Volume 22, Issue 7 in July 2014

TThe Officialouch Publication of St. Haralambos History of the Greek

Orthodox New Play Structure ● 2 Church in Orthodox Christianity in America ● 3 the United Clergy-Laity Congress ● 4 States

Lord, You know that men are flesh and blood; forgive them their sins and pour out Your blessing on all. — St. Haralambos

New Backyard Play Structure! We have an opportunity, through our new friends share would be $5,100, and has also offered to with Bayer School, to purchase a children’s leave the structure here when they move to their playground structure (pictured below) for our new campus. (The cost to install a similar new play backyard, which would replace our current structure is nearly $30,000.) structure. This is something that will be enjoyed by our This new play structure meets city codes for children and grandchildren for many years to come! educational playgrounds, whereas our current Please consider contributing whatever amount you structure does not. can towards the cost of this purchase. If you will be sending a check, please indicate that your gift is The cost, including installation, is $11,200. Bayer designated for this purpose. Thank you! School is willing to split the cost with us, so our

Page 2 St. Haralambos

CLERGY COLUMN FR. PALLAD

Orthodox Christianity in America

Continued from last month, this Tome was still in effect during this aegis the 1908 Tome was rescinded article by Fr. George Nicozisin time. Archbishop Theoklitos of and the jurisdiction of the Greek discusses the fascinating history of Athens, a staunch royalist, was churches in America was returned the Greek Orthodox Church in the forced to resign and in his place to the care and mantle of the United States, its relationship to Archbishop Meletios Metaxakis was Ecumenical Patriarch. On May 11, the Church of and the elected and enthroned. Since he 1922, the Patriarchate officially Patriarchate of Constantinople. replaced Theoklitos, Meletios was recognized the Greek Orthodox This month’s excerpt discusses the labeled a Venizelist. Archdiocese of North and South influence of political divisions in America. Formation of the Greek Greece on the fledgling Church in Orthodox Archdiocese of Although the lion's share of the America during the early 20th North and South America communities affiliated and came century. under the jurisdiction of the One of the very first things As the first World War surfaced, canonical Archdiocese, a small but Archbishop Meletios did was to take two political statesmen emerged in vocal group a trip to America. He assigned Greece, King Constantine and remained On May 11, 1922, the Bishop Alexander of Rodostolou as Prime Minister Eleftherios separate and Synodical Vicar for the Greek Patriarchate Venizelos. Venizelos wanted Greece retained their Orthodox churches in America on officially recognized to go in with the allies while King autonomy. They October 29, 1918. Meletios returned Constantine, whose wife was Kaiser were the the Greek Orthodox to Athens to find that he had been Wilhelm's sister, wanted Greece to royalists. They deposed and that Theoklitos had Archdiocese of remain neutral. The political power petitioned been reinstated. Meletios returned North and South struggle in Greece wreaked Archbishop to America and, jointly with Bishop upheaval and havoc on the Greek Theoklitos of America. Alexander, called the First Clergy- parishes in America. The Greek Athens to send a Laity Congress in September of immigrants, just as the citizens of bishop under the newly-designated 1921, something unheard of in Greece, found themselves split into "Synodical Autocephalous Orthodox countries. This set the two political factions, venizelist and Exarchate of the Greek Orthodox precedent for convening Clergy- royalist. This is more readily Church of America," with Diocesan Laity Congresses. At the conclave, understood when we recall that Headquarters in Lowell, papers were drawn up and the many immigrants had no intention Massachusetts. Metropolitan Constitution of the Greek Orthodox of remaining in America. They had Germanos Tryanos of Sparta, a Archdiocese of North and South come for economic reasons and in dynamic and charismatic America was ratified. The following due time would return to their churchman, was appointed to year Meletios Metaxakis was elected cherished homeland. The 1908 Ecumenical Patriarch. Under his (Continued on page 5)

Sunday Worship Office Parish Council St. Haralambos Matins: 8:45 a.m. 623-486-8665 Evanne Cuccorelli Russel Skocypec Greek Orthodox Divine Liturgy: 10 a.m. 7950 W. Pinnacle Peak Rd., Peoria, AZ 85383 Dennis Georgen Dorothy Vordos Church [email protected] Kathy Harvey Lee Vordos

www.stharalambos.org [email protected] Timothy Harvey Russell Zook Lali Mekvabishbili Hours

Rev. Michael Pallad Monday - Friday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

In Touch Contact In Touch at [email protected] Page 3

PARISH NEWS Clergy-Laity Congress This year the Archdiocese Clergy-Laity from each parish of the Archdiocese of Congress will convene in Philadelphia, America. The Congress approves the Pennsylvania from Sunday, Jul. 6 – Archdiocese budget, offers workshops on Wednesday, Jul. 9. Meeting every two various aspects of parish life, worship years, the Clergy-Laity Congress is services and fellowship for all in Sunday Coffee Hour comprised of delegates (representatives) attendance. Thank you to our coffee hour hosts/sponsors. June 1: Anna Giles – Charlotte Servetas – Ethel Nicholas Memory Eternal 8: Roy Christian – Thalia May God grant eternal rest to the soul of our annual Greek festival for many years, Zorbas Ronald Dutton who fell asleep in the Lord and Sandy has been singing in our choir 15: Aphrodite Devolites on Wednesday, Jun. 4. Our deepest and accompanying on the organ as well. June & Gary Nicholas condolences are extended to his wife Interment for Ronald was at the National 29: Dina & Carl Surman – Patti Christie Sandy, their daughters Kim and Tonya. Cemetary in Kent, Washington. May his Both Ronald and Sandy have helped with memory be eternal. July 6: Charlotte Servetas 13: Available 20: Anna & Bob Kinniburgh 27: Available Orthodox Study Group August Please note: The Orthodox Study group 3: Available will be suspended the month of July. 10: Mary Manos 17: Sunday School Teachers 24: Available 31: Available Note: due to publication printing deadlines, any changes to the coffee hour listings will be noted in next Name Days month’s newsletter. Many years/Chronia Polla to those named after the following saints:

St. Kyriaki (7th) SS. Cyril and Methodios (7th) St. (11th) St. Nikodemos of the Holy Mountain (14th) St. Macrina (Sister of St. Basil) (19th) St. (22nd) St. Paraskevi (26th) St. Panteleimon (The All-Merciful) (27th) St. Irene (Chrysovalantou) (28th) St. (31st)

Page 4 St. Haralambos

ORGANIZATIONS Clergy Column

(Continued from page 3) approximately thirteen days behind the shepherd the dissident group. The Gregorian calendar.) The royalists kept Birthdays disputes and quarrels that ensued were the Julian calendar and were called "Paleo compounded by endless court litigation -Imerologites" (Old-Calendarists.) vying for jurisdictions and properties. In May of 1930 Patriarch Photios and Under normal circumstances the Archbishop Chrysostomos Pappadopoulos inevitable preoccupation in the early years of Athens jointly directed Metropolitan of any immigrant group is mere survival. Damaskenos of Corinth to assume Although the Greek immigrants had come temporary administration of the 133 a long way in their establishment, communities of the autocephalous group. adjustment and orientation in the New Damaskenos recommended that all World, they were not steeped in the bishops of both groups return to Greece interpretation of theology and canon law. and the Patriarchate for reassignment. Their recourse was to be led by the fervor Marius Pagos (3) At this time Metropolitan Athenagoras of their daily emotions sparked by Mary Levendi (4) Spyrou of Kerkyra was elected Primate of political leaders and generated by the Christine Gero (5) the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North Greek newspapers which took sides. With Alexandros Papamatheakis (6) and South America. He arrived in New each shipload of immigrants the feud and Stravros Theoharatos (7) York February 24, 1931 and set about opposition grew; more communities were Cathy Kapetanakis (8) reuniting the communities in good order. established; more priests were brought Alexander King (11) Athenagoras' seventeen-year tenure of from the homeland, while others were Lisa Theoharatos (11) office brought most of the dissident and ordained here according to their political Lauren Retsinas (12) recalcitrant churches back into the fold. leanings. In a normal course of growth Metropolitan Michael Constantinides of Patricia Martin (14) these events would be favorable and Corinth succeeded Athenagoras when the Peter Michas (14) desirable. Not so in this case because latter became Ecumenical Patriarch of Alaina Perreault (14) dissension grew monstrously as clergy and Constantinople in 1949. Metropolitan Eugeni Gavrilidis (15) laity were polarized as royalists or Iakovos Coucouzis succeeded Michael and Michael Gavrilidis (17) venizelists. These emotional dynamics had was enthroned April 1, 1959. Through the Marc Cooper (18) an inordinate negative impact on the concerted efforts and great patience of Pam Solomon (18) mission of the parishes in America. these three prelates practically all the George Trakas (18) The friction was compounded in 1924, former royalist parishes returned to the Sophia Rodriguez (19) when both the Ecumenical Patriarchate of canonical archdiocese. (The present day Laine Kinney (20) Constantinople and the Greek Orthodox Old Calendarist group with headquarters Ioannis Papamatheakis (23) Church of Greece jointly adopted the in Astoria, N.Y. is not to be confused with Jeannette Hollander (25) Gregorian calendar. (The Julian calendar the former royalist group.) Archbishop Elaine Yaghooti (26) was introduced by Julius Caesar in 46 Iakovos retired in July of 1996 and was Steven Gavrilidis (27) B.C., and was used until it was corrected succeeded by Metropolitan Spyridon Desiree Milonas (27) in 1582 A.D. Since the correction was Papageorge of Italy, who was enthroned Raluca Sofronie (27) introduced during the time of Pope as Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Sharon Bolas (29) Gregory XIII, it is called the Gregorian Archdiocese of America in September of Kathy Williamson (30) calendar. The Julian calendar is 1996. (continued next month) Magda Gryparis (31)

If you don’t see your name, or those of family members, and would like to be included on the monthly birthday listing, please send the information to the church office.

In Touch Page 5

Saturday

10:30amFestival Meeting

5 12 19 26

Friday

(Church office closed) office (Church

IndependenceDay

4 11 18 25

Thursday

3 10 17 24 31

Laity

-

2014

Congress

Wednesday

(Philadelphia, PA (Philadelphia,

ArchdioceseClergy

2 9 16 23 30

ULY

Laity

-

J

Congress

Tuesday

(Philadelphia, PA) (Philadelphia,

ArchdioceseClergy

1 8 15 22 29

Laity

-

Monday

Congress

(Philadelphia, PA) (Philadelphia,

7:00pmParish Council

ArchdioceseClergy

7:00pm Executive Council

7 14 21 28

Laity

-

Sunday

Congress

8:45amMatins 8:45amMatins 8:45amMatins 8:45amMatins

(Philadelphia, PA) (Philadelphia,

IOCC Offering IOCC Tray

10:00amLiturgy Divine 10:00amLiturgy Divine 10:00amLiturgy Divine 10:00amLiturgy Divine

ArchdioceseClergy

6 13 20 27

Page 6 St. Haralambos