The Epistle St
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The Epistle St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church January 22909 Center Ridge Road, Rocky River, Ohio 2015 Pastoral Thoughts The Balourdas Hellenic Cultural School PTO by Fr. Jim Doukas cordially invites you to the annual Dear Parishioners, Three Hierarchs & Greek Letters Happy New Year! The first of the year is an Day Program interesting time of the year – centered on th reflection and resolution. We use this time Sunday, January 25 to reflect on the year that just ended and from that we naturally evolve into what we can learn from that reflection Memorial for deceased educators of our parish and resolve to make the New Year better. In every aspect of and an actual sermon of St. John Chrysostom, our lives, we resolve to be better or to do more than what we following the Divine Liturgy did. At work, we strive to be more productive; at home, we take steps to spend more quantity (and quality) time with family and friends; and for our own selves, we resolve to eat Greek School Open House – all welcome to healthier, lose weight, and exercise. I am prayerful that visit the classrooms and meet our teachers another aspect of reflection and resolution is in our spiritual lives. Brunch in the Cultural Hall As we look back on 2014, we should reflect on the effort we made in the areas of worship/prayer (both private and with special video presentations, and corporate), reading the Bible, and study of the teachings of the Keynote Speaker Dr. Pete N. Poolos , Fathers. Fasting, almsgiving and other Christian virtues amateur Ancient Greek historian & should also make the list in our spiritual reflection of 2014. As we naturally evolve into how we resolve to better ourselves Clinical Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery, in 2015, I pray the following can be helpful tips to help us all Case Western Reserve University in the success of our evolving spiritual resolutions: *Attend the Divine Liturgy and other services regularly. For Dorians, Ionians, Myceneans, Minoans Orthodox Christians, there is no substitute for attending church. Besides something that pleases God, it is necessary for “What Did the Ancient our spiritual well-being. For shut-ins or invalids who aren't able to go to church, God certainly understands the Greeks Call Themselves?” circumstances of these people, and recognizes their hearts. However, it is a different matter for those who could attend church but are too lazy, or put other things such as entertainment and amusements before God, or who harbor bitterness or indifference toward others at Church. *Reading the Bible daily is important to stay connected to God’s Word. Every home should have an Orthodox Bible which includes commentary and correct interpretation. *The study of the teachings of the Church Fathers (Patristics) and their theological and scriptural insights are very valuable. The Holy Fathers lived much closer to the days of the apostles than we do, and they were forced to crystallize the apostolic teaching in response to the influx of various heresies and Presentation of the 2015 PTO & the Anna Poulos errors. Their formulation of doctrine was biblical and foundational for true Christianity, and their homilies and other Memorial Scholarships and Book Fair to follow writings, contain innumerable valuable insights. In today’s society, it is IMPERATIVE that we arm ourselves against the $12.00 per adult and $7.00 per student daily bombardment of these heresies. For tickets, contact the church office at 440-331-2246 or (continued on p. 4) [email protected] The Epistle is the official publication of the CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS’ CONTACTS Greek Orthodox Community of St. Demetrios Acolyte Coordinator …………..…Tom Hlepas…216-269-3265 Phone: (440) 331-2246 Adult Catechism ……...………..Tom Andrews…440-734-6894 Fax: (440) 331-8407 AHEPA …………………………...Costa Petros…440-937-8079 www.saintdemetriosrr.org Bible Study :……...………Evangeline Richards…216-221-3003 Bookstore …...……...…….Pres. Goldie Doukas…440-899-3257 Editor : Eleni Papouras-Jenks Choir Director/Canto r…..…....Bill Matzorkis…..216-496-4230 Sunday Services: Orthros 8:30 a.m.; Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m. Youth Choir …….…..Diane Matzorkis…440-463-3068 Publication Deadlines : Weekly Bulletin – Wednesday Daughters of Penelope …..………Elisa Demis…440-665-1348 Monthly Epistle – The 15 th of the preceding month Greek School Principal Eleni Papouras-Jenks...216-965-8131 Board of Education Maria Mougianis…440-835-2888 Fr. James Doukas, Priest………………(Home) 440-899-3257 GOYA Advisors Ellen Chrisman………………...440-835-8430 Eleni Papouras-Jenks, Office Mgr [email protected] Dan Packis……………………..440-937-9531 Nick Hillman, Operations Mgr [email protected] Helene Santarelli………………440-779-8312 John Stamatiades, Church Accountant…440-331-2246, ext. 4 Student President ………….. Cassie Packis Dale Stalnaker, Webmaster …………[email protected] Hellenic Dancers Kymata ….…..Mary Szekely…440-835-5712 Kyklonas ….. Eleni Papouras-Jenks…216-965-8131 PARISH COUNCIL JOY (Jr. Orthodox Youth) …...Stacy Loizos….440-799-4846 Steve Steffas, President…….………………...….440-476-0746 Κόλλυβα (Memorial Tray)…….Ann Carpadis..…440-871-8625 Cindy Bountogianis, Vice President …………....440-554-6655 Maria Statheros…216-226-1680 Steve Alex, Treasurer……………………………440-823-9595 Library Committee :…………..…...Andie Titas...440-779-8581 Nikolaos Petousis, Financial Secretary …...…….440-570-7889 Philoptochos ……………………[email protected] Ageleke Zapis, Secretary …….………………….440-477-4775 President ………Stephanie Zavatchen….440-385-7448 Eugenia Burpulis………………………………...440-356-1746 Sunshine Committee ….Elpida Kosmidis…440-779-8959 Randy Carpenter…………………………………440-878-0036 Sunday School ….…………... [email protected] Angelo Coutris……………………………..……440-343-4051 Principal Maggie Steffas…….440-871-6362 James Diamond……………………………….…440-725-9636 Assistant Principal Cindy Genin……440-610-7686 Ted Loizos…...…………………………………..216-533-2698 Spiritual Life Committee ...Angie Giallourakis…440-871-2681 Byron T. Spooner……………………….……….440-724-1923 Trust Fund ................John Stamatis, Chairman…440-937-6258 Anthony Trakas……...…………………………..440-385-7741 Yassou Club …...…………....Mary Pappadakes…440-799-4821 Greg Kolocouris, Legal Advisor ORTHODOX ORGANIZATIONS IOCC www.iocc.org Pascalis Papouras : [email protected] St. Herman’s House of Hospitality FOCUS Cleveland (International Orthodox Christian Charities) www.sthermans.com OCF ………..……...Mira Damljanovic: m [email protected] St. Mary of Egypt Chapel (now located inside Annunciation) (Orthodox Christian Fellowship BW, CWRU, CSU, JCU, Tri-C) St. Panteleimon Orthodox Christian Outreach OCMC (Orthodox Christian Mission Center) www.ocmc.org www.stpanteleimon.com ……………………....Gerald Largent POYAF ………………….……Maria Koulioufas: 440-525-1187 Zoe for Life ! www.zoeforlifeonline.org …...........Paula Kappos (Pan-Orthodox Young Adult Fellowship) For Pan-Orthodox events, and links to all the Orthodox YOCAMA …………………………………. www.yocama.com churches and monasteries in Cleveland go to (Young Orthodox Christian American Mission Adventures) www.orthodoxcleveland.us Parish News 3 OUR NEWEST LITTLE ANGELS Election Results On Dec. 7th , we held elections to fill six seats on the 2015. Allianna Hope , daughter of George & Vickie Douzos, was Parish Council. Congratulations to top vote-getters Steven J. born on Nov. 13, 2014. Alex, Eugenia Burpulis, Randy Carpenter, James R. Diamond, Nikolaos H. Petousis, and Byron T. Spooner, who will be Alexandra, daughter of Steve & Maria Melacrinos, was returning to the board. Swearing in of the new board is born Dec. 9, 2014. tentatively scheduled for Sun., Jan. 18, 2015 (pending ratification by the Metropolis.) Evangelia , daughter of George & Lia Antonaklas, was born in Dec. 12, 2014. NEW COMPUTER LAB Thanks to the efforts of the 2014 Golf Committee, the Greek ASLEEP IN THE LORD School PTO, and Daughters of Penelope, the parish Computer Lab has been given a much needed technical over-haul. Six John "Yiannis" Revmatas, husband of Nitsa, new PC towers have been purchased for use by Greek School, father of Milton and Xenophon (Paula), pappou of Sunday School, and the computer at large. Lindsay, and uncle of many nieces and nephews, passed away Dec. 9, 2014. His 40 day memorial Greek School Level 2 will be on January 18. girls were the first students to begin lessons James Stephen Gallas, husband of Katherine, in our new & improved father of Kimberly (George) Veras, grandfather of language lab, with Alexander, Christopher, Dimitri, and Gregory volunteer Paul Manos, (Jennifer) Veras, passed away Dec. 11, 2014. who will run the lab. He was a WWII U.S. Army veteran, lifelong member of AHEPA John M. Manos Chapter 36, and a founding member of St. Paul Greek Orthodox Church in Senior ‘Intro to Computers’ Class North Royalton. His 40 day memorial will be Jan. 18 . Starting Tue., Jan. 20 , at 11 a.m., Paul Manos will be teaching basic computer skills to parish senior citizens on Andrew M. Manos , father of George (Deanna), Tuesdays through January. Free and open to all. William (Margaret), John (Mary), and Melissa Learn more about e-mail, using the computer for letters or Psaropoulos (Bobby), grandfather of Emmanuel, budgets, or navigating the Internet. There are six desktops in Alexandra, Joanna and Christos, and brother of the computer lab, but we will accommodate all who are Paul, John, and Stella Kamenos, passed away Dec. interested. Contact the office for more details or to sign up. 15, 2014. His 40 day memorial will be Jan . 25. Constantino “Gus” Callas , husband of Estelle, father of of Anna, Nicholas and Helene Santarelli House Blessings (Anthony), and Pappou of Eleni and Paschalis, passed away Dec. 21, 2014. Gus was an active member of St. Demetrios Church, having served If you want your home or business blessed on the day Fr. Jim on Parish Council, Building Fund and Home will be in your neighborhood, please contact the church Committees for many years. His 40 day memorial office (440-331-2246 or [email protected]) and ask to will be Jan. 25. be put on the schedule: Mon., Jan. 5 : Rocky River Komninos “Karl” Fotinos, M.D., husband of Tue., Jan. 6: Westlake Maria, and father of Sophia and Rena, passed Wed., Jan.