March 2017 REFLECTIONS ON HOLY AND GREAT LENT
“Fasting and Prayer bring tranquility to the heart and soul; modesty to those who are older; training to those who are younger; guidance to those who are temperate; and an adornment for the head and mind to those of all ages.” ~St. John Chrysostom
In the grand scheme of events, the Great and Holy 40-day preparation period or Great Lent, as it is commonly referred to, will commence on/with “Pure or Clean Monday” (In Greek: “Kathara Deftera”), Monday, February 27, 2017. Forty days from that day takes us to the Friday (April 7, 2017), before the “Saturday of the Raising of Lazarus” (April 8, 2017), where Christ raises Lazarus from the tomb/from the dead (John 11:1-46). From this day forward, Holy Week begins for every Eastern Orthodox Christian. Pascha or Easter is on Sunday, April 16, 2017. Easter is the same date this year for both East and West.
The themes for the 5 Sundays in Lent are:
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A BLESSED AND HOLY 40-Day PREPARATION PERIOD/GREAT LENT TO All! ~+Fr. Kastanas
St. Athanasius the Great Greek Orthodox Church 4 Appleton Street ■ Arlington, MA 02476 ■ 781.646.0705 ■ www.saintathanasius.org ■ email: [email protected] SAINT ATHANASIUS THE GREAT GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH
Metropolis of Boston 4 Appleton Street, Arlington, MA 02476
ASKISIS PARISH COUNCIL OFFICIAL Publication of St. Athanasius the Great Constandinos Ioakimidis ...... President A. Paul Tsitsopoulos ...... 1st Vice President Greek Orthodox Church nd Arlington, MA 02476 Mark Ypsilantis ...... 2 Vice President S. Nicholas Kriketos ...... Secretary SUNDAY WORSHIP SCHEDULE Ted Speros ...... Associate Secretary Stefanos Bouboulis ...... Treasurer Winter: Orthros 8:45 am Divine Liturgy: 10:00 am Nikitas Splagounias ...... Associate Treasurer #1 Summer: Orthros 8:00 am Divine Liturgy: 9:15 am Emmanuel Meimaris ...... Associate Treasurer #2 Peter Stanitsas ...... Associate Treasurer #3 Proistamenos: Rev. Fr. Nicholas Kastanas Assistant Priest: Fr. Aaron C. Walker Parish Council Members: ...... Athanasios Arvanitis, David Bowling, Christina St. Athanasius the Great is a parish under the spiritual and Chalapatas, Antonios Dakopoulos, Christos Eliopoulos, ecclesial oversight of His Eminence Metropolitan Vassilios Karras, Vicky Konstandakis, Alexandros Kyrou Methodios of the Metropolis of Boston, Greek Orthodox Charlie Pappas, George Pantazopoulos, Eleanor Profis, Archdiocese of America, under the jurisdiction of The Michael Terzakis, and Vassilios Tsiaras Ecumenical Patriachate of Constantinople. PARISH MINISTRIES & ORGANIZATIONS The St. Athanasius the Great Greek Orthodox Church in Arlington, Massachusetts strives to be the living witness of Altar Boys (Acolytes) ...... Fr. Nicholas Kastanas our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Our mission as a parish Cantors/Psaltes ...... Gregory Evangelis, Spyros Prois, is to “practice hospitality” (Romans 12:13), as St. Paul so ...... Dimitrios Manolakis, and Vasilios Meimaris exhorts. Thus it is our rich blessing to strive and bring the Light of Christ to all of God’s people, through Orthodox Choir Director ...... Stella Pathiakis Christian tradition, education and philanthropy. We seek to Greek School Director ...... Fr. Nicholas M. Kastanas serve the spiritual needs of our faithful parishioners through Greek School PTO ...... Tina Christodouleas, the sacramental life of the Church. By means of outreach ...... Betty Dakopoulos, Tanya Stamoulis and faith in God, we continue our growth as a living Church Little Halos Day School Director ...... Kaiti Galanopoulos by inviting others into the Orthodox faith through Baptism and/or Chrismation, and educating them through the Little Halos Parent/Teacher Consultant ...... establishment of our Christian ministries, programs, ...... Dr. Anastasia Galanopoulos schools and philanthropic activities. Fellowship Hour Ministry ...... Eleanor Profis CHURCH DIRECTORY Fifties Plus ...... Irene Paleologos Gardening Ministry ...... S. Nicholas Kriketos Parish Administrative Assistants GOYA President ...... Stavros Ioakimidis Stella Kazantzas & Kathy VanKuilenburg Parish Office JOY & HOPE ...... Maria Matos Monday - Thursday: 9:00 am – 7:00 pm P.E.A.C.E. Ministry ...... Elaine Kakambouras Friday: 9:00 am – 2:00 pm Philoptochos President ...... Irene Kalogeris Main Office: (781) 646-0705 Pine Street Inn Ministry ...... Randy Fassas FAX: (781) 641-4700 Stewardship Chair EMAIL: [email protected] Sunday School Director ...... Ioannis Moutsatsos Website: www.saintathanasius.org Sunday School Assoc. Director ...... Cassandra Chamallas
Fr. Nick Kastanas *Emergency Pager* (781) 673-2002 Metropolis of Boston website ...... www.boston.goarch.org Fr. Nick email: [email protected] Greek Orthodox Archdiocese website ...... www.goarch.org Fr. Aaron email: [email protected]
2 Catechetical School News
Our 5th Grade Sunday School class is working from an ‘oldie but a goodie’ curriculum book called ‘God Calls Us’. It was published before the Department of Religious Education decided that most of our religious education textbooks would be turned into ‘zines’ to cater to the short attention span and unpredictable attendance habits of our students. More importantly, this textbook is full of inspiring old and new testament stories of people that when called by God ‘rose to the occasion’ to serve Him and His people with courage, holiness and faith. Many of these heroes of our faith started as ordinary, simple people; shepherds, fishermen, housewives. However, by responding and accepting God’s call with faith and dedication, these ordinary people became the greatest examples of human courage and heroism in the face of adversity and persecution, whose names are etched in the collective human history thousands of years later. This month, on the 25th of March, our Church celebrates the feast of the Annunciation, perhaps the grandest of these calls from God to an ordinary young girl named Mary. By accepting God’s call to be the mother of His One and Only Son (a decision fraught with rejection, denial, danger, and pain), Mary broke the curse of death and the chains of the evil one that kept the entire human race in slavery. More than two thousand years later, her incredible faith, courage, love and determination, brings us to our knees in front of her icon. We always pray to the Holy Theotokos, Mother of God, and ask for her intercession when we need solace and courage.
The great news is that God calls each and every one of us to stand and take our place in history by responding and accepting His call. The first steps, like standing up to injustice, helping our neighbors, bringing our children to Church, doing the right thing, may seem difficult and for some even small and insignificant. However, these small actions of faith, Christian courage and love could have historical consequences to our families, children, and community and nation years similarly to all these heroes of faith in our textbooks.
February departed with some sweet (if snowy) memories from the annual Godparent- Godchildren celebration on Sunday February 26th. As it is the tradition, after the heartwarming candlelight prayer service in Church, godparents and godchildren shared messages, hugs, and cake in front of the 20 ft long board where messages and pictures were displayed. What was unexpected was that we would need to do most of this in a snowstorm and in the dark, as electricity went out for several hours during and after the event! Nonetheless, we had a great time! We thank all of the families for their participation to this memorable event, as well as to the Catechetical Sunday School teachers (Val, Mary, Loula, Angela M. ) who provided flowers, balloons, supplies and help set up for this event.
3 Catechetical School News
The annual teaching Divine Liturgy was held on Sunday, February 26. This was a unique opportunity for all to experience the Divine Liturgy in a unique way that helps us better understand this most important celebration of Orthodox Liturgical life. As always, we would like to thank Fr. Nick and Fr. Aaron for this great learning and teaching opportunity.
Preparation for the annual St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival has started and students in the 4th - 12th grades should have received emails with information and instructions. This year’s Parish Festival will take place on Saturday, April 1st in our parish auditorium. The District Festival is scheduled for later in April. We thank Mrs. Tina Pavlakis-Bowling and Cassandra Chamalas for their exemplary leadership in coordinating this event and extend our thanks to all the teachers, parents and students that will practice, contribute and participate!
Godchildren & Godparent’s Sunday
February 12, 2017
Please Note:
The next staff meeting is scheduled for Sunday March 12, 2017 immediately after the end of classes.
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Grade 10 News
About Fasting
“Why do we fast?” is a recurring question asked by students. Fasting provides an opportunity for spiritual renewal. It reflects Christian commitment, both spiritually and materially, and helps to keep us focused, especially during Great Lent. Fasting additionally means controlling our thoughts, so they do not wander into inappropriate areas, especially since thoughts influence the words we utter and even our behavior.
The very first fast mentioned in the bible happened when God granted Adam and Eve a life in Paradise, instructing them however to never eat the fruit from “the tree of knowledge of good and evil.” As we know, that did not go well. By disobeying God’s word, Adam and Eve found themselves, (along with all future generations), banished from Paradise’s Garden of Eden.
Another notable Old Testament fast was when Moses did so for 40 days on Mount Sinai, prior to God giving him the Ten Commandments.
In the New Testament, following Christ’s baptism in the River Jordan, Jesus fasted for 40 days, while simultaneously turning away temptations from the devil.
In comparison, the ‘sacrifice’ we are called upon to make today by forgoing only certain foods is a very doable commitment. Fasting emphasizes restraint, humility and moderation. Its goal is to hopefully make us worthy of participating in the Church’s most essential sacrament: And that is, Holy Communion, (also known as the Holy Gifts, the Holy Eucharist, and the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ).
On the subject of fasting: Saint Basil the Great observed, “Because we did not fast, we were chased out of Paradise; let us fast now, so that some day we may return there.”
5 St. Athanasius’s Annual St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival will be held in our Parish Auditorium Saturday, April 1, 2017 | 9:00 a.m. Registration for Elementary, Junior and Senior Divisions
Introduced in 1983, the St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival offers Greek Orthodox youth the opportunity to write and talk about their faith.
The National Oratorical Festival Program begins at the parish level and is divided into two divisions: “Junior” for students in grades 7th-9th and “Senior” for students grades 10th-12th. Two speakers in each division advance to the District Festival, where two finalists in each division will advance to the Metropolis Festival held in May. There, one finalist in each division will go to the National Festival, this year to be held right here in Boston, June 9th-11th. Those national finalists will receive a monetary award and are eligible for scholarships. Please note that parish finalists may also be eligible for the Hellenic College Chrysostom Scholarship!
On the following page are the Junior and Senior Division topics. You can find the topics and writing tips at: www.goarch.org/archdiocese/departments/religioused/sjcof
In addition, our parish holds a non-judged Elementary Division for all students in grades 4th-6th, where the students present their thoughts on any topic related to their faith.
The students will be working on their presentations in Sunday School and are also asked to work on them at home. Parents, please encourage your children to complete their speeches and present them to Father Nick on April 1st.
Please contact Father Nick (781-646-0705, [email protected]), your child’s Sunday school teacher, Tina Pavlakis Bowling (781-860-9418, [email protected]), or Cassandra Chamallas (781-258-5526, [email protected]) if you have any questions.
Everyone is welcome to attend and hear our students’ presentations! Thank you!!!
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Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Department of Religious Education (800) 566-1088 religioused.goarch.org
2017 St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival Topics
Junior Division (Grades 7–9) 1. The opening petition of the Divine Liturgy is “In peace let us pray to the Lord.” What is this peace, and why do we need it to begin our prayers? 2. St. John Chrysostom said, “Our alms are judged not by the measure of our gifts, but by the largeness of our mind” (Homily 52 on the Gospel of Matthew). Discuss how even small acts of kindness and generosity can make a difference. 3. Discuss the role of bread and its symbolism in the Bible and the life of the Church. 4. The Orthodox Church venerates saints and martyrs every day. Talk about a saint whose life inspires you to be a better Orthodox Christian. 5. Explain why the Orthodox Church focuses more on the resurrection than it does on the passion and suffering of Christ.
Senior Division (Grades 10–12) 1. The gap between the rich and the poor in the United States and worldwide is arguably wider than it has ever been. How should we as Orthodox Christians address such terrible financial inequality? 2. Although many people diet for health or vanity, the discipline of fasting is found in many religious traditions. What is the difference between dieting and fasting, and why is it important? 3. Psalms are an integral part of matins, vespers, and many other Church services. Talk about a psalm that impacts or influences your life. 4. The Lord commanded us not to create idols (Exodus 20:4), yet people continue to do so. Discuss the kinds of idols people make or worship today and the response that an Orthodox Christian should have when confronted by them. 5. Jesus said, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22:21). When no political party represents genuine Christian teaching, how does an Orthodox Christian navigate political conversations and make political judgments?
Coming soon: Topics, Tips, and Resources at www.goarch.org/archdiocese/departments/religioused/sjcof/sjcof_2017_topics_tips
7 P.E.A.C.E. Ministry PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL ABILITIES AND CHALLENGES EMBRACED Saint Athanasius Greek Orthodox Church, 4 Appleton Street, Arlington, Massachusetts
Sunday, march 5, 2017 at 1:30 pm
Please join us on Sunday, March 5th at 1:30 pm for our PEACE gathering along with Holy Communion. This brief 15-minute service will be guided by Father Kastanas. Worship service to be followed by a visit from service dogs Remington and Skittles from DOG B.O.N.E.S. (Dogs Building Opportunities for Nurturing and Emotional Support).
DOG B.O.N.E.S is a Massachusetts non-profit volunteer-based organization whose primary purpose is to provide well-trained, affectionate, obedient, and registered therapy dog teams for visitations to groups including schools and other facilities.
For more information and to register, visit www.GreekBoston.com/event/peace.
8 Parish Office News We are here to support the parish as best as we can. The office is staffed from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday- Thursday, and 9:00-2:00 p.m. on Fridays. When booking your meetings and events, always call the office at (781) 646-0705 or email all important information to [email protected] or [email protected]. Information is best confirmed when we book it on the calendar during office hours. We will be able to confirm all the information for you. Lastly, when you are finished using the auditorium and/or classrooms, thank you for remembering to turn off the lights.
Dear Parishioners:
We sincerely hope you will offer your time & talent to our church by volunteering to occasionally take mail to the Arlington Center Post Office and/or the Bulk Mail Department of the Waltham Post Office. Our objective is to accumulate a list of names so volunteers may take turns. Each person would only be asked to do two or three deliveries which would be spaced throughout the year.
Please contact Stella or Kathy at the Church office at 781-646-0705 or by email [email protected]
LOST & FOUND: Please check in the office for anything left behind.
Stewardship, February 26 GOYA, March 19 Little Halos, March 5 Greek School, March 26
Please consider contributing to our coffee hour after church on Sundays. We are looking for individuals, families, and ministries to donate sweets, snacks, or any coffee-related items any Sunday you wish. If you are able to contribute, please reach out to Vicky Konstandakis, at (617) 901-2743 or leave your name(s) and contact information with Kathy VanKuilenburg, in the Parish Office. We are so grateful for your generosity and support to help the parish.
9 GOYA News
Hello GOYAns!
February has been a relaxed month, but March is already looking fun! We are very excited for our ski trip to Pat’s Peak. We have 33 GOYAns and 12 chaperones attending. We thank the chaperones greatly for their time and support on the trip. The planning process has taken over 3 months, and it has finally come to an end!
Lastly, as Easter preparations take place, we will begin our Lambatha sales on March 19th! Please come and buy one for your godchildren, children, and grandchildren! In addition to our Lambatha Sale, GOYA will be hosting coffee hour on March 19th.
Sincerely,
Chris Dakopoulos
On January 27th, GOYA went to a Celtics game. For the last three years, GOYA had not been able to work the annual trip into our busy schedule. We were all excited that we finally were able to go this month. 30 GOYAns attended, along with Father Nick, and we had so much fun! Most could say, the best part was getting there and back home. We all rode on the Subway into Boston. We hope to continue our tradition in years to come!
10 ANASTASIA (ANN) AND GEORGE C. DIMITRAKIS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
The Anastasia (Ann) and George C. Dimitrakis Memorial Scholarship was established in 2008 at the St. Athanasius the Great Greek Orthodox Church with a generous gift of $100,000 by the late Ann Dimitrakis, in loving memory of her spouse, George C. Dimitrakis. George and Ann Dimitrakis have long been faithful stewards and communicants at the St. Athanasius Church. The first scholarships were awarded in June 2010.
St. Athanasius the Great Greek Orthodox Church has established the Scholarship Awards Committee for the purpose of administering this scholarship. The Awards Committee, in its discretion, will award a scholarship(s) to that high school graduating senior(s) who achieve(s) exemplary rankings according to criteria established by the Awards Committee. The amount of the award(s) will be based on the scholarship fund’s return on investment, as determined by October of each year, and as distributed by the Trustees of the Scholarship Fund.
Please visit the parish website at (www.stathanasius.org) for all application materials and application instructions. Application information is only available online.
Eligible applicants must meet all of the following requirements: (1) be in their senior year of high school; (2) complete in full all application forms (typed) and provide all requested information; (3) family must be stewards of St. Athanasius the Great Greek Orthodox Church for three successive years (if one year has been missed, applicant’s family has the opportunity to become current for that year); (4) must have been accepted to a full-time course of study at an accredited 4-year college or university. Applications will not be reviewed if each of the aforementioned requirements has not been met.
Applications are available on-line (www.saintathanasius.org) and must be submitted in full by Friday, May 12, 2017. Only complete typed application packages will be reviewed by the Awards Committee; it is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that all materials have been mailed to the Awards Committee. Please mail complete application packages to the Anastasia (Ann) and George S. Dimitrakis Memorial Scholarship, c/o St. Athanasius Greek Orthodox Church, 4 Appleton St., Arlington, MA 02476.
The awarding of the scholarship(s) will take place on a Sunday, June 18, 2017. The disbursement will take place after October 20, 2017, and only after the student(s) has provided to the Awards Committee an official confirmation of enrollment from the Registrar’s Office of the university/college.
Awards Committee Dennis P. George, Jr. Melanie Marken Emmanuel V. Meimaris, Esq. Dr. Valerie Relias Christine Pavlakis Bowling, LICSW Rev. Dr. Nicholas M. Kastanas (ex officio)
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Hope ~ Joy Families
Join us for a special evening! Friday, March 10th at 6:00pm
Enjoy a talk with Father Nick and Father Aaron, Pasta dinner and at 7:00pm we will go upstairs to attend the Hairetismoi Service
Please RSVP by March 6th to: [email protected]
SAVE THE DATE
Please join us for a night at Clay Dreams in Arlington MA on April 7, 2017, 6:00-8:00 p.m. to paint “Bucco” the Bunny or a Cross-Shaped Box, in time for Easter. Spaces are limited so please RSVP as soon as you can to [email protected]
Please note that there will be $20.00 donation to attend this event, and there will be drinks and pizza served. I look forward to seeing you there!
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Hope-Joy IOCC School Kits Update
We have assembled 28 school kits so far this year. The Hope-Joy club really wanted to make a difference in the lives of many children that are just not as fortunate as we are. Our goal for the year is 100 school kits. We are steadily working towards that goal. We would like the below donations to complete 33 more school kits. I know that we can accomplish this together. Please see the list below and bring these items to our next Hope-Joy gathering on March 10, 2017 or feel free to drop them off with Father Aaron.
Here is what we need:
99 - notebooks (70 pages each) 45 - Handheld pencil Sharpeners (12 complete kits lack sharpeners) 6 - Rulers 42 - Pencils 7 - Large handheld Erasers 18 - Crayon boxes (containing 24 crayons each) 18 - 12” by 14” or 14” by 17” cotton or lightweight canvas bag with cloth handles (please no shopping bags or backpacks) $3 - per kit to cover the cost of shipping to the warehouse.
I also want to THANK everyone that has contributed with supplies or monetary funds that were used to purchase some of these items.
Keep up the great work, and together let’s get to our 100 kits!
With Much Gratitude,
Maria Matos
13 Hope-Joy News
Dear Hope-Joy families, I want to thank you all for coming out and supporting the Hope-Joy club, especially with the weather being what it was. The kids had a lot of fun, decorating cupcakes, eating pizza, decorating bookmarks, and relay-racing with wooden spoons and eggs! It is such a joy to be part of this group. These monthly gatherings give the kids a sense of community and something that they all look forward to participating in. I also want to thank the parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles that bring their kids to our events, because without them making a small sacrifice of time and participation, our group wouldn't be the same! Enjoy the pictures, and
I look forward to seeing you all next month.
Sincerely, ~Maria Matos
ALSO: The St. Athanasius Joy Basketball Team, along with Father Nick and the team’s coaches, Demetri Monovoukas, Elissa Bowling, and Elias Patoucheas. They are a young team but their energy, great attitude, and camaraderie are something to be admired!
14 Greek School News
Η 25η Μαρτίου πλησιάζει και τα παιδιά του Ελληνικού μας σχολείου ετοιμάζονται να τη γιορτάζουν. Η γιορτή μας θα λάβει μέρος στην αίθουσα της κοινότητάς μας. Τα παιδιά μας ετοιμάζονται μαθαίνοντας διάφορα ποιήματα, τραγούδια και διαλόγους για να γιορτάσουν αυτή την σημαντική μέρα.
Αυτή την ημέρα γιορτάζει η εκκλησία μας με τον Ευαγγελισμό της Θεοτόκου και το μήνυμα από τον άγγελο Γαβριήλ ότι θα γεννήση τον Σωτήρα του κόσμου. Αλλά επίσης μαζί με αυτή τη θρησκευτική γιορτή γιορτάζει και η πατρίδα μας Ελλάδα. Την ημέρα αυτή διάλεξαν οι Έλληνες του 1821 να ξεκινήσουν πόλεμο εναντίον της Τουρκίας που είχαν σκλαβωμένη την Ελλάδα για 400 ολόκληρα χρόνια.
March 25th is soon approaching, and as every year, the Greek school children are preparing to celebrate it. The event will take place Saturday, March 25th at 5:30 p.m., in our own James Bouboulis Auditorium. The children are learning poems, songs and words to a play which they will present in front of their teachers, family and friends. This is a dual celebration, because our church celebrates the Annunciation of Virgin Mary. The angel Gabriel came to Panagia to announce to her that She was going to bring to the world our Savior, Jesus Christ. Also, this day our homeland of Greece celebrates the beginning of our revolution for independence after being under the Turkish Empire for 400 years. Our children are very proud to celebrate this special day.
ΖΗΤΩ Η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ! ΖΗΤΩ Η 25Η ΜΑΡΤΙΟΥ 1821!
15 Philoptochos News
January/February Obligations and Donations
Vasilopita (National Obligation) $500 Social Services/Cancer & Other Major illnesses Fund (National Obligation) $600 Autism Assistance Fund (National Obligation) $25 Saint Photios Shrine (National Obligation) $25 American Heart Association $250
Please join us for a visit to the Philoxenia House on Thursday, March 23rd. A rich evening beginning with Fr. Nick’s offering of the healing service followed by a Lenten meal and fellowship shared with the residents of the home. We will begin the evening at 5:00 p.m. If you are interested in a ride that afternoon, please contact me, at [email protected] or call me at (617) 823- 0301.
Palm Sunday Annual Bale Sale
Place your orders early or purchase that day Sweet bread, Koulourakia, Easter eggs, and Pre-Packaged Baklava and Kourambiethes Please contact [email protected] for more information
All Homemade
Are You Graduating This Year?
Being a paid steward of this church brings you many benefits. St. Barbara’s Philoptochos is honored to celebrate the high school and college graduates each year. Graduates will be presented with a gift on , Graduation Sunday, May 21 2017. Every year, we ask parents to inform St. Barbara’s of their graduates. We strongly urge graduates and their families to be present in order to receive their gift. Please call Irene at (617) 823-0301 or email [email protected] with your graduate’s name and where they are graduating from.
***Graduate submission deadline is May 14th, 2017***
We are happy to prepare and present these gifts; therefore, we respectfully decline any submissions after May 14th. Thank you for your understanding.
Please join us for our next General Assembly on Thursday, March 30, 2017
7:00 p.m. in The James Bouboulis Auditorium
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You Are Cordially Invited to Attend Saturday Afternoon Tea In Honor of Aphrodite Darris For Benefit of St. Barbara Philoptochos Charity Commitments and “Apostoli” Charity of Greece
Saturday, March 18, 2017 at 3:00 pm
St. Athanasius the Great Greek Orthodox Church James Bouboulis Auditorium Tea Hosted by the Ladies of St. Barbara’s Philoptochos Society Guest Speaker: Frances Levas, Metropolis Philoptochos President Donation Per Person: $25 For more information, please call Stella Kazantzas at 781-646-0705
If you plan to attend, kindly mail this form with payment by March 5th to St. Barbara's Philoptochos Ladies Society, St. Athanasius Greek Orthodox Church, 4 Appleton Street, Arlington, MA 02476. Name ______Number of Places Reserved ____ Total Payment Enclosed: $______I regret I cannot attend. Kindly accept my donation of $______.
Donation Per Person: $25 | Checks may be made out to St. Barbara’s Philoptochos Society. Thank you for your support. Please print the names and telephone numbers of persons in your party and any special request: © I La Lu Design 2016 ©
17 Little Halos News
The month of February began with our students attending the Liturgy for the Presentation of our Lord in the Temple on February 2nd. Curriculum themes for February included Groundhog Day activities and exploration of the concept of shadows, as well as Valentine’s Day and related crafts and activities. February was also dental health month. The children talked about their teeth and mouth. Our studies for the month of February were concluded with the custom of Αποκριές and the Greek carnival that takes place before the lent period. The books that we read were: The Cat in the Hat, One fish two fish Red Fish Blue Fish, Hop on Pop, The Lorax, The Foot Book, Green Eggs and Ham, Fox in Socks and Happy Birthday To You.
**Registration for the 2017-2018 school year has now begun, and an Open House is scheduled for March 29 and 30, 2017 at 10:00-11:00am for new families interested in visiting our school.**
Please contact Kaiti Galanopoulos, Director, at (781) 646-1322 for any further information about our school, program, or any of our events.
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Now Enrolling For the 2017/2018 School Year
You are invited to an Open House March 29th and 30th, 2017 at 10:00 – 11:00 am. Come learn more about our exceptional school, visit the Preschool and Pre- Kindergarten classrooms, and meet the teachers. Children are welcome! Little Halos Preschool Day School has rolling admissions- we accept applications any time. The following programs are offered for the year 2017-2018.
8:30am-12noon 8:30am-3pm
For More Information and to schedule a tour, please contact: Kaiti Galanopoulos, Director [email protected] * 781-646-1322
Little Halos Day School is an Arlington Massachusetts based Preschool that provides a three- fold program of the Greek Language, Hellenic culture, and Greek Orthodox Faith, within a developmental framework of play-based learning for children 2.9- 5 year old. Little Halos is licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care.
Four Appleton Street (corner of Massachusetts Ave.) * Arlington, MA 02476 Tel: 781-646-1322 – Fax: 781-641-4700 * [email protected]
19 Μάρτιος 2017 Κυριακή Δευτέρα Τρίτη Τετάρτη Πέμπτη Παρασκευή Σάββατο 3-6
Strict Fast Wine/Oil Allowed Fast Free Fish Allowed
20 March 2017 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday rd Strict Fast 1 Pre-Sanctified Liturgy 2 Little Halos 8:30am-3 3 Little Halos 8:30-3 4 3 Saturdaay of the Wine/Oil Allowed 8-9:45am Little Halos Open Basketball Practice for Souls/Psychosavvato Fast Free Little Halos 8:30am-3 House 10am all @ the Ottoson Gym Orthros 8 D. Liturgy 9- Fish Allowed Greek Schl 4-6:30pm Grk Schl Gr 3 & 6 4- 10:15 5:30-7 First GOYA SKI TRIP Grades 2&5; 6:30pm Salutations Service to Bible Study in English Great Lent Book Study the Theotokos 7-8pm No Vespers Service 7:15-8:30pm 6pm GOYA Ski Trip
5 Sunday of Orthodoxy 6 7 Little Halos 8:30-3 8 9 Little Halos 8:30am-3 10 Little Halos 8:30-3 11 Orthros 8:45am; Div. Little Halos 8:30am-3 Greek School 4-6:30 Little Halos 8:30-3 Little Halos Open Basketball Practice for Great Vespers Lit 10-11:30am Grk Schl K1 / K2 4- Grades 1 and 4 Greek School 4- House 10am all @ the Ottoson Gym 4:30-5 Catechetical Sunday 6pm; Children's Grk 6:30 Grades 2 and5 Grk Schl Gr 3 & 6 4- 5:30-7 Church School 10am Dancing 6-8pm Festival Meeting #3, 6:30pm Pre-Sanctified Second Salutations Memorial: Compline Service 6pm 7pm Great Lent Book Study Service to the +Vasiliki Mitaras Grk Bible Study7:15pm Liturgy 5:30-7:30pm 6pm Theotokos 7-8pm PEACE Ministry 1:30 Grk Adult Dancing 8pm 12 2nd Sunday in Lent 13 14 Little Halos 8:30-3 15 Pre-Sanctified 16 17 Little Halos 8:30-3 18 Orthros 8:45am; Div. Little Halos 8:30am-3 Little Halos 8:30am-3 Greek School 4-6:30 Liturgy 8-9:45am Basketball Practice for Lit 10-11:30am Cat. Grk Schl K1 / K2 4- Little Halos Open all @ the Ottoson Gym PHILOPTOCHOS Grades 1 and 4 Little Halos 8:30-3 Sun Ch. Sch 10 6pm Bible Study in House 10am 5:30-7 Memorials: Children's Grk Dancing Greek School 4- Grk Schl Gr 3 & 6 4- Saturday English 7:15-8:30om Phil. Hall Use 3-7pm +Harry Shuris 6-8pm 6:30 6:30pm Afternoon Tea +Vasiliki Villas Bible Study in Grk Great Lent Book Study Grades 2 and 5 Third Salutations +JamesMoskovis 7:15 -8:30pm Grk Schl Com. Mt. 6pm 3-6 pm + Petros &Alexandra . Grk Adult Dance 8pm Service to the . . . Tsoukalas 6:30pm Theotokos 7-8pm No Great Vespers +Nicholas Alepidis Service +CaliroyAlepede Sun.Schl Staff Mt 12:15 19 3rdSunday in Lent 20 21 Little Halos 8:30-3 22 23 24 Little Halos 8:30-3 25The Feast of the (The Cross) Little Halos 8:30am-3 Greek School 4-6:30 Little Halos 8:30-3 Little Halos 8:30am-3 Basketball Practice for Annunciation/(Greek Orthros 8:45am; Div. Grk Schl K1 / K2 4- Grades 1 and 4 Greek School 4- L. Halos Open House all @ the Ottoson Gym Ind. Day) Orthros 8 D. Lit 10-11:30am 6pm 6:30 Grades 2and 5 10am; Grk Schl Gr 3 & 5:30-7 Lit 9-10; No Vespers OCF Bentley at Liturgy Children's Grk Dancing 6 4-6:30; Philoptochos Great Vespers with The 4th Parish Council 7pm Pre-Sanctified Service; Greek School Cat. Sun Ch.School 10 6-8pm to Philoxenia House Salutations to the and Little Halos March
Arl. Food Pantry Drive No Bible Study in Grk Liturgy 5:30-7:30pm With Fr. Nick Theotokos Service in 25 th Celebration Arlington 7-8pm Met.Basketball Banquet Grk Adult Dance 8pm Great Lent Book Study 5:30pm 6pm; Parish Leadership Seminar-St. Nektarios 26 4th Sunday in Lent 27 28 Little Halos 8:30-3 29 Pre-Sanctified 30 31 Little Halos 8:30-3 April 1st Orthros 8:45am; Div. Little Halos 8:30am-3 Greek School 4-6:30 Liturgy 8-9:45am Little Halos 8:30am-3 Basketball Practice for Our Parish Lit 10-11:30am Grk Schl K1 / K2 4- Grades 1 and 4 Little Halos 8:30-3 Little Halos Open all @ the Ottoson Gym Catechetical Sunday 6pm Bible Study in House 10am 5:30 St. John Chrysostom Church School 10am Children's Grk Dancing Greek School 4- Grk Schl Gr 3 & 6 4- English 7:15-8:30pm Oratorical Festival Memorial: 6-8pm 6:30 6:30pm The Akathistos +Aglaia Nanopoulou Bible Study in Grk Grades 2 and 5 Great Lent Book Study Service 7-8:30 9-12:30pm Artoklasia Evangelos 7:15-8:30pm 6pm; Little Halos Horiatis Family Grk Adult Dance 8pm Parent Workshop 6:30 No Vespers Service Pine St. Inn 5pm Philoptochos General Assembly 6:30
21 Being a Lenten Apprentice
Great Lent is often called a time to return to basics because we focus on central dimensions of our Christian faith: we read from Scripture to remind us of the need for a Savior; we become more focused on matters of prayer and worship; we increase our philanthropic and charitable efforts; and, of course, we follow the ascetic discipline of fasting from certain foods.
In some ways, we return to being novice Christians, doing things we were taught years ago. To borrow a concept, we become apprentices once again. According to the dictionary, an apprentice is someone who is “learning by practical experience from more skilled workers.” Parish life could and perhaps should be thought of as an “apprenticeship program” in Christian life.
We learn how to be an Orthodox Christian by participating in the life of the Church with more experienced teachers. The experienced share what they have learned with new generations of participants. The wisdom of experienced people is really important. They have internalized the wisdom of the community through their practice of the Faith. This is best shared in face-to-face encounters.
Who are the “more experienced” in our parishes? First, of course, are the clergy. They have been educated in the Faith at a fairly high level and should be considered the chief teacher of the Faith in a parish (of course the bishop is the chief teacher in the Church). Second, there are the adults in the community who have years of experience living as Orthodox Christians. Don’t underestimate the influence of grandparents and senior citizens. Studies have repeatedly shown that grandparents have enormous influence on the religious lives of the young. Third, there are the teachers and youth advisors. They are a specialized group because of their focus on intentional instruction, class work, discussions, and activity.
Who are the apprentices? First, the young. They are learning and need a great deal of guidance. Second, there are the new to the Faith. They may have read about Orthodox Christianity in a book, but are now trying to apply what they’ve read to their lives. Finally, all of us are apprentices to one degree or another. We are continually learning. We are always disciples – students -- of Christ and the way of life He invites His followers to observe.
How we do this? Work together, alongside one another. We don’t just bring prosforo to church; we can bake it together. It’s learning by doing.
Advice and guidance. There’s a great deal that is learned “on the job,” especially what’s unwritten or can’t be explained easily. Apprentices are often observed performing their jobs by more experienced teachers, and if possible, being corrected or reminded of things along the way. To continue with the prosforo baking example, someone probably has to show us when the dough has been kneaded adequately. That part of the process can’t be found in a book.
Small jobs, in time, become large jobs. Being a GOYA officer can lead to Parish Council membership. Serving on a committee leads to chairing the committee. Small liturgical roles can become larger ones in time. In this approach, the lived work of the Church is handed on to newer generations, little by little.
Classes are useful. Apprentices often take classes, to learn the theory about their job and to deepen their knowledge of an area. It’s often in preparation for performing a new task. Let’s not underestimate the power of teaching groups. Jesus often His disciples, privately, apart from the crowds. He explained his teachings to them.
Great Lent offers opportunities to place all of these qualities into practice in our parishes, teaching one another, but especially the young and new to the Faith, the way of Christian living.
Rev. Anton C. Vrame, Ph.D., Director Department of Religious Education Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America 50 Goddard Avenue, Brookline, MA 02445, Tel. 646-519-6300
22
Church Music Ins tute For all Choir Members, Directors, Organists, Psaltai, Youth Directors, Religious Educators Saturday, March 18, 2017 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Annuncia on Greek Orthodox Church 7 Harris Street Newburyport, MA 01950
Morning Session: “Unlocking the Conductor’s Gestures” Pick up, downbeat, cutoff; beat placement and size. We will conduct various hymns together. Evey Simon, Director of Music Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, New York, NY
A ernoon Session: “The Nymphios Services of Holy Week” Rev. Dr. Alkiviadis Calivas, Professor Emeritus of Liturgics Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
Con nental Breakfast and Luncheon is included for all CMI par cipants.
Please note: There is NO Registra on Fee to a end. However, we ask that you RSVP to [email protected] so that we can plan for our catering needs.
The Church Music Ins tute is co‐sponsored by the Na onal Forum of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians and the Metropolis of Boston Federa on of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians.
For more informa on contact Cynthia Alex at [email protected]
23
PROJECT MEXICO Sign-up ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN Deadline MISSIONS TRIP Extended March 15 !! JUNE 7-13
Spots still available !!!
Mail or Bring Deposit
of $100
Payable to:
St. Athanasius Greek
Orthodox Church
4 Appleton Street WHAT? Missions trip to build home for Arlington, MA 02476 family in need – Participate in joyful Orthodox community and worship life Meeting Sunday, March 12 of St. Innocent Orphanage 12:30 p.m. WHO? Youth, Young Adults, All Ages Fr. Aaron's office
St. Athanasius GOC and other Boston Questions? area Orthodox Christian parishes Fr. Aaron Walker (617) 733 – 1045 WHY? To share the love of Christ, work [email protected] together as a Church family, and be transformed in your heart and soul
24 Project Mexico
Check out the YouTube Video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-qZp8_iXQM
From June 7 to June 13, Fr. Aaron will be leading a home-building trip to Project Mexico. The main work of this trip is the construction of a home for a needy, deserving family in rural Tijuana. The benefits to the participants and to our whole parish are many! The group will work as a team with other Orthodox Christians from around the country. We will meet the people we are building this home. When the home is complete, there will be a beautiful blessing ceremony, where the house will be presented to the family. Our group will participate in the joyful Orthodox Christian community and worship life of St. Innocent’s Ranch, an Orthodox orphanage. We will return and share with the parish the difficulties of the realities that are faced by so many who don’t have the prosperity we take for granted. We will also share the joy of truly living out our calling as individuals and as a parish community--to give a helping hand to others in need. The trip is open to all able- bodied members of our parish and other area Orthodox parishes. No construction experience is required. Our GOYAns are strongly encouraged to consider participating in this life-transforming experience.
From the Project Mexico website: https://www.projectmexico.org
Because of the prosperity that most of us enjoy, it is difficult to truly understand the basic and fundamental challenges that exist just beyond our borders. Only minutes south of one of California’s favorite vacation destinations, you will find Tijuana, Mexico, a city not only of considerable size and history, but of significant human poverty and hardship as well. With a population of over 1.3 million residents, it is sobering to appreciate that nearly half of them live on less than $200 (USD) per month.
Even more troubling is the difficulty that families face when finding a permanent home. The cost of land in Mexico can be very expensive ranging from $15,000 to $25,000 (USD) for a 200-300 meter parcel of land. Once families have saved enough money to pay for the mortgage on their land, they have very little left to construct a secure home. As you drive through the impoverished communities around Tijuana, you will see homes made of old garage doors, wooden pallets, tarps, tires or other materials that were, ironically enough, likely discarded from homes within the United States.
We work closely with Mexican Social Services and other local resources to identify potential candidate families. Once selected as a candidate, the family will be carefully interviewed to determine their need based on annual income, family size, overall quality of life, employment and the potential benefit that a home will have on them.
Since 1988, Project Mexico & St. Innocent Orphanage have been building secure, safe, and weather- tight homes for some of the most impoverished families in northern Mexico. Built strictly by volunteer labor, these homes provide families economic security and hope for a brighter future. While serving these families, the volunteers discover that they have been transformed. Through their service to others, they realize that they have received much more than they had given. To date, we have hosted well over 11,000 volunteers on our 16 acre ranch as we continue to humbly bear the burdens of others in the name of Christ.
25
LET US
JOURNEY
THROUGH
GREAT LENT
TOGETHER
BOOK STUDY GREAT LENT, BY FR. ALEXANDER SCHMEMANN
STUDY A CLASSIC ORTHODOX TEXT LET HYMNS, READINGS, AND MOVEMENT OF LENTEN WORSHIP SPEAK TO YOUR HEART 10 MINUTE TALK BY FR. AARON GROUP DISCUSSION AND APPLICATION TO OUR LIVES
THURSDAYS, 6 - 7 PM, IN CONFERENCE ROOM FEB. 23 – CHAPTER ONE, PREPARATION MAR. 2 – CHAPTER TWO, THE LENTEN WORSHIP MAR. 9 – CHAPTER THREE, THE LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS MAR. 16 – CHAPTER FOUR, THE LENTEN JOURNEY MAR. 23 – CHAPTER FIVE, LENT IN OUR LIFE MAR. 30, APR. 6 – T.B.D.
FOR MORE INFO - [email protected]
Alexander Schmemann (1921- 1983) was an inspired and influential Orthodox Christian priest, teacher, and writer. From 1946 to 1951 he taught in Paris, and afterwards in New York. In his teachings and writings, he sought to establish the close links between Christian theology and Christian liturgy. At the time of his death, he was the dean of the Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary.
26 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, One of the things we said in the Lenten Book Study, is that no words can really explain the experience of Lent. We have to go through it—the services, the fasting, the increased private prayers, and increasing our works of mercy—to appreciate Lent. I encourage you, if possible, to schedule to attend one or more Lenten service that you have not experienced last year. Ask God to help you to enter more deeply into the “bright sadness” of this time of repentance, not as an obligation but to connect to Christ, whose Resurrection is our only hope for eternal life. Fr. Aaron Walker Children’s Sermon on Forgiveness Sunday
God loves and forgives the lost. Remember two Sundays ago, I talked with you about the Parable of the Prodigal Son? The younger of two sons was lost in his mind and in his heart... and then he was found. The son took his inheritance and went far away from his father and wasted everything he had been given and ended up in a bad place and very unhappy. Then he “came to himself” and realized how miserable he was, and he also remembered his father’s love, and he made up his mind to go back home; and his father had compassion, and forgave his son and gave him a big hug and threw a party. The message I shared with you was, when you go away from God end up in “the pigpen” (which represents life away from God), God loves you. You can always come back to God when you get lost, because He forgives you and loves you.
Sometimes we are the older brother. The parable of the Prodigal Son continues. What we didn’t discuss last time was the conversation of the father with the older brother. The older brother stays outside the house angry, and the father goes out and pleads with him to come join the party. But the older son is very upset “I have been serving you all these years and I never went against you, but this son of yours is getting a party thrown for him after doing so many bad things, and you never had a party like this for me. The father says, “You are always with me and everything I have is yours, but it is right for us to celebrate because your brother was lost and is found.”
God wants us to forgive as He forgives. Today’s message is, God wants us to forgive others just as He forgives us. The Lord said, "If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Like we say in the Our Father: “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
Jesus ends the parable of the prodigal son without saying what was the older son’s response was to his father’s words. Did he join the party or did he stay outside? Let’s use our imagination-- what would it look like if the older brother took his father’s words to heart and joined the party and celebrated his brother’s return? He would have to forgive his younger brother wouldn’t he?
Forgiving means admitting my hurt, and loving anyway. The older brother would first of all have to admit that he had been hurt--rather than being tough and saying “I don’t care what he does. It does not matter to me. Whatever, I forgive him.” That would not be forgiveness because he would still be upset; he would still be judging his brother. Judging means having hard feelings towards someone. Sometimes we say we forgive someone but we avoid them.
27 However, forgiving his brother, the older brother would admit what was in his heart, how he was hurt. He might say out loud or to himself: “What you did hurt me. You wasted the family’s money. You did things in public to put mom and dad and me to shame. You did not even treat me as a brother. You turned your back on me and our parents… And I forgive you. I accept you back, and I don’t hold this hurt against you.”
Forgiveness is hard because it takes humility. Forgiving is harder than it looks, because it is not just saying, “It’s ok.” It’s not even just saying “I forgive you.” It is humbling myself and saying from my heart, “Even though you did this thing that hurt me, I accept you; I don’t hold a grudge. I don’t think I am a better person than you because you did this bad thing to me.
To forgive is to love as Christ loves. When we forgive, we are acting like Christ. When Jesus was on the cross, he forgave the ones who nailed him to the cross. He said “Father, forgive them.” Christ forgives us no matter what we have done. Think of the worst thing that you have done. Maybe you are too embarrassed to share with anyone. (I hope you will share it with your mother or father or someone who cares for you.) Jesus says, “the true you is deeper down inside of you than your deepest weaknesses and mistakes. All the way deep down is the true person, the true Fr. Aaron, Dimitria, Yiorgos, Eleni, and I love you.” This doesn’t mean that Jesus loves our sins. It means no matter what I’m still loveable, and I’m still loved by God.
Sinning is getting our hearts dirty. Forgiveness cleans us. When we sin, as in--go away from God--when we are selfish or mean or not truthful, or judging, we end up “in the pigpen” (like the prodigal son) and we get dirt on our hearts. Not literally, but there is something there on our heart that needs to be cleaned and forgiven. Sometimes our conscience tells us--we don’t feel right. When Christ forgives us he cleans all that pig dirt off our hearts and makes our hearts clean on the inside and puts his love there instead. Here is a prayer about that, a prayer before Holy Communion. I made a little simpler to understand. You can say it in your heart as I read it.
Prayer before Holy Communion I believe that you are truly the Christ, the Son of the Living God Who came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the first. And I believe that this is truly your holy body and precious blood. Therefore, I pray - Forgive me all my sins, Each thing I have said or done that was not pleasing to you or hurt other people or not was good for me. Please make me clean to receive your Holy Communion For the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting. Amen.
The message today is, God wants us to receive His forgiveness and love. He wants that for us, and he wants us give that forgiveness and love to others. The story of the older brother is our story. We get to give the story a happy ending. We get to be the older brother, and go into the party and forgives those who have sinned, and celebrate with them. When we forgive in this way, we feel happier than ever, because we know what it is like to be away from God, with our anger, blame, loneliness, or whatever separates us from Him. And we know the happiness of being forgiven and loved and giving that love to others. That is one of the great things about being forgiven by God. It helps us forgive others, even when it is very hard to forgive. So that we can all be cleaned from the dirt of sin and live in the love of God forever. Amen.
28 Τι Σημαίνει Η Αγία και Μεγάλη Τεσσαρκοστή Του π. Θεμιστοκλή Μουρτζανού
Για τους περισσότερους είναι μία παράδοση, ένα έθιμο. Συνδεδεμένη με τη νηστεία και με έκβασή της την Μεγάλη Εβδομάδα και το Πάσχα, η Σαρακοστή είναι μία συνήθεια που έρχεται από το παρελθόν. Πολλοί νέοι σήμερα νηστεύουν, ακολουθώντας την οικογένειά τους, επιλέγοντας έναν εναλλακτικό τρόπο διατροφής ή επειδή αισθάνονται ότι η νηστεία είναι ένας απόηχος της ανάγκης για Θεό και νόημα ζωής. Άλλοι πάλι εκκλησιάζονται, ιδίως κατά τους Χαιρετισμούς ή τις Κυριακές της Σαρακοστής. Σχεδόν όλοι όμως συνεχίζουν τον τρόπο ζωής τους, χωρίς να συνειδητοποιούν στον λογισμό και στον προβληματισμό τους ότι Σαρακοστή σημαίνει αλλιώτικη πορεία ζωής. Η οικογένεια, εφόσον έχει πνευματικά βιώματα και νιώθει την ανάγκη μεταλαμπάδευσής τους, μπορεί να δώσει στα παιδιά και τους νέους αφετηρίες σαρακοστιανών εμπειριών. Λιγότερη τηλεόραση και υπολογιστής. Επιμέλεια στην προσευχή. Συζήτηση για το νόημα του κόσμου και της ζωής. Ο Χριστός ως βάση για τη διαχείριση των περιστάσεων, των ανθρώπων, των σχέσεων. Και τη ίδια στιγμή εργασία με τον εαυτό μας. Αίσθηση ότι ο χρόνος της νηστείας δεν είναι μόνο διατροφική αλλαγή, αλλά απόφαση για περισσότερη αγάπη. Για συγχώρεση και ανοχή. Για θέαση του κόσμου μέσα από τη θέση του πλησίον. Αντίσταση στο ήθος ενός πολιτισμού που επιμένει ατομοκεντρικά. Σύνδεση με την εκκλησιαστική κοινότητα μέσω της λατρείας και των εορτών. Μετάνοια για τα μικρότερα ή μεγαλύτερα λάθη. Και βέβαια χαρά. Αυτή που είναι το τελικό νόημα της Σαρακοστής, όπως και κάθε λειτουργικής περιόδου της ζωής της Εκκλησίας. Δεν είναι καταπίεση η νηστεία, η προσευχή, ο συχνότερος εκκλησιασμός, η συναίσθηση ότι δεν είμαστε τέλειοι, ότι ο κόσμος δεν υπάρχει για να προβάλλουμε τον εαυτό μας αλλά για να αγαπούμε, δηλαδή για να βγαίνουμε από αυτόν. Και η έξοδος δίνει χαρά. Κάποτε φανερή, κάποτε μυστική. Σκοπός της είναι η συνάντηση με τον Χριστό. Η θέα Του στο πρόσωπο του άλλου. Η μεταμόρφωση της καρδιάς. Ό,τι δίνει αληθινό νόημα στη ζωή μας και μας κάνει να μη νικιόμαστε από την έπαρση και το δικαίωμα της κατανάλωσης των πάντων, από την υιοθέτηση του μοιραίου “όλα επιτρέπονται». Και είναι χαρά να μην αισθανόμαστε μόνοι, ακόμη κι αν για τους πολλούς αυτός ο τρόπος είναι κατεξοχήν μοναχικός. Κάποτε παρωχημένος. Η χαρά όμως δε νικιέται από το παρόν, αλλά το αγιάζει και το μεταμορφώνει. Και μας μαζί του. Η Εκκλησία καλεί ιδιαίτερα τους νέους να δουν πίσω από τις λέξεις των ύμνων, πίσω από το λιτό φως των ιερών ακολουθιών, τα πένθιμα άμφια την προτροπή για μετάνοια, για απελευθέρωση από έναν κόσμο που φωνάζει. Που θεοποιεί εαυτό και πάθη. Που δεν ξέρει να ακούει. Και ο νέος, αυτός δηλαδή που ζητά αυθεντικότητα και αγάπη, μπορεί να βρει στον χρόνο της Σαρακοστής και στον τρόπο της Εκκλησίας τη χαραμάδα από την οποία το φως της πίστης θα περάσει, θα αλλάξει την καρδιά και θα κάνει τον άνθρωπο να μοιάσει του Θεού. Εκείνου που από αγάπη θα σταυρωθεί και θα αναστηθεί. Για να δώσει αιωνιότητα στη χαρά που τόσο μας λείπει και που ο κόσμος την υποκαθιστά με τις ψευδαισθήσεις του
29 33 Προσευχες για το κάθε κομβο στο κομποσκηνι
01. Μνήσθητι Κύριε υπέρ ειρήνης του κόσμου. 02. Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ ελέησε την Εκκλησία μας και την Ορθοδοξία μας. 03. Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ ελέησε τον Επίσκοπο μας και την συνοδεία αυτού. 04. Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ ελέησε τους απανταχού γης Ορθοδόξους κληρικούς και λαϊκούς. 05. Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ ελέησε τον Πνευματικό μας Πατέρα και την συνοδεία αυτού. 06. Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ ελέησε τον Ελληνικό Στρατό και τα Σώματα Προστασίας. 07. Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ ελέησε τους άρχοντες του έθνους μας. 08. Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ ελέησε τους μισούντας, αγαπώντας και προσευχομένους υπέρ ημών. 09. Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ ελέησε τους γονείς, αναδόχους και διδασκάλους μας. 10. Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ ελέησε τους κατά σάρκα και κατά πνεύμα αδελφούς και συγγενείς μας. 11. Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ ελέησε τα γηρατειά και τους μοναχικούς ανθρώπους. 12. Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ ελέησε τα Βρέφη, τους απροστάτευτους και αδυνάτους. 13. Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ ελέησε την μαθητιώσα νεολαία μας. 14. Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ ελέησε τους έφηβους νέους και νεανίδες μας. 15. Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ ελέησε τους ναρκομανείς, αλκοολικούς και καπνίζοντες. 16. Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ ελέησε τας συζυγίας των Ορθοδόξων οικογενειών. 17. Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ ελέησε τις κυοφορούσες αδελφές μας. 18. Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ ελέησε τις χήρες και τα ορφανά. 19. Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ ελέησε τους εν διαστάσει συζύγους και πειραζομένους αδελφούς και αδελφές μας. 20. Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ ελέησε τους ασθενείς, ψυχής και σώματος. 21. Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ ελέησε τους ελεούντας και εργαζομένους των Ί. Μονών και ενοριών. 22. Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ ελέησε τους ευλαβείς προσκυνητάς των Ί. Μονών και Εκκλησιών. 23. Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ ελέησε τους πλέοντας, οδοιπορούντας, ιπταμένους, αιχμαλώτους και απελπισμένους. 24. Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ ελέησε τους πενθούντας και θλιμένους αδελφούς μας. 25. Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ ελέησε τους δικαστάς και πολιτικούς. 26. Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ ελέησε τους πλανεμένους και βλασφημούντας την Ορθοδοξία μας. 27. Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ ελέησε μας και δώρησε καιρόν ειρηνικόν. 28. Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ φύλαξε μας από ασθένεια, οργή, κίνδυνο και φώτιζε τους γιατρούς και νοσοκόμους. 29. Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ φύλαξε μας από πείνα, ανάγκη και δυστυχία. 30. Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ φύλαξε μας από καύσωνα, φωτιά και σεισμό. 31. Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ φύλαξε μας από κατακλυσμό, καταποντισμό και παγετό. 32. Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ ανάπαυσε και τις ψυχές των πατέρων, μητέρων, αδελφών, συγγενών, πάπων προ πάπων. 33. Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ ελέησόν με τον αμαρτωλόν. (Κάνε και μια μετάνοια με Σταυρό στο τέλος). Ό Απόστολος Παύλος προτρέπει στην Α' προς Θεσ/κείς 5, 17: «Αδιαλείπτως προσεύχεσθε, εν παντί ευχαριστείτε τούτο γαρ θέλημα Θεού εν Χριστώ Ιησού εις υμάς»
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St. Ephraim Lord and Master of my life, do not allow me to have the spirit of laziness, idle curiosity, lust for power, and gossip; Grant to me your servant, instead, the spirit of prudence, humility, patience, and love; Yes, Lord and King, give me the gift to see my own sins and not judge my brother and sister, for Blessed are You unto the ages of ages. Amen. (Another translation) The Lenten Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian O Lord and Master of my life, Take from me the will to be lazy and sad; The desire to get ahead of other people and to boast and brag.
31 Give me instead a pure and humble spirit the will to be patient with other people And to love them.
Lord, let me realize my own mistakes And keep me from judging what other people do For You are blessed now and forevermore. Amen
My Daily Prayer O Lord, grant me to meet the coming day, evening, and night, with peace. Help me in all things to rely upon your Holy Will. In every hour of the day and night, please reveal Your will to me. Bless my dealings with all who surround me. Teach me to treat all that comes to me throughout the day, evening, and night, with peace of soul, and with the firm conviction that Your Will and Providence guide me. In all my deeds and words, guide my thoughts and feelings. May I be kind and gracious in every way. In unforeseen events, let me not forget the statement of faith: “Thy Will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven.” Teach me to act firmly and wisely, with love in my heart, without embittering and embarrassing others. Give me the strength to bear the fatigue of the coming day and night, with all that it shall bring. Direct my will, teach me to pray, help me to always practice hospitality, and, You, Yourself, pray in me. Amen.
-Adapted from Metropolitan Philaret and The Orthodox Study Bible
(2) Do you fast? Give me proof of it by your works. If you see a poor man, take pity on him. If you see a friend being honored, do not envy him. Do not let only your mouth fast, but also the eye, and the feet, and the hands and all the members of our bodies. Let the hands fast, by being free of avarice. Let the feet fast, by ceasing to run after sin. Let the eyes fast, by disciplining them not to glare at that which is sinful. Let the ears by not listening to evil talk and gossip. Let the mouth fast from foul words and unjust criticism. For what good is it if we abstain from birds and fishes, but bite and devour our brothers? -St. John Chrysostom
(3) "Fasting was devised in order to humble the body. If, therefore, the body is already in a state of humbleness and illness or weakness, the person ought to partake of as much as he or she may wish and be able to get along with food and drink" (Canon 8 of St. Timothy of Alexandria, 381)
*(Fr. Thomas Hopko’s “55 Maxims” – On Living a Christian Life)
1. Be always with Christ and trust God in everything. 2. Pray as you can, not as you think you must. 3. Have a keepable rule of prayer done by discipline. 4. Say the Lord's Prayer several times each day. 5. Repeat a short prayer when your mind is not occupied. 6. Make some prostrations when you pray. 7. Eat good foods in moderation and fast on fasting days. 8. Practice silence, inner and outer. 9. Sit in silence 20 to 30 minutes each day.
32 10. Do acts of mercy in secret. 11. Go to liturgical services regularly. 12. Go to confession and Holy Communion regularly. 13. Do not engage intrusive thoughts and feelings. 14. Reveal all your thoughts and feelings to a trusted person regularly. 15. Read the scriptures regularly. 16. Read good books, a little at a time. 17. Cultivate communion with the saints. 18. Be an ordinary person, one of the human race. 19. Be polite with everyone, first of all family members. 20. Maintain cleanliness and order in your home. 21. Have a healthy, wholesome hobby. 22. Exercise regularly. 23. Live a day, even a part of a day, at a time. 24. Be totally honest, first of all with yourself. 25. Be faithful in little things. 26. Do the most difficult and painful things first. 27. Face reality. 28. Be grateful. 29. Be cheerful. 30. Be simple, hidden, quiet and small. 31. Never bring attention to yourself. 32. Listen when people talk to you. 33. Be awake and attentive, fully present where you are. 34. Think and talk about things no more than necessary. 35. Speak simply, clearly, firmly, directly. 36. Flee imagination, fantasy, analysis, figuring things out. 37. Flee carnal, sexual things at their first appearance. 38. Don't complain, grumble, murmur or whine. 39. Don't seek or expect pity or praise. 40. Don't compare yourself with anyone. 41. Don't judge anyone for anything. 42. Don't try to convince anyone of anything. 43. Don't defend or justify yourself. 44. Be defined and bound by God, not people. 45. Accept criticism gracefully and test it carefully. 46. Give advice only when asked or when it is your duty. 47. Do nothing for people that they can and should do for themselves. 48. Have a daily schedule of activities, avoiding whim and caprice. 49. Be merciful with yourself and others. 50. Have no expectations except to be fiercely tempted to your last breath. 51. Focus exclusively on God and light, and never on darkness, temptation and sin. 52. Endure the trial of yourself and your faults serenely, under God's mercy. 53. When you fall, get up immediately and start over. 54. Get help when you need it, without fear or shame. *(Fr. Thomas Hopko’s “55 Maxims” – On Living a Christian Life)
*Fr. Tom expounds further on this at: http://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/hopko/lent_the_tithe_of_the_year
33 (4) Psalm 23 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want; 2 he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters; 3 he restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
(5) Psalm 46 God is our shelter and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. 2 So we will not be afraid, even if the earth is shaken and mountains fall into the ocean depths; 3 even if the seas roar and rage, and the hills are shaken by the violence. 4 There is a river that brings joy to the city of God, to the sacred house of the Most High. 5 God is in that city, and it will never be destroyed; at early dawn he will come to its aid. 6 Nations are terrified, kingdoms are shaken;God thunders, and the earth dissolves. 7 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. 8 Come and see what the LORD has done. See what amazing things he has done on earth. 9 He stops wars all over the world; he breaks bows, destroys spears, and sets shields on fire. 10 “Stop fighting,” he says, “and know that I am God, supreme among the nations, supreme over the world.” 1 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
(6) In Praise of God's Goodness ]Psalm 34
I will always thank the LORD; I will never stop praising him. 2 I will praise him for what he has done; may all who are oppressed listen and be glad! 3 Proclaim with me the LORD's greatness;let us praise his name together! 4 I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me; he freed me from all my fears. 5 The oppressed look to him and are glad; they will never be disappointed. 6 The helpless call to him, and he answers; he saves them from all their troubles. 7 His angel guards those who honor the LORD and rescues them from danger. 8 Find out for yourself how good the LORD is. Happy are those who find safety with him. 9 Honor the LORD, all his people; those who obey him have all they need. 10 Even lions go hungry for lack of food, but those who obey the LORD lack nothing good. 11 Come, my young friends, and listen to me, and I will teach you to honor the LORD. 12 Would you like to enjoy life? Do you want long life and happiness? 13 Then keep from speaking evil and from telling lies. 14 Turn away from evil and do good; strive for peace with all your heart. 15 The LORD watches over the righteous and listens to their cries; 16 but he opposes those who do evil, so that when they die, they are soon forgotten. 17 The righteous call to the LORD, and he listens; he rescues them from all their troubles. 18 The LORD is near to those who are discouraged; he saves those who have lost all hope. 19 Good people suffer many troubles, but the LORD saves them from them all; 20 the LORD preserves them completely; not one of their bones is broken. 21 Evil will kill the wicked; those who hate the righteous will be punished 22The Lord will save his people; those who go to him for protection will be spared
(7) The Beatitudes 5:3-12pp -- Lk 6:20-23 1 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them, saying: 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed
34 are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
(8) 1 Corinthians 13 1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; 5 it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. 8 Love never ends; as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect; 10 but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood. 13 So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 14:1 Make love you aim
(9) (91st) Psalm 1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in the shadow of the Almighty, 2 will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust." 3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence; 4 he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. 5 You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand; but it will not come near you. 8 You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. 9 Because you have made the LORD your refuge, the Most High your habitation, 10 no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent. 11 For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways. 12 On their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread on the lion and the adder, the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot. 14 Because he cleaves to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. 15 When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will rescue him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him, and show him my salvation.
(10) (Romans 12) I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God--what is good and acceptable and perfect. 3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. 6
35 We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; 7 ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; 8 the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness. 9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10 love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, and serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 18 If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." 20 No, "if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
(11) How to Guard Your Heart ~Adrian Rogers Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil.
~Proverbs 4:23-27
How does God intend for us to live? The book of Proverbs beautifully takes practical matters, interweaves the spiritual, and makes life the beautiful thing God wants it to be. When a person knows God and is right with God, they will find they live a perfectly natural, intensely practical, and deeply spiritual life all at the same time. That’s what God intends.
“Keep your heart with all diligence” In the Old Testament the word “heart” is used more than 800 times, but more than 200 times it deals with the thought life, the emotions, the wellsprings of life, those things that motivate and mold us. The Bible calls that the heart. I’m calling it the thought life.
The Majesty of the Thought Life Why is the thought life so important? Why did Solomon tell his son, “Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life?” Because the thought life controls the rest of your life. If you tell me what you think, I’ll tell you who you are and the life you live. What you think is what you are. The thought life controls you. “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). Your thoughts—positive, negative, good, or bad—control your attitudes. Your attitudes are the sum total of your thoughts. Your attitudes lead to your actions. The thought is the father of the deed. All good psychologists will tell you that. Someone once said, “Sow a thought, and reap a deed. Sow a deed, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a character. Sow a character, reap a destiny.” What are you going to achieve in life?
36 Before you can do a thing you have to think it. Your thoughts lead to attitudes; attitudes lead to actions; actions lead to those achievements. It all begins with the thought life. Your achievements will be the sum total of your thoughts.
This is so fundamental that God destroyed an entire civilization because they had “heart trouble.” “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was evil continually before God.” Genesis 6:5
God said, “The thoughts of their heart are so evil, I’m going to have to destroy them,” and He sent the flood because of the thoughts of men’s hearts. The heart of the human problem is the problem of the human heart. We’re still having the same problem they had.
The Mastery of the Thought Life “Be not conformed to this world; but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2 When God gets ready to change someone, how does He do it? By changing how they think. God changes the thought process. What Solomon said to his son was, “Son, guard, protect, and be careful of your thought life. Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” The Lord Jesus Christ wants us to present our bodies to Him, including our minds, that He might transform us. No wonder the devil battles for the mind. How important that we learn to keep our hearts, because a fierce battle is raging for the control of your mind. When God is in the heart, then we think right, live right, do right. When God is absent, we think wrong, do wrong, live wrong. How am I going to guard my thought life? Be careful what comes into your mind. You have to think pure thoughts. Now, a text without a context is a pretext, so context is important. In this passage Solomon is talking about the sexual affairs of a young man. Solomon is warning his son about having impure, immoral thoughts in his heart and life. Let me tell you something wonderful. God made you where you can’t think two things at one time. So how do you keep from thinking what’s wrong? Just think what’s right. And if you’re thinking what’s right, you cannot be thinking what’s wrong.
It’s another way of saying, “Just load up on My Word. Get My Word into your heart.”
“Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee.” “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to Thy Word.” “With my whole heart have I sought Thee: O let me not wander from Thy commandments.” (Psalm 119:9-11)
Store up on the word of God How are you going to think pure thoughts? By thinking positive thoughts. Not thinking about flowers and birds and trees, but the mighty Word of God. “The Word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than a two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12). Get it in your heart. It has power to cleanse and keep you.
The Ministry of the Thought Life From your thought life and through your thought life God wants to minister to you. A God-controlled thought life will—
Govern your speech (v. 24) Guard your sight (v. 25) Guide your steps (v. 27)
If you want to know what is in your heart, just listen to what escapes your mouth. Jesus said, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34). As they say in the country, “What’s down in the well comes up in the bucket.”
37 When your mind is clear and right with God, when you think the thoughts of Christ after Him, when you have the mind of Christ, when you’re being transformed by the word of God and the power of God and the Spirit of God in your thought life, then you’re going to be doing the will of God. God has a plan for you, a wonderful plan. The book of Proverbs shows you His plan for having health, wealth, and wisdom. It begins in your thought life.
(From the Center for Family Care (GOA) By George Tsongranis) Do you fast? Give me proof of it by your works. If you see a poor man, take pity on him. If you see a friend being honored, do not envy him. Do not let only your mouth fast, but also the eye, and the feet, and the hands and all the members of our bodies. Let the hands fast, by being free of avarice. Let the feet fast, by ceasing to run after sin. Let the eyes fast, by disciplining them not to glare at that which is sinful. Let the ears by not listening to evil talk and gossip. Let the mouth fast from foul words and unjust criticism. For what good is it if we abstain from birds and fishes, but bite and devour our brothers? ~St. John Chrysostom
Think for a moment, about the purpose of a tripod. By definition, it is a stand that provides three-legged support to steady an object placed on it. It might serve to secure a video camera for recording a granddaughter’s graduation from preschool or perhaps to stabilize a telescope for an astronomer gazing into the wondrous night sky. But what would happen if one of the legs was shorter or if all three of the legs were different lengths? For a tripod to provide the necessary balance, each leg of the tripod must be of equal length.
Like the tripod, our approach to Great Lent should include three equal supports that will to give us the balance we need in our spiritual climb—fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. From the earliest days of the church, the Great Fast was not solely about abstaining from food. The physical fast was always accompanied by increased prayer and almsgiving. As families, we should look at all three of these elements in order to put into practice a broader and more fulfilling approach to Great Lent. Regardless of varying ages and levels of spiritual maturity, your family can share the joys and struggles of the journey towards the Resurrection. Taking the time to create a Lenten family plan will help you properly prepare for Pascha. As you begin, make sure to check with your parish priest or spiritual father for guidance.
The Physical Fast Fasting from food is an important facet of our Lenten discipline. Jesus Christ, Himself, prepared for the rigors of His ministry by fasting from food for forty days and resisting Satan’s temptations. And after casting out a demon which inhabited a child, His disciples wondered why they were not able to perform the exorcism. After rebuking the disciples for their lack of faith, He said, “However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting,” (Matthew 17:21) thereby extolling the virtues of proper fasting. Abstinence from rich and heavy foods—as well as monitoring our portions—is cathartic for the body and refocuses our hunger and desire for God. As nutritional requirements vary from one family member to another, the decision for a meal plan covering Great Lent should be discussed by parents and other heads of households with guidance from your parish priest or spiritual father. Medical or physical conditions may override strict adherence to a fasting diet.
Increased Liturgical Participation and Prayer Just as Jesus prayed during periods of great temptation and troubles, so are we to turn to God in prayer to guide us through the 40-day period. This Lenten period affords numerous services which help to strengthen the faithful in preparation for the Resurrection. Services such as the Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, Saturday of Souls, Great Compline, Pre-Sanctified Liturgy, Salutations to the Theotokos, as well as the five special designations for each Sunday in Lent serve to strengthen our resolve. And while liturgical participation and prayer are year-round necessities of our lives as Orthodox Christians, these tools and weapons are to be especially honed during Great Lent—a time when the great deceiver, Satan, will tempt us endlessly with diversions to take our focus away from God. Private prayer, in addition to corporate prayer, should be increased. Families should gather together at the home iconostasis with more frequency. Focus on quality and
38 concentration of your prayer and not necessarily duration. Speak with your parish priest or spiritual father for further guidance in developing a Lenten rule of prayer for your family.
Almsgiving Almsgiving is often completely ignored during the Lenten season. Many times, it seems that Christian philanthropy is limited to a food drive at Thanksgiving or charitable gift-giving at Christmas. As wonderful as these generous acts are, how can we neglect our duty to assist others as we prepare to celebrate the Feast of Feasts and crux of our faith—the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? We know as Christians, there is no particular season for human need and suffering. How much more should we address the needs of humanity at this blessed time! Jesus Christ, Himself said, “I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me…Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” (Matthew 25:35-40 - Gospel for Meatfare/Judgment Sunday)
Here, as a family, you may become very creative in devising ways to be charitable during Great Lent. Gather up unused clothing that hangs in the closet to distribute to the needy. Grab a few canned goods from your pantry to give to a food bank. Go visit a sick member of the parish family in the hospital. Lend a sympathetic ear to a friend who has hit hard times. Include a Bright Week visit to a nursing home to sing “Christos Anesti/Christ is Risen” to share the joy of Jesus Christ’s Resurrection with our Orthodox Christian brethren. Almsgiving goes far beyond the giving of tangible gifts. It is also the giving of our hearts and minds to the ailing, disheartened, and lonely.
Above all, we should abide in love. As a family, choose your words wisely when addressing others. Be patient and considerate. Forgive past grudges and seek understanding. If you are not regularly going to the Sacrament of Confession, this is a most-blessed time to seek the Church’s forgiveness and sanctification before receiving Holy Communion and Holy Unction. We should be aware these sacraments are administered in love and bestow upon us God’s ever-abundant grace.
Fasting, prayer, and almsgiving—like the tripod, we need all three supports to keep us in balance during Lent. When in balance, we are able to fully experience the resplendence of the Resurrection! Glory to you our God, Glory to you our God, Glory to you our God. Christ our God, who at all times and in every hour are worshiped and glorified in heaven and on earth; long-suffering, generous in mercy, and rich in compassion; loving to the righteous and merciful to the sinner; you call all to salvation through the promise of blessings to come: Lord, in this hour accept our prayers and direct our lives in the way of your commandments.
Sanctify our souls, purify our bodies, correct our thoughts, cleanse our minds and deliver us from all affliction, evil and distress. Encompass us with your holy angels so that guided and guarded in their company we may reach the unity of the faith and the knowledge of your unapproachable glory, for you are blessed forever. Amen. Through the Prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ have mercy upon us and save us, Amen. ~George Tsongranis (M.Div.) is Special Projects Coordinator for the Center for Family Care.
Parent’s Voice: Practical Strategies for Lent This month we asked parents: What have you done to make Great Lent a special time in your home? We choose not to go out to eat or spend money frivolously. Rather, we offer food, groceries, gas, etc. to someone who is in greater need—even if they do not ask for it. ~Margo, mother of one son
We have a Lenten project that our family does each year (learn about iconography, chanting, etc.). It is chosen by the children and we all spend time working on it during the 40-day fast. We share our completed project with visitors on Pascha. You might wonder where we find the time to work on this—we turn off the television! ~Anonymous
39 FOOD FOR THOUGHT Do not disregard your mistakes Money is not meant to be served Love your work; then you will find pleasure in mastering it Appreciate the many things that make life so valuable Act the part and you will become the part Don’t criticize others when you are angry with yourself Don’t wait for the ideal time to begin something Stay on a clear course Grab happiness in the passing moments of life Keep a stash of extra batteries Love carries great expectations Be afraid only of standing still Be yourself Love always eases pain Never underestimate the power of simple courtesy Plan your work and work your plan Never look back Never hold a grudge Never be nasty Never be ungrateful Never hurt others (intentionally or unintentionally; willingly or unwillingly; maliciously or gracefully) Never panic; if you do, pause, take a deep breath, say a prayer, and move forward productively Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none It is harder than we remember to be a child Converse to be joyful and pleasing to others, not to, or for, yourself Let anger die quickly Use your dictionary (often) Learn to use the terms “their”, “there”, and “they’re” correctly.
Volume Twenty-Eight, Number Seven, March 2017