsamis

Nick Alefantes

Bessie Alefantes

George Alefantes

Tom Alefantes

Thomas Alefantes

Thevie Alefantes

EPISTLE READERS

September 7 Christina Szerkely

September 14 Jayne Poullos

September 21 Drew Scholl

September 28 Tori Scholl

SACRAMENTS

AND MEMORIALS

Zina McDemas (25 years)

Katina Demetrakes Bliziotis

(2 years)

George S. Poullos (2 years)

Speros Poullos

Vasiliki Poullos

George Poullos

Helen Poullos

Gerasimos Mosqueda

Antonios Pantazopoulos

Ioanna Pantazopoulos

Stavros Pantazopoulos

CHOIR NEWS

Happy New Year!

I am always excited to start a new liturgical year or a new

school year – probably more so than starting a new calendar

year in January (especially more than a new fiscal year in

July!). January marks the passage of a new calendar year in

the middle of things - winter, the school year, the liturgical

year, the college basketball, NBA and NHL seasons... The

new school year and new liturgical year mark a new year of

purpose for me – it’s a brand new chance to do better –

almost like a new athletic season. Everyone is rested,

everyone needs to get back in some sort of shape, everyone

needs to approach the new year with purpose, and hopefully

that purpose is about doing things better.

I would like to thank everyone who was a part of the St.

Sophia Choir Ministry in 2013-14. Many of you were able to

come on time and we were able to sing the Doxology

magnificently many times last year – thank you!! Many of

you came to our rehearsals and helped present our Christmas

Concert – thank you!! Many of you were able to pitch in to

make Holy Week a moving experience at our Cathedral –

thank you!! Many of you were able to come to rehearsals

to better prepare for special liturgies – thank you!! We had

many, many visitors to Saint Sophia that came up to the loft to

lend their voices – thank you!! Many of you, although you

couldn’t come on time, or on a frequent basis, somehow

found the calling to come up and pitch in, and for that – thank

you!!

We have an eventful fall schedule; we look forward to

everyone’s contributions, no matter your level of commitment.

Choir Fall Schedule

September 7 Saint Sophia Greek Fest – NO CHOIR

September14 Rehearsal, 8-10am, Choir Room

September 28 Rehearsal, 8-10am, Choir Room

October 5 English Liturgy, New Choir Member

Rehearsal, National Church Music Sunday

October 19 Rehearsal, 8-10am, Choir Room

October 26 Rehearsal, 8-10am, Choir Room, Neal

Desby Guest Conductor

November 2 English Liturgy, New Choir Member

Rehearsal

November 16 Rehearsal, 8-10am, Choir Room

November 23 Rehearsal, 8-10am, Choir Room

December 6 Rehearsal, 8-noon, Dress Rehearsal,

Christmas Concert

December 7 Christmas Concert, 7pm

Choir Director

Jim Kolias

September 2014 Page 10

GREEK TASTES • GREEK SOUNDS • GREEK SIGHTS

GO GREEK IN L.A. UNDER THE SHINING LIGHT OF A HISTORIC-CULTURAL MONUMENT

THE SAINT SOPHIA CATHEDRAL

COME AND EXPERIENCE AUTHENTIC EPICUREAN DELIGHTS AND REFRESHING LIBATIONS

IN A FESTIVE ATMOSPHERE FILLED WITH MUSIC AND DANCE

lagreekfest.com

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September 2014 Page 12

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By John Kopatsis

The Elevation of the Holy Cross, Ὕψωσις τοῦ Τιμίου καὶ

Ζωοποιοῦ Σταυροῦ ("Raising Aloft of the Precious and Life-

Giving Cross"), also known as the Exaltation of the Holy

Cross, is one of the Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church

celebrated on September 14. According to Orthodox Church

teachings, Saint Helen, the mother of Saint Constantine

the Great, discovered the Holy Cross on September 14, 325

AD in the vicinity of Golgotha, where it lay buried in the dust of

the centuries. On the spot where the Cross was discovered,

there was also found a hitherto unknown flower of rare beauty

and fragrance, which has been named Vasiliko (Basil),

meaning the flower of royalty, out of respect for the Dowager

Queen who led the expedition. For the next three hundred

years, the Cross stayed in the possession of the Christians

in Jerusalem, but the city was captured by the Persians in 614

AD and the Cross fell into their hands. It was later recovered

by the forces of the Byzantine Empire, when Emperor

Heraclius decisively defeated the Sassanid Persians at the

Battle of Nineveh.

Saint John Chrysostom wrote in one of his homilies:

“Kings removing their diadems take up the cross, the symbol

of their Savior's death; on the purple, the cross; in their

prayers, the cross; on their armor, the cross; on the holy table,

the cross; throughout the universe, the cross. The cross

shines brighter than the sun.” Father Richard Viladesau,

Professor of Theology at Fordham University stated: “From its

earliest times, Christianity was distinguished as being the

religion of the cross. The cross has always been its most

obvious and universal symbol; and in the contemporary world,

we are once again reminded that it is the cross and its

meaning that set Christianity apart from other world religions.”

The True Cross is the name for physical remnants which

are believed to be from the cross upon which Jesus was

crucified. Relics of the True Cross were quickly and widely

distributed after its discovery by Saint Helen. Throughout the

medieval period, such relics were housed in precious

containers where they could be venerated by the faithful.

These reliquaries of the True Cross, called staurothekai,

constitute a special group, containing the most precious of all

relics, wood from the instrument of Crist’s death and of human

-kind’s salvation. Most of the relics of the True Cross in

Europe came from Constantinople. The city was captured and

sacked by the Fourth Crusade in 1204. "After the conquest of

the city Constantinople inestimable wealth was found and also

a part of the True Cross that was decorated with gold and

precious jewels. It was carved up by the present bishops and

was divided with other very precious relics among the knights;

later, after their return to the homeland, it was donated to

churches and monasteries,” as Knight Robert de Clari wrote.

By the end of the Middle Ages so many churches claimed to

possess a piece of the True Cross, that John Calvin is

famously said to have remarked that there was enough wood

in them to fill a ship. Conflicting with this is the finding of

Charles Rohault de Fleury, who in his Mémoire sur les

instruments de la Passion in 1870 made a study of the relics

in reference to the criticisms of Calvin and Erasmus. He drew

up a catalogue of all known relics of the True Cross showing

that, in spite of what various authors have claimed, the

fragments of the Cross brought together again would not

reach one-third that of a cross which has been supposed to

have been three or four meters in height, with transverse

branch of two meters wide.

The Fieschi Morgan Staurotheke in the Metropolitan

Museum of Art in New York City is a key work both in the

history of enameling and in the development of reliquaries. It

is a finely made small box decorated with cloisonné enamel (a

style of enamel decoration in which the enamel is applied and

fired in raised cells on a metal background) and niello (a black

mixture of copper, silver, and lead sulphides, used as an inlay

on engraved metal) is one of the earliest examples of such a

reliquary. It is named for its previous owners, Pope Innocent

IV (Sinibaldo Fieschi, [1243-54]), and J.P. Morgan. The sliding

lid, decorated with a Crucifixion scene and busts of saints. It

slides back to reveal five interior relic compartments arranged

in the shape of a cross. On the lid, Christ, flanked by the

mourning figures of Theotokos and Apostle John, is shown

alive on the cross, wearing a long tunic popular in Eastern

depictions of this scene. It consolidates the grand message of

salvation. The crucified Christ on the cover stands erect and

triumphant, his eyes wide open. Sun and moon bear witness

to his miraculous death, flowers spring up on all sides, and his

powerful outstretched arms shelter the nascent Church below,

represented by Theotokos and Apostle John. The underside

has four episodes from the life of Christ—the Annunciation,

Nativity, Crucifixion, and Anastasis. Christ descended into

humanity, into death, and into hell to bring humanity back to

life. The Staurotheke is a guarantee of life itself.

The Fieschi Morgan Staurotheke with the lid sliding

September 2014 Page 15

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

Ecclesiastical

New Year

8:30am Orthros 9:30am Liturgy

2

3 4 5

6

7

Sunday befote

Holy Cross

8:15am Orthros

9:15am Faith Stud-

ies

9:45am Memorials

10am Divine Liturgy

8

Nativity of the

Theotokos

8:30am Orthros 9:30am Liturgy

7:30pm The Why’s of Orthodoxy w/Fr. Allan

9

7:00 pm Young

Adult Forum

10

11

12

13

14

Elevation of the

Cross

8:15am Orthros

9:15am Faith Stud-

ies

9:45am Memorials

15

11:00am

Women’s Bible

Study w/Fr. John

7:30pm The Why’s of Orthodoxy w/Fr. Allan

16

7:00 pm Young

Adult Forum

17

11:00am

Men’s Bible Study

w/Fr. John

18

19

20

21

Sunday after

Holy Cross

8:15am Orthros

9:15am Faith Stud-

ies

9:45am Memorials

22

11:00am

Women’s Bible

Study w/Fr. John

7:30pm The Why’s of Orthodoxy w/Fr. Allan

23

7:00 pm Young

Adult Forum

24

11:00am

Men’s Bible Study

w/Fr. John

25

26

27

28

1st Sunday

of Luke

8:15am Orthros

9:15am Faith Stud-

ies

9:45am Memorials

29

11:00am

Women’s Bible

Study w/Fr. John

7:30pm The Why’s of Orthodoxy w/Fr. Allan

30

7:00 pm Young

Adult Forum

Strict Fast Fish Allowed Wine and Oil

Allowed

Dairy, Eggs,

and Fish

Allowed

Fast Free

SEPTEMBER 2014

September 2014 Page 16 Saint Sophia Greek Cathedral

Greek Orthodox Community

1324 South Normandie Avenue

Los Angeles, California 90006

Phone

323 737 2424

Fax

323 737 7029

E-mail

office@stsophia.org

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www.stsophia.org

Place address label here

We should seek not so much to

pray but to become prayer