The-Logos-JAN FEB-2018
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Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America ~ Metropolis of Detroit The Logos Nativity of The Virgin Mary Jan./Feb. 2018, Volume 2, No. 1 Our Unsung Hero: Gust Varlamos Interview on Page 3 Lenten Service Schedule & Events See Full Listing on Page 6 In Loving Memory: Fr. Charles Sarelis A Life of Dignity and Service. See Page 8-9 Sunday of The Prodigal Son, February 4th The Logos Parish Council News The Nativity Parish Council meets examples are iconography, on a monthly basis and your current replacement windows, social hall council has an action list that is expansion, outbuilding storage, comprised of some 50 plus items. and mortgage elimination to name These represent historical items, a few. Each committee will be newer items brought forth at last guided. Committee results will be year’s strategic planning session and fed back into the Parish Council for those mentioned at Parish General prioritizing and execution planning. Assembly meetings. As you have seen in the past year, there is an In the next few months a list of Parish Priest increase in activity related to projects the top initiatives and goals for the Rev. Father Nick Marcus and there is a focus on completing as parish will be published. To help Cell (616) 328-3143 many as possible in the current year. these projects evolve in a timely way, [email protected] the Parish Council may ask you to Prioritizing our action list and join a particular committee. If so, ensuring that the Parish Council please seriously consider accepting Pastoral Assistant meets the needs of a growing this invitation as an opportunity to William Smith, M.DIV parish demands much time. Several serve your parish, knowing that your projects require research into the contribution will greatly improve Cell (586) 942-6625 materials, costs and the order of our ability to realize our goals and [email protected] implementation to make both fiscal that your efforts will be sincerely and technical sense. For example, a appreciated. long term initiative is to add to our Services beautiful iconography, however, Last, we would like to welcome Mr. Sunday without first addressing the state Bill Madias to the Parish Council 8:45am Orthros of the windows and their lack of and thank Irene Melabiotis for her 10:00am Divine Liturgy UV protection, this could pose a spirited service the last 2 years. problem. So working in a logical Wednesday order is required, and prudent, as our Executive board elections were held 7:00pm Paraklesis parishioners do fund these projects last month and all appointments and the PC has fiscal responsibility remain the same as last year: to our parishioners. Office 2018 Executive Board Kathy Kyriacou, Admin The Parish Council has identified President: Louis Poulos Office (734) 420-0131 many of our parishioners who Vice President: Dr. Angelo Patsalis [email protected] have special talents and whom we Treasurer: Nancy Vardouniotis Monday - Friday, 10am to 2pm believe will be helpful members of Secretary: Golfo Wernette committees to carry out some of the research and planning work as Yours in Christ, Nativity Bookstore described above. Some committee Nativity Parish Council & Fr. George Vaporis Library Hours Tuesday - Saturday, 10am to 2pm Tuesday & Thursday, 6pm to 8pm Sunday, 12noon to 2pm Closed Monday ___________________________ On the Cover: The Prodical Son by Charalambos Epimanondas Acrylic on canvas, from www.sacredartmeditations.com The new altar boy robes are in! Thank you to the Nativity Men’s Club for providing the funds The Logos - Volume 2, No. 1 through last year’s first annual Wild Game Dinner. The 2nd annual Men’s Club Wild Game 2 dinner is scheduled for Friday, April 13th. january/february 2018 Our Unsung Heroes: An Interview with Mr. Gust Varlamos by Irene Melabiotis Mrs. Voula Varlamos’s warm smile greeted me at their front door as she welcomed me into their home. Mr. Gust Varlamos soon joined her to greet me while walking me to their dining room table. A framed, old black-and-white photo awaited me there. As I mar- veled at the photo, Mr. Varlamos handed me a hand- written note, inviting me to read the narrative written by his granddaughter, Mary, which, as he explained, would help to describe the photo. As I read the note, I was drawn by how expressively his ten-year-old granddaughter wrote (photo on the right), allowing me to build context for the stories that Mr. Varla- mos would share during his interview: The photo you see on the right is an old black and white photo of my grand- father, Costa “Pappou” Varlamos, and his family. This photo was taken in 1937, that’s when they were about to move to Greece for a few years. Since the boys were one year apart for age, and Costa was the oldest. His brother, Nick, was born in 1933, after Costa. And then little Frank was born in 1934. Two girls named Bessie and Elizabeth were born many years after the, but this photo was taken before either of them were born. Costa (middle), was 5 years old, Nick (left), was 4 years old, and Frank (right), was 3 years old. The people behind the kids are their parents. The father is Manelaos, and the mother is Anna. The boys are all in their 80s now. I get to see Costa most often because he’s my own Grandfather! I took the opportunity to examine the photo in front of me a little through, and [about a year or so later] he came back to America. closer, keeping in mind the details that I just read in Mary’s note. I [He came here to America] to work [for maybe about 10 years]. was captivated by the photo showing the Varlamos brothers seat- After he went back [to Greece], he built a house for his parents. ed serenely in front of their parents, perhaps unaware of their He got married, and, then, he returned [with my mom] to Cleve- imminent voyage back to Greece. As I took out my clipboard to land. Then, they had us three brothers. begin the interview, Mrs. Varlamos offered me a bowl of lentil soup and various other treats. I had eaten before coming over, but In 1947 when you returned to America, how did you and I surrendered to her gracious hospitality that Greek people are your brothers come over? very much known for. Soon after enjoying an array of delectable We were American citizens. They had to bring us back. After the goodies, I began asking Mr. Varlamos my first set of questions, war ended, we came by ourselves by ship. It took us 11 days. My which allowed me to gain a sense of the Varlamos brothers’ expe- mother stayed behind on account of my sister. My mother didn’t riences growing up in America and in Greece. have papers [for my sister to come over, since she wasn’t an Amer- ican citizen]. Somebody had to stay there in Greece to bring my What part of Greece are you and your brothers from? sister to America. We’re [from] the center of Greece, Paleokastro (Παλαιόκαστρο), Tymfristou (Τυμφρηστού), [which is] between Lamia (Λαμία) and So you and your brothers were on the ship by yourselves? Karpenisi (Καρπενήσι). Yes, three of us, in the wintertime. When did you and your brothers come to America? How did you feel being by yourselves? You, as the oldest, We were born in Cleveland, Ohio. We went to Greece in 1937 were only fifteen years old . and came back [to America] in 1947. [While we were in Greece], Everyone [on the ship] threw up. I was the oldest one [of my my dad stayed here. My mom took us, all three boys, and she was brothers]. Frank and Nick, they were sick, and I used to go to the pregnant [with] my sister. My sister was born in the village [in lunchroom to pick up bread and orange juice for us to eat. This Paleokastro, in 1938]. About ten years later, my second sister was was an army ship [that we traveled on], which had bunkers, with born in America. one bed on top of the other. It was after the war. How did your parents decide to come to America before What is your fondest childhood memory of America or you and your brothers were born? Greece? My dad, he had a brother in Cleveland. Then, he told my dad Nothing. The only thing I remember is when we were leaving [who was unmarried at that time] to come to America. [My dad] [from America to go back to Greece in 1937], [my mom] took us came twice because [the first time he came] his brother didn’t to New York to get on to the ship, and my dad stayed behind. And show up in New York to pick him up [as his sponsor]. They had when I saw my dad staying behind, I ran back [to him]. to send him back [to Greece]. So he went back, they put papers (Continued on page 14) 3 The Logos Additional Services Parish News Reel 9am Orthros • 2018 Stewardship pledge cards are avail- • Nativity’s 2nd annual Super Bowl Party 10am Divine Liturgy able, please turn in your updated form as will be held in the fellowship hall at 6pm on soon as possible! Let’s make 2018 the year February 4th. Please bring pop top soups Tues, Jan 30th.......Three Hierarchs every parish family fills out a pledge form! to help Focus Detroit feed hungry children. • Nativity’s 26th annual Christmas Auction • Volunteers are needed to take on festival Fri, Feb 2nd...........Meeting of the Lord was a huge success once again raising ap- chair positions as preparations for the proximately $10,000.