THE FLAME HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL Monthly Newsletter
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THE FLAME HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL Monthly Newsletter Volume 4, Issue 4 April 2014 Education, Cultural, and Youth Ministries Committee Completes New Project Greek Pavilion at Children’s World’s Fair — A Smashing Success! By Steven E. Psarellis, Committee Chairman The Holy Trinity Cathedral family celebrated Greek Independence Day, as well as recognized the Church’s 150 years history, at the 2014 Children’s World’s Fair, a city-wide function that took place on Saturday, March 22, at the Louisiana Children’s Museum. Personally, it was especially gratifying to witness the entire community participate in a completely new and exciting project that encompassed children, youth, young adults, and not so young adults, working as a team to affirm to the greater New Orleans residents that the Holy Trinity Cathedral members were, are, and will remain one of the brightest colors in this city’s quilt of cultures. I am indebted to the parishioners and friends, who encouraged the Education, Cultural, and Youth Ministries Committee (ECYM) to undertake the project, and to all contributing team players, who ultimately made this endeavor a huge success. Their efforts and support prompt me to provide a summary of what occurred during this one day event and to recognize the efforts of those who made it possible. The 2014 Children’s World’s Fair presented a once in a lifetime opportunity for Holy Trinity members to showcase the community to the general New Orleans population while also celebrating its unique culture. The parish was invited to set up a Greek pavilion on the first floor of the Children’s Museum, providing crafts for the children, small tastes of Greek food, traditional Greek dancing, and any other offerings that would define its ethnicity. Coincidently, the World’s Fair fundraiser was scheduled the same weekend that the Greek School children traditionally celebrate Greek Independence Day. When various members of the Holy Trinity Cathedral family were approached in the early planning stages of this project, the Committee received only positive reinforcement and eager commitments for total participation. First to jump on board were the Hellenic Dancers, who entertained the patrons and guests with traditional folk dances in the museum’s auditorium. Additionally, the 150 th Anniversary Committee and the Keepers of the Faith— Archives Committee enthusiastically prepared a booth that featured Holy Trinity’s 150 years history. Rounding out the equation, Koula Vennis on behalf of the Cathedral Montessori School offered immediate input on crafts that tied into the theme of the World’s Fair: Waters of the World. Her efforts brought much joy to the children. The undersigned commissioned a new mural, which an artist drew and my office assistant Lauren Labostrie spent countless hours painting. It served as a backdrop where numerous guests t 1200 ROBERT E. LEE BOULEVARD – NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA 70122 First Greek Orthodox Church in North and South America Continued from previous page had their pictures taken with the Hellenic Dancers. These core elements Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral effectively served as the basis of the exhibition. 1200 Robert E. Lee Boulevard New Orleans, Louisiana 70122 Seeking additional components to enhance the venture, the ECYM Committee 504.282.0259 – Fax 504.283.5586 holytrinitycathedral.org concurred that the young guests would love to receive a gift from the Greek pavilion. In true Hellenic fashion, our volunteers made every child an Olympic Liturgical Services winner, crowning him or her with laurel leaves tied together in the traditional Sundays – Orthros 8:45 am Divine Liturgy 10:00 am fashion. The presentation was an instant sensation as was another unique, well Weekdays (when scheduled) 9:00 am received craft that involved helping the young guests write their names with Interim Clergy Greek characters by tracing the alphabet on a light table. Reverend Father Dean Gigicos 504-282-0259 Projects such as these often reveal the untapped creativity and energy within the Chanters: Petros Demarinis, Demetrios Pappas Holy Trinity community. This particular event especially brought out the artistic Choir Director : Alex Tiliakos best in one of our family members, so much so that the Children’s Museum staff incorporated her work in the gift bags prepared for the Museum’s patrons. Of 2014 PARISH COUNCIL President : Steven E. Psarellis course, I am referring to Vickie Catsulis, whose creation, Spartapup , became an 1st Vice President : W. Paul Andersson instant hit. Vickie prepared a children’s coloring book, whose leading character 2nd Vice President: Constandinos Vennis took a child through Greek traditions and history and concluded by inviting Treasurer : Socrates Toras everyone to the annual Greek Festival New Orleans. Aside from its artistic Secretary: Vladimir Ammons excellence, the book became a major marketing tool for the community. I invite Members: Petros Christakis, Konstantinos Frezoulis, Manoli Ioannidis, Panagiotis all of you to come by the Hellenic Cultural Center and pick up your copy of Patselikos, Elias Tsatalios, and Ginny Zissis Spartapup , the puppy that’s dressed as an evzone! Through the efforts of Jesus Ramirez, aka George Ramirez’s father, the booklet was printed practically free The Flame: Editor, Victoria Catsulis of cost. EDUCATION Speaking of creativity, what a fabulous job Vicki McCallef did in undertaking the Greek School mammoth task of preparing food for 1,500 people! Not only did she prepare Instructor: Fay Kalergi Hymnology small tastes of Greek food for the large crowd, she made certain that the food Instructor: Viki Moustoukas retained our Lenten religious restrictions. Her game plan was brilliant: dolmades, Sunday School orzo with tomato sauce, and fanouropita for dessert. The parents loved the Following Holy Communion Director: Patrick Latour dolmades, the children devoured the orzo and returned for seconds and ORGANIZATIONS Acolytes and Readers thirds, and the dessert was Coordinator: Vladimir Ammons favored by all generations. AHEPA: President, Socrates Toras Daughters of Penelope Needless to say, the President: Barbara Stavis Wolf crowning jewel that Education, Cultural, and Youth Ministries afternoon was the Greek Chairman: Steven E. Psarellis School students presenting GOYA their Greek Independence Coordinators: Maria Michailakis and Maria Patselikos Day program. To assist the President: Sophia Marathonitis parents and children with transportation logistics, a school bus was chartered. It Advisors: Maria Stokes, Argeta Labatut, picked them up at church and returned them there after the show. And, what a Despina Patselikos, Lenna Korominas show it was! Under the direction of Greek School Director Fay Kalergi, the Greek Hellenic Dancers: Coordinator, Vivi Demarinis Holy Trinity Soccer School children made the community proud by presenting in both Greek and Director: Katerina Tsatsoulis Sutton English the reason our parish was celebrating Greek Independence Day, as well HOPE/JOY (age 11 and under) as our Greek Orthodox presence in New Orleans for a century and a half. With Coordinator: Vicki Mantikos McCallef moving introductions by Nancy Bakamitsou, the audience in the auditorium, Advisors: Angeliki Frezoulis, comprised of Greek parents and non-Greek visitors, was introduced to our Sina Lawrence, Donna Venturatos Philoptochos: President:, Connie Tiliakos ethnic history. A special thanks to the participating students and to their parents, PTA: President, Katerina Tsatoulis Sutton who prepared the young thespians for the production. Real Estate Committee Chairperson: John Salles-Tsatsoulis And, with that, I would like to give specific thanks to those, who contributed to St. Markella of Chios: this important Education, Cultural, and Youth Ministries program, beginning President: Maria Anastasiou with the school children. The lists that follow on the next page are in Support: Secretary, Victoria Catsulis alphabetical order, and the directors or chairpersons for each group are Maintenance : Dimitri Vatakis 2 identified. GREEK SCHOOL GREEK CUISINE SATURDAY VO LUNTEERS Fay Kalergi, Director Vickie McCallef, Chairperson Maria Anastasiou Nancy Bakamitsou, Narrator Olga Christakis Marion Bakamitsou Rania Mantikos Keely Byrne GREEK SCHOOL PLAY CAST Victoria Catsulis Aristides Bakamitsos SPARTAPUP Petros Christakis Eugenia Bakamitsos Dawn-Rachel Harvey Konstantinos Chouliaris Victoria Catsulis, Artist and Author Damaris Jimenez James Commagere Jesus Ramirez, Printing John Jimenez Olivia Commagere Popi Kountouroudas Theodore Commagere VIDEO PRESENTATION Lauren Labostrie Panteli Frezoulis Terry Marathonitis Charlotte Lin Alexandros Kountouroudas Anthony McCallef Crystal Makridakis Vicki McCallef FRIDAY SET UP CREW Zoe McCallef Maggie Maag George Ramirez Dawn-Rachel Harvey Popi Michailakis Sofia Rico Damaris Jimenez Hollie Montero Alexi Sotiropoulos Chrisovalantis Kountouroudas Koula Spetsiotis Lucas Sotiropoulos Lauren Labostrie Jan Weiner Dimitrios Spetsiotis Costa Vennis Georgia Zervoudis Dimitrios Stratikis Koula Vennis Ginny Zissis Panayiota Vatakis Styliani Vatakis Maria Vennis HELLENIC DANCERS Manoli Ioannidis, Director Markella Bilalis Christine Broadaway Angeliki Kleamenakis Anna Malachias Jacquelyn Pembo Elena Plakotaris The Committee extends a special thank you to the Greek Festival Committee, Dawn-Rachel Harvey, Choice Copy Service, and the Louisiana Children’s Museum for their financial contributions. Finally, this program would not have been possible without