THE NEWS FROM ST. NEKTARIOS May 18, 2015 Volume 19, Issue 4&5

IN THIS ISSUE

Sponsorships Appreciation 2

Focus on our Community 2

Paschal greetings & Metropolitan

Alexios’ Mother’s Day Message

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Our Church Family Presentation 4-5

Saturday of Lazarus 6

Palm Sunday 7

Holy Unction & Holy Passion Svc 8

Holy Friday Services 9

Holy Friday & Saturday morning 10

Resurrection & Agape Vespers 11

Agape Picnic Celebration 12

Philoptochos 13

Youth Ministry 14-15

Saints of our Faith 16

shouldn’t it last? Is it because we

have changed our diets that we feel

this way? Essentially, we are left with

a “Now what?” feeling. We feel that

there should be something more but

there doesn’t seem to be any more.

Lent and Holy Week are not only

times of remembrance but also re-

experience. We attempt to re-live and

re-experience the final days of our

Lord’s earthly ministry. But we focus

so much on the “goal” of Pascha that

we, just as His disciples did after His

Resurrection, find ourselves asking

“Now what?” We can recall how the

disciples after the Resurrection “went

fishing.”

They knew that something very

special was taking place while our

Lord was with them. Their joy was

fulfilled in His Resurrection, but they

really didn’t know what to do next, so

they went back to their ordinary lives,

never expecting or realizing how

powerfully they had been changed by

their relationship with Christ.

It wasn’t until the “Great Commission”

to go out into the world teaching the

Gospel and baptizing in the name of

the Holy Trinity and the descent of

the Holy Spirit on Pentecost that the

question of “Now what?” was

answered. There was an answer and

there was a purpose that they just

hadn’t realized it yet.

Now that we find ourselves in the post

-resurrection “slump”, we must realize

that this is part of the experience of re

-living this wonderful event. We are

allowed to participate, not only in the

joy of the Resurrection, but also in the

period of contemplation where we

wonder, “Now what?”

As we know from scripture and

Church history; it doesn’t end here.

The Pascha and the Ascension may

be seen, by some, as an end to our

Lord’s earthly ministry, but in reality it

is a transformation in His ministry. His

physical presence may have

ascended to Heaven, but His spiritual

presence, the Holy Spirit, descended

upon the Church. The purpose of His

incarnation and the scope of His

ministry have never changed. Rather,

they have been assumed by the

Church, that is to say, us, as guided

by the Holy Spirit.

So the question of “Now what?”, that

we are asking ourselves after the

Pascha can be answered in the same

way that it was answered to His

Disciples. Now is the time to accept

the direction of the Holy Spirit, to

assume Christ’s ministry; go out into

the entire world, preach the Gospel of

Jesus Christ and baptize in the name

of the Father and the Son and the

Holy Spirit.

May God bless us and strengthen us

for the work that has been prepared

for us. Let us also glorify Him so that

He will glorify us; never forgetting the

true meaning of “Christ is Risen!”

CHRIST IS RISEN! NOW WHAT? A MESSAGE FROM FR. STEVE

. . . Now is the time to

accept the direction of

the Holy Spirit, to

assume Christ’s

ministry . . .

E very year we spend up to two

months in preparation for the

glorious proclamation; “Christ is

Risen!” Every Lenten period we focus

diligently; our lives, our hearts, our

souls and our minds on the goal of

the Pascha, and after all our fasting,

prayers and personal sacrifices have

been fulfilled, after we climb high

spiritual peaks during Holy Week, we

find ourselves as if waking up from a

dream wondering, “Now what?” Many

people describe this time as an

emotional and spiritual drag or slump.

Some find the extreme emotional

contrast from pre-Pascha to post-

Pascha a little frightening. Where has

the Lenten feeling gone? If we were

really making spiritual progress,

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In our prayers Anita Asimos Pat Baker Sandy Brewer Marie Callahan Nikki Chomakos Kathy Clewell

Barbara Cook Shannon Elliott Ted Gillis Lisa Jacob Nick Kefalas Helen Keramidas

Peter Mannering Casey Martinez Calliope Milios Christina Nixon Kay Owens Barry Dale Price Jr.

Gus Psomadakis Melissa Renfroe Teziah Stalling James Tekin Mary Thayer

And the persecuted Christians in the Middle East and the non-Christian World

Congratulations

To Linda Hanna & Brandon Baker on the baptism of their daughter, Brielle Marie Baker

To Maria & Joseph McCourt on the baptism of Joseph’s sister, Evangelia

To Megan & Nick Marinakos on the baptism of Peter’s brother, John Nikolas

To Miranda & Dean Kleto on the baptism of Angel & Jocelyn’s brother, Nicholas Gus

To Deme & Teddy Poulos on the birth of Vasili & Evanna’s brother, Yanni and the 40 day blessing of Yanni and mom

To Beatriz Franco & George Anipsitakis on the baptism of Panagiotis’ sister, Ioanna

To Lauren & John Allen Richardson on the birth of their son, John Allen Richardson III

To Andrew Bahanovich and Elissa Williams on their engagement

To Peter Maxwell and Andrea Gayle on their engagement

To Bethany & Andy Michael on the birth of Scarlett and Piper’s sister, Theodora Louise

To Noura & Naim Daher on the birth of Mary Joy’s brother, George and the 40-day blessing of George and mom

To Athena & Bill Kortesis on the birth of Dean’s sister, Mary Ella

To Mary & Ben Dresser on the birth and 40 day blessing of their daughter, Evangeline and mom

Sympathy

To Carol Jelush & Helen Bondurant on the passing of their aunt Pauline Jelush

To John & Aliki Bugg on the passing of his brother, Ronnie Bugg in Chase City, VA

To the family of Theodora Tanner on her passing

To the Munday family on the passing of Lisa’s father, Edson Travis in Venice, FL

To the Chaconas family on the passing of Marina’s grandfather, Richard Clary in Asheville, NC

In Appreciation

To my St. Nektarios family – Thank you for the calls, cards, gifts and visits I received during my recent convalescence and the passing of our Aunt Pauline. Your many prayers were most appreciated. I am humbled by the outpouring of kindness shown to my sister, Helen, and

me. Carol

Thanks to Diane Gilbert and Copycat for printing the Church Bulletin and Newsletter

Please contact the church office with information we

may share with the community or to add someone to the prayer list.

Also please contact the office when someone is in need of a clergy visit.

Focus on our community Celebrations, Milestones, Comfort & Support

Flowers for Holy Week were offered by

Ron and Maria Wheatley

Gus & Bessie Vrettos

The Chris Miller Family

The Lowen Family

Anita Asimos

William & Roula Hunter

Agape Picnic Sponsors

Andrew Asimos Family

Captain’s Galley Seafood

Pete Couchell Family

Missy Davis

French Quarters Restaurant

Krassimire Ivanov

John’s Family Restaurant

Nick G. Karres

Peter Keretsis Family

Toula Keretsis

Mayflower Pit Stop Restaurant

Tom & Laura Nixon

Dean & Stacie Peroulas

Terry & Heidi Sarantou

Theodora Sexstone

Showmars Restaurants

Ted & Harriet Stamatakos

Dimitrios Stefanides Family

George & Terry Stephenson

Stratos Restaurant Group

The Greek Isles

Dan & Vickie Wixon

THANK YOU TO

OUR SPONSORS

Thanks to the GOYANS GONE GRAY fundraiser in 2014, Christina Nixon enjoys

some vertical mobility. Some of the proceeds

were used to purchase this device.

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CHRI ST I S R I SEN !

Paschal Greetings from Around the World

Language Greeting Response

Albanian: Krishti U Ngjall! Vertet U Ngjall!

Arabic: El Messieh kahm! Hakken kahm!

Armenian: Kristos haryav ee merelotz! Orhnial eh harootyunuh kristosee!

Coptic: Pchristos aftooun! Alethos aftooun!

Eritrean-Tigre: Christos tensiou! Bahake tensiou!

Ethiopian: Christos t'ensah em' muhtan! Exai' ab-her eokala!

Georgian: Kriste ahzdkhah! Chezdmaridet!

Greek: Christos anesti! Alithos anesti!

Indonesian: Kristus telah bangkit! Benar dia telah bangkit!

Romanian: Hristos a inviat! Adeverat a inviat!

Russian: Khristos voskrese! Voistinu voskrese!

Serbian: Cristos vaskres! Vaistinu vaskres!

Spanish: Cristo ha resucitado! En verdad ha resucitado!

Swahili: Kristo amefufukka! Kweli amefufukka!

Ukrainian: Khristos voskres! Voistinu voskres!

HIS EMINENCE METROPOLITAN ALEXIOS’ MOTHER’S DAY MESSAGE

“Form the soul of thy son aright, and all the rest will be added hereafter.” — St. John Chrysostom

This weekend we have the opportunity to celebrate a special day dedicated to our mothers. Of course, there are many reasons we should honor them — for the sacrificial, unselfish love they have given us, all the loving care they have given us throughout our lives, for all the prayers they have prayed for us, and for all the sleepless nights they have spent worrying about us.

All aspects of our lives – our character, sense of responsibility, good and bad habits, ability to cope with difficulties, and faith – are formed by our mothers. From our parents, especially our mothers, we learn our religious beliefs, our morals and ethical principles. And so mothers have an absolutely vital role in bringing up children and teaching them the Christian faith. We remember that St. Paul reminded Timothy of the faith he received from his own mother and grandmother; “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.” The mother’s faith - or lack of it - will affect many, not just her own children and grandchildren.

In order to educate our children we must be educated in the Faith ourselves. This is the parents’ responsibility: to involve ourselves in the life of the Church, and strive to be a holy example both at home, and in public, for our children to follow. We should pray together as a family, and bring our children to the Divine Liturgy often. Making it possible for our children to receive God’s spiritual grace in prayer and worship, in the Divine Liturgy, is the greatest gift that we can give to them.

With these thoughts, I wish all our mothers Χρονια πολλα and a blessed and joyous Mother’s Day! What a wonderful day to honor our mothers, both living and reposed with genuine gratitude and love. May God bless all mothers, and may He keep in blessed remembrance our mothers who have gone before us. I pray that the Most Holy Theotokos, the Mother of our Lord and the Mother of us all, intercede for our mothers today and for us all with Her Son and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! +ALEXIOS Metropolitan of Atlanta

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Every family reserves the right to brag a bit and it is important that we know about our family’s good achievements. Like the tree, we will be judged by the fruit we produce. In our relatively short 17 years we have produced good fruit.

You can feel proud of our family. We are living the Great Commission. We are true to our founding principles.

Family Achievements 1999 – 2015 — Producing Good Fruit

Foundation of our Family

“Our Church Family”

From One Faith, One Family – Talk on May 3, 2015 By Dennis Kokenes

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw Him, they

worshipped Him, but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All

authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all Nations, baptizing them in

the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded

you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:16-20.

T his is called the Great Commission of Christ and he gave it to His disciples after His

Resurrection and before His Ascension (in other words) at this very time in our current worship cycle. It was His last commandment given on earth and it applies to all of us. It is our responsibility for His commandment to be lived out in His Church until he returns again. He was speaking to us when He said, “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” It was with this commandment in mind, in heart, and in spirit, that approximately 20 families met in February 1998, 17 years ago, to begin the family that would spread the faith that would become the parish of St. Nektarios. I am speaking to you today at the request of the Parish Council. The purpose is to share with all of you the story of where we have been, how we got

here, where we are headed, and to make sure that everyone knows the story of our family. By choosing to worship here, we are choosing this ekklisia, this church, this family. The Greek word, ekklisia, which we translate to church originally referred to an assembly of the people convened at the public place of the Council for the purpose of deliberating. In the Christian sense, ekklisia means an assembly of Christians gathered for worship. It does not refer to the building, it is “us.” We are the assembly. We are the family. We are the church. This land and this structure is our home, our sanctuary. Which is to say it is our safe haven from the dangers and madness of the world and the vessel of our salvation. This is why we spend so much energy, time, and money caring for our church home. We want to make sure our home is a place worthy of her purpose and a beacon for those searching for sanctuary in this world and salvation in the world to come. The Foundation of our church family, our ekklisia is a diagram that everyone in His family needs to know by heart (as we show it at every assembly) and continuously challenge ourselves to confirm that we live within these guiding principles, Worship, Witness, Fellowship, and Service.

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In 2006, construction began on the Sanctuary we worship in today. For those who weren’t here to see it was a miracle to behold. Watching the building grow higher and more magnificent each week was amazing. The majestic arches and the enormous dome took shape and then became the beautiful and inspirational Sanctuary we know and love today.

So, we clearly still have work to do to retire the debt on the Sanctuary. I have witnessed each phase of our growth and each campaign has been a challenge overcome by prayerful commitment and sacrifice. We have been blessed along the way. Nothing good and nothing worthy happens that is not

the will of God and the gift of the Holy Spirit. I believe with all my heart that it is the will of God that this Church, this ekklisia, be here.

Our family continues to grow and mature in its faith and commitment to the Great Commission here and beyond. Remember Christ said “all nations”. In 2013, Fr Steve Dalber, Tim Klund and other dedicated missionaries from St. Nektarios brought the plight of the poor children in Kenya Africa to our attention and we are sending about $8,000 per month to support the children.

Ours is not a family that lives in fear, that has doubt, but a family that has faith in God. Our debt will be retired, so that we can continue to grow and do God’s will here and everywhere.

As recently as last year we completed the Reliquary creating a Chapel worthy of the precious and miraculous relics of our Patron Saint and Protector St. Nektarios. The relics are a great gift and responsibility that we accepted and continue to respect and honor. Pilgrims come from around the world to venerate St. Nektarios at our parish. All together, we have raised $850,000 for the inspiring iconography and Iconostasion.

Last year. we purchased the house next door to us when it came on the market. An anonymous donor has pledged this gift to the church for $240,000 which is another great blessing for us. It is important that you know that the Parish Council. with the guidance of

church leaders who have years of experience at other parishes, was making plans to purchase the house, independent of the gift, for the future growth and needs of our family.

Our future, like our present and our past, will be amazing. A Ministry Center will be built between the SLC and the Sanctuary to serve the growing needs of the family. The current plans are for a 32,000 square foot center housing additional classrooms, a permanent bookstore, meeting and small event rooms, administration offices (allowing

for repurposing of SLC space), and a multipurpose activity space which can serve as a regulation sized gym.

Plans are being explored for an Active Senior Living Complex in the corner of the campus.

In closing, it is a great honor to be a part of this family and I know that everyone here will answer the call to be stewards of the church through time, talent, and treasure so that we can continue to grow and mature and carry on Christ’s Great Commission and His final commandment here and everywhere.

From God every family in heaven and on earth is named. Ephesians 3:15.

And we are Saint Nektarios!

May 3, 2015 presentation

This is what our property on Kuykendall Rd looked like in 1998. . . The ranch home on the property was our rectory, our offices, and our weekday sanctuary for a few years. We worshipped on Sundays at South Charlotte Middle School.

January 23,1999 this land was blessed by God in a ceremony presided over by then Archbishop Spyridon and Bishop Alexios. From 1999 to 2001 we celebrated Holy Week and Pascha at Elatos Park.

On April 26, 2001, we began clearing the land on Kuykendall Rd in preparation for the construction of our first building, the Spiritual Life Center (SLC). For the next year we watched the building come to life. The SLC would be our home for the next 6 years. We received a certificate of occupancy for the SLC on April 10, 2002. On April 14, 2002, we had our first Divine Liturgy in the SLC. April 28 to May 5, 2002, we celebrated our first Holy Week and Pascha in the SLC.

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Saturday of lazarus ~ April 4, 2015

Kabee Kokenes teaching the children during the Youth Retreat

Fr. Steve explaining “what happens in the altar”

during the Teaching Divine Liturgy

Making of the Palm Crosses

Decorating the tables for Palm Sunday luncheon

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Palm Sunday ~ April 11, 2015

On Palm Sunday the palm crosses were blessed after the Gospel reading during Matins so that everyone could hold their palms during the entire service. At the end of the Divine Liturgy and during the procession of the icon of the Entry of our Lord into Jerusalem, our youth lined the center aisle waving their palms.

The palms are the “symbols of victory” as it says in the hymn for the feast day (see below), which is sung repeatedly throughout the service. This

victory is not only our Lord’s victory over death, but also a personal victory over one’s sinful passions, which was the hope and purpose of Lent.

“Before Your passion, You confirmed the resurrection of all, by raising Lazarus from the dead, O Christ our God. Therefore, like the children of old, we also carry

symbols of victory, and to You, the Victor over death, do we cry out: Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”

The palms were blessed during the Matins service

and given to parishioners as they arrived.

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(Above) Prayers for the blessing of the oil; Acolytes preparing anointing kits from the Holy Unction service and parishioners being anointed.

(Below and Right) Lighting our candles and venerating the cross of our

Lord on Holy Thursday Passion Service.

Holy Thursday Passion Service “Today, He who suspended the earth in

the waters is suspended on a cross.”

Holy Unction & Holy Passion Services

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Steve Mantekas, Peter Tatsis, Ron Drobonick and Michael Neary receive

the Icon of the body of Christ.

The Myrrh-bearing women by some of

our young ladies in the fourth and fifth

grade Catechism Classes

Kouvouklion Bearers: Left side: Aka Vashakidze, Theo Karavokiros, Jacob Neff, George Manousos, Spiro Galanis, Tommy Kleto, John Dalber, Tarras

Onischenko, John Andromides, Patrick Taylor, Dimitri Gamvrellis ~ Right side front: George Bacogeorge, Chris Mortis, Tom Clewell, Dan Medvid, Andrew

Bahanovich ~ Back row: Alex Neary, Constantine Kaloudis, Peter Maxwell, Philip Robertson, John Tsefrikas, Warren Stone, Chris Levantis, Mike Clewell

~ Not pictured: Simon Tekin, Yuhan Tekin

All Creation was altered in

awe, as it saw You

hanging on a cross, O

Christ. The sun went dark,

and the foundations of the

earth shook. All things

suffered with You who

created all things. O Lord,

who willingly endured it

for us, glory to You!

Holy Friday Services

“Myrrh-bearers came and

sprinkled sweet myrrh upon

your tomb, Lord; at early

dawn they come now.”

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Saturday

Morning Service

~ Tossing of the

petals and

blessing of the

food baskets

Holy Friday Lamentations Service

Holy Friday night and Holy Saturday morning

(Below) Our Dedicated Chanters: Women — Ritsa Neary, Dianna Thomas, Joanna Dendrolivanos, Laurel Bacogeorge, Merrigrace Clewell, Dina Marinakos-Oara, Varvara Pasiali,

Presb. Tara Georgiou, Maria Kleto, Elaine Miller, Eva Clewell, Joanna Azar, Nicole Azar.

Men — John Holevas, Nicholas Georgiou, Vladimir Antonov, John Peroulas, Andrew Asimos,

Gus Gianakopoulos, Gerry Clonaris, Dennis Kokenes, Fr. Seraphim Dedes, Jeff Clewell

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Our Gospel Readers:

Matthew Winter-Mandarin, Leena Azar-Finnish, Aka Vashakidze—Georgian, Tatiana Mukhammad-Russian, Emile Khuri-Arabic, Fr. Steve Dalber-Greek, Patricia Kaloudis– Spanish, Iliana Strawn-Bulgarian, Konstantinos Kaloudis-English,

Naguib Farah-French, Fr. Halefom Zighta-Eritrean, Azad Khuri-Armenian, Suat Pamukci-Turkish, Presbytera Maria Dalber-Latin, Madeleine Tekin-German (not pictured here but pictured in photo above on right)

Christ is Risen!

Father Steve distributing the blessed

eggs after the Resurrection service

St. Nektarios has parishioners from many different cultures. On Pascha we proclaim the gospel in many of our different languages.

midnight resurrection Service &Agape Vespers

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Agape Picnic celebration

Traditional Egg-Cracking Contest

Hunting for eggs

Breaking 1 of 3 Piñatas!

Thanks to hundreds of volunteer hours, over 700 people joined the celebration to make it a success.

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Ladies, you have done it again

(with the helping hands of our

guys). Thank you to all who

made up the hundreds of man-

hours behind the scenes preparing for Holy Week

~ Palm cross making, Palm Sunday Luncheon,

egg dyeing, Easter bags for our shut-ins,

Kouvouklion decorating, and baking.

The Board could not do it without you!

Your Grateful Board Members

Enjoying Palm Sunday Luncheon inside, under the tent, and on a “sidewalk picnic”

Adorning Christ’s tomb, the kouvouklion

Philoptochos — A Legacy of Philanthropy

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Each year the 4th grade Catechism class undertakes an

awesome project: dioramas of the lives of a chosen saint.

Led by teacher Mia Beleos-Ouzts, with help from Danielle

Clewell and Carol Jelush, the children research their

saints’ lives then create a diorama depicting the

important points. When the projects are finished, they

are displayed in the hall outside their classroom and presented by the

children to the 1st grade class across the hall. Well done, 4th GRADE!

Bright and early on Saturday morning, April 25, a crowd of Youth Catechism teachers arrived 24 hours earlier than

their usual Sunday time to spend a few hours with a fabulous speaker and review their own fabulous work over this

past year. After a lovely brunch, Fr. Eugen Pentiuc (who holds with multiple doctorates including one from Harvard)

spoke with great passion, wit and authority on teaching the Old Testament, and the importance of offering our

children the “big picture,” giving them a context in which to work out their salvation. We were all inspired. Next,

Kabee Kokenes led a workshop (developed by Helen Giles) which helped us look at those things we had done this

year, which we want to do again, and those we hope to change for the better. We were all enthusiastic about the

year past and the year to come. THANKS, TEACHERS!!

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The final days of O-Life for this season, following Palm Sunday and Pascha, were low key and fun—including Service Night, A Night Out and Trivia

Night. Service Night activities included: moving tons of boxes from the porch at the House into the attic and breaking down tons of recycling. We also counted and wrapped all the change we had collected for THE LUNCH PROJECT. For A Night Out, we piled on the bus and headed out to SMASHBURGER for a post-Lenten feast. On our final night—Trivia Night, we answered questions in the usual categories, plus ones only O-Lifers would know.

Have a great summer O-Life Families. See you in the fall.

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SUNDAYS AT

SAINT NEKTARIOS

Worship Matins: 8:15 a.m. Divine Liturgy: about 9:15 a.m. Youth Catechism: Following Holy Communion.

Fellowship Coffee: Following the Divine Liturgy.

Prosfora Please contact the church office or Christie Asimos at 704-542-6729 if you would like to provide Prosfora.

Coffee Hour Please contact the church office if you would like to host or co-host a Coffee Hour on Sunday. Your Stewardship pays for the coffee hour refreshments provided by the Hospitality Ministry Team.

Flowers

You may donate flowers in honor of a family member’s feast day, in memory of a loved one or friend, on the occasion of a holiday, or simply as a gift to the community of St. Nektarios. To donate flower arrangements to be placed at the Iconostasis or in the Narthex for Sunday Services, please contact the church office to reserve a Sunday.

Sacramental Wine & Pure Olive Oil You may make a financial gift to help defray the cost of the sacramental wine that is used for Holy Communion. Please note on the memo line of your check or on the envelope “Communion Wine”. You may also donate a bottle or can of pure olive oil which is then blessed at the Shrine of St. Nektarios and is offered in the anointing kits. Please feel free to bring this with you to any of our services and give to an usher on duty. For additional information contact the church office.

OUR MISSION: St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church is dedicated to the continuation

of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ’s ministry of salvation through the proclamation and teaching of the Gospel;

through Baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; and through loving service to God and to mankind.

OUR VISION: The community will provide a loving, caring and welcoming environment where all belong and grow in the faith through

worship, service, witness, and fellowship.

DIRECTORY

Church Office: 704-708-4669 Church Fax: 704-846-6094 Email: office@stnektarios.org Website: www.stnektarios.org 5108 Kuykendall Rd. Charlotte, NC 28270

Father Steve Dalber, Protopresbyter

Home: 704-708-4638 Cell Phone: 704-451-6524 Email: frdalber@stnektarios.org

Father John Wallace Home: 704-905-2558 Cell Phone: 704-905-2558 Email: frwallace@stnektarios.org

Father Seraphim Dedes Music Ministry Phone: 704-719-3074 Email: frdedes@stnektarios.org

Father Stephanos Potter, Deacon

Father Paul Tsahakis, Deacon

Parish Council President: Deidre Lepkowski Vice President: Sam Kleto Secretary: Maria Mortis Treasurer: Theodora Sexstone Ass’t Treasurer: Peter Keretsis Ass’t Secretary: Patrick Taylor Members: Andrew Bahanovich, Mike Diamantis, Chris Levantis Leo Maganares, and John Nichols

Parish Administrator Evelyn Klund

Administration Staff Madalina Lowen Kim Clewell Carol Jelush

Dir. Youth Ministries, Elaine Miller

Property Mgr, Dena Kondilis

Philoptochos Board

President: Maria Wheatley 1st V P: Bessie Vrettos Rec. Secretary: Renee Tsefrikas Corr. Secretary: Thalia Fergione Treasurer: Dee Drobonick Ass’t Treas./Memb.: Melisa Galasso Board Members: Mary Alexis, Helen Clonaris, Maria Kleto Evelyn Klund, and Ritsa Neary Advisor - Bessie Vrettos

UPCOMING DEADLINE

Newsletter & Bulletin:

Information Due: June 9, 2015

Published: June 19, 2015

Patrick the Hieromartyr &

Bishop of Prusa and His Fellow

Martyrs Acacius, Menander,

and Polyaenus

May 19

S aint Patrick was Bishop of Prusa, a city in

Bithynia (the present-day Brusa or Bursa).

Because of his Christian Faith, he was brought

before Julius (or Julian) the Consul, who in his

attempts to persuade Patrick to worship as he

himself did, declared that thanks was owed to the

gods for providing the hot springs welling up from the

earth for the benefit of men. Saint Patrick answered

that thanks for this was owed to our Lord Jesus

Christ, and explained that when He, Who is God,

created the earth, He made it with both fire and

water, and the fire under the earth heats the water

which wells up, producing hot springs; he then

explained that there is another fire, which awaits the

ungodly. Because of this, he was cast into the hot

springs, but it was the soldiers who cast him in, and

not he, who were harmed by the hot water. After this

Saint Patrick was beheaded with the presbyters

Acacius, Menander, and Polyaenus. Most likely, this

was during the reign of Diocletian (284-305).

The Holy Hieromartyr

Dorotheus, Bishop of Tyre

June 5

S aint Dorotheus became Bishop of Tyre in

Phoenicia about the end of the third century.

During the persecution of Diocletian and Maximian,

about the year 303, he fled to Odyssopolis in Thrace

to preserve his life, and after the death of the tyrants

he returned to Tyre. He lived until the reign of Julian

the Apostate (361-363), from whose persecution he

again fled to Odyssopolis (or, according to

Theophylact of Bulgaria, Edessa), but was found by

Julian's men and slain in great torments, at the age

of 107, in 361. He was very learned, and has left

behind writings in both Latin and Greek relating the

lives of the holy Prophets, Apostles, and other

Saints.

http//www.goarch.org ~

"Copyright © Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline,

MA, used by permission. All rights reserved."

SAINTS OF OUR FAITH