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Issue 28, 2007 The Faithful Steward A Newsletter of the Holy Orthodox Church in North America

“We are all called to be faithful and wise stewards, ever waiting for the coming of our Lord.” LUKE 12:40-46 The Divine Blade: Martyr-King of (604 – 642AD) by Maria Vagianos

n a summer night in the northern and . From the “Historia OEnglish countryside, in the year Brittonum”, we learn that the 635, a small band of men from the cap- two kingdoms developed from tive provinces of Northumbria marched the settlements conceded by the into battle against the vast army of Cad- Britons to Anglo-Saxon merce- wallon, King of the Britons. Though out- naries. Archaeological evidence numbered by the barbarous horde, the also supports fifth century Ger- humble forces, led by the Christian King manic settlements in the Deiran Oswald, overpowered the enemy, “yield- province.3 ing a brilliant victory to the splendid Early Angle settlers named king”1. Indeed, the miraculous triumph the territory Northumbria, or bestowed upon the faithful King Oswald “land north of the river Hum- heralded the freedom and unity of his ber”. At its territorial peak in people and the restoration of Christian- the seventh century, Northum- ity to Northumbria. bria ranged from the River The Martyr-King Oswald was born in the south to the about the year 604 in Yeavering, a village River Forth near in in the northern province of . A present day Scotland.4 The descendant of the royal family of southern province of Deira Northumbria, St. Oswald was the second claimed as its capital, of seven sons of the pagan warrior-king while the northern Bernician Aethelfrith (592-616) and his wife, province established its capital, Acha. We know of two of his brothers, (still in present day the elder Eanfrith, and the younger ).5 . His paternal great-grandfather From its inception, was Ida (547-559), founder of the Northumbria was a pagan land. Northumbrian royal family, and builder Yet, for a time, the Christian of the royal Bamburgh Castle.2 Faith glimmered under the rule of Martyr-King Edwin, who had CONTENTS converted to . His death in battle, however, extin- The Divine Blade ...... 1 guished the Faith in Northum- bria, and once again St. Nectarios Orthodox Cathedral . . . 6 took hold. With the victory of New Publication: Elder Ieronymos . . . 11 St. Oswald at the Battle of Heavenfield (635), Christianity New for a New Cathedral . . . 12 was renewed. In 616, King Aethelfrith was Axios! ...... 13 At the beginning of the seventh slain in a surprise attack by Red- century, the kingdom of Northumbria wald, King of East Anglia. At that of St. Seraphim in Georgia . . 14 was formed through the union of two time, Edwin, a beleaguered exile of the smaller Angle kingdoms of Bernicia Deiran royal line, was under Redwald’s Addendum to Life of Yiannis Avdicos. 15 The Faithful Steward

protection. Following the death of the mighty warrior, King these words of encouragement, as the Lord had spoken to Aethelfrith, Edwin acceded to the throne, and assumed con- Joshua of old:10 trol of Northumbria. “Be strong and act manfully. Behold, I will be with Thereupon, Queen Acha (sister of Edwin), and two of thee.” her sons, Oswald and Oswiu fled north to safety in the court He continued with these holy words: of King Eochaid Buide6 in the Irish kingdom of Dálriada, in “This coming night go out from your camp into battle, western Scotland.7 Oswald’s elder brother, Eanfrith, fled to for the Lord has granted me that at this time your foes shall Pictland. For the next 17 years, the Queen and her sons be put to flight and Cadwallon your enemy shall be delivered would live in exile. The royal family also found spiritual into your hands and you shall return victorious after battle sanctuary with the pious and kindly on the isle of and reign happily.”11 Iona. It was in Iona that the exiled young princes received Heeding St. ’s words, King Oswald awoke, and the Mystery of Holy and instruction in the Christ- gathering his soldiers recounted his . This miraculous ian Faith from the holy fathers of St. Columba’s monastery. incident encouraged the small army. In the twilight before Thus in this holy place did Oswald spend his youth, guided dawn, the King and his men advanced to meet the enemy. As and prepared by Divine Providence to return to Northum- relates, “…Oswald, being about to bria and bring the great light of Christianity to his heathen engage, erected the sign of the holy cross, and on his knees countrymen. prayed to God that he would assist his worshippers in their In 633, King Edwin faced the dual onslaught of Cad- great distress.”12 The Holy Cross was hewn of wood and wallon, King of the Britons, and his ally, Penda, King of the ready to be affixed in a newly dug hole when, like a new Mercians. The wicked alliance of Penda and Cadwallon , “…the king himself, full of faith, laid hold of it overthrew Edwin, and sundered the kingdoms of Bernicia and held it with both his hands, till it was set fast by throw- and Deira. In the meantime, Eanfrith (and his cousin, Osric) ing in the earth; and this done, raising his voice, he cried to returned from exile in attempt to govern Bernicia and Deira. his army, ‘Let us all kneel, and jointly beseech the true and Eanfrith and Osric, however, forfeited their Christianity and living God Almighty, in his mercy, to defend us from the reverted to paganism. Osric took arms against Cadwallon, haughty and fierce enemy; for He knows that we have and was killed in battle. Eanfrith tried conciliation with the undertaken a just war for the safety of our nation.’”13 wicked Cadwallon, and was struck down also. Cruel and Our Saviour hearkened unto His faithful servant sanguinary, Cadwallon decimated the Church and nation of Oswald, and fulfilled His promise to him. The Power of God the Northumbrians. Professing to be a Christian, the evil manifest within him, the virtuous King Oswald14 slew the Cadwallon scorned the faith of the people, and with ferocity evil Cadwallon on the battlefield, and scattered the disor- slaughtered men, women, and even young children. So dered Britons. After a long and fierce battle, Cadwallon’s divided and ravaged, Northumbria soon relapsed into brutal reign was brought to an end. paganism. “So King Oswald laid low the barbarian hosts on every The Lord did not permit the Northumbrian people to side. languish under the cruel yoke of Cadwallon. He unsheathed Advancing in triumph through the armed battalions of His Divine Blade, St. Oswald, to smite the wicked British the foe, king. Descending from the North, Oswald White-blade8 Cutting and trampling, he crushed their fleeting “advanced with an army, small, indeed, in number, but ranks.”15 strengthened with the faith of Christ….”9 Marching south- Even though St. Oswald’s victory at Heavenfield eastward for 300 miles, with his trusted royal war-band and occurred in 635, the Venerable Bede states that “…it has assisted by Scot and Pictish troops, St. Oswald reached a been agreed by all who have written about the reigns of the place called Denisburna, six miles northwest of , kings, to abolish the memory of those perfidious monarchs, near Hadrian’s Wall. Nearby was Heavenfield where Oswald [the apostasy of the English kings and evil pagan Cadwal- would soon engage in battle with the merciless British king. lon’s tyranny] and to assign that year [633] to the reign The Royal Standard of purple, red, and gold was planted; of…Oswald, a man beloved by God.”16 As the sixth Bret- King Oswald and his men encamped in the verdant dales of walda of the English royal line, Oswald was successor to his the Northumbrian countryside to prepare for contest. uncle Edwin in faith and sovereignty. The Venerable Bede On the eve of battle, as St. Oswald lay asleep in his tent, tells us that Oswald “brought under his dominion all the he beheld a vision of St. Columba. His face shining with nations and provinces of Britain… Through this king’s man- angelic beauty, the “Dove of the Church” overshadowed the agement the provinces of the Deiri and the Bernicians… camp, seeming of such height that his head touched the were peacefully united and moulded into one people.”17 clouds. The holy one’s luminous robes covered the entire Once enthroned, the first care of this most Christian camp. The revealed himself to Oswald, and then spoke king of the Northumbrians was to spread the holy Christian

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Faith, and help it take root in his kingdom. His thoughts he evangelized throughout the countryside. The King acted turned to Iona where, as a youth, he had been instructed in as interpreter for St. Aidan who at first could not speak the the Faith. He beseeched the monks of Iona to send a mis- English language. The Venerable Bede relates one occasion sionary to “administer the word of faith to him and during which Bishop Aidan was at the royal court in Bam- his nation.”18 Without delay, Abbot Segenius and the elders burgh: “wherein, when the bishop, who was not skilful in of Iona dispatched a to preach to the Northumbrians. the English tongue, preached the gospel, it was most delight- Having won no converts, however, the priest returned to ful to see the king himself interpreting the word of God to Iona a short time later, and reported to the council that the his commanders and ministers, for he had perfectly learned people were “uncivilized men, and of a stubborn and bar- the language of the Scots during his long banishment.”23 barous disposition.”19 Convening a great assembly, the Thus did King Oswald set a worthy example for his nation, Ionan elders deliberated how to bring the Gospel to these “which he governed being instructed by the teaching of this unenlightened peoples. Present at the council was the most reverend prelate.”24 Aidan, who addressed the grave priest thus: “I am of the Under the reign of St. Oswald, Northumbria was opinion, brother, that you were more severe to your supreme among the seven Anglo-Saxon kingdoms (the Hep- unlearned hearers than you ought to have been, and did not tarchy that later merged to become ). His dominion at first, conformably to the apostolic rule, give them the milk was greater than any of his predecessors; he was overlord of of more easy doctrine, till being by degrees nourished with the provinces of , Sussex, Kent, Lindsey, parts of the word of God, they should be capa- , Goddodin, Strathclyde, and ble of greater perfection, and be able perhaps the and Scots of Dálri- to practise God’s sublimer precepts.”20 ada. Marveling at the God-inspired In his Life of Saint Oswald, Regi- words of Aidan, the elders concluded nald of describes St. Oswald that because of his virtuous discretion as having “arms of great length and he should be made bishop and sent to power, eyes bright blue, hair yellow, instruct the unbelieving Northumbrian face long and beard thin, and his small people in the Faith. lips wearing a kindly smile.”25 King When Bishop Aidan arrived, King Oswald was married to Cyneburga, Oswald greeted him with true Christ- daughter of , King of Wessex ian and brotherly love. From their who had converted to Christianity. youth, the two men had been friends His son, Aethelwold later became king on Iona. As the king’s spiritual adviser (651-654?) and founded through St. and trusted friend, Aidan was granted , the monastery of Lastingham in the isle of for his Episcopal Yorkshire. It is reported that, for see. The Venerable Bede describes many years, St. Oswald even had a pet Lindisfarne (or, Holy Island) as raven that was his constant compan- “Which place, as the tide flows and ion.26 ebbs twice a day, is enclosed by the Even at the height of his power, St. waves of the sea like an island; and Oswald “was also wont to pray and again, twice in the day, when the shore is left dry, becomes take more pains for that which is eternal… he often contin- contiguous to the land.”21 ued in from the hour of morning thanksgiving till it With the coming of Bishop Aidan, the zealous monks of was day; and that by reason of his constant custom of pray- Iona journeyed daily to the kingdoms of St. Oswald to ing or giving thanks to God, he was wont always, wherever preach the Gospel to the inhabitants. As the Venerable Bede he sat, to hold his hands turned up on his knees.”27 tells us, “those among them who had received priest’s orders During his lifetime, St. Oswald “always continued hum- administered the Grace of Baptism to the believers. Churches ble, affable, and generous to the poor and strangers.”28 were built in divers places; the people joyfully flocked “[F]or whilst he lived, he never ceased to provide for the together to hear the Word; lands and other property were poor and infirm, and to bestow alms on them, and assist given of the king’s bounty to found monasteries; English them.”29 The story of St. Oswald feeding the poor empha- children, as well as their elders were instructed by their Scot- sizes his Christian humility and almsgiving: tish teachers in study and the observance of monastic disci- “When he was once sitting at dinner, on the holy day of pline.”22 [Pascha], with the aforesaid bishop [Aidan], and a silver dish In the service of the Church, and with zealous coopera- full of dainties before him, and they were just ready to bless tion the saintly King Oswald accompanied Bishop Aidan as the bread, the servant, whom he had appointed to relieve the

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poor, came in on a sudden, and told the king, that a great very spot where King Oswald had died. Immediately, the multitude of needy persons from all parts were sitting in the horse’s pain subsided, and recovering, began to graze on the streets begging some alms of the king; he immediately sweet grass. The horseman marveled at the animal’s recovery, ordered the meat set before him to be carried to the poor, and and determined that the earth in that place was sanctified. the dish to be cut in pieces and divided among them. At The man marked the holy site so that he could recognize it which sight, the bishop who sat by him, much taken with again. such an act of piety, laid hold of his right hand, and said, The same man stopped at an inn to stay for the night. ‘May this hand never perish.’”30 There he learned that the host’s niece, a young girl, was sick In 642, King Oswald was again engaged in battle to pre- of the palsy. Hearing of her plight, the man informed the serve his Christian kingdom. Word had reached the royal girl’s relatives of the place where his horse had been cured. court at Bamburgh that Penda, the pagan king of Mercia, had The girl was delivered in a cart, and laid on the hallowed killed the Christian King Egric of East Anglia and driven the ground. Having fallen asleep in that place, she awoke to find king of Wessex into exile. (Penda had also slain the Christian herself made whole of her infirmity. The healthy girl asked King Edwin at Hatfield Chase in 633.) Penda continued his for water, washed her face, dressed her hair, and returned relentless advance toward Northumbria. Perceiving the hea- home on foot with those who had brought her. then menace, King Oswald assembled his royal army, and News of the holy site at Heavenfield drew people to col- marched south to meet Penda on the battlefield. lect the holy dust from the place where St. Oswald fell. They At the Battle of Maserfield, near present day , a poured the holy earth into water to which they gave their sick few miles from the border of North Wales, King Oswald and friends to drink. The custom of collecting the holy earth from his forces clashed with the Mercian army and their Welsh Heavenfield caused “a hole as deep as the height of a allies in a fierce and bloody struggle. Yet, the weapons and man.”34 strength of the heathen foe outnumbered the valiant king and In 697, Queen Osthrida, daughter of the Saint’s brother, his brave army. Overcome by weapons and enemies, and Oswiu, translated the venerable bones of her uncle to Bard- about to perish, King Oswald prayed to God for the souls of ney (Beardeneu) Abbey in . At first, the monks his army. “Whence it is proverbially said, ‘Lord have mercy refused to accept St. Oswald’s , though they recognized on their souls, said Oswald as he fell to the ground.’”31 St. him as a holy man. Because the Martyr-King was from Oswald was slain on the battlefield in the thirty-eighth year another kingdom, and had ruled over them, they held a of his age, on the fifth day of the month of August 642. grudge against him. With only a tent to cover them, the holy The victorious pagan King Penda who had slain Martyr- relics remained with the Queen’s caravan overnight outside King Oswald commanded the Saint’s “head, hands and arms the monastery. That night, all in the kingdom of Lindsey to be cut off from the body, and set upon stakes.”32 could see a pillar of light as it shone from the caravan up The next year, King Oswiu and his host took down the toward Heaven. Filled with contrition, the monks prayed Saint’s relics from the poles. He buried the Saint’s head at that St. Oswald’s venerable relics might be granted to their Lindisfarne, and his limbs in the royal city of Bamburgh. care. As Bishop Aidan had foretold, St. Oswald’s right hand The monks cleansed the holy bones of St. Oswald, and remained incorrupt, and was kept for many years in a silver placed them in a precious in the monastery’s church. reliquary at the royal Church in Bamburgh. The holy water was poured into the sacristy corner. From “How great his faith was towards God, and how thence the sacristy, which received the holy water, had the remarkable his devotion, has been made evident by power to heal persons possessed of demons. since his death;”33 relates the Venerable Bede of the many The great name of St. Oswald was proclaimed beyond miracles and healings wrought by St. Oswald’s relics, and the borders of Britain, “spreading the rays of his healing even the very earth where he fell in battle. Bede narrates a brightness even beyond the sea, reached also to Germany and number of these miracles in his book. Herein are mentioned .”35 The Venerable Bede also says that Wilbrord, the a few of the myriad healings and miracles of St. Oswald’s blessed bishop of Frisia, spoke of the miracles that arose in intercession: the Frisian province at the most reverend king’s relics. A short time after St. Oswald’s death, a man traveling on Following St. Oswald’s martyrdom at Maserfield, his horseback was passing through Heavenfield. Of a sudden, holy relics entered the reliquaries of monasteries and the man’s horse was fatigued, and stood motionless. Unable churches across Britain.36 For a time, the holy head of St. to lift his head, the horse began to froth at the mouth, and to Oswald was enshrined in Lindisfarne Abbey; later it reposed suffer increased pain such that he collapsed on the ground. in the tomb of St. at Lindisfarne. In 1104, St. Cuth- The stunned horseman dismounted and placed straw under bert’s relics, along with the blessed head of St. Oswald were his sick steed, wondering if the animal would revive or die. translated to in the feretory of the Galilee As he rolled on the ground in torment, the horse fell upon the Chapel where they remain to this day.37

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Enshrined in silver, the incorrupt right arm of the Saint “blade” is stressed in the name. The name “White-blade” remained in the Church of St. Oswald in Bamburgh until the would indicate the association of Oswald as the son of monks of Peterborough removed it to a shrine in their abbey. Aethelfrith. The symbolic epithet “White-blade” emphasizes As one of the monastery’s most cherished possessions, the its meaning of divine blade, sacred blade, or even blessed holy arm of St. Oswald was later lost or destroyed during the blade. As the sword is the ultimate representation of a king’s Reformation.38 power, a divine sword is symbolic of divine power. Saint As mentioned earlier, the monks of Abbey were Oswald’s epithet “White-blade” indicates that God was on the caretakers of St. Oswald’s holy body, bequeathed to them Oswald’s side against Cadwallon, King of the Britons. by his niece, Queen Osthrida. Draped in the Martyr-King’s http://www.mun.ca/mst/heroicage/issues/9/ziegler.html. gold and purple standard, the bejeweled feretory was pre- 9 Bede’s Ecclesiastical History, 1894, p.109. served with care. Abbot Aethelwold saved the Saint’s relics 10 Adomnán of Iona. The Life of Saint Columba, 1995, from Danish marauders by hiding them in his bedstraw. p.111. Later, in 909, Queen Aethelfled of Mercia translated St. 11 Ibid. Oswald’s relics to St. Oswald’s Priory in .39 Over 12 the centuries, the holy relics of St. Oswald were dispersed to Bede, p.109-110. various locations around Britain and abroad. 13 Ibid., p.110. One of the greatest English sovereigns of his time, the 14 (Os=God and weald=power). Webster’s New World Dic- holy Martyr-King Oswald lived as a faithfull servant of tionary of the American Language, 1956. Christ, excelling in the God-pleasing virtues of humility, 15 http://www.mun.ca/mst/heroicage/issues/9/ziegler.html. prayer, and almsgiving. Though chief in rank and honor in 16 Bede, p. 118. his kingdom, St. Oswald desired only the glory of the Heav- 17 Ibid. enly Kingdom. He was a beloved king who humbly devoted 18 Ibid., p.117. himself to the spiritual and temporal needs of his people. Per- 19 fected thus in holy virtue, St. Oswald was bestowed the pre- Mills, Dorothy, The Middle Ages, 1935, p. 24-25. cious Martyr’s crown, to reign in the Heavenly Kingdom with 20 Bede, p.117. our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ. 21 Ibid., p. 112. By the holy of the Martyr-King Oswald, O Christ 22 http://www.dot.domesday.me.uk, p.11. God, have mercy and save us. Amen. 23 Bede, p. 112. 24 Ibid., p.117. Dismissal Hymn. Third Tone 25 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oswald_of_Northumbria, y the power of the precious Cross, thou didst gain a p. 5. Bmighty victory over the heathen foe, O noble sovereign. 26 Thomas, William John. et al. Notes and Queries, 1850, By thy faith and zeal for piety, thou didst lead thy people unto p. 461. the truth of Christ, the King of all. O all-famed Oswald, do 27 Bede, p. 128. thou entreat Christ God that we be granted great mercy. 28 Ibid., p. 118. 29 Ibid., p. 124. Dismissal Hymn 30 Ibid., p. 118. © Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA 31 Ibid., p. 129. 32 Endnotes Ibid. 33 Ibid., pp. 123-124. 1 http://www.mun.ca/mst/heroicage/issues/9/ziegler.html. 34 Ibid., p. 124. 2 http://www.dot-domesday.me.uk, p. 2. 35 Ibid., p. 129. 3 http://www.dot-domesday.me.uk, p.1. 36 http://www.britannia.com/bios/saints/oswald.html, p. 2. 4 http://www.northumberland.gov.uk, p. 2. 37 http://www.markham.edu.pe/uk2002/uk_day_7.htm 5 http://www.northumberland.gov.uk, p. 1. 38 http://www.brittania.com/church/shrines/oswald.html 6 http://www.britannia.com/bios/saints/oswald.html. 39 Ibid. 7 http://www.bedesworld.co.uk, p. 1. Photo Credits 8 The epithet “White-blade” comes from the Welsh Lamn- guin. In Welsh folklore, the color white (guion, gwyn, gwen) p. 1 http://www.earlybritishkingdoms.com/adversaries/bios/ has several meanings: pure, sacred, or holy. Saint Oswald’s oswald.html epithet would have applied to the blade of his sword, as p. 3 Map of the British Isles, http://www.maparchives.org.

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Saint Nectarios American Orthodox Cathedral By Subdeacon Constantine Angelos+ and Fr. Neketas t was early in 1968 when the new us the Church as ‘the pillar and ropolitan Philaret of blessed mem- IAmerican Orthodox Parish of St. foundation of truth’ (I Timothy ory reposed in November of 1985. Nectarios was formed in the hall of 3:15) ‘not having spot, or wrinkle, With the ascent of Archbishop a on or any such thing; but that it Vitaly of Montreal to the position Seattle’s Capitol Hill. The handful should be holy and without blem- of First Hierarch of the ROCOR, a of people there were pathfinders, ish’ (Ephesians 5:27). I cannot con- new, more liberal church policy, for the new congregation was blaz- ceive how it can be offered on the contrary to Metropolitan Phi- ing a trail—the first of several of ecumenical dialogue to be laret’s, was inaugurated and was to parishes to be established by dissected and autopsied for the lead to a separation from the Orthodox Christians in the United sake of some abstract ‘love.’ Being ROCOR of several monasteries States and Canada against the part of a church which is becoming and parishes in the United States, heresy of ecumenism and the lifting Roman Catholic in its administra- Canada, and France, including St. of the anathemas against the tion, Protestant in its faith, and Nectarios of Seattle. This group Roman by the Greek Orthodox in its ritual is not protested the reports of nearly 20 of Constantinople. for me.” concelebrations of ROCOR clergy Now, nearly four decades later, with ecumenist clergy of the it includes a proper church build- “canonical” jurisdictions. That the ing, an office, a bookstore, social Synod repeatedly ignored these hall, and parking lot in north Seat- ecumenist actions convinced us tle, with a congregation of Greek, that Synodal would not Ukrainian, Russian and Serbian reprimand those guilty. The cradle Orthodox Christians, and protesting clergy then petitioned members of diverse backgrounds, two Greek hierarchs, Metropolitan including converts, all bound by a and Metropolitan Akakios, common faith. who were inactive members of But it was not always so. In the The original St. Nectarios Church Archbishop Auxentius’ Synod, to beginning, the parish was home- That tenet has guided Seattle’s be received by them. They did less, an orphan. St. Nectarios parish and others accept us in December, 1986. In Its voice first was heard on who joined it in protesting ecu- July, 1987, we chose to go directly Sunday, January 21, 1968, when menism throughout its spiritual under Archbishop Auxentius, since the Rev. Neketas S. Palassis startled journey to the present. he was the First Hierarch of the a hushed congregation at Seattle’s In January of 1986, Father Old Calendarist Orthodox Church new St. Demetrios Greek Ortho- Neketas petitioned and was in Greece. He received us most gra- dox Church, which he had served accepted under the omophorion of ciously. The following year in for eight-and-a-half years, with this Metropolitan Philaret, who was anticipation of our parish’s 20th declaration: glorified in 2001 by the Holy anniversary, Fr. Ephraim of Holy Orthodox Church in North Amer- Transfiguration Monastery was “The Orthodox Christian faith ica. Under Metropolitan Philaret’s ordained to the episcopate as is to me of incomparable value. It is stewardship the Synod of Bishops Bishop of Boston. not an item to be bartered, of the Russian Orthodox Church But that’s getting ahead of our debated, and finally compromised Outside of (ROCOR) at the story. on the ecumenical altar of human- time represented one of the few About 30 people met in the hall istic and anthropocentric love remaining traditional Orthodox of St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox which excludes truth and real jurisdictions. Church, the Synod’s Seattle parish, divine love. Our Lord and Saviour That spiritual steadfastness was on February 11, 1968, to form the Jesus Christ in His love for us gave to change for the Synod when Met- American Orthodox Church of

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Seattle. On March 24, the assembly at St. Nectarios begins at 6:50 a.m. support. His last Pascha Agápe chose St. Nectarios of Pentapolis, a and the Divine Liturgy at 8:15 a.m. service was in Seattle where he joy- saint of our century, to be its The parish adopted English for fully gave his blessings to the over patron. its liturgical language and follows 130 parishioners at the service And so the parish began, with- Greek liturgical customs. However, among whom were over 40 chil- out a roof over its head, without a its bylaws allow any traditional dren. trained chanter, without a choir, Orthodox language to be used in If St. Nectarios of Pentapolis is and without hymnals. There was its services. The problem of no the parish’s spiritual patron, his nothing but faith and determina- choir was solved by reverting to an strong right arm on earth, as far as tion. The members of St. Nicholas older Orthodox tradition—congre- the St. Nectarios congregation is allowed the indigent parish to set gational chanting. A group of two concerned, is the Holy Transfigura- up a temporary altar table in the or three members with the help of tion Monastery of Brookline, MA. nave of the church and to celebrate Fr. Neketas translated and mimeo- From its beginning, the parish has Sunday Divine Liturgy there. But graphed the music for that first been closely aligned with Holy the St. Nectarios parishioners had service. Transfiguration, which has offered to complete their worship before The feeling of “family,” of counsel and material help. The the Russian congregation’s services father, mother, and children pray- monastery helped raise funds so the began at midmorning. Although ing together, has been a hallmark of parish could buy its first multilith skeptical of the young parish’s the parish from its inception. In its (offset) printing press, and the chances of survival, one of its early years most of the children Elder, Fr. Panteleimon, has pro- staunchest advocates was St. were boys. At major feasts the dou- vided , votive lamps, relics Nicholas’ aged priest, Mitered ble row of altar boys extended and other religious items, and Archpriest Andrew Nakonetschny, nearly the length of the sanctuary enriched parish spiritual life with of blessed memory, who defended and encircled half the church dur- his sermons and talks, visiting Seat- the presence of the fledgling parish ing . The family close- tle almost yearly for many years. under his roof against critics. In ness is enhanced in parish dinners It was largely at the prodding reality, the parish showed us Abra- at Pascha, Nativity, the feast of St. and need of St. Nectarios Parish hamite hospitality. The Danilchik Nectarios, and at the annual picnic. that the then monk, Fr. Ephraim, family who live across from the What was especially moving now our Metropolitan Ephraim, church offered their home for hos- for the parish during its formative bent to the task of translating and pitality before and after services. It years was the fact that we served writing the music used by our became our own little coffee shop. the Liturgy, whenever Fr. Pantelei- parishes for their services. Even as We will always remember their mon would visit, in the very build- Fr. Ephraim visited our parish he kindnesses. ing where St. John of San Francisco always had with him his handy As we approached Great Lent, reposed. Not only that, but our “white-out” solution at the the struggling parish was allowed altar table was located under the chanters’ stand to edit music he to hold its services in the St. very room in which he reposed. had sent us. Nicholas Hall. A parishioner built Annually, while Fr. Andrew lived, The first parish president and a portable plywood screen to Fr. Panteleimon and Fr. Neketas chanter, Subdeacon Dr. Andrew give the hall the semblance of a would serve in that room which Tolas, learned the octoechos by lis- church. As it turned out, our altar had become a chapel in honor of tening to tapes of Fr. Ephraim on table was located under the 2nd St. John. After we named our his automobile tape deck as he floor room where St. John of San parish, we were informed by a St. drove from office to hospital and to Francisco had reposed. And once a Nicholas parishioner that wherever church. year we would serve Liturgy in that St. John would serve, he would The most pressing need of the room which had been converted place a small icon of St. Nectarios parish was to find a home of its into a chapel. on the altar table. The saintly own. That it did in 1971 when it The habit of early services took Bishop Nektary of Seattle followed purchased several lots in North hold. To this day Sunday Orthros our progress with enthusiasm and Seattle near Interstate-5 and built a

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modest 1,360-square foot wooden on that Sunday or coming week. the holy fasts. More than 25,000 sanctuary and multipurpose room Dorothy Sims coordinates the cof- copies of the two popular Lenten- for $35,000. The building was a fee hours and “puts on the coffee” food aids have been printed. prefabricated structure designed as for the flock. Also, parishioners In 1977 St. Nectarios Press was a house, but adjusted to the take turns in cleaning the church created to publish books and pam- church’s needs with walls moved to every week. phlets in English, beginning with form an icon screen and so on. Even as an orphan, the parish The Way of the Ascetics and The That effort and subsequent was a parish with a mission, for if Paradise of the Fathers. Since then building projects through the years its buckler was the Faith, its sword more than 40 titles have been were largely spearheaded by two was the printing press. The first printed and made available to Eng- unusual people, Peter Charuhas, an copy of the Orthodox Christian lish-speaking Orthodox Christians electrical engineer, and his wife, Witness (OCW), printed on an old throughout the world. The parish Carol (Kalliroi), who had worked mimeograph machine in Fr. Neke- bookstore not only markets its own for various construction firms. tas’ basement, was published publications and the various publi- Carol Charuhas was one of those March 18/31, 1968. More than cations of other Orthodox publish- rare, determined people who rel- 1,500 issues, sent to the four cor- ers, but also sells votive lamps, ished in solving problems, bird- ners of the earth, have appeared icons, crosses, crowns for weddings dogging a project through City since then. The OCW reached and taped compact-disc recordings Hall and finding ways to cut costs. round the world and was circulated of church hymns, services and talks Since then there have been four in over 40 states and 38 foreign of the speakers at the annual expansions, including a domed countries. Its articles were trans- Orthodox Conferences. addition to the nave, a new print- lated into Greek, French, Russian, The collating of the Press’ ing wing, a new office, and finally, Ukrainian, Spanish, and German. Orthodox Calendar was a joyful in time for the parishes’ 20th It was viewed as a touchstone of parish activity in late November anniversary in 1988, a new hall Orthodoxy. The Witness was fol- and early December of each year. It and the conversion of a small hall lowed by the St. Nectarios Educa- represented an annual opportunity into a printing wing and book tional Series which consisted of to recall “those thrilling days of store. But Carol Charuhas, who over 94 articles on various aspects yesteryear” when parishioners did helped plan every detail of the last of the faith, ecumenism, moral all the Press’ work. expansion, was seriously ill and issues, and articles of theological or The Press has published heav- reposed after construction began. canonical content. Hundreds of ily-sought-after spiritual children’s The Kalliroi (Carol) Charuhas thousands of copies of the various books. Among its children’s publi- Memorial Hall was dedicated at educational series articles were dis- cations are full color editions of the 20th anniversary dinner, Sep- tributed by the church. The OCW The Life of St. Nectarios, as well as tember 4, 1988. Early in December and the educational series were The Life of St. Nicholas, and in col- of 1992, Peter Charuhas reposed. eagerly read by friends, as well as laboration with the Holy Nativity On the 25th anniversary of the by those who disagreed with our prepared a Pilgrim’s parish, the hall was renamed in positions. Guide to the Holy Land, which their joint memory as the Peter and Parish coffee hours after Divine was published in 1998. Interest- Carol Charuhas Memorial Hall. Liturgy often turned into parish ingly, while the parish is in the far A major remodeling of the work parties to assemble, staple, Pacific Northwest corner of the kitchen, including new ovens, sinks and address publications. In 1973 United States, a substantial number and plumbing, a refrigerator- the women of the parish gathered of its members have earned the title freezer, and new cabinets was com- their own Lenten recipes and of “Pilgrim,” by participating in pleted in 1997. The kitchen boasts researched others to help produce the annual pilgrimage to the Holy of artistic ceramic tiles created by A Lenten Cookbook for Orthodox Land led by the Elder Panteleimon Olga Hutchinson. Coffee hours are Christians, followed by Lenten of Holy Transfiguration given every Sunday by parishioners Favorites, two cookbooks designed Monastery. who are observing their feastdays to help those who wished to keep In 1976 Fr. Neketas gained an

Issue 28, 2007 8 The Faithful Steward

assistant when Fr. Ihnat Pono- have joined the monastic ranks— canic top in 1980, St. Nectarios marchuk was ordained a deacon. Rodion Clinkingbeard is Fr. made history by sponsoring the First On Sunday, July 22, 1990, Fr. Ihnat Nicholas and Dietrich Villbrandt, Annual Orthodox Conference in was elevated to the priesthood, giv- Fr. Boniface at Holy Transfiguration Seattle. The parish also hosted the ing the parish a second spiritual Monastery; and Dorothy Vagin is 1985 and the 1990 conferences. In father to minister to a wide-ranging Mother Elizabeth at Holy Nativity May of 1995 the parish sponsored a flock, for St. Nectarios served a vast Convent, also in Brookline, MA. three-day mini-conference in which area from Vancouver, BC, to East- Two, Mother Nectaria and Mother Bishop Makarios of Toronto and ern Washington, to its Nativity of Xenia, were tonsured toward the Bishop Ephraim of Boston partici- Christ mission parish in Portland, end of their lives. pated. In 1999, the Convent of the Oregon. A year later in June, the Being aware of the fact that the Meeting of the Lord was established parish produced its second active faith must be practiced, as well as in Stanwood, Washington. Mother priest for our diocese when Deacon proclaimed, the St. Nectarios Benev- Thecla was appointed the Abbess Constantine Parr was ordained a olent Fund was established early in and she is now assisted by Mother priest. Both Fathers Neketas and 1976. It is the philanthropic out- Mary, Mother Eudokia and Novice Ihnat helped train Fr. Constantine reach of the parish and has contin- Mariam. The convent produces liturgically. Fr. Constantine was ued to grow. The fund actively sup- beeswax votive candles for sale to assigned to minister to the Prophet ports missions, orphans and needy parishioners and to the many cus- Elias Mission in the Bellingham institutions and organizations. It tomers from Stanwood. The Stan- area, north of Seattle and near the contributes to the difficult work of wood community has literally Canadian border, but in 1996 a sec- carrying out philanthropic work adopted the convent as its own. Sev- ular change transferred Fr. eral newspaper articles have Constantine to Portland, featured the convent. Fr. Ihnat where he took over the spiri- serves at the convent on a reg- tual guidance of the renamed ular basis thus providing spir- Holy Nativity of the itual nourishment for the parish there. community and Fr. Pantelei- While originally founded mon, as the overseer of by faithful of Greek-Slavic HOCNA’s monastic commu- backgrounds, St. Nectarios nities visits it annually. Parish has increasingly In the late 1990’s, iconog- become a “Catholic” commu- rapher Andrij Maday, a gifted nity—i.e., including people of artist, was brought to the all ethnic roots and back- parish to create a plan for grounds. The parish now iconographically embellishing counts about 140 members George Angelos serving eggs at the Sunday School fundraiser the church. He came, he saw, representing about 70 households. among Orthodox Christians in the and he left with a wonderful plan of From these ranks have come four United States, Canada, Europe, creating “a jewel” of a church. subdeacons and a dozen tonsured Central America, Africa, and the Already, he has painted for the readers. The parish presently has an Near East. The fund is supported by church: the Annunciation, the 12 additional 29 members in Eastern donations and profits from the sale Apostles, the Pantokrator, six Old Washington, Vancouver, BC, Van- of books, crosses and icons from the Testament prophets in the dome, couver, Washington, Eastern Ore- St. Nectarios Book Center. Over and the at the base gon, Hawaii, and California. $1,000,000 in aid has been distrib- of the dome. An additional fourteen Another parishioner, Elizabeth uted through the fund in the three saints in medallion settings have Eaton, lives and teaches in Germany decades since it was established. been painted above the right and but we do see her once a year during Two months after Mount St. left choirs. We look forward with family visits to Seattle. Helens, 150 miles to the south, much joy to Andrij’s masterful com- Five St. Nectarios parishioners made history by blowing its vol- pletion of the church’s iconography.

9 Issue 28, 2007 The Faithful Steward

As Fr. Panteleimon said, we have Lomond in Northern California. Summer School program in July the rest of our lives to see the con- He has been the valuable assistant and a special Saint Nicholas Day tinuance and, hopefully, the com- and capable advisor to Metropoli- celebration in December. On June 3 pletion of this work. tan . the Sunday School children, The 7-member parish council During Metropolitan Moses’ assisted by their parents, sponsored under the leadership of Subdeacon tenure, the wish of Metropolitan a coffee hour for the African Leonid Ponomarchuk has overseen Ephraim was fulfilled that St. Nec- orphans. $2,000.00 was raised by the beautification of both the inside tarios develop a left and right choir, the children for the orphans. and outside of the church structure, thus carrying out the ancient tradi- Nearly 10 youths from the parish the landscaping and grounds main- tion of antiphonal chanting in the will attend the St. Xenia Camp this tenance, the reroofing of the church. The choir led by Ruth year. church, the restructuring of the Wolfe consists of over 15 members Now after four decades, the accounting system, financial plan- who enhance the worship of the second generation is picking up ning for the parish, the organiza- church. where their fathers and mothers tion of the parish meals left off. The younger members after the major feasts of are participating in the Parish the church, and providing Council, helping to maintain assistance to any other the church, tithing, attending project asked of them by vigils, sharing in the liturgical the clergy. work, and continuing the tra- The 21st century saw ditions handed down to us an important event in the from generation to generation. parish life which was the Leonid Ponomarchuk and appointment of Metro- Nichols are stepping up politan Moses to head the to the chanters’ stands to assist newly-established and learn from Dr. Tolas. Metropolis of Seattle. We thank everyone who Metropolitan Moses was has supported St. Nectarios warmly and joyously Silent Night being signed for Dimitri Angelos (lower left) who is deaf Cathedral through prayers and received by the parish. monetary contributions and we In 2003, a mini-conference was In March of 2007, by a deci- now make a plea for prayers for 1 sponsored by the parish. Speakers sion of the Holy Synod, His Emi- Francesca-Ioanna, a 2 /2 year-old included the Very Rev. Sergios, Fr. nence’s administration was trans- parishioner who is suffering from Simon, iconographer of the St. Gre- ferred from Seattle to Portland, Tuberous Sclerosis, a disease which gory of Sinai Monastery, and Fr. Oregon, and the diocese was has no cure. Please remember her Nicodemos Gayle of the St. renamed Metropolis of Portland. and her parents James and Nicole Seraphim of Sarov Orthodox As is the practice, the parish still Schmidt in your prayers. Church in Glen Allen, VA. Parish- retains the title of cathedral and the ioners were enthralled by the parish has been designated as a Subdeacon and pilgrim, Constantine Angelos, a founding member of the speakers and the slide presentation Stavropegiaki enoria (parish) under parish, and a retired reporter for The of Fr. Simon. the omophorion of the Metropoli- Seattle Times, who edited the Ortho- In 2004, the parish was hon- tan of Boston. dox Christian Witness, as well as other ored and delighted to have the con- The parish has a very active occasional informative publications of secration of the Very Rev. Sergios Sunday School program headed by the parish, reposed in 2006. Mr. Ange- Black to the episcopate. Fr. Sergios an enthused and hard-working los also served as the assistant to Dr. was and is the Abbot of the Athena Diafos, assisted by very Tolas at the chanters’ stand. The intro- Monastery of St. Gregory of Sinai dedicated parents who rotate pre- ductory portions of this article were in Kelseyville, California. He was sentations to the youth on a weekly written by him for The True Vine. May given the title Bishop of Loch basis. The children benefit from a his memory be eternal!

Issue 28, 2007 10 The Faithful Steward

THE ELDER IERONYMOS OF AEGINA A New Publication By Peter Botsis The Life of the Elder Ieronymos of Aegina 1883–1966

Father Ieronymos the Cappadocian, the renowned Elder of the isle of Aegina in Greece, was an exceedingly compassion- ate healer of souls, a clairvoyant Father- who saw the secret thoughts hidden in the heart, and a man of unceas- ing prayer who attained to the heights of the vision of God. Those who came to know him exclaimed that they had met another Saint the Syrian. His complete life is now available in English for the first time, written by those who knew him personally.

Translated from the Greek by the holy transfiguration monastery Boston, Massachusetts 2007

© 2007, Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA

An Excerpt Showing the Elder’s Clairvoyance

nce an elderly couple visited the Elder. They had and saintly discretion, he comforted and counselled Ono children of their own, but had an adopted them, promising to pray that God would change their daughter who tormented them, treating them very daughter for the better. They left relieved and full of joy. harshly. As soon as they heard of the Elder Ieronymos, Upon their return home, they expected to be met by the they went to visit him to express their pain to him. He usual grim looks, shouts, and so forth, but were aston- said to them reproachfully, “She has done very little to ished to find their daughter transformed, kind and you. She ought to have broken your head.” As they sat meek, and telling them she regretted that they were in shocked disbelief at his answer, after a moment’s unable to live in peace, and that she was going to try to silence he explained to them that when God had given change her ways. They understood that this was a mir- them their own child, they didn’t want it and they killed acle worked by the Elder’s prayer. it, and that it wasn’t the fault of this girl, but it was their own sin that was tormenting them. At this revela- The Elder Ieronymos of Aegina, p. 361. tion they melted in tears and with contrition confessed © 2007, Holy Transfiguration Monastery, to him what they had done. Then, with paternal love Brookline, MA

11 Issue 28, 2007 The Faithful Steward

A New Deacon for a New Cathedral

n Lazarus Saturday, March 18/31 2007, George V. about Orthodox and continued to visit the OPsaromatis, subdeacon, was ordained to the Dia- monastery frequently. In October of 1999, Fr. George conate at The Holy Nativity of the Theotokos Ortho- visited the Holy Land. He, like so many other pilgrims dox Cathedral in Portland OR. This was a special occa- who visit Jerusalem, was changed for the rest of his life. sion as it was the Portland parish's first Hierarchical He saw and walked in places where our Saviour walked liturgy as a cathedral. and had experiences beyond words. The most dramatic Father George, the son of Vasilios and Margaret thing that happened that would change his life forever, Psaromatis, was born on the feast of St. George (April was meeting his future wife, Mary Fagan (now Diacon- 23/May 6) in 1980 in Athens, Greece. He is the sixth isa Mary). For two years, Fr. George struggled with the child out of nine and has five brothers and three sisters. decision of whether to become a novice or to get mar- Fr. George's grandparents, Panayotis and Maria Psaro- ried. After much thought and prayer, he decided on the matis, were among the few in Greece that remained latter and asked Mary for her hand in marriage. In with the traditional “Old Calendar” and have never August of 2002, they were married at the Cathedral of veered off the straight and narrow path of Orthodox St. Mark of Ephesus in Boston MA. Christianity. In 1983, his family moved to upstate New Since his wife was completing her schooling there, York, where the nearest Orthodox Church was a good they moved to Portland, OR. Both he and his wife have four-hour drive. Even though there was no Church become very active in the church community of Holy where they lived, God provided. Both his parents and Nativity of the Theotokos. Father George has helped older siblings made sure that our Saviour remained an with chanting since his arrival and in 2004 he was ton- active part of the family’s day-to-day life. The children sured a reader. He has also taught the grade-school level were taught to say their prayers and make the sign of Sunday school for four years. His wife, Diaconisa the cross when arising from sleep, before and after Mary, has also helped lead the left choir, and has taught meals, and also when going to bed. Before going to the high school and college level Sunday school for five sleep, the older children would ask the younger ones, years at the Portland Cathedral. “Did you do your cross on your pillow?” In this fash- Fr. George was approached in 2004 concerning ion, the children obtained an invaluable spiritual becoming a deacon, but decided to wait to become weapon, a prayer rule. Most of the spiritual material in more settled. He was ordained a subdeacon in 2005. In the household was in Greek. Since the older children 2007, The Holy Nativity of the Theotokos Orthodox were able to read Greek, they would read the lives of Church was blessed to become a cathedral. With this the saints and then explain the saint's lives to the blessing came many responsibilities. When Fr. George younger ones in English. His father taught him that no and Diaconisa Mary saw their hierarch, Metropolitan matter where he found himself, he could always pray to Moses, trying to administer to the needs of his far-flung our Saviour for guidance and protection. diocese in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Califor- In the late 80's, his family moved to Maryland, and nia, and Arizona, they knew that the time had come to after some searching, began to attend services at St. accept the call of their hierarch. Cosmas of Aitolia Orthodox Church. Fr. George's eld- Our long suffering Saviour has blessed Fr. George est sister, Maria, (now Maria Fotopoulos, editor of the with loving parents, an orthodox upbringing, a patient St. Cosmas Ladybug) would hold an informal church and loving wife, two beautiful children (another one on school for her younger siblings every Sunday after the way), and many other blessings. When a person is church. His brother Mike would teach them the lives of baptized into the body of Christ, he enters into our Sav- the saints and why was so important for an iour's army and wages war against the evil one. Some Orthodox Christian. are called to the front. May the Theotokos strengthen In his high school years, Fr. George visited the Holy and support Fr. George and all our , , and Transfiguration Monastery in Boston. Through listen- especially our holy hierarchs, the icons of Christ, for ing to talks and experiences of the elders, and becoming they are all struggling at the front lines of this war. acquainted with many of the fathers there, he became Glory be to God for all things! attracted to monasticism. He started to read more

Issue 28, 2007 12 Axios!

Metropolitan Moses with clergy, servers, and the immediate family of Deacon George Psaromatis

Metropolitan Makarios and Hierodeacon Menas who was tonsured and ordained on April 23/May 6, 2007 Issue 28, 2007 13 The Faithful Steward

A Miracle of St. Seraphim in the Republic of Georgia

n 2001, a certain per- answered that it was St. Ison came to our Dor- Seraphim of Sarov, a mition of the Mother of great wonderworking God Church in Tbilisi, father. Then this person Georgia. His wife, said the following: together with her mother, “Last night in my attended a parish of the sleep I had a dream. On Georgian Patriarchate one side I saw a croud of and they were even people that was starting acquainted with a bishop to walk on a road, and of the official church. the road was quite wide. I This person started com- could not recognize any- ing to our church fre- one in that multitude. On quently. He began to the other side I saw a few read the books published people who were about to by our fathers in Georgia start walking on a differ- about the involvement of ent road, but their road the Georgian Patriar- was very rough. In them I chate in the heresy of could recognize faces of ecumenism and he also people that I see here, in gave them to his wife to this church. Suddenly I read. After a while, they saw a man in front of me both felt it necessary to who said, ‘Walk this talk with their bishop way,’ and was pointing to concerning these matters. the road where all of you They were not very were. The man that I saw happy with the outcome in my dream is the Saint of the talk and were not on this icon!” convinced by his argu- It is noteworthy that ments. Still, they could not make the final decision to as this person had only recently started to attend this abandon the official church. church, he had not heard about St. Seraphim. After receiv- One Sunday, before the Divine Liturgy, Fr. Zurab ing such clear instruction from our Holy Father Seraphim, noticed that this person was examining one particular icon he, together with his family, abandoned the Georgian very attentively. It was the icon of St. Seraphim of Sarov. Patriarchate and joined our Church. Fr. Zurab approached him and asked what was the matter. Through the prayers of our Godbearing Father The man asked who this Saint was, and Fr. Zurab Seraphim of Sarov, Lord Jesus Christ our God have mercy on us and save us!

Addendum to the Metropolis of Toronto

SS. Peter and Paul Orthodox Mission Ispas P.O. Box 57 Two Hills, Alberta T0B 4K0 Rector: Presbyter Bohdan Borody

Issue 28, 2007 14 The Faithful Steward

Addendum to the Life of Yiannis Avdicos, 1938–2006 By Mother Macaria

n 2006, The Most Holy Mother of God, Keeper of the years in which the Orthodox Paschal season coin- Ithe Portal, Orthodox Church in cides with the Western Easter cele- Calgary, Alberta had no priest to brations. As a Lenten temptation, serve for Holy Week or Pascha. The there was a mixup in the parishes’ parishioners, however, carried on order to the florist, and neither with the church services as well as palms nor pussywillows could be they could. procured throughout snowy Cal- For Palm Sunday Yiannis Avdi- gary that day, either through cos continued his annual tradition wholesalers or in retail shops. What of making Palm Crosses as he had to do? learned in his youth from his Sevasti produced the basket of mother. He would make enough palm crosses made by Yiannis the crosses so that each parishioner previous year. Fr. David blessed could take one and might remember them and was then able to distrib- the meaning of Palm Sunday, even ute real palm crosses on Palm Sun- though the crosses were not for- day. Yiannis’ love for keeping the mally blessed. This time there was a Church traditions he had learned in surplus of crosses which Yiannis’ his youth, provided us with what wife, Sevasti, stored in a basket in was needed in order that we on the church sanctuary. earth could celebrate with the Church Victorious in Four months after Yiannis’ repose, it was time for oneness of spirit on the Feast of our Lord’s Triumphal Palm Sunday again. Only this year Metropolitan Entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Makarios of Toronto sent Fr. David Belden to serve the Hosana in the highest; blessed is He that cometh in parish, and me to assist in chanting. 2007 was one of the Name of the Lord!

From the Holy Orthodox Metropolis of Boston (HOMB) Start your Nativity or Name days shopping TODAY with publications from HOMB. Learn what Scripture, the Saints and our Holy Fathers have to say on various subjects found in back issues of The True Vine, 47 pamphlets and select books for your reading pleasure. Please contact us and ask for a FREE publications list. We have several ways for you to contact us at your convenience. Our website: http://www.homb.org/ Phone: 617 323-6379 Fax: 617 323-3861 Email: [email protected] Postal address: Holy Orthodox Metropolis of Boston 1476 Centre St. Roslindale, MA 02131-1417

15 Issue 28, 2007 The Faithful Steward

20082008 HOCNAHOCNA ChurchChurch WWallall CalendarsCalendars OnOn SaleSale Now!Now! he Holy Orthodox Metropolis of Boston will be printing the 2008 church wall calendar that St. Nec- tarios Press printed in the past. Orders are now being accepted for next year’s calendar at a cost of T$8.00 plus S/H. Note: Discounts are available. Included with the calendar at no extra charge is a book- let containing the daily Epistle and Gospel readings. We anticipate distribution in October 2007. This will make a great Nativity gift for family and friends. Contact us at (617) 323-6379 or email us at [email protected]

About Our Logo A Divine Confirmation THE DIOCESE NEEDS SUPPORT The cross on our masthead commemorates the miraculous appearance of the sign of the Cross near Athens on Sept. 14 “Every good giving and every perfect gift is from (according to the traditional Orthodox calendar) in 1925. above, and cometh down from the Father of lights” Anti-Orthodox and secularist forces in power in Greece, (James 1:17). The perfect gift is the one that only together with the Ecumenical Patriarchate, had forced the membership in the Church can give: the knowledge changing of the traditional church calendar in 1924 as a of true worship and the grace of the Holy Mysteries. first step toward uniting with the heterodox churches of the But our era suffers from a famine of truth and the West. Shining in the evening sky on the traditional feast true worship of God. In our weak way, we try to feed day of the Exaltation of the Cross, this extraordinary those who hunger for God. Your prayers and your appearance of the Cross is a divine confirmation of Holy donations help the Church in this awe-inspiring min- Tradition in the Orthodox Church and of the calendar as istry. Another way to help is to make a bequest to the one facet of Holy Tradition. Church in your will. Remember that God loves a cheerful giver. Also remember that The Faithful Stew- The Faithful Steward is the official newsletter of the Holy ard, although delivered free of charge to all members Orthodox Church in North America. Under the editorship of our Metropolis, is in need of your support. of Metropolitan Ephraim of Boston, The Faithful Steward appears three times yearly, and is delivered free of charge to the faithful of the Holy Metropolis of Boston. For others, a donation of $1.50 an issue is requested.

Holy Orthodox Metropolis of Boston 1476 Centre St Roslindale, MA 02131-1417 Tel: (617) 323-6379; Fax: (617) 323-3861 Web site: www.homb.org