The of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church January 2021 PASTORAL THOUGHTS Vasilopita Cutting COVID IS OVER! IF YOU WANT IT Happy New Year from Fr. Andy Sunday, January 3 The song “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” by John This year, Vasilopita will be Lennon and Yoko Ono has been a part of the radio distributed pre-wrapped to the canon for decades. The dissonance of the ministries & parishioners. lyrics and the background story of the song resonate Free will donations will benefit the Greek with me each year, and they summon every listener into reflection with Orthodox Archdiocese’s St. Basil Academy the question, “So this is Christmas, and what have you done?” Another year over. A new one just begun! The song sings both about Christmas celebration of His Nativity, and as one of the Holy and declares war over, with the condition of “if we want it.” “Happy Trinity on . When we seek forgiveness of our Xmas (War is Over)” presents us with an unnervingly raw and real sins, our confession is always made in the presence of response to the otherwise well-organized concept of Christmas each of the priest who helps keep us accountable and provides us holds. Throughout one’s life, eventually there is a Christmas that is the physical laying on of hands that provides God’s different from all other Christmas celebrations, be it on duty as a saving forgiveness, mercy, and love. Our Faith is one soldier, as a student overseas, or perhaps even a pandemic. Today all of peace, and one that offers peace. Now is the time to 7.8 Billion human beings share a common experience of suffering, and shout it from the roof tops, and to run out to the the transition from one year to the next begs the question, “What have highways and hedges and compel people to come in we done?” and enjoy the master’s banquet! In a time when we The background information on have all been ripped out of the schedules and lives we the song offers some clarification were accustomed to, we have an opportunity to convey on the otherwise confusing dissonance the good news of hope, peace, and the opportunity to between the celebration of enjoy eternal life in Paradise where there is no pain, Christmas and the call to end all sorrow, or suffering. We may not have had the war. The song came about after Christmas we all wanted, but look to the positive things more than two years of peace that have come of this different experience. activism by John Lennon and his COVID is over, if you want it. We can choose to be wife Yoko Ono, and was part of an miserable, lazy, and sulk; or we can choose to be filled international multimedia campaign with joy in witnessing all of the good and beautiful launched by the couple in December 1969, at the height of the things happening because of and in spite of this counterculture movement and protests against America's involvement in pandemic, to be active and set achievable goals (choose the Vietnam War. They had rented billboard spaces in 12 major cities to read a book instead of social media posts, or learn a around the world, for the display of black-and-white posters that new English word each day instead of trying to be declared “WAR IS OVER! If You Want It – Happy Christmas from fluent in a new language), and to be happy. That last John & Yoko.” The slogan had previously appeared in the 1968 anti- suggestion might be toughest of all. There’s a reason war songs ‘The War Is Over’ by Phil Ochs, and ‘The Unknown Soldier’ our Founding Fathers declared the “pursuit” of by the Doors. However, it is not known if this was deliberate or merely happiness as an unalienable human right, and not coincidental. Lennon came up with the song as a way of continuing the happiness itself. Many philosophers have stated the themes of social unity and peaceful change via personal accountability, key to happiness, with many coming down to some that was previously the basis of the earlier billboard campaign, while form of expectation management—set your attempting to convey optimism and avoiding the sentimentality he felt expectations low, or better yet don’t have any at all, and often characterized Christmas music. you won’t be disappointed. Bam! Instant happiness! With themes of social unity, peaceful change, and personal But even this falls short. The key to happiness isn’t accountability, you can begin to understand how an Orthodox priest can proper management of our expectations, it’s far more rock out to such a song! After 9 months of dealing with a pandemic, radical. Expectations require our will, but the key to many are understandably nauseated by the phrase “we’re all in this happiness requires us to give that up. The key to together,” but it’s still true. Moreover, this has been and forever will be happiness is replacing our will with God’s will. Only the message! It is only in communion with one another, as the then can we achieve our rightful position, standing in One Body of Christ, that we can ever hope to achieve our salvation and the presence of God as His sons and daughters, as He be embraced by Christ whom we embrace as a child during our created us to be. The Epistle is the official publication of the Greek Orthodox Community of St. Demetrios 22909 Center Ridge Road, Rocky River, Ohio ~ (440) 331-2246 ~ www.saintdemetriosrr.org Sunday Services: Orthros 8:20 a.m.; 9:30 a.m. Office Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; Closed for lunch 1:00-2:00 p.m. Publication Deadlines : Weekly Bulletin: Wednesday of each week. Monthly Newsletter– the 15 th of the preceding month

Clergy and Office Staff Parish Organizations Fr. Andrew Lentz, Priest ……………………...... 216-777-9777 Acolyte Coordinator ………………..Ted Seidl...440-930-5759 [email protected] AHEPA …………………………...Costa Petros…440-937-8079 Eleni Papouras-Jenks, Office Manager/ Newsletter Editor American Legion ……………Spyro Farmakidis...440-779-8190 440-331-2246 ext. 2 [email protected] Bible Study Byron T. Spooner, Operations Manager 440-331-2246, ext. 3 Morning leader, Angie Giallourakis…216-387-2681 [email protected] Evening leader, Tony Kazanas….440-835-0272 x16 John Stamatiades, Church Accountant 440-331-2246, ext. 4 Bookstore ……….....……...…….Donna Vassos…440-331-5547 Andrea Giavroutas, Youth Coordinator Choir Director …………...... Maria Steffas…440-773-1533 [email protected] Daughters of Penelope ..…….……Elisa Demis…440-665-1348 Parish Council FOCUS Friends …….………..…Linda Glynias…216-469-2663 Lilly Anitas ……………. ….………………….…..440-734-3440 Greek School Marko Fourtounis………………………….……216-244-2222 Principal : Eleni Papouras-Jenks...... 216-965-8131 Irene Georgantas ………………………………..585-703-5005 Board of Education: Maria Mougianis…..440-835-2888 Anna Kachevas……………………………….….563-542-4692 PTO: Kelly Steffas ………………………..440-808-8788 Marianna Karakatsani…………………………...440-315-3936 Hellenic Dance Groups Sarah Kazanas…………………… …...………..216-409-2532 Aeraki……………………………… Lia Fresty…330-715-1704 Kostas Mathiellis…………...... …..……..……...440-783-1988 Kymata ….……………....Angelia Szekely…440-724-3807 Evanthia Pallam …………………..…………….216-402-7646 Kyklonas ………………. Eleni Papouras-Jenks…216-965-8131 Gary Thomas…………………………………….440-356-1032 Κόλλυβα (Memorial Tray): Lee Zapis………………………………………..440-617-0266 Koula Callas………………………...216-347-2299 Sophia Tjotjos, Legal Counsel Christina Carpadis………………..…216-215-4232 Becky Giallourakis……………….....440-610-3516

Orthodox Organizations Legacy Fund …....…………Manuel P. Glynias…216-857-3388 Library Committee ….………..…...Andie Titas...440-779-8581 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America …www.goarch.org Philoptochos ……………………[email protected] Metropolis of Pittsburgh …….… www.pittsburgh.goarch.org President …………..…Maggie Steffas …440-871-6362 International Orthodox Christian Charities … www.iocc.org Sunshine Committee ….Elpida Kosmidis…440-779-8959 Orthodox Christian Mission Center …….…. www.ocmc.org Welfare Committee ……………………..Crystal Thomas Orthodox Christian Network ………...……. www.myocn.net Sunday School ….…………... [email protected] Orthodox Christian Fellowship ………..………… www.ocf.net Mary Seidl……………..…………....440-930-5759 St. Herman’s FOCUS Cleveland ….. www.sainthermans.com Spiritual Life Committee ...Angie Giallourakis…216-387-2681 St. Panteleimon Orthodox Christian Outreach www.stpanteleimon.com Individuals w/ Disabilities Liaison ....Tina Kolas...216-970-3737 Zoe for Life ! ……………………... www.zoeforlifeonline.org Speaking of Stewardship… 3

December General Assembly Recap Meeting held on Sun., Dec. 6, 2020. Quorum of 25 Members In Good Standing was met. Fr. Andrew reported he was hopeful of the coming year, with good leadership of our Parish Council, noting that almost all the board will carry on for one more year, thru the pandemic. Board President Dr. Dimitri Tsatiris reported that the deed transferred for the Zapis Foundation Land donation, and Legal Council is currently working on getting tax exempt status for the parcel across the street (between Harbor Court & funeral home.) There will be two openings on Parish Council heading into 2021 which will be filled after the ongoing members are sworn-in. (See left) Youth Coordinator Andrea Giavroutas reported on Stewardship 2021 the 2020 youth ministries’ activities (full report These are difficult days. We are not able to fully gather in our spiritual available in the office.) She is working with Fr. home for prayer and fellowship. Yet we remain united as a family of Andrew on a post-pandemic plan. faith, always present for one another in love and support. We look A discussion ensued between several parents who forward to the time when we can all safely gather together in our want teen / youth events, including open gym versus beloved St. Demetrios. As leaders of our parish, we are working to build concerns of the priest and parish council as to the upon existing ministries and to initiate new ministries that will keep us safety of social/sports events. The Metropolis is connected as the St. Demetrios family. We have been streaming our allowing each parish to ‘self-govern’ on this issue. services. We are methodically reaching out to our members to be sure The parents of teens want to allow each family to they are able to meet their basic needs in this crisis. make their own decision about whether to attend, Your offerings of support may be submitted by mail to the church. We rather than cancelling everything all together. Also have also made online giving available on our church website discussed was the issue of those willing to attending (www.saintdemetriosrr.org) for one-time and periodic giving. social activities but not church or Sunday School. Dr. Thank you for your support! Through our faith we can trust that we will Tsatiris asked Ms. Giavroutas to submit a safety plan all soon gather in our beloved St. Demetrios Church, our spiritual home. to the board for consideration at their December 2021 Pledge cards have been mailed and can be filled out & returned in meeting. person or by mail to show your continued support of our parish. Treasurer Kosta Mathiellis thanked our stewards, volunteers, accountant John Stamatiades for working on a realistic budget and applying for the government Parish Council 2021 PPP (payroll) loan, which has been waived, and The 2021 Parish Council will meet on Jan. 6, 2021, to elect its officers Operations Manager Byron T. Spooner for saving and appoint members for the two open seats. Per Metropolitan Savas’ money with DIY projects in 2020. Copies of the mandate, parish council elections across the entire Metropolis of discussed line-item budget were made available (and Pittsburgh were suspended in 2020, and the terms of all board members can be requested in the office) with a presentation of automatically extended by a year. However, two board members have the highlights: stepped down so, the continuing board will make appointments to fill a. In 2021, it will cost $744,000 to run the church those two seats after being sworn-in and holding internal elections for b. Pledges in 2000 were down by 13% officers. c. 35% of our income is dependent on Coyne Many sincere thanks and blessings to outgoing members Dr. Dimitri Catering and the festival. Tsatiris and Dr. Floyd Trillis Jr. for their years of service on Parish d. Three budget scenarios were presented for 2021, Council, especially during the very trying times of 2020. including 1) we had no festival, 2) if we had a partial/ drive thru festival, and 3) if we relied on a full festival. Anyone wishing to donate a bottle a wine for e. Legacy Fund disbursements covers Capital Communion, please purchase thru the St. Improvements. Demetrios Catacomb Bookstore, which carries Discussion on using up cash reserves by 2021 if the correct wine used for Holy Communion at pledges are not increased by a little bit per family. our parish. Sam Papandreas made a Motion to approve the 2021 The donation cost is $25/bottle. Budget with a “Partial” Festival; Marko Fourtounis 2nd . Motion passed unanimously . 4 Our Parish People

Those Who Have Put on Christ Christ is Born! Glorify Him!

Dimitri George Servetas, son of Jimmy and Jacqueline, was baptized on Dec. 13, 2020. His nonna is Georgia Zachopolos. Asleep In The Lord Blasios “Bill” Hronis , father of Thomas (Deborah), Cindy, and George; grandfather of Logan, Nikka, Blasios, George, and Thomas; great-grandfather of Aubree and Blasios; and uncle of many, passed away Dec. 6, 2020. He was a long-time Greek Festival cook, and also active with the Yassou Club. An avid gardener, he had planted the perennial flowers that grow along the east side of the classroom wing of St. Demetrios Church. 40-day memorial will be Jan. 10th .

Olympia Dedes passed away Dec. 4, 2020. A life-long resident of Michigan and member of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Troy, MI, she had recently moved to Ohio to be near family. (above) Thanks to our neighbor Tim Irwin who once Kostantina “Dina” Malatanti , aunt of Angie again set up the front lawn Christmas lights. Mr. Irwin (Harry) Giallourakis and John (Judi) has made it his mission to purchase, maintain, and install Kackloudis; sister, aunt & great-aunt of many, the decorations with the good news of Jesus’ birth at passed away Dec. 10, 2020. several churches around the west side each year. 40-day memorial will be Jan. 17. (below) Thanks to Kelly Steffas, Maggie Steffas, Betty William Nicholas Chapler, husband of LeAnne; Poulos, and Lilly Anitas for decorating the church and father of Tabitha Monteiro (Nick) and Kyle; the Christmas trees. pappou of Finnegan; brother of Shelley Tsigas (Jim), Andrea Poulis and Dean (Tara); uncle, nephew, cousin, and friend of many, passed away Dec. 14, 2020. 40-day memorial Jan. 17.

Thomas G. Spanos , husband of Theresa, father of Despina, Loula, George, Jennifer (Christopher) and Alexis, grandfather of four, brother of Nick (Koula), passed away Dec. 23, 2020. He was a volunteer cook for our Greek Festival for many years and also a member of the Leka Samos Society.

Simeon Anagnostopoulos , father of Chris (Shannon), George (Alicia), Nicole (Jesse) Shafer, and Tina (Eric) Zipay; grandfather of Alison, Sarah, Simeon, Jayden, Austin, Andrew, Madelyn, and Dennis, brother of five and uncle of many, passed away Dec. 26, 2020.

We also extend our condolences to : The Thanos family on the loss of their dad Athanasios Thanos The Mathiellis family on the loss of their aunt Irene Geiger The Ermidis family on the loss of their brother Victor Ermidis Our Spiritual Life 5 Holidays of the Lights St. Demetrios Channel Last month, cameras with hard Eve of Theophany– Tue., Jan. 5 wiring were installed in the 8:20 a.m. Royal Hours; 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy church to allow for the live and Blessing of the waters streaming of church services without the issues that sometimes Theophania – Wed., Jan. 6 come with wi-fi’s unreliability. 8:20 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy We created a YouTube channel and Great Blessing of the waters for “St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, Rocky River” Synaxis of St. John the Baptist – Thu., Jan. 7 on which you can watch live or 8:20 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy view past services . It will also be Happy nameday to our Yannis & Yiannoulas! linked to Facebook, so those who wish to can still watch there. St. Anthony the Great We will also use the channel to Sunday, Jan. 17 upload videos of our dancers and 8:20 a.m. Orthros school programs. So even if you 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy are coming to church in-person, Happy nameday please subscribe to the channel. to our Anthonys & Antonias ! Once we have 100 subscribers, we can have our own URL.

St. Demetrios’ Bible Study Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Via Zoom.

Following a short holiday break, we resume meeting via Zoom on Wed., Jan. 13 th

To get the email link or call-in number, call Angie Giallourakis at 216-387-2681

“Journey to Marriage” Pre-Cana Class Saturday, February 20 th Noon-5:00 p.m. Three Hierarchs & Greek Letters Day $25 for the Saturday, January 30 Engaged “Journey to 8:20 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy couples planning Marriage” Commemorating St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory a 2021 wedding, workbooks, the Theologian, and St. John Chrysostom, please plan to attend payable to Patron of Greek Orthodox education this required St. Demetrios Pre-marital Seminar. Church. For more info and Sunday, January 31 Send to the to reserve your  Memorial for our parish’s deceased educators office. of our Greek School & Sunday School workbooks, contact  Reading of the words of the Three Hierarchs the Church office:  Presentation of the 2021 PTO & Anna 440-331-2246 ext. 2 Poulos Memorial Scholarships  Greek School Open House 6 PHILANTHROPY

JJJ.J...OOOO....YYYY.... thanks all the families that helped Friends of the Poor our youth group collect infant & toddler winter outwear for Zoe House (below). This ministry We continue to provide dinner to Cleveland’s of Zoe for Life! provides material goods to homeless at St. Herman’s on the second Tuesday of each month. Contact mothers of young children in need, as well as Maggie Steffas at 440-871-6362 to volunteer. In December, we had providing pro-life support to women in crisis Coyne Catering prepare a very special meal for us to take to St. pregnancies. Zoe House has a free store of Herman’s, as a way to support both FOCUS Cleveland and our dedicated clothing and other needed items. caterer! Thanks to everyone who donated toward the Christmas Card. We apologize for the accidental omission of Steve & Georgia Salamalekis. Thanks also to everyone who supported our Christmas Bake Sale and to the ladies who baked: Irene Georgantas, Popie Kalbouridis, Vera Karydes, Elpida Kosmidis, Toula Pyros & Stephanie Zavatchen. At Christmastime, we delivered plates of treats to our parish shut-ins, some at home and some at nursing facilities. Thanks to our bakers and delivery drivers: Anna Goldense, Litta Klidas , Janine Lambros, Betty Poulos, Annouska Remmert, and Maggie Steffas. Thanks to Crystal Thomas for baking the loaves of Vasilopita for the parish and to Lilly Anitas and G.O.Y.A. thanks all the Committee for helping to wrap them. parishioners who purchased memorial luminaries on Christmas Eve (below) in support of our fellowship and philanthropic projects, such as the ‘Blessing Bags” (right) we compiled and delivered to St Herman’s in November.

«Αι Βασίλη » Visits St Basil Academy His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros visited the children at St. Basil Academy for their annual Christmas Pageant. St. Basil Academy provides a loving Christian home environment for children in need, until adulthood. All free will donations received on the Vasilopita cutting on Jan. 3 will benefit their mission. (Photo: Orthodox Observer) Photos: Andrea Giavroutas; Eleni Papouras-Jenks; Pascalis Papouras 7 Movie Monday January 25 th Belle (2013, 1 hour & 40 minutes, rated PG ) This month, we mark the civil rights legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King with a movie based on the actual court case that led to the abolition of slavery in England. The daughter of an 18th-century British Royal Navy Admiral and an African woman is raised by her father’s loving, aristocratic family, but her skin color prevents her full social 6:30 p.m. standing in society. If you missed this film at the 2014 Cleveland Screening in the International Film Festival, you are in for a treat! Courtroom Cultural Hall. drama, beautiful historic costumes, and an amazing cast, Free and open to all celebrates the power of Love in its many forms. COMING SOON… February 15 th : Philothei the Athenian (2019, 58 minutes) In the 16th century, during Ottoman rule, an Athenian noblewoman, descendant of the Byzantine imperial line of the Palaiologoi, defied the authority of Suleiman the Magnificent by freeing men and women from the slave markets, using her personal fortune. She set up the first school for women in early modern Greece, and founded a hospital, offering free treatment to Greek, Turks and Franks alike. She provided refuge for abused women, helping them to escape through the ancient tunnels to reach the islands. Her revolutionary activity, long before the war of Greek Independence, riled the establishment and led to her arrest. Come see this documentary by Maria Hatzimichali-Papaliou and learn about the extraordinary patron of our chapel, just in time for her feastday.

The Hellenic Film Society virtual film series Always on Sunday on Demand streams two films per month, across the globe to any mobile device. Starting on the first Sunday of the month, you can view two Greek language films (with English subtitles) for $8/film or $14 for the ‘double feature.’ Please note, there is no rating systems with foreign films, so content may not be appropriate for all ages. Go to www.hellenicfilmusa.org to view January’s selections, trailers, and get information on renting the films.

Book Banter Book Review : A Beacon for Long Winter Nights by Eleni Papouras-Jenks St. Demetrios Parish Library is open Riots, medical debates, and political intrigue- it could almost be 2020, except for during weekday office hours for those the togas. This is the perfect time to get immersed in the historical novel The Beacon who wish to browse or borrow books or of Alexandria by Gillian Bradshaw. The 376-page book is divided into three fast- videos. The facility’s Wifi is also paced parts (each a region of the Eastern Roman Empire) which gave me a chance to accessible from the library for any ‘travel’ vicariously from my couch. Also, it was a rare opportunity of reading about students who wish to study in a clean St. Athanasios (commemorated Jan. 18) as an interesting character in a novel. th- environment, as they attend virtual or In 4 century Ephesus, Charis, a young Greek Orthodox Christian woman, runs hybrid classes. away from an arranged marriage to a brutal Roman general. Disguising herself as a eunuch, she is able to study medicine in Alexandria, where she meets pagans, Jews, The National Hellenic and so-called “barbarians”- the northern Europeans who are just a few years away Museum continues its from sacking Rome. When she is called on to treat the elderly Archbishop (later free Virtual Book Club, Saint) Athanasios, she ends up in the middle of a battle between his Orthodox held on the 3 rd Thursday supporters and the Arian heretics sent by the Emperor to replace him. (If you ever of each month on Zoom thought Byzantine church machinations were boring, you won’t after reading this at 8 pm EST . book.) As violent riots break out in Alexandria, Charis (now called Charition) may, Receive the link by ironically, be safer in Thrace, the empire’s borderlands which are constantly emailing: [email protected] threatened by invasion from the northern tribes. ‘Dr. Charition’ struggles to practice Upcoming discussion on: hygienic Hyppocratic medicine amidst ignorant patients and jealous colleagues. But January 21: Mythos by Stephen Fry she have more to fear in returning to the sheltered life of a noblewoman in Constantinople. February 18: The Turnaround Each region of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire in which Charis lives is by George Pelecanos vividly described. The author has done amazing research for the details of every day life in the 4th century Mediterranean world. It would actually make for a really good March 18: The Penelopiad TV series. This book, published in 1986, can be borrowed from the Cleveland Public by Margaret Atwood Library, which is now delivering books to those with their library card. 8 Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to Me’… (Matthew 9:14) Greek School

Thank God we were able to finish our 1st semester in person on Dec. 10 th, Report cards have been mailed; parents should sign and return them when we resume classes for 2nd Semester on Tue., Jan. 12 th . This slightly longer than usual holiday break will give us more than 2 weeks after Christmas to make sure everyone returns healthy. When we return, we will continue wearing masks, etc., for the time being. Thanks to the Constantinou and Markou families for donating extra masks for some of our forgetful little ones. Despite not having our traditional Christmas program, each class still learned a seasonal carol which we pre- recorded and posted on our school’s Facebook page. Despite a very short rehearsal time and “mask muffle” we did our best to sing about Jesus’ birthday and Ai Vasili! Thanks to our wonderful teachers for quickly preparing and to the PTO for providing to-go treats for the kids in lieu of a party. Thanks also to the families who donated warm baby clothes for Zoe House which we collected as part of our caroling. The upper grades represented our Greek School with a video message to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America’s Greek Education Department. The videos can be viewed on our Facebook page. We again submitted artwork to ANT1 Satellite TV from some of our 6- to 10-year-old students which were shown during commercial breaks in December. Many things going virtual has actually enabled us to participate in several national and international academic competitions and exhibitions. The Theta / Iota Levels have been busy during 1st semester taking part in several of these, including one focusing on Pontian Hellenism, sponsored by the Ministry of Education of Makedonia - Thrace, submitting original poems to the Teen Literature and Poetry Contest in Drama, Greece, and the Essay Contest of St. Photios National Shrine in St. Augustine, Fla. The fruit of these labors will be presented as part of our upcoming programs. -Eleni Papouras-Jenks

COMING UP… Tue., Jan. 12 – 2nd Semester resumes; Teachers’ meeting Fri., Jan. 15- Deadline for scholarship applications Sun., Jan 31 – Greek Letters Day and Open House . In honor of the Three Hierarchs, the Class of 2021 will present the words of our school’s patron saints, we will present scholarships (see below) and we invite all friends & family to visit our classrooms. (see p. 5 for full program)

PTO & Anna Poulos Memorial Scholarships Available to graduates of the Balourdas Hellenic Cultural School who are graduating high school in 2021. Request applications from [email protected] Submission deadline is Jan. 15th. Scholarships will be awarded on Sun., January 31 st for the Three Hierarchs’ Greek Letters Day celebration. 7 G.O.Y.A. (below, top to bottom ) 9 Our Youth Coordinator Andrea Giavroutas, former GOYA Eleni Santarelli, and seminarian Lee Santarelli and were all part of a very special Christmas “Sunday Night Live” video compiled by the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh Youth Ministries (which can still be viewed on our church’s Facebook Group.) Andrea was part of the 12 Days of GOYA Christmas, Eleni gave a message of health & hope, and Lee read the Nativity Story from the Bible.

Thanks to Evangelia Tsambounieris, owner of Crepes in The City at Crocker Park, for holding a fundraiser on Dec. 13, a portion of sales from that day will benefit our GOYA. We appreciate all those who came out in support ! (Photo: Marina Ermidis ) Thanks also to all who sponsored a Luminary for Christmas Eve. (see p. 6)

(above) Our GOYA president Max Prok joined other Greek Orthodox teens from Ohio and Pennsylvania who uploaded virtual video messages of Christmas cheer to the Facebook page of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh Youth & Young Adult Ministries.

Look in the weekly bulletin and our Facebook page for any January activities, pending updates from the Metropolis of Pittsburgh. The Theophany of Christ

'About the beginning of our Lord's thirtieth year, John the Forerunner, who was some six months older than our Saviour according to the flesh, and had lived in the wilderness since his childhood, received a command from God and came into the parts of the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance unto the remission of sins. Then our Saviour also came from Galilee to the Jordan, and sought and received baptism though He was the Master and John was but a servant. Whereupon, there came to pass those marvelous deeds, great and beyond nature: the Heavens were opened, the Spirit descended in the form of a dove upon Him that was being baptized, and the voice was heard from the Heavens bearing witness that this was the beloved Son of God, now baptized as a man. (Matt. 3:13 17; Mark 1:9 11; Luke 3:1 22).

Is it Theophany or Epiphany ? Blessing of the Waters: Does the Date Matter? From these events, the Divinity of the Lord Jesus The Great Blessing of the Waters takes place on both the Eve of Chist and the great mystery of the Trinity were Theophany (Jan. 5) and Theophany (Jan. 6.) There is a tradition that the demonstrated. It is also from this that the present water blessed on one day is for the home, and the water blessed the feast is called "Theophany," Greek for “God's other day is for drinking. In fact, the same prayers are read for water appearance” among men. On this venerable day, the sourced from the same place, so either day’s holy water can be used for sacred mystery of Christian baptism was any holy purpose. inaugurated; henceforth also began the saving In joyful continuation of Christ’s act of sanctification, priests preaching of the Kingdom of Heaven.' (Great immerse a cross into a container of water three times, which recalls our Horologion ) Lord’s three days in the grave. “We were buried with Him through 'But Christ's descent into the river has also a further baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the significance. When Christ went down into the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” waters, not only did he carry us down with Him and (Romans 6:4). make us clean, but He also made clean the nature of The priests sprinkle water in every direction, blessing churches, the waters themselves... The feast of Theophany has people, and all of creation. Many church communities process to local thus a cosmic aspect. The fall of the angelic orders, bodies of water, blessing them as well. Through this cleansing, Christ and after it the fall of man, involved the whole continues making everything new. universe. All God's creation was thereby warped and We celebrate this newness with different traditions across the world. disfigured: to use the symbolism of the liturgical  In warmer climates, peoples dive for crosses thrown in to the water texts, the waters were made a "lair of dragons". by a bishop or priest. Christ came on earth to redeem not only man but  In colder climates, believers carve beautiful crosses into the ice of through man the entire material creation. When He frozen lakes or rivers; then the priests dip crosses into the “living” entered the water, besides effecting by anticipation water beneath the surface. our rebirth in the font, he likewise effected the  In the Holy Land, faithful have seen the Jordan River reverse its cleansing of the waters, their transfiguration into an flow after the blessing by the Patriarch of Jerusalem. organ of healing and grace.' Bishop Kallistos, "Background and meaning of the Feasts" in the Festal . “Through baptism we reverse the direction of our The Old Testament Flood The New Testament Baptism lives, flowing away from the Dead Sea, the “sea of death” that sin leads to. When we do find ourselves 1) God purified the world with 1) God purifies the world with sullied with spiritual dirt, we don’t lose heart since, the Flood the waters of Christ’s Baptism as the Church Fathers insist, one tear of repentance 2) The waters brought death 2) The water brings life can be like a new baptism,” write John Kosmas 3) The dove brought an olive 3) The Holy Spirit in the form of Skinas in Heaven Meets Earth. branch to announce the end a dove comes upon Christ, the The word Epiphany is also used to describe this of the flood, and returns King of Peace feast (Greek for ‘revelation’ of the Holy Trinity.) peace In the west, the word is used for the commemoration 4) The dove led one family out 4) The Holy Spirit leads the of the Adoration of the Magi, 12 days after of the ark and toward land whole world out of sin and Christmas. toward heaven.

When Thou was baptized in the Jordan, O Lord, the worship of the Trinity was made manifest; for the voice of the Father bare witness to Thee, calling Thee His beloved Son. And the Spirit in the form of a dove confirmed the certainty of the word. O Christ our God, Who hast appeared and hast enlightened the world, glory be to Thee . — Troparion of Theophany Icons are said to written, so let us ‘read’ the icon of Christ’s Baptism

God the Father and the Holy Spirit join the Son , marking this John the Forerunner as the first full revelation of the Hoy Trinity, a true Theophany, Angels once again bear (Προδρομος ) like the Prophet which means “appearance of God.” The Father, represented by witness to a meeting of Elijah ns the icon of the the semicircle, voices pleasure in His son, which the Holy Spirit heaven and earth. They Transfiguration, stands at the descends upon Christ in the form of a dove. Connected by rays wait in joyful wonder Savior’s right hand. This of light to the semicircle, the dove occupies the same place as to receive Christ, the positioning illustrates John’s the guiding star in the Nativity icon. Incarnate God, who fulfillment of the prophecy appears in all His glory concerning Elijah’s return to and humility. prepare the world for the Messiah.

The Jordan River and the Red Sea are sometimes The Ax and the Tree recall Jesus the Messiah is unclothed like personified in icons by small figures in the water, as John the Baptist’s warning Adam before the Fall, signifying a a way to connect the Theophany to the Old that “every tree which does new beginning for humanity and all of Testament events that prefigure the feast. The male not bear good fruit is cut creation. Even as Christ bows His figure (on Jesus’ right) represents the Jordan, which down and thrown into the head before His servant John, He is was crossed by Joshua and Elisha, while a female fire” (Matthew 3:10) blessing the water with His right hand. figure (on Jesus’ left) represents the Red Sea, through which Moses led the Israelites. 12 Around Town

Sister Churches Help Neighbors in Need (above) St Paul Greek Orthodox Church in North Royalton Rocky River Streets Become Virtual Marathon celebrated the feastday of St. Herman of Alaska (Dec. 13) by preparing and delivering 150 goodie bags to St Herman’s The role of “Marathon” will be played by our understudy FOCUS Cleveland. The bags included a fruit cup, a granola “Rocky River” in this production of “2020” … bar, Hershey Kisses, homemade cookies, and a laminated icon of St. Herman of Alaska. The annual Athens Marathon, in which participants run from (below) Just before Christmas, Annunciation Greek the actual town of Marathon back to Athens, was held in a Orthodox Church in Cleveland helped put together 3,500 virtual format (of course) in 2020. The race also includes a 5K care packages which included meals, hats, gloves and option, which parishioner Katherine Pasalis-Stark ran on her blankets for the homeless. Annunciation’s JOY & GOYA own, around Rocky River streets over a period of days (Nov. partnered with their Tremont neighbors, the Hunger Center 8-22, 2020,) as allowed by the virtual format. of St. Augustine and Tremont Cityside Ballroom, to “I came across a posting in Facebook for the marathon in distribute the packages. (Photos: Facebook ) Athens,” wrote Katherine. “That is a dream of mine to go there and run the race, then go to the track in Olympia and run it again. During this pandemic I have been trying to get better for the days when we can race again!” After submitting her stats online, she received a commemorative t-shirt and a certificate (above) noting her time of 1 hour, 15 minutes, and 33 seconds! Katherine also credited her trainer Kyle Figy for his support. The Athens Marathon is held each October, the anniversary of the ancient battle from which Pheidippides ran with news of victory. The Cleveland Archaeological Society and The Archaeological Institute of America Present their 2020-21 Lecture Series

Save the Date: Wednesday, February 10 Friends Mother of God : Global Textiles in Early Modern Ethiopian You can now buy St. Herman's honey online! Place your order Paintings of the Virgin Mary online at www.sainthermans.org/honey and pick up at St. Herman’s on Franklin Blvd. We'll bring it out to your car. (We Keynote Speaker: Dr. Kristen Windmuller-Luna can't ship at this time, unfortunately.) Our honey is raw and local of the Cleveland Museum of Art and all the proceeds support St. Herman House. St. Demetrios’ FOCUS Friends continue to deliver dinner to St The lecture is free and presented online at 7:00 p.m. Herman’s on the first Saturday of each month. (Upcoming To view, please register ahead of time at dates: Feb. 6, Mar. 6) Contact Linda Glynias (216-469-2663) to http://www.clevelandarchaeology.org/lectures volunteer. 13 14 Around The Country

Archbishop Ordains Two More Bishops In the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago the Right Rev. Timothy Bakakos, Chancellor of the Metropolis of Chicago, was ordained to the Episcopacy on Dec. 5, 2020 at the Cathedral of Sts. Constantine and Helen in Merrillville, Indiana. His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America (pictured, above) presided at the service alongside Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta, Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago, Metropolitan Ilia of Philomelion, and Bishop APPLY TODAY: CROSSROADINSTITUTE.ORG Sebastian of Zelon. His Grace Bishop Timothy will continue to serve as Chancellor of the Metropolis of Chicago with the Deadline: February 16 added responsibility of assisting Metropolitan Nathanael with his Archpastoral ministry. PanHellenic Scholarship Foundation On Dec. 19, 2020, His Grace Bishop-Elect Ioannis of Phocaea (pictured, below) was ordained to the Holy Available to US citizens or permanent residents of Hellenic Episcopacy by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros, at descent who are undergraduates who attended a 4-year Saint George Greek Orthodox Church in Piscataway, NJ. accredited university in Fall 2020, with a minimum 3.5 GPA His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros also ordained Hans panhellenicsf.org/apply Vomend to the Diaconate at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Applications accepted until January 31, 2021. Cathedral, in Baltimore, Maryland, on Dec. 27, 2020. The The Awards ceremony will be June 19, 2021 in Chicago newly-named Deacon “Sophronios” had already received Monastic Tonsure. (source/photos: goarch.org) View an online exhibition of paintings inspired by Greek culture exploring the influential tradition of German Philhellenism. Around The World 15

An Appropriate Christmas Present Congress Passes Sanctions on Turkey, By Gregory Pappas Strengthens U.S. - Greece In recent years, the Museum of the Bible’s collection, originally owned by the Cooperation Green family in Oklahoma City, founders of the arts and crafts chain Hobby In December, Congress passed the annual Lobby, has been found to hold many objects that were smuggled out of their defense authorization bill that imposes respective countries of origin or brought into the US improperly. One such mandatory sanctions on Turkey for its item is a rare 10th-11th-century hand-written gospel manuscript to the Greek acquisition of the Russian S-400 air missile Orthodox Monastery of the Virgin Eikossifinissa (also known as the Kosinitza defense system as required under existing U.S. Monastery) in northern Greece. The historic document was among hundreds law, the Countering America’s Adversaries of objects looted from the site by Bulgarian troops in 1917 during violence Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). The bill also that broke out in the region. strengthens U.S.-Greece defense cooperation Last January, the Museum of the Bible informed Ecumenical Patriarch with an authorization to appropriate $50.18 Bartholomew that it held one of the world’s oldest hand-lettered , and million for military construction at Souda Bay, subsequently offered to return it. In response to the Museum’s gesture, Crete in addition to requiring a feasibility study Bartholomew said the museum can continue to display the work until October of increased rotational deployments to Greece. 2021. He also loaned the museum three more manuscripts from the same “We commend Congress for holding Turkey collection as a gesture of gratitude for the gospels’ return. accountable for its blatant violation of U.S. law The museum, which opened in 2017, started to more thoroughly investigate by calling for the imposition of sanctions on its collection and has returned other antiquities.. The Eikosiphoinissa Turkey no later than 30 days after the bill’s Manuscript 220 was among 431 manuscripts and 470 other works pillaged enactment, and separately, for strengthening from the monastery’s library, including icons, vestments and liturgical objects. defense cooperation between longtime NATO The Museum of the Bible’s website links to a report on the atrocities allies, United States and Greece,” AHEPA committed in the region by Bulgarian partisans known as komitadji, as well as Supreme President George G. Horiates said. the looting carried out under the direction of a Czech war reporter, Vladimir “This bill is a policy victory for the community, Sis, who presented himself as a Bulgarian archaeologist. The objects were and we applaud all groups and individuals for carried out on 24 mules, and were sold by Sis in the 1920s, finding their way their advocacy and reaching out to their into collections in Europe and the US. The Ivan Dujcev Center for Slavo- legislators. We call on President Trump to sign it Byzantine Studies in Sofia holds around 300 of the looted manuscripts, in into law.” violation of the Treaty of Neuilly, which required Bulgaria to return all He added, “We thank the bipartisan and cultural objects taken during the First World War. The Eikosiphoinissa bicameral lead of legislators such as Senator Manuscript 220 was sold in New York in 1958 by the dealer H. P. Kraus and Robert Menendez and Representatives Adam purchased at Christie’s by the Green Collection in 2011. Kinzinger and Abigail Spanberger, who (source: Pappas Post) sponsored or secured the provision to impose sanctions on Turkey; and Congressman Gus Bilirakis, who sponsored the amendment for a St Nicholas Children’s Fund Keeps Students Connected feasibility study of increased rotational By Peter Georges deployments to Greece.” (source: ahepa.org) After a seven-month shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Uganda’s schools began to reopen in mid-October. Tertiary institutions held face-to-face lectures for students in their final year, adhering to safety procedures established by the Uganda Ministry of Education. All other tertiary students took classes online. However, most of the university and vocational students that St Nicholas Uganda Children’s Fund assists do not have electricity in their homes, and none of them have Wi-Fi, so we set up an internet-enabled room near our office to allow them to participate in online lectures. Primary and secondary schools reopened for the three levels that are preparing for national exams which normally take place in the fall but have been moved to first quarter 2021. The St Nicholas Uganda Children’s Fund supports more than 250 orphans and vulnerable children in primary & secondary school, vocational and professional training, and university. We pay school fees and provide uniforms, shoes & socks, school supplies, meals and health care. Donations to help these efforts can be sent to the St Nicholas Uganda Our church’s former custodians Children’s Fund, P.O. Box 285, Chardon, OH 44024-0285 or visit Ion & Elena Belu send Happy New www.ugandachildrensfund.org Year Greetings from their retirement in Romania! 16 2021 marks the 200 th anniversary of the Greek Revolution, a war fought by the Orthodox Christian subjects of the Muslim Ottomans, not just for an independent state but for freedom of religion. Throughout this year, we will spotlight those martyred under the 400-year Turkish occupation.

New Martyr Athanasios of Attaleia (January 7) Holy New Martyr Zachariah (January 20) Athanasios was a native of Attaleia, who was living in He was a Greek from Smyrna in 1700. Once, he unguardedly spoke the opening Peloponnesos who words of the Muslim confession of faith, "There is no god but renounced Christ to God." Hearing this, some Turks immediately surrounded him become a Moslem. He and took him to the court, claiming that he had embraced then went to Patra and Islam. He vehemently denied this, assuring them that he was worked there as a furrier. a Christian and that the words he had spoken would be However,he had a unremarkable to any Christian. He was thrown into prison as book, The Salvation of an apostate and, after a sham trial, beheaded. His body was Sinners , which he often thrown to the dogs, but the usually voracious animals refused read. It moved him to to touch his body, and it was removed by some pious repentance, and he Christians and given honorable burial in the Church of St. wept bitterly for the great Paraskevi. evil he had done. Zachariah met a certain New Martyr Elias Ardounes (January 31) Elder and told him of his He was a barber in Kalamata, Peloponnesos. As a respected sin. After praying and citizen, he counseled the elders to try and relieve the tax fasting for 20 days, he burden on the Christian subjects (which was higher than on returned to the Elder and the Turkish citizens,) joking that if someone gave him a fez confessed all the sins he (i.e. lowered his taxes,) he’d change his faith. He followed had committed during his thru and became Moslem, but later regretted when he realized life. When he asked the the seriousness of what he had done. He went to Mt. Athos, Elder’s blessing to seek martyrdom, the holy man tried to confessed, was chrismated, and remained there as a monk. discourage him. He warned that he might not be killed Eight years later, he returned home and publicly announced swiftly, but only after much torture. He also pointed out the that he was again a Christian and condemned the Turks’ danger that Zachariah would betray Christ a second time religion, whereupon he was arrested. The imam imprisoned under the torments he would endure. The saint, aflame with him, had him beaten, and gave him a second chance to recant, zeal for martyrdom, said he was prepared to suffer myriad but he refused. He was sentenced to death by burning with punishments for the sake of Christ. new wood. On Jan. 31, 1686, on the way to his execution The Elder read the prayers of absolution and chrismated outside Kalamata, a guard made a deep cut in his shoulder the saint (as is done when apostates from the Faith are with a sword, but this just emboldened Elias to chant the received back into the Church), then administered the Holy Psalms of . He was cast into the fire of green wood and Mysteries to him. Then, he blessed Zachariah to go back to suffocated almost immediately, but miraculously neither his the Moslems and declare his faith in Christ. On his way, the robes, hair or beard were burned! saint asked forgiveness from each Christian he met. In the 18 th century, at the time of the uncovering of his The holy martyr went to the judge’s house and said that he relics, an amazing fragrance came forth. His holy skull was had been deceived when he accepted their religion, but now donated to the nearby monastery Vourkanou, where it pours he had come to his senses and returned to Christ. Saint forth miracles to this day. The faithful of Kalamata built a Zachariah was thrown into prison, where he was beaten three church in his honor on the spot of his martyrdom, at Velioura times a day. Finally, the saint died by being stretched out on a on Kallipateira Street (but for fear of the Turks, dedicated it rack. to the Holy 40 Martyrs of Sevasti. ) Today it goes by Holy 40 Christians asked for his body so they might bury it, but the Martyrs-St. Elias Ardounis Chapel (photo, below) Moslems refused, saying, “He is neither one of you, nor one of us, for he denied both religions. Therefore, he is unworthy of burial.” His body was dragged through the streets and thrown into a dry well, landing on its knees in an upright position. Christians saw a radiant light over the well the next night, and hastened to venerate the saint. The Turks filled the well with dirt and debris to prevent such gatherings in the future. By shedding his blood, the holy New Martyr Zachariah washed away the sin of his denial of Christ and received an unfading crown of glory in the year 1782. 17

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