February 2021 Ministry Contacts
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HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF GREATER ORLANDO Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Holy Sacred Metropolis of Atlanta 1217 Trinity Woods Lane Maitland FL 32751 Phone: 407-331-4687 • Fax: 407-331-4898 [email protected] .www.htgocorlando.org Reverend Protopresbyter Constantine Simeonidis, Proistamenos ~ [email protected] Very Reverend Protopresbyter Demetrios Simeonidis, Liturgical Assistant ~ [email protected] Volume 2021 Number 2 W HAT’S INSIDE February 2021 Ministry Contacts..................................2 The Presentation of the Lord into the Temple .........................................3 The Feast of the Three Hierarchs....4-5 Parish News.......................................6 Stewardship.........................7-9 Calendar...............................10 Our Sponsors..................................11-15 Lady full of grace, rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, for Christ our God, the Sun of righteousness has risen from you and He illumined those in darkness! And you, righteous Elder, be glad in heart, receiving in your embraces the One who liberates our souls and bestows on us the Resurrection! 1 CHURCH Reverend Protopresbyter Constantine Simeonidis, Proistamenos Very Reverend Protopresbyter Demetrios Simeonidis, Liturgical Assistant Reverend Protopresbyter Konstantinos Tsigas, Retired Robert Shand, Pastoral Assistant Protopsalti: Mr. Pantelis Xikis Sexton: Mr. Fotios Fotakidis Choir Director: Mrs. Stacey Norton PARISH COUNCIL President: Sophia Cordoba Vice President: Dr. Andy Tringas Secretary: George Evans Treasurer: Anne Logas Assistant Treasurer: Alex Vastardis Members: George Bakamitsos, Lisa Bradshaw, David Brock, Maria Haun-Davis, Dora Francis, Aris Harrelson, Rosie Papagiannakis, and Dean Vonetes PARISH COMMITTEES Architectural Review Board: John Dragash Building and Grounds: Dean Bolaris, Sophia Cordoba, Mike Pampoukis, Michael Sorich and Alex Vidas Members: Joe Territo, Pantelis Xikis and John Richtmyer Church Beautification Committee: Flora Milios and Katerina Papaioanou ECYDC: Maria Haun-Davis Advisor: Dora Francis Members: Lisa Elliott-Bradshaw, Jennifer Cokias, Sophia Cordoba, Pamela Filutowski, Andy Tringas, Alex Vastardis, and Joana Zuppas Finance Committee: Ken Davis and Alex Vastardis Greek Fest: Sophia Cordoba, Alex Vastardis and Joyce Yarbrough Hall Rental: Sophia Cordoba, Sebastian Filutowski, Maria Haun-Davis, Anne Logas and Phil Logas Tables Extraordinaire: Venetta Jones and Kyriki Stylianou Stewardship Committee: John Richtmyer Welcoming Committee: Rosie Papagiannakis PARISH MINISTRIES Adult Spiritual Enrichment: Pamela Filutowski Choir: Stacey Norton Senior Caregiving: Chris Rothenberger Bible Study: Very Reverend Father Demetrios Gift Shop and Bookstore: Pam Filutowski, Flo McMahon, and Irene Sorich The Good Samaritan Society: David Brock Meals for Moms: Niki Tringas Orthodoxy 101: TDB OPA: Sebastian Filutowski Philoptochos: Linda Theodorakis Prayer Armada: Melissa Georgiadis and Linda Martin Premarital Seminar: John and Jeana Dragash Society of Wisdom: Mary Mantzaris ECYDC PARISH MINISTRIES Asteria Dance Troupe: Maija Davatelis, Zoe Jones, and Katherine Kartsonis Catechetical School: Maria Haun-Davis, Presbytera Elaine Simeonidis, and Irene Sorich Filarakia Dance Troupe: Gina Avgeropoulos, Elektra Burnett and Eleni Stratigeas GOYA Advisors: Rob Shand Assistant: Sebastian Filutowski Hellenic Dance Troupe: Tina Burnett and Staci Lagoutaris Hellenic Academy Principal: Taso Mitrogogos HOPE/JOY Advisors: Volunteer Needed Jr. Hellenic Dance Troupe: Niki Arhakis, Venetta Jones, Krisa Roman, and Anna Saiger Little Aegean Dance Troupe: Sophia Azarian, Sophia Kotsonis, and Anastasia Papaioanou Mission Ministry: TBD St. John Oratorical Festival: Niki Tringas Youth Choir: Stacey Norton Vacation Bible School: Monica El-Gharib Youth Narthex Servers: Jennifer Cokias AUXILIARY GROUPS AHEPA Daughters of Penelope Orthodox Christian Fellowship at UCF FOLLOW US ON: 2 THE MEETING (PRESENTATION) OF OUR LORD IN THE TEMPLE women, but rather in the Virgin Mary in the area area reserved for virgins. reserved for virgins, and On this occasion two very they reported this to King special persons appeared Herod. Convinced that this in the Temple: the Elder was the new king spoken of Simeon and Anna, the by the Magi from the East, daughter of Phanuel. The Herod immediately sent righteous Simeon took his soldiers to kill Jesus. the Messiah in his arms In the meantime, the holy and said: Lord, now lettest family had already left the Thou Thy servant depart city and set out for Egypt The fortieth day after His in peace, according to Thy under the guidance of an birth, the All-holy Virgin word, for mine eyes have angel of God. The Feast of brought her divine Son into seen Thy salvation (Luke the Meeting of our Lord in the Temple of Jerusalem, 2:29-30). Simeon also spoke the Temple was celebrated in accordance withhe the following words about from earliest times, but the Law, to dedicate Him to the Christ-child: Behold, solemn celebration of this God and to purify herself this child is set for the day was established in the (Leviticus 12:2-7; Exodus fall and rising again of year 544 A.D., during the 12:2). Even though neither many in Israel (Luke 2:34). reign of Emperor Justinian. the one nor the other was Then Anna, who from her necessary, the Lawgiver youth had served God in did not want in any way the Temple by fasting and to transgress His own prayer, recognized the Law, which He had given Messiah and glorified God. through Moses, His servant She then proclaimed to the and prophet. At that time, inhabitants of Jerusalem the high-priest Zacharias, the coming of the long- the father of John the awaited One. But the Forerunner, was serving Pharisees who were present in the Temple. Zacharias in the Temple, having seen placed the Virgin, not in and heard all, became the temple area reserved for angry with Zacharias because he had placed the 3 THE GREAT MARTYR THEODORE THE COmmANDER he was disappointed. Saint For his bravery Saint Theodore smashed the gold Theodore was appointed and silver statues into pieces, military commander which he then distributed to [stratelatos] in the city of the poor. Thus he demonstrated Heraclea, where he combined the vain faith in soulless idols, his military service with and also displayed Christian preaching the Gospel among charity. the pagans subject to him. His gift of persuasion, Saint Theodore was arrested reinforced by his personal and subjected to fierce and example of Christian life, refined torture. He was turned many from their dragged on the ground, beaten false gods. Soon, nearly all with iron rods, had his body of Heraclea had accepted pierced with sharp spikes, Christianity. was burned with fire, and his The Great Martyr eyes were plucked out. Finally, Theodore Stratelates came During this time the emperor he was crucified. Varus, the from the city of Euchaita in Licinius (311-324) began a servant of Saint Theodore, Asia Minor. He was endowed fierce persecution against barely had the strength to write with many talents, and was Christians. In an effort to down the incredible torments handsome in appearance. For stamp out the new faith, he of his master. his charity God enlightened persecuted the enlightened him with the knowledge of adherents of Christianity, who God, however, in His great Christian truth. The bravery of were perceived as a threat to mercy, willed that the death of the saintly soldier was revealed paganism. Among these was Saint Theodore should be as after he, with the help of God, Saint Theodore. Licinius tried fruitful for those near him as killed a giant serpent living to force Saint Theodore to offer his life was. An angel healed on a precipice in the outskirts sacrifice to the pagan gods. The the saint’s wounded body and of Euchaita. The serpent saint invited Licinius to come took him down from the cross. had devoured many people to him with his idols so both In the morning, the imperial and animals, terrorizing the of them could offer sacrifice soldiers found him alive and countryside. Saint Theodore before the people. unharmed. Seeing with their armed himself with a sword own eyes the infinite might of and vanquished it, glorifying Blinded by his hatred for the Christian God, they were the name of Christ among the Christianity, Licinius trusted baptized not far from the place people. the words of the saint, but of the unsuccessful execution. 4 of the superstitious Emperor Thus Saint Theodore became Saint Theodore is regarded as Licinius. “like a day of splendor” for the patron saint of soldiers. He He smashed the idols of silver and those pagans dwelling in the is also commemorated on June gold and distributed pieces of them darkness of idolatary, and he 8. to the poor. He enlightened their souls “with converted many to the Faith of the bright rays of his suffering.” The Life of St. Theodore Christ and called upon Emperor Unwilling to escape martyrdom By St. Nikolai Velimirovich Licinius himself to reject for Christ, Saint Theodore idolatry and to believe in the One voluntarily surrendered himself There are martyrdoms more Living God. During the entire time to Licinius, and discouraged precious than precious. The of his tortures, St. the Christians from rising up preciousness of martyrdom Theodore said repeatedly: “Glory against the torturer, saying, depends upon the greatness to You my God, glory to You!” “Beloved, halt! My Lord Jesus of the good which a Christian St. Theodore suffered on February