Saint Nicholas Messenger Mighty in Meekness

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The monthly newsletter of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church —Tacoma, Washington Volume 27, Number 5 MAY 2015 Saint Nicholas Messenger Mighty in Meekness – St. John the Russian May 27 One of the most popular saints among Greeks today is St. John the Russian whose incorrupt relics are the boast of the island of Euboia. The multitudes who visit his shrine are such that there is daily bus service to the shrine from Athens. Countless miracles flow from his relics and icons, and even now-when the spirit of the world is having such an oppres- sive effect on traditional Greek piety--icons of the Saint are often found in buses and in nearly all Orthodox homes. St. John was neither a celebrated hierarch, nor an eloquent theologian, but a simple young man who spent the better part of his life in Inside Messenger a stable. St. John was born in the Announcements 3 south of Russia of pious Orthodox parents. He was May Calendar 4 still young when, in 1711, he took part in the battle Financial Statements 5 against the Turks. Sharing the unhappy fate of many News from our Ministries 5 other Russian soldiers, the Saint was captured and sold as a slave to a Turkish cav- alry commander from the village of Procopion near Building Committee Report 6 Caesarea in Asia Minor. Fanatic in their Moslem beliefs, the Turks inflicted cruel tortures upon their Christian Informational flyers 13 slaves in trying to force them to renounce their faith. While some succumbed to this form of persuasion, many preferred to suffer death and a whole multitude of mar- Stewardship card 19 tyrs was thus added to the heavenly choir. In their mis- guided zeal the Turks would also kidnap the sons of Christians and raise them as fanatical Moslem soldiers. Procopion was the army-camp of these Christian- hating Janissaries and the new slave of the Turkish Agha became a target of their derisions. But neither their insults nor the beatings of his Turkish master were able to shake the faith of the pious Russian youth who confessed outright that he would sooner die than lose what he treasured above all--the holy Orthodox faith. The blessed John was assigned to work in the stable where he was also told to sleep. Recalling the lowly Bethlehem cave and The manger where the Sav- iour of the world first lay His head, the Saint rejoiced in his rude dwelling place. In his humility he regarded his dark corner of the stable as a little paradise where he could freely offer prayer and praise to the true God. The unshakable firmness of his faith, his pa- tience, fortitude, and gentleness of spirit, gradually won the hearts of the Agha and his wife who offered the meek stable boy to sleep in a small room near the hayloft. John, however, preferred to remain in the stable where he could toil more assiduously in the ascetic life, bringing his body into subjection to the spirit according to the Apostle's command. He ate very sparingly and spent long hours in prayer with the Psalms of David continually on his lips. (continued on page 11)

Page Saint Nicholas Messenger MAY 2015 St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church 1523 S Yakima Ave Tacoma, WA 98405 Phone: 253-272-0466 Fax: 253-572-3245 Parish Website: stnicholastacoma.org E-Mail: [email protected]

Sunday Services

8:45 am Orthros 10:00 am Divine Liturgy

Please join us for Social/Coffee Hour in our downstairs hall, following the Divine Liturgy

Fr. Seraphim Majmudar, Our Presiding Priest

For appointments, questions or urgent needs, Fr. Seraphim is available 24/7 on his cell phone. Fr. Seraphim’s Cell phone: 253-365-5817

Office Hours at St Nicholas Thursdays 9:00am - 12:00 noon Email: [email protected]

Saint Nicholas Messenger is the official monthly newsletter of the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church of Tacoma. Editor: Bill Samaras Media team: Paula Karanasos, Rebecca Phillips, Andrew Primis, Bill Samaras, Fr. Seraphim Saint Nicholas Messenger is published monthly on the 25th of each month. Contributors are encour- aged to submit content by the 15th of each month to allow for timely compilation. Saint Nicholas Mes- senger is published in electronic format to the St. Nicholas web page stnicholastacoma.org, and in print for pickup at the parish on Sundays on or after the 25th of each month. Physical mailings are limited to shut-ins and special needs parishioners.

Page 2 Saint Nicholas Messenger MAY 2015 St. Nicholas Ministries AHEPA 2015 Parish Council Hands of Love George Pirotis Andrew Primis —President Merrilee Pangis David Frisk—Vice-President Altar Servers Christina Leinneweber—Treasurer Maids of Athena Bill Samaras—Secretary Debby Lord ,Helen McClure, Dr Nick Themelis Yvonne Brandvold, George Delyanis, Fred Diane Pirotis -Advisors Ehret, Kathy Heiser, Zach Karanasos, Katie McClure- President Bible Study Hariklia Motz, Kelly Rossi Brigid Majmudar- Vice President Paige Mosko- Secretary Fr. Seraphim Reanne Charuhas- Treasurer Greek Folk Dance Building Committee Anastasia Fyntrilakis-Chair & teen Instructor Philia Evy Kontos—Treasurer, Middle Group Instructor Bill Acker Diane Pirotis Kelly Rosati—Beginners Instructor Krisann Firth — Costumes Choir Karen Samaras—Board Member Philoptochos Society Christina Leinneweber Savina Frisk — Secretary Joyce Kalivas-Griffin- President Kathleen Heidal- Vice-President Coffee Hour Adult Group Instructor —George Pirotis Marian Palas- Secretary Savina Frisk Merrilee Pangis- Treasurer Greek School Daughters of Penelope George Pirotis Sunday School Helen McClure- President Rebecca Phillips- Director Ann Koopman- Vice- President GriefShare Yvonne Brandvold- Secretary Dean Hamos Pro Life Evy Kontos- Treasurer Fr. Seraphim Military Service Pilgrimage Fr. Seraphim Zach Karanasos News and Announcements Parish Council Board Meeting The Board meeting for May 2015 will be Tuesday May 12 at 7:00PM in the upper hall. Annual Mother’s Day Luncheon Saturday, May 2. See flyer on page 13. Sanctuary Windows Information Sunday May 3 in the Lower Hall after the Liturgy

The Parish Council will inform parishioners about progress of the sanctuary window replacement project and about decisions that must be made now that inspections are completed. This is not a General Assembly as no votes will be taken. This will be a “town hall” type meeting to inform and educate all about progress and options. Please attend after church on May 3.

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Saint Nicholas Messenger

Sat

12:00pm Mother's Day 12:00pm AHEPA Ed 11:00am Divine Liturgy

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8:00pm w/Vespers 8:00pm Vespers 8:00pm Vespers 9:00pm Catechism 8:00pm Vespers 9:00pm Catechism 8:00pm Vespers 9:00pm Catechism

9:45am 9:45am Orthros

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2 9 16 23 30 Translationof Relics ofthe St. Athanasius the Great 11:00am Luncheon 7:00pm blessingof waters The Holy Prophet (Isaiah)Esaias 7:00pm Theodore the Sanctified 11:00am Foundation 7:00pm 8:00pm Michael the BishopConfessor, of Synnada 7:00pm 8:00pm The Saturday Soulsof 8:45am 10:00am 7:00pm 8:00pm

Fri

11:00am 11:00am Bible Study

7:30am 7:30am Divine Liturgy 7:30am Divine Liturgy 7:30am Orthros 7:30am Orthros

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1 8 15 22 29 FAST: & Oil Wine ok Jeremias the Prophet FAST: & Oil Wine ok John Apostle, the Evangelist, & Theologian 6:30am FAST: & Oil Wine ok Pachomius Great the 6:30am 10:00am Basiliscus the BishopMartyr, of Comana FAST: & Oil Wine ok 6:30am The ofApodosis Feast of the the Holy Ascension 6:30am

Thu

11:00am 11:00am Divine Liturgy

7:30pm Daughters of

7:30am 7:30am Orthros 7:30am Orthros 9:45am Orthros 7:30am Orthros

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7 14 21 28 Commemoration of Precious the thatCross appeared in sky the in over Jerusalem A.D. 351 6:30am Isidore theof Martyr Chios 6:30am 6:30pm Penelope Constantine & Helen Holy Ascension 8:45am 10:00am The HolyEutychius, Hieromartyr Bishopof Melitene 6:30am

Wed

12:30am 12:30am Paschal Orthros

8:00pm Paraklesis 8:00pm Paraklesis 8:00pm Great Vespers: 8:00pm to Paraklesis St

7:30am 7:30am Divine Liturgy 7:30am Divine Liturgy

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May 2015 May

6 13 20 27 FAST: & Oil Wine ok Mid Pentecost 6:30am 7:00pm FAST: & Oil Wine ok The HolyGlyceria Martyr 7:00pm Apodosisof Pascha FAST: & Oil Wine ok 12:00am & Divine Liturgy 7:00pm Ascension John Russian the 6:30am 7:00pm John Russian the

Access latest content at:content www.stnicholastacoma.org latest Access

Tue

12:00am Paschal Orthros 1:00pm Philia

11:00am 11:00am Bible Study 11:00am WOCA: Ss 11:00am Bible Study 11:00am Bible Study

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8:00pm Philoptochos Mtg 8:00pm Parish Council

7:30am 7:30am Orthros 7:30am Orthros 7:30am Orthros

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5 12 19 26 Ephraim the New Irene the Great Martyr 10:00am 6:00pm Epiphanius, ofBishop Cyprus 6:30am 10:00am Joachim & Anna, Seattle (Washington Orthodox Clergy Association (WOCA) is a Pan Orthodox br) 7:00pm the& Patrick Bishop Hieromartyr of Prusa and His Fellow Martyrs Acacius, Menander, and Polyae- nus 6:30am 10:00am 11:30pm & Divine Liturgy Carpos & Alphaeus, ofApostles the 70 6:30am 10:00am 12:00pm

the

martyr of martyr Tarsus

Mon

12:00pm Cemetery

8:00pm EphraimVespers: 8:45pm EveningLiturgy:

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4 11 18 25 Notes: Pelagia the Nun 7:00pm the New & Irene 7:45pm Ephraim theIrene New & Methodius & Cyril, Equal Apostles Illuminatorsof the Slavs Holy Peter, Dionysius, Martyrs: Andrew, Paul, Christina, Hera- clius, Paulinus and Benedimus MEMORIAL DAY 11:00am Blessing

Sun

1:00pm Festival Mtg 1:00pm Sun School staff 1:30pm Festival Mtg

11:00am 11:00am Divine Liturgy 12:30pm Team Anasta- 11:00am Divine Liturgy 11:00am Divine Liturgy 11:00am Divine Liturgy 12:30pm Team Yvonne 11:00am Divine Liturgy 12:30pm Team Diane

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2:30pm (afterVespers

9:45am 9:45am Orthros 9:45am Orthros 9:45am Orthros 9:45am Orthros 9:45am Orthros

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3 10 17 24 31 Sunday theof Paralytic Town Hall:WindowProject 8:45am 10:00am 11:30am sia B coffee hour Daughters of Penelope Mother's Coffee Hr Day Sunday theof Samaritan Woman 8:45am 10:00am Coffee Hour: AHEPA Family Fundraiser for St Nicholas Ground Zero Sunday the of Man Blind 8:45am 10:00am 12:00pm Fathers of the Council1st 8:45am 10:00am 11:30am coffee hour 12:00pm meeting Holy Pentecost 8:45am 10:00am w/ prayers kneeling 11:30am coffee hour 12:30pm 1:30pm Fest. mtg)

Page 4 Saint Nicholas Messenger MAY 2015 News and Announcements Financial Statement—Through March 2015

Mar 2015 Budget Difference Jan-Feb 15 YTD Budget Difference Annual Budget Stewardship 17,955.00 21,600.00 -3,645.00 -17% 55,449.00 60,800.00 -5,351.00 -9% 225,000.00 Festival 45.00 0.00 45.00 n/a 260.00 0.00 260.00 n/a 240,000.00 Other 2,813.46 4,092.50 -1,279.04 -31% 10,930.45 9,787.50 1,142.95 12% 52,550.00 Total Revenue 20,813.46 25,692.50 -4,879.04 -19% 66,639.45 70,587.50 -3,948.05 -6% 517,550.00

Festival 0.00 0.00 0.00 n/a 0.00 0.00 0.00 n/a 135,000.00 Other 29,393.56 31,449.00 -2,055.44 -7% 66,568.10 83,815.00 -17,246.90 -21% 307,920.00 Total Expense 29,393.56 31,449.00 -2,055.44 -7% 66,568.10 83,815.00 -17,246.90 -21% 442,920.00

NET INCOME -8,580.10 -5,756.50 -2,823.60 -49% 71.35 -13,227.50 13,298.85 101% 74,630.00 Christina Leinneweber –Council Treasurer

Festival 2015 Festival 2015: Please submit your charitable organization choices for 2015 Festival to the church office or Krisann Firth or Merrilee Pangis. We will be accepting charitable organization choices until May 10th and then the festival committee will ask parishioners to vote on May 17th for the 2015 charitable organization to receive 5% of the net proceeds of the festival for community outreach. The Festival Core Group are starting early this year and planning ahead. The Greek Festival this year will be held on October 2, 3, and 4th, 2015. If you have worked Â in a food booth, day baking work party or are interested in volunteering in a booth please see the following Core Group members to volunteer and sign up. The Core Group members this year are: Krisann Firth, Sally Hallis, Richard Heidal, Christina Lein- neweber, John Pangis, Merrilee Pangis, and Kelly Rossi, Parish Council Liaision.

Ministry News

Coffee Hour

All parishioners (including visitors) are welcome to attend Coffee Hour immediately after the Divine Lit- urgy every Sunday in the lower hall. If you’re new to St. Nicholas, please introduce yourself and have some refreshments. Upcoming Coffee Hour Sponsors May 3 Team Anastasia B. May 10 Daughters of Penelope Mother's Day Coffee Hour May 17 AHEPA Family Fundraiser for St. Nicholas Ground Zero May 24 Team Yvonne May 31 Team Diane Please check the church web page calendar at stnicholastacoma.org for the most up to date schedules. Savina Frisk — Coffee Hour Page 5 Saint Nicholas Messenger MAY 2015 Ministry News

Building Committee THE WALL CUTTING BEGINS:

Last week asbestos testing was done by Sound Environmental at Saint Nicholas Church in targeted locations. The good news is that with the exception of chalking on existing windows, no asbestos was found in the Sanctuary space. The bad news is that skim coatings over the north and south stairwell walls that lead to the balcony tested positive. Part of the pre-construction investigation will be to determine whether the asbestos containing coatings can remain in place and undisturbed when replacing the stairwell windows, or if some of it is going to have to be removed. Also, a pre-application permit meeting was held with the City of Tacoma. The good news is we were able to have our proposed work considered a repair project, which means the entire Sanctuary space will not be required to be upgraded to meet full current code compliance, as that would be unfeasibly messy, in- trusive and unaffordable to do. A possible nuisance that came up during the meeting however is a fairly new “transparency” regulation, which deals with a minimum ratio of exterior wall glazing required on a commercial building that faces a major street arterial. We are reasonably confident we will be able to get a waiver on it since this is just a repair project, and we are awaiting an outcome, which we are hopeful to have well before the next Mes- senger issue. Multiple walk-throughs have now taken place in the church with Korsmo Construction, the selected pre- construction contractor, and Akiyama Architecture. During the week of April 27th wall cuts and investigation will done in the Sanctuary interiors and other selected locations. The purpose is to first see what the existing conditions really are behind the wall finishes, which will in large part dictate the specifics of proposed construction detailing, and second, to get a better handle of if, and to what extent there may be moisture damage taking place. Cutting will start on Monday 4/27, and temporary painted covers will be placed over them by the end of Friday 5/1 in order to have the Sanctuary ready to hold Liturgy that weekend. Anyone who may be show- ing up at church during the days of that week are asked to stay clear of the contractor and architect as best they can, and allow them to do their work undisturbed. So that is what has been going on during the last few weeks. Photos of what is found inside the Sanctu- ary walls will likely be posted in the next issue of the Messenger, along with more updated information. The real-world ball is finally starting to roll and things are getting exciting. Again, as stated in the last issue of the Messenger, the critical benchmark goal is to have new windows field measured and ordered no later than August 15th in order to have to them onsite and ready for installation around mid-October after the Greek Festival. Bill Acker—

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Philia

The next "Philia" gathering will be May 26, at noon after Bible Study - Please meet at Church and we will carpool to the "Spaghetti Factory". Contact Yvonne Brandvold, if you have any questions. Diane Pirotis— Hands of Love

The May dates selected for Hands of Love members to meet will be May 7th, Thursday and May 21, Thursday at 11:00 a.m. in the downstairs hall. Please contact Merrilee Pangis or Krisann Firth if you would like more information about our ministry. The group is also accepting any new handmade items to be sold on a craft table at the Greek Festival in October 2015. Please submit your handmade items by September 27, 2015.

Merllee Pangis—

Bible Study We continue our study of Genesis, with several guests and friends attending various sessions. Truly an amazing group of thinkers and theologians!  Noah’s “ark” in Greek is actually “tetragonon” which really means a four sided floating structure  the size of a cubit, or it’s alternate version, the royal cubit (ie, it’s the dis- tance of the elbow joint to the hand)  the purpose of having pairs for all the animals, but the unique number of seven pairs of the clean cattle on the ark (ie, for sacrifice after the flood)  the source of water was reservoirs hidden in the earth, which the Lord “pierced” and poured out, in a foreshadowing of the Lord’s side pierced by a spear on the Cross  a “bag of waters” suspended over the earth, which up to then had not been punctured. Hence, the rainbow after the flood abates, since it was the first time the sun’s rays struck the earth in as direct a fashion.

Fr. Seraphim—

Pilgrimage Ministry UPCOMING PILGRIMAGES: 2015: Greece/Asia Minor 2017: San Francisco 2019: Holy Land/Cyprus Please see the updated flyer in the back of this issue.

Zach Karanasos—

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Military Service Ministry

Ministry MILITARY OUTREACH Shepherd Clara Howard Assistants Gus Chamales, Chrysanthe Barnes PC Liason Fr Seraphim

Purpose  Provide support & recognition to parishoners & families of active & retired military personnel  Provide outreach to Orthodox JBLM personnel through periodic events on post Activities  Sunday liturgy blessings for deploying or returning personnel  Coffee hour food & recognition for above events  Meals, presents, & support for families of deployed personnel  Annual Veteran’s Day program at church & national cemetery blessing afterwards  hold periodic Bible Studies or spiritual discussions pertinent to military issues on post at JBLM for Orthodox personnel stationed there  prayers & spiritual support at Madigan Hospital for Orthodox personnel in need  encouragement & support in drawing JBLM personnel to parish life at St. Nicholas Special Notes While ministry will be occurring on base (in accordance with customary practices of military ministry around the Archdiocese) the ministry team will not be creating a “parallel parish” on base. (for example, the celebration of Divine Liturgy will not be taking place on base; however, discussions about the ethics of warfare, presentations on the lives of soldier-saints, private confessions/counseling, support for PTSD and related issues will occur on base) The purpose is to minister to military personnel on base as appropriate to the setting, while encouraging actual sacramental participation in the parish community of St Nicholas.

Fr. Seraphim—

The Philoptochos MOTHER’S DAY TEA – MAY 2ND SALLY HALLIS CHAIR GRADUATION COFFEE HOUR – JUNE 14TH FATHERS DAY BREAKFAST – JUNE 21ST

Still reading Messenger in 1950’s black and white? View the full color prettier version on-line at www.stnicholastacoma.org

Page 8 Saint Nicholas Messenger MAY 2015 Ministry News

PRO LIFE SPOTLIGHT: THE GABRIEL PROJECT Fr Seraphim & parishioners from St Nicholas are getting more involved with this wonderful, ecumenical ministry to mothers who choose life. The excel- lent folks at St Andrew’s Catholic Church in Sumner have become an established GP ministry in the South Sound, and are helping our folks do what they can.

The Gabriel Project is a parish-based crisis pregnancy intervention program. Gabriel parishes identify themselves as willing to help mothers or couples struggling with unplanned or difficult situations surrounding a pregnancy. When a mom or couple comes forward needing help the parish responds with unconditional love and support.

The Gabriel team is made up of volunteers who are in good standing in the parish, are well-grounded spiritually, and are dedicated to growing even deeper in their faith to respond to the challenges and de- mands of the ministry. Amidst the Gabriel volunteers are also specially trained women called "angels" who live out a like-with-like ministry by bringing Christ to mom in friendship and support throughout the pregnancy. Gabriel volunteers and "angels" work collaboratively with other ministries within the parish in order to bring the best possible care to those seeking help.

See Fr Seraphim for more details.

Daughters of Penelope

 May 10th--Mother's Day Coffee Hour, Daughters of Penelope to host. Contact: Evy Kontos.

 Next meeting :May 14th 6:30 Pm. Upper hall @ St. Nicholas. We will be holding elections for the New 2015/ 2016 Board. If you would like to run for an office , please contact Sally Hallis.

 May 15th Friday lunch to honor past Daughters President Deborah Cassidy-- 1pm. Location to be an- nounced. Coordinator: Helen McClure (price( $15.00)

 May 17th- AHEPA- Sunday Coffee Hour- Daughters and Ahepans to host. Contact: Helen McClure

 National AHEPA CONVENTION--San Francisco- July 1 to July 5th

Maids of Athena Joint Kick Off luncheon with the Daughters and Maids May 3rd, 1pm at the Old Spaghetti Factory. This is a no host lunch, a kick-off for Fish Food Network. Please bring a non- perishable food item. Maids Vice- president Brigid Majmudar will collect food. Please RSVP to Helen McClure- Icaria #175 President-253-589-3279 or [email protected]

Helen Z. McClure—

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Altar Servers Our vision: to be men of prayer, serving God with humility.

Christ is Risen! We just completed the inimitable services of Lent, Holy Week, Pascha and Bright Week, and we’re tired! The servers learned a tremendous number of things this year, especially with the special visit of His Grace, Bishop Apostolos, on Holy Tues- day.

Here’s a brief list: *how to serve with a bishop *”mirror censing” (a special priest-altar server incensing pattern) at Presanctified *how to serve at baptisms in the Puget Sound *standing for long gospel readings on Holy Thursday night *Paschal processions *Lazarus Saturday complete church/altar cleaning party Fr Seraphim—

Greek School

Classes will resume on June 3, 2015 (due to Pascha Liturgies and George's vacation) The "GREEK SCHOOL" continues successfully and is open to everyone that is interested to learn the Greek Language, History and Culture! Teacher:- George Pirotis (206-841-5705) Purpose: The purpose of the Greek School is to promote the Greek let- ters, language, culture, and civilization. The classes are open to all parishioners independent of age (this may change if it is needed). Stu- dents will learn grammar and “Conversational Greek”. Yearly events and possible student involvement: Αγιασμος (Blessing) of the class in the beginning of the School year. Schedule: Classes will resume on June 3, 2015 (due to Pascha Litur- gies and George's vacation) Wednesdays from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Cost: The classes will be provided free of charge.

George Pirotis—

Camp Agape Camp Agape NW is an extraordinary summer camp for kids with cancer and their families coordinated by the Philoptochos' of St. Demetrios, Church of the Assumption, St. Nicholas and Holy Apostles. If you would like to volunteer as a counsellor, kitchen help, set-up team, or nursing staff - please send your application in by April 15. Volunteer dates are July 18-25, 2015. Join us for this life-changing experience - Info. and applications at: www.campagapenw.org Page 10 Saint Nicholas Messenger MAY 2015

(continued from page 1) Weekly he prepared himself to partake of the Most Holy Mysteries in a nearby church, for he knew that without the strength of Christ he was powerless to persevere on the path of the true Faith. At night he would secretly go and keep vigil in the narthex of the church. The Lord rewarded the labors of His faithful servant and through him bestowed blessings also upon his Turkish master who became one of the wealthy and powerful men of Procopion. The Agha understood the cause of his new prosperity and did not shrink from telling it to his fellow citizens. Once the Agha undertook a pilgrimage to Mecca, the city most sacred to the Moslems. While he was away, his wife invited friends and relatives to pray for the Agha's safe return from such an arduous jour- ney. As they were getting ready to eat. the mistress turned to John, who was serving at the table, and said, "How much pleasure your master would have, Gavan, if he were here now and ate this pilaff with us!" The pilaff, a common grain dish of the Middle East, was a favorite with the Agha. Wishing the best for his master and firmly believing in the almighty power of God, John asked for a plate full of pilaff from his mistress, saying that he would send it to his master in Mecca. The guests laughed but the mistress asked the cook to comply with the youth's request, thinking that he would take it to some poor Christian family as was his custom. Those who are familiar with the Gospel should not be astonished at what happened next, for did the Lord not say that faith as small as a mustard seed is enough to move mountains? Strong in his faith, the blessed one returned with the plate of pilaff to the stable and, as he was petitioning the Lord, in answer to his firm entreaty, the plate disappeared. What was the amazement of the entire household when the Agha finally returned from Mecca bringing with him the copper plate which had held the food. He had been equally astonished to discover the steaming plate of pilaff upon his return from the Mosque to the locked room where he was staying. Still greater was his confusion when he realized that the copper plate was engraved with his initials--just as all the vessels in his house. "For the sake of Allah, I cannot under- stand how it came even unto Mecca and who brought it!" When his wife told him of John's request, they recognized the strange occurrence to be a miracle of God, and henceforth all considered John as a righteous man who had found favor with God. Once again the Agha and his wife tried to persuade the blessed one to change his dwelling place, but the Saint preferred to remain among the animals, willingly fulfilling his duties and continuing steadfast in his ascetic struggles. · He persevered in this manner of life until, after a few years, he became ill. Foreseeing his end, he called for a priest and asked to partake of the Holy Mysteries. Fearing the fanaticism of the Turks, the priest did not want to bring the Holy Mysteries openly to the stable, but receiving wisdom from above, he thought to hollow out an apple; lining the cavity with beeswax, he placed the Holy Mysteries inside and was thus able to safely bring Communion to the Saint. Upon receiving the immaculate Body and Blood of the Lord, the blessed one surrendered his holy soul into the hands of God Whom he loved so much. He reposed on the 27 of May, 1730, having spent some forty years in this temporal vale of sin and sorrow. The Saint was given a Christian burial by order of the Agha who, as a token of his love and great re- spect for the Saint, gave an expensive cloth to cover his relics. Three years later a light appeared over the tomb which was seen by many. At the same time, the Saint appeared in a dream to his father confessor revealing that it was the will of God that his relics be exhumed, for his body was incorrupt. Until 1924 the relics were kept in the church of St. George there in Procopion. When, however, the exchange of population took place between Greece and Turkey, and many of the Christian inhabitants of Procopion were re- settled on the island of Euboia, the relics of their beloved St. John were also moved and were received with great acclaim and veneration by the Greeks who built a majestic temple in his honor there in the village of New Procopion. To this day, streams of pious Greek pilgrims make their way to this village on the island of Euboia, where the Saint answers the faith of their earnest petitions with his strong and quick intercession before the throne of God. (continued on page 12)

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(continued from page 11) SOME MIRACLES OF SAINT JOHN The Saint performed many wonders even after his blessed repose. A descendent of the Agha told many of the following miracle: "My children would not live except for a short time, and would die while yet in- fants. Their unfortunate mother, after she had lost hope in the wisdom of medicine, fled without my knowledge to the relics of the slave John, so that be might grant her a little child which would not die while yet young, so that we also might rejoice to see it as a young man or even a young girl .... In truth the righteous John heard the supplication of my wife. God granted us a strong little boy whom we called, as you know, Kole Guvan Oglu (that is, "Son of the Slave John"), and he lives through the power of God and the prayers of John even until today." Several times St. John has appeared in dreams and visions warning of impending dangers. Once he warned some Greek school children that the roof was about to fall; they had time enough to jump under- neath their desks and when the roof fell, its beams came down upon the desks without striking even one of the children. More recently we have heard about the miraculous healings of two severe cases of meningitis – one a 19 year old shepherd boy in southern Greece and the other a 3-year old boy in London. Today a part of the right hand of St. John is enshrined in a special silver reliquary in the Holy Transfigura- tion Monastery, Boston, where many people come to venerate it and to ask the prayers of this simple Confessor of the Christian faith, knowing that the Lord – Who resisteth the proud – hears speedily the prayers of the meek. (Based on a Life by Photios Kontoglou. The Orthodox Word, June-July, 1967)

ANNUAL CAMP CLEAN-UP AT ALL SAINTS CAMP

Saturday, May 2nd

10:00 am to 3:00 pm

Please join us at All Saints Camp on Saturday, May 2nd from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm for our annual camp clean-up!

We will be organizing our storage, power washing, painting, washing windows, fixing-up trails- the list is endless! Bring your work gloves, gardening tools and your friends for a fun day of giving back.

Encourage your friends and neighbors to help out, EVERYONE IS WELCOME!

Sign-Up Here: http://goo.gl/GeGEpC

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PILGRIMAGE TO GREECE & ASIA MINOR

Join Reverend Fr. Seraphim Majmudar of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church of Tacoma, Washington on an unforgettable Spiritual Odyssey! OCTOBER 2015

GREECE Our Pilgrimage will take us to the the most important sites in northern Greece. Enjoy a tour of Thessaloniki including the Cathedral of St. Demetrios, the museum, Moni Vlatadon, Osios David and the Metropolitan Cathedral. Partake in the celebrations for the feast day of St Demetrios. Afterwards, the men will spend a few nights on Holy Mount Athos while the women will enjoy a private cruise around the legendary Byzantine monasteries of Mt. Athos and visits to Amfipoli, Ekosefenesa Monasery, cave of Alistrate, Serres and Prodromou and Ormelyia Monasteries with some free time to relax and enjoy the sea side town of Ouranopoulis. The women will pick up the men as they return from Mt. Athos and continue to the town of Kavala. Visit Philippi and Ancient Neopolis. Cross the Greek-Turkish border.

ASIA MINOR: Constantinople & Cappadocia In Turkey and take a ferry ride on the Sea of Marmara to the Island of Marmara. From the fall of the Byzantine Empire to the years directly following World War I, the island was almost exclusively populated by Greek Orthodox Greeks. During World War I much of the population was forced off of the island onto the mainland. Continue to Constantinople, the heart of Orthodoxy. Visit the 17th century Greek Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarchate. Pray at the St George Cathedral and venerate the Holy Relics of Saints Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom and the relics of the three female Saints - Euphemia, Solomone and Theophano. Participate in a private audience with His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (subject to his availability). Visit the most important sites for the Greek Orthodox in Constantinople: Agia Sophia, the Church of the Holy Savior of Chora, Baloukli Monastery and Panagia Blacherna were the beautiful hymn, “Te Ypermacho” was chanted over 1,400 years ago and the Grand Bazaar. Take a private ferry and buggy ride to the island of Halki, home of the renowned Halki Patriarchal School of Theology. Afterwards, visit the mystical city of Cappadocia which was a refuge for persecuted early Christians and home to many important saints such as St. Basil. See the rocky moonscape of Cappadocia where early Christians carved out caves and churches decorated with coned ceilings, graceful columns and impressive frescoes. See the Zelve Valley and the Goreme Open Air Museum with its world famous Dark Church. Descend into the incredible underground city of Kaymaki. Visit Sinnassos with its many churches such as St.Basil’s church and the Church of Constantine & Eleni.

FOR FUTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: More information will be coming in the weekly bulletin Zach Karansos Email: [email protected] home:253-752-5352 work: 206-223-1461

Cloud Tours Inc. 31-09 Newtown Ave. Long Island City, NY 11102 Tel: 718-721-3808 Toll Free 800-223-7880 Fax: 718-795-4356 Email: [email protected]

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Are you sick & tired of being sick & tired of living from paycheck to paycheck? Are you stress-out about your debts? Do you want to leave a legacy of generous giving & retire with dignity? Can you imagine paying cash for your next car or vacation & your only reoccurring monthly bills are for groceries and utilities?

Come & attend Financial Peace University for a positive change.

What is Financial Peace University: We all need a plan for our money. Financial Peace University (FPU) is that plan! It teaches God’s ways of handling money. Through video teaching, class discussions and interactive small group activities, FPU presents biblical, practical steps to get from where you are to where you’ve dreamed you could be. This plan will show you how to get rid of debt, manage your money, spend and save wisely, and much more!

FPU classes meet for around an hour and a half each week for nine weeks. In 9 lessons, you'll learn to take control of your money, invest for the future, and give like never before. On average, FPU graduates pay off $5,300 in debt and save $2,700 in only the first 90 days for an $8,000 turnaround!

Classes will start on Thursday, May 21 and continue on Thursdays until July 16.

Who is Dave Ramsey: Dave Ramsey is America’s trusted voice on money and business. His nationally syndicated radio program, The Dave Ramsey Show, is heard by more than 5 million listeners each week on more than 500 radio stations throughout the United States. Dave’s New York Times best-selling books—Financial Peace, More Than Enough and The Total Money Makeover—have sold more than 7 million copies combined, and his latest best-seller, EntreLeadership, debuted at number one on the New York Times best-seller list. By age 26, Dave had established a $4 million real estate portfolio, only to lose it all by age 30. Following his bankruptcy, Dave set out to learn God’s ways of handling money. Using the wisdom he gained, he rebuilt his financial life. Dave now devotes himself to teaching others how to be responsible with their money so they can retire with dignity and give generously to others.

For futher information: See the promotional video on May 3 or May 10 after Church in the upper hall, or contact Zach or (soon to be) Daphne Karanasos.

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St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church 1523 S Yakima Ave Tacoma, WA 98405 Address Service Requested

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