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From Glory to Glory the Monthly Newsletter of the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church Fr From Glory to Glory The monthly newsletter of the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church Fr. Joseph Strzelecki Fr. Anastasios Theodoropoulos January 2019 1755 Des Peres Road Saint Anthony the Great as a Model for our Lives Town & Country, MO 63131-1405 By Protopresbyter Fr. George Papavarnavas Phone: 314-966-2255 Kitchen: 314-966-6720 Saint Anthony, the professor of the desert, is one of the few who has received Web Site: www.assumptiongoc.org the epithet "Great". Truly he was a great athlete of spiritual athletics and triumphant in his struggles against delusion, sin, the devil and the many-formed Fr. Anastasios Theodoropoulos passions. His life, which was authored by another with the epithet "Great", his Email: [email protected] contemporary Saint Athanasius, the Archbishop of Alexandria, is beyond Office Manager: Diane Sieckmann wondrous and enviable. The study of it should be food for all those who crave to Email: [email protected] experience the grandeur of life in Christ. Anthony the Great, with his asceticism and unceasing prayer, reached the Secretary: Diakonissa Kristen Vogt pinnacle of spiritual life and acquired true wisdom. He calls himself "idiot" and Email: [email protected] was uneducated, but he had as a teacher the wisdom from above by the Spirit. From this wisdom, enlightened and inspired, he gave the most wise responses to various Christians who sought to benefit their souls, as seen in many parts of the Dates to Remember in January book called Gerontikon. Apart from these he also left the "One Hundred and Seventy Chapters", which are included in the Philokalia and offer great benefit to January 1: those that read them. Circumcision of Christ Asceticism is the effort a person makes to apply the will of God in their life. St. Basil the Great It is an effort to transform their passions, to be purified of their passions, that they January 5 may love "with all their soul and heart" both God and mankind. For it is Eve of Theophany impossible to love anyone truly while dominated by the passions and especially by selfishness, which oppresses man and makes life difficult. Self-love is the January 6 irrational love for ourselves and from this, as from a mother, is born all the Theophany passions, such as pride, vanity, sensuality, avarice, etc. In our days, we often talk about love, peace and friendship between people January 7 and nations, and other things like this. All this is good, but the question is how St. John the Baptist can we love others and be at peace with them while we are enslaved to the passions and cannot attain peace even with ourselves? Love, according to Saint January 17 Maximus the Confessor, is the grandchild of dispassion. It is born and nurtured St. Anthony the Great within a heart which has been purified, or at least is struggling persistently and January 18 laboriously to be purified from the passions. Then love is selfless and resilient in Athanasios & Cyril, adversity and difficulties. It does not have an expiration date, but lasts beyond the Patricians of Alexandria grave, it is "coeval with the ages". In contrast, passionate love is false and lasts as long as it is able to serve and feed or be fed from the passions. And how is it January 20 possible to have strength and durability, as conditions of life change, interests Righteous Efthemios change and the human body wears out and is altered? The biggest problem of transition societies are human passions. Passionate January 25 people cause huge problems in the family and social environment, but also wars St. Gregory the Theologian and messiness around the world when it comes to people who hold office and power. As emphasized by His Eminence our Metropolitan Hierotheos: "Sin has January 30 social implications. Sick people make social institutions sick and then social in- Three Hierarchs stitutions make people more sick." Therefore, the change of human societies for the better, or rather their humanization, requires the spiritual regeneration of their 2018 Parish Council citizens, which can happen through asceticism, prayer, the sacramental life and Fr. Joseph Strzelecki general obedience to the Church and ecclesiastical institutions. Fr. Anastasios Theodoropoulos Saint Anthony, by his spiritual struggles against the spirits of wickedness and Scott Thompson, President pride, acquired lofty humility. However, God revealed that there was a Greg Simos, Vice President Elefteria Marcou, Secretary shoemaker in Alexandria who surpassed him in the spiritual life, which was Gus Harris, Treasurer sent to teach him his spiritual way of life. And as Elder Sophrony Sakharov Daniel Gantner, Carol Marshall, Pam Martin, notes: "He learned from this to think inwardly: 'Everyone can be saved, but I Samia Rabie, Pete Regopoulos, Vasilios Simos, alone am separated'." These words can only be endured by those who have Greg Simos, Sotirios Sotiriou, Tom Stamos, Chris Tsoubanos, Nick Tsoubanos, Tonis conquered the extreme height of humility. Zafiropoulos Humility is the mother of love and all the other virtues. The Venerable One Acolytes loved everyone sacrificially and prayed for the entire inhabited world. Alban Mosher, John Nicholas Characteristic is the way he communicated with people, and especially with the Adult Orthodox Christians (18 years +): afflicted people. With his princely love he truly comforted and supported them. Diane Sieckmann Bible Study Once a theologian/writer visited him, named Didymus, who was blind, but as it Fr. Daniel Morton appears the eyes of his soul were opened and, among other things, Anthony Bookstore said: "Do not be upset or troubled, Didymus, by the fact that you are missing Christos Tsiaklides, Diakonissa Kristen Vogt your physical eyes, because you lack such eyes with which flies and mosquitoes Chanters Steve Bellos can be seen. You have such eyes that are possessed by the angels, which God Choir has determined and His Light occupies." This incident shows the pastoral way Stephanie Saunders of the Saints. They do not disappoint people nor drive them to despair, but Church Tours rather they increase their love for life, and the life in Christ, and repel from the Janice Hazeltine soul the mist, increase their joy, strengthen their faith and increase hope. Friday Luncheon Art Liyeos I would like to conclude this article with the advice/exhortation of Saint Greek Festival Anthony: "It is needed that we run to be healed of the passions of the soul, Greg Simos, Art Liyeos because in the future we will be judged before the face of God, so that we do Greek School not find ourselves (there) losers and embarrassed." Savas Kyramarios https://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2014/01/saint-anthony-great-as-model-for-our.html Greek Dancers Kyklos: & Armonia Stella Afentoullis Ta Paidakia, Neo Kyma: Aliki Malek GOYA (9th -12th Grade) Yvonne Alexopoulos, Dr. Jenny Kardaris Greeters Eleni Murphy JOY (4 years - 4th Grade) Jr. GOYA (5th - 8th Grades) Alki Lappas Case Kafenio Assumption Greek Orthodox Church Art Liyeos Philoptochos Ladies’ Society Presents Little Angels (infant - 5 years) Fr. Anastasios Theodoropoulos The Annual Cutting of the Vasilopita Orthodox Faith & Life: Dr. Farid Sadaka, Anna Sadaka Philoptochos Sunday, January 13, 2019 Flora Dimitriou, President For the benefit of St. Basil’s Academy Planned Giving Committee Amy Johnson “Come see who gets the coin.” Premarital Classes Susan Cassimatis Prison Ministry Bill Goranitis Stewardship Michael Afentoullis Sunday School Diane Sieckmann Vacation Church Camp (VCC) Anna Sadaka Women’s Bookstudy Presvytera Laura Morton Young Adult Ministry (18-30 yrs) Fr. Anastasios & Presvytera Elizabeth 2 Chicago Metropolis Mission, Vision, Values and Why Statements A group of 86 volunteers participated in a Strategic Planning Retreat on November 2-4 and achieved consensus on the following statements of identity and purpose: “Why” Statement (why we exist): To receive and share unconditional love, mercy, healing and peace, so that life has greater meaning and purpose. Mission Statement: The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago is a Christ-centered community that loves, guides, engages, and serves all people. Core Values: Christ-centered Integrity Service Humility Love Merciful Spiritual Development Adaptable Vision Statement: In 3-5 years, we will grow our Metropolis family through greater: Fellowship & Welcoming Accountability Ministries & Education Innovation Leadership Involved Youth & Emerging Adults Engagement on Critical Issues Stewardship We need your help! Please visit http://chicago.goarch.org/strategic-planning, review the materials and participate in a Strategic Planning Task Force by clicking the “Register to Participate” tab. 3 IOCC Holiday Season Schedule BANQUET Tuesday, January 1, 2019 NEWS New Year’s Day – Circumcision of Christ St. Basil the Great The International 9:00 am Orthros Orthodox Christian 10:00 am Divine Liturgy Charities November banquet was a great success. Thank all of you who Friday, January 4, 2019 attended and donated to this wonderful organization that 9:00 am Great Hours & Typica helps so many suffering families here and abroad. Saturday, January 5, 2019 We were blessed to have as our speaker Dimitrije Djukie, Eve of Theophany - Fast Day the IOCC Middle East specialist, who spoke 9:00 am Orthros compassionately about his recent work in Syria, Jordan, 10:00 am Divine Liturgy and Great Blessing of the Waters Greece, and elsewhere. Nick Kasemeotes, IOCC Gift Of- 5:00 pm Great Vespers ficer, also spoke to us of his work here in the US. Both speakers commented on the generosity of the entire St. Sunday, January 6, 2019 Louis Orthodox community. Holy Theophany 8:30 am Orthros We want to thank our host church St. Thomas the 9:45 am Divine Liturgy and Great Blessing of the Waters Apostle Romanian Orthodox Church and Fr. Theophan 1:30 pm Pan-Orthodox Blessing of the Waters will take Koja for the lovely evening. place at Lake 1 in Wilmore Park.
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