THE FLAME HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL Monthly Newsletter
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
THE FLAME HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL Monthly Newsletter Volume 4, Issues 9 and 10 September-October 2014 TRIUMPH AND TRAGEDY — THE ELEVATION OF THE HOLY CROSS By Father George Wilson rthodox faithful celebrate one of the most revered feasts of the Church just fourteen days after the new OEcclesiastical Year begins on September 1. The feast O is described as follows: “In the year 325 A.D. after the persecutions against the Christians had just ended, Christians were free to express their religious feelings and to adorn their places of worship with symbols of the faith such as the cross. Empress Helen, a devout Christian and mother of Emperor Constantine the Great, went to Jerusalem to undertake a mission of retrieving the cross upon which Christ had been crucified. After a futile search, the Empress was attracted by the scent of a plant called vasilikos (basil) in the area where Jesus had been put to death. She ordered excavation, and three crosses were unearthed. To determine the cross upon which Christ had died, a paralyzed person was placed on all three. And, when he was placed on the True Cross, he recovered miraculously and walked. The event was celebrated on September 14. Patriarch Makarios, who also witnessed the miracle at the historic site, raised the cross and blessed the people with it as they responded “Lord have mercy.” The Gospel lesson on this feast day is taken from the crucifixion account from the Gospel according to John. It is reminiscent of the heart wrenching narrative that Christian faithful experience during Holy Week as the Passion of our Lord and Savior is played out before the very eyes of our hearts. It is repeated on the celebration of the finding of the True Cross upon which Christ was crucified. The Orthodox Church considers this feast one of the major fasting days in her liturgical calendar, and its followers must ask why. As we relive the sentencing and the execution of that verdict, Christ was crucified. Crucifixion is an (over) 1200 ROBERT E. LEE BOULEVARD – NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA 70122 First Greek Orthodox Church in North and South America agonizing death by which the victim slowly undergoes Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral asphyxiation. As the body tires one loses the stamina to hold 1200 Robert E. Lee Boulevard New Orleans, Louisiana 70122 oneself up on the footrest of the cross. The body’s weight 504.282.0259 – Fax 504.283.5586 eventually succumbs to gravity, causing the diaphragm to fail. holytrinitycathedral.org The day is filled with tragedy and triumph. The tragedy is that an Liturgical Services Sundays – Orthros 9:00 am innocent man was falsely accused, tried, sentenced, and put to Divine Liturgy 10:00 am death. Even worse this man was the Messiah, the One Who had Weekdays (when scheduled) 9:00 am Clergy come to save the People of Israel. The triumph comes from Reverend Father George Wilson knowing the Scripture. Christ lived His life according to the will of [email protected] God the Father, which was to have the life of His Son snuffed out 504-282-0259 Chanters: Petros Demarinis, Demetrios Pappas upon the cross. The death on the cross was for a purpose; it was Choir Director: Alex Tiliakos not for naught! As His Grace Gerasimos, Bishop of Abydou, of blessed memory says, “Death upon the Cross has been a symbol 2014 PARISH COUNCIL President: Steven E. Psarellis for Salvation from the very beginning of the Church.” 1st Vice President: W. Paul Andersson 2nd Vice President: Constandinos Vennis The path to the Cross was the cup that Christ begged God the Treasurer: Socrates Toras Father not to have to drink in his prayer at Gethsemane. In Secretary: Vladimir Ammons Members: Petros Christakis, Konstantinos Matthew 26:39 He fell on His face and continued to pray to God Frezoulis, Manoli Ioannidis, Panagiotis the Father saying, “if it is possible, let this cup pass from me.” But, Patselikos, Elias Tsatalios, and Ginny Zissis it was obedience even unto death that Christ sought the Father’s The Flame: Editor, Victoria Catsulis will to make it so in His earthly life as a reminder to us what we, as EDUCATION followers of the Messiah, as Christians, it is the reminder that we Greek School: Instructor, Fay Kalergi are also to seek God’s will in our life. The next phrase puts the Hymnology: Instructor, Viki Moustoukas agony into context as Christ says, “nevertheless, not as I will but Sunday School Following Holy Communion as You will.” Director: Patrick Latour Christ was seeking the will of God in His life, and so should we. ORGANIZATIONS The will of God took Christ to the Cross, and perhaps it will for us Acolytes and Readers as well. Are we ready? Are we really ready for the cross we must Coordinator: Vladimir Ammons AHEPA: President, Socrates Toras bear? Christianity is not a comfortable life, is it? Daughters of Penelope In Luke 9:23 Christ says, “if anyone desires to follow after me, let President: Barbara Stavis Wolf Education, Cultural, and Youth Ministries him deny himself; and take up His cross and follow me.” A leader Chairman: Steven E. Psarellis can be judged to be a great leader, if he is willing to do what he GOYA Coordinators: Maria Michailakis and asks of his underlings. Maria Patselikos Christ is the great leader because He is posing that we follow His President: Jonathan Labatut Advisors: Maria Stokes, Argeta Labatut, lead. He sought the will of the Father and followed after it. He was Despina Patselikos, Lenna Korominas picked up on the Cross and was crucified. If we desire salvation, it Hellenic Dancers: Coordinator, Vivi Demarinis Assistant, Manoli Ioannidis is only through Christ. If we have a personal relationship with Him, Assistant, Maria Patselikos by the Grace of God we shall be with Him into eternity. If we do Holy Trinity Soccer not know Christ, the Cross is folly as Saint Paul puts it. Director: Angeliki Frezoulis HOPE/JOY (age 11 and under) Triumph and Tragedy—On one hand we look to the cross and Coordinator: Vicki Mantikos McCallef Advisors: Angeliki Frezoulis, Triumph as we praise, honor, and venerate it for the possibility of Sina Lawrence, Donna Venturatos Salvation came through it. Tragedy because the heinous end of Philoptochos: President:, Connie Tiliakos PTA: President, Dimitra Chouliaris the life of the most righteous man that ever lived also came Real Estate Committee through it. Chairperson: John Salles-Tsatsoulis St. Markella of Chios The joy of this festal day is seen in the majesty of the hymnology. President: Maria Anastasiou The pain of the day is seen in the fasting we are called to endure Support: Secretary, Victoria Catsulis because of the great injustice of the death of Christ on the cross. Maintenance: Dimitri Vatakis 2 HOLY TRINITY ARCHIVES COMMITTEE NEWSLETTER - SEPTEMBER Thank you very much for all your varied gifts: Adrienne Dabbs Owen in memory of Edward Dabbs Pete Kourentzis and Family in memory of Edward Dabbs, Jr. May their memories be eternal. Thank you, Toula Capetanos, for your continued financial support of our work. Thank you, Cornelia and John Koniditsiotis, for sponsoring the conservation of our St. John the Baptist icon. To honor the 90th birthday of Fotina Pavlou, donations from Mary and Chris Kontos, as well as Adrienne and Greg Owen and Stella Dabbs, will support the Archives work. Vange and Bill Malachias for donating a festival poster, which we can sell to fundraise. Thank you, Billie Andersson, for the extensive collection of photographs and documents that George S. Venturatos saved of the building of the Cathedral in 1985. The photos will be on display in the 150th Anniversary Exhibition. GREEKS ON THE BAYOU HISTORIC BUS TOUR The bus tour during the AHEPA Family Supreme Convention on July 21 was a huge success! The Archives Committee created an opportunity for AHEPAN guests to learn the history of our Holy Trinity Community as we toured historic New Orleans sites. We raised $1,600! RIGHT—BOARDING THE BUS AT HOLY TRINITY. LEFT—THE SPANISH SOLDIER IS CHRISTOPHER ACHEE, WHO REEN- ACTED FELLOW SOLDIER OF MICHEL DRAGON, THE FIRST DOCUMENTED GREEK IN NEW ORLEANS IN 1760. The 150th Anniversary Celebration Committee is sponsoring another GREEKS ON THE BAYOU Bus Tour on Saturday, October 11. Join us on the bus in the Holy Trinity parking lot at 9:00 am and enjoy three hours touring New Orleans historic sites that are part of our 150-years history! Registration form is enclosed. There is only one bus and one tour! Call Maggie Maag at 504-780-9165 or Barbara Wolf at 504-327-0067. TH 150 ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION EXHIBITION will be open twice during the celebration weekend: Saturday, October 11, 2014 — 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm before Great Vespers in the Cathedral Sunday, October 12, 2014 — following the Celebration Luncheon This exhibition will highlight recent documents received from Greece that were written in 1867. In addition, recent wood analyses of our wooden icons, wooden iconostasis pediment, and the 1880 kouvouklion will be shared. This important exhibition will inform the entire American Orthodox community about the beginning of Greek Orthodoxy in the new world, here at Holy Trinity. HISTORIC CHALICE FOR HIERARCHICAL LITURGY ON OCTOBER 12 RIGHT—FATHER VASILIOS BOUTERAKOS AND CHRIS KONTOS, 1953 Father George Wilson will utilize a holy chalice donated by King George and Queen Olga of Greece for Holy Eucharist on Sunday, October 12. 3 BENACHI DECENDANTS TO ATTEND 150TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION The recognized founder of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church is Nicholas M. Benachi, a native of Chios, Greece, who in the 1860s was a businessman in New Orleans and the Consul of the Royal Government of Greece.