PANAGIA COHASSET APRIL 2021 BULLETIN

NATIVITY ASSUMPTION OF THE VIRGIN MARY nativity assumption of virgin greek or- GREEKthodox ORTHODOX church CHURCH FORMERLY THE POPE MEMORIAL CHURCH 811 road, cohasset, ma 02025 811781.383.6380 Jerusalem Road Cohasset, MA 02025 781.383.6380 A MESSAGE FROM FATHER

Sisters and brothers,

Because of the May 2 date for Easter this year, we will spend the month of April in Great Lent. Palm Sunday on the Orthodox calendar is April 25.

We think of Great Lent as a “dark” time. Our churches are decorated in purple and the tone of the weekday services is penitential. At home, we are observing the fast. As the days proceed, even the fast can become harder to observe. We want to cry out, “When will this be over?!”

The Church knows this and offers a response: the promise of Resurrection. Each day of Great Lent, in the readings and the hymns of the days, the goal of our journey shines a bit brighter. On the Third Sunday of Great Lent (April 4), as we process through the church with a cross decorated with flowers, we sing, “We venerate your Cross and we glorify your Resurrection!” Processing with the cross is a “victory pa- rade” with a trophy, the symbol of the triumph of Christ. The flowers, often daffodils – one of the first flowers of spring -- are a sign of the new life that Christ’s resurrec- tion inaugurates to the entire world.

This year, especially, we need these signs of hope, life, and triumph. 2020 was a year of deprivation and hardship. The lockdowns, the pandemic, the economic devasta- tion have affected us all in one way or another. But, little by little, in our lives, we can see that things are beginning to improve. Even in our church, we can see the signs. Last year we missed Lent and Holy Week. Now it is possible to return to church, even if we still wear masks, and take precautions.

Elsewhere in the bulletin you will find the schedule of Holy Week services. Until Holy Week begins, the parish will be offering the Salutations to the Virgin Mary on Friday evenings (April 2, 9, 16) and the regular Sunday schedule. As we read on the first Sunday of Great Lent, “Come and see!” (John 1:46).

In Christ, Fr. Tony Simple Ways to Make a Planned Gift

There are simple ways to make a planned gift to the Panagia Church. These gifts don’t require you to amend or create a Will and don’t usually take much time to do. If you are not sure how much to give because you are not sure how much you will need, these methods donate amounts that are left after you are gone.

• Designate the Panagia Church as the beneficiary of your retirement account (e.g., IRA or 401(k) plan). (Your plan administrator can provide you with the appropriate beneficiary designation form.) o You may leave the entire account or a percentage of the proceeds to the parish. o You may name Panagia Church as the primary beneficiary or as the contingent beneficiary.

• Designate the Panagia Church as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy you don’t need. (Your life insurance agent can provide you with the appropriate benefi- ciary designation form.) o You may leave the entire policy or a percentage of the proceeds to the parish. o You may name Panagia Church as the primary beneficiary or as the contingent beneficiary.

• Add a Payable on Death (“POD”) or Transfer on Death (“TOD”) designation to a bank or securities account so that the account assets are distributed to the Panagia Church on your death.

• Establish a pattern of giving to Panagia Church and authorize your Attorney-in- Fact to continue that pattern on your behalf in the event that you become incom- petent.

• Direct family members to request that memorial donations be made to the Panagia Church on your death.

Please contact Fr Tony or a member of our Parish Council to obtain the legal name of our parish and its tax identification number. Your final plans should always be discussed and reviewed with your attorney and/or financial advisor. Nativity Assumption Church, Cohasset, MA ΠΑΝΑΓΙΑ Holy Week Schedule 2021

April 24 Saturday of Lazarus Liturgy at 9:45 AM

Palm Sunday April 25 Entrance of Christ into Jerusalem Liturgy at 9:45 AM

Matins of Holy Monday Bridegroom Service 6:30 PM

Holy Monday April 26 Matins of Holy Tuesday Bridegroom Service 6:30 PM

Holy Tuesday April 27 Matins of Holy Wednesday Bridegroom Service 6:30 PM

Holy Wednesday April 28 Sacrament of Holy Unction 6:30 PM

Holy Thursday April 29 Divine Liturgy of St. Basil 9:30 AM

Matins of Holy Friday with the Twelve Gospel Readings 6:30 PM

Holy Friday April 30 The Royal Hours 9:30 AM

Great Vespers 3:00 PM The Apokathelosis

Matins of Holy Saturday The Lamentations and Procession with Epitaphios 6:30 PM

Holy Saturday May 1 Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil The “Proti-Anastasi” 9:30 AM

The Anastasi Service Matins and Liturgy 11:15 PM

Pascha, Easter May 2 Agape Vespers 11:00 AM Stewardship Report by George Belezos

Hello All, Shown are the records for 03-01-21 and for the prior year, as of 03-22-20 You can see that Panagia stewards are pledging well for 2021. We ask our remaining 2020 Stewards to also pledge. Many of those who have pledged are understandably hesitant to attend services due to Covid. However, we invite you drive by and see the changes taking place outside Panagia. As the numbers of people vac- cinated increase, we look forward to seeing more of the congregation inside Panagia. Thank you.

The Stewardship Committee If you need a pledge card sent or have questions, please contact Faye Papadopolous at 781-733-6728 or George Belezos at 781-741-5866.

Stewardship Continued Holy Friday Luminaries

Once again, we will be lighting up the outside walk way and the church on Holy Friday: In Memory Of or In Health Of for your loved one.

Like last year we will be using mason jars.

If you would like to purchase any luminaries we will have the forms in church, we also have a pay pal acount we will be sharing on our facebook page as well as you can reach out to Audrey Samara DiBona or Nancy Theodorou.

It is $10 per Luminarie (per Jar) for each name you would like to honor. We will be accepting Names and Donations until April 25th.

Please Contact Us with any questions or orders: Audrey: [email protected] Nancy: [email protected] Why do Orthodox celebrate Easter/Pascha on a different date than other Christians?

In order for all Christians to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ on the same day, the First Ecumenical Council in 325 AD decreed that Pascha (Easter) should be observed on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal (spring) equinox. At that time, the world used the Julian Calendar. This creates the first set of problems for us today.

The Julian Calendar of that time fixed the date of the vernal equinox on March 21. (We now know that the vernal equinox can occur on March 19, 20, or 21. In 2019, it is March 20.). The Julian Calendar is inaccurate; it is now thirteen days behind (in 2100, it will be behind by fourteen days) thus unable to predict the full moon. When you look into the sky on April 19 and see a full moon, the Julian Calendar says this is not happening! Otherwise Pascha would be April 21 instead of April 28.

The Gregorian Calendar was adopted the Roman Catholic Church and eventu- ally by most of the world in 1582 to correct the errors of the Julian Calendar. For example, Britain ad- opted the Gregorian Calendar in 1750 and the American colonies in 1752. Many Orthodox lands did not adopt the “New Calendar” until the early twentieth century. For example, the Russian Bolshevik government adopted the Gregorian in 1918. The Orthodox Church held a Pan-Orthodox Congress in 1923 and adopted a Revised Julian Calendar to fix errors, but did not go so far as adopting the Gregorian Calendar (which one day it too will need to be corrected). It resembles the Gregorian Calendar very closely. This was not universally ac- cepted in the Orthodox world. For example, the Church of Russia still observes the Julian Calendar, while the Ecumenical Patriarchate observes the Revised Julian. Nevertheless, all Orthodox Christians celebrate Pascha on the same day, but not with the same date.

The connection to Passover. Scripture teaches us that Jesus entered Jerusalem (Palm Sunday) in order to celebrate the Passover there. The events of his Pas- sion and Resurrection occurred over the days of that feast. Passover is the Jew- ish holiday celebrating their liberation from slavery in Egypt, under the leadership of Moses. Passover is celebrated on the first full moon af- ter the vernal equinox. After the Jewish dispersion in 70 AD, different Jewish communities used different means to determine the date of Passover.

In response the Christian communities developed their own tables for determin- ing the date of Pascha and stopped relying on the Jewish calculations. But, given the closeness of the formulas, Christians will usually celebrate Pascha after the Jewish Passover, but that is not a pre-requisite for determining the date of Pascha.

Continued.. One of the pressing issues in 325 and to this day has been a common date for all Christians to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ on the same date. In 1997, a group of Christian theologians – Orthodox and non-Orthodox – met in Aleppo, Syria to study the issue. They proposed that all the astronomical data be updated, and new tables for the date of Pascha be developed, so that all Christians could celebrate the Feast of Feasts on the same date. The proposal has not been implemented.

What are some of the Greek Orthodox traditions celebrated during Eastertime? While many Greek Orthodox Christians celebrate with the arrival of the Easter Bunny, brightly colored eggs, jelly beans and delicious chocolate confections, there are sym- bolic traditions that have been passed on for generations, rooted in the true meaning of Easter.

Red-Dyed Easter Eggs In Orthodox tradition, Easter eggs have a rich symbolism. They are dyed a deep red color, representing the blood of Jesus Christ. The cracking of the egg reminds us of the empty tomb, while the egg inside is a sign of new life. Family often sit around the table after Easter dinner and play a fun game where they take turns trying to crack each other’s egg, proclaiming the Easter greeting of “Christ is Risen!”, with the last one standing having extra blessings for the year.

Lamb Lamb can be traced back to Abraham in the Old Testament. Christ died on the cross for our sins and thus he became the sacrificial lamb. We eat lamb in re- membrance of this selfless act. Lemon juice, herbs, salts and spices are used to prepare this tradi- tional food before itis roasted in the oven or on a spit.

Braided Sweet Bread This sweet bread is braided with three pieces of dough, which represent the Holy Trinity, having no end and thus symbolizing the eternal renewal, which comes with springtime. A red egg is often baked into the bread and decorated with a cross. It tastes delicious, toasted with butter and is usually a staple on the Easter table of Greek Orthodox Christians all over the world. As the soul experiences a spiritual renewal during this time, the Panagia Greek Or- thodox Church is going through its own renewal. The windows have been restored, letting light shine even brighter through the beautiful rose-stained glass. The stone exterior has been re-grouted, aesthetically pleasing and a fortification for continued strength in the years to come. The bell tower has been repaired, summoning the faithful, with all to hear. Looking to the future, is the construction of the long-awaited community center, which will allow for a place of fellowship for all that visit and sym- bolize as a legacy for the youth.

Originally built as a shrine in memory of Charles Linder Pope who had drowned nearby at the young age of 17, by his mother and father, Colonel Albert A. Pope, it was originally called the Pope Memorial Church in 1900. In this building people have loved, they’ve lost, they’ve become Christians or have been a part of it all. Churches are sanctuaries from the hustle and bustle we call life. We are all so “busy” that we often don’t have much time to decompress, to reflect and to honor God the way that we should. This safe- haven lets us feed our souls and become new again. This is the renewal that we observe each year at Easter time, in all its glory.

Come see the joy of the children frolicking on the front yard after services. Celebrate in the joy of a taverna and taste some of what Greece has to offer. Attend a service and experience the spiritual joy available each week. The simplest meaning of joy is putting Him and others first, then humbly accepting His grace. Joy = Jesus, Others, Yourself. The community is welcoming, the community is kind. The Panagia is, a place for the hope of all Christians. PHILOPTOCHOS CORNER

Happy Spring everyone. Hope you are all doing well. We are holding 2 outreach programs currently and hope you’ll consider donating to one or both. We are collecting knew items for moms’ babies & kids for the Carolina Hill house in Marshfield. Which is a shelter for moms and children. We’re also collecting for the Veteran’s Housewarming Project. Any new household item that someone would need to start off in a new home. There is a list in the narthex along with the collection boxes. The ladies will be selling Greek Easter bread on Palm Sunday. We only ordered 25 loaves this year so speak up if you’d like one.

We are pairing with National Philoptochos this spring to collect for the completion of the Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and Shrine at the World Trade Center in New York. The metropolis is asking every member of Philoptochos to donate $20 to help complete this project. I hope you’ll consider. Wouldn’t it be amazing to be part of History? Here is the link: hhtps://boston.goarc.org/ministries/philoptochos

And as always if you know of anyone that needs help with anything please let us know that’s what we are here for. COMMUNITY CENTER UPDATE APRIL, 2021

AFTER A TOUGH STRETCH OF WEATHER, IT APPEARS THAT WE ARE IN FOR SOME SPRING WEATHER THAT WILL ENABLE OUR SITE CONTRACTOR, JAY PERAINO CO., TO MAKE REAL PROGRESS ON THE SITE WORK AND FOUNDATION ENHANCEMENT FOR OUR NEW COMMU- NITY CENTER.

WE ARE HOPING TO POUR CONCRETE SOON THAT WILL BE THE “PLATFORM” FOR OUR NEW BUILDING AS WELL AS THE TERRACE LEADING OUT BACK AND TO OUR “MOTHER’S REST” GAZEBO. AT THAT POINT IT SHOULD BE LOOKING LIKE A REAL BUILDING SITE. DRAINAGE UNDER LAWN AND AN ASPHALT PARKING LOT TO THE LEFT OF THE CURRENT WALKWAY WILL FOLLOW AND WE WILL INDEED BE READY FOR OUR “BUILD”.

ONCE THE PERAINO CO. IS “FINI”, WE WILL BE OUT TO BID ON OUR NEW BUILDING.

PLANS CALL FOR PUTTING UP THE EXTERIOR SHELL OF THE BUILDING INITIALLY, WHILE WE CONTINUE TO FUNDRAISE FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE BUILDING INTERIOR. OUR PLAN STILL CALLS FOR “NO DEBT” FOR THE PARISH.

OUR SITE COMMITTEE CONTINUES TO MEET FORMERLY WITH OUR SITE CONTRACTOR ON A WEEKLY BASIS IN ADDITION TO VISITS TO THE SITE BY THE SITE COMMITTEE ON AN ALMOST DAILY BASIS.

EARLY IN THE MONTH (APRIL) WE WILL MEET WITH THE PARISH BUILDING COMMITTEE TO GIVE OUR ARCHITECT INPUT ON ANY FINAL CHANGES TO PLANS/DRAWINGS. AT THAT POINT CLARK WILL FINALIZE THE PLANS/DRAWINGS & WE WILL GO OUT TO BID FOR THE BUILDING.

OUR GOAL OF A “BUILDING SHELL” (EXTERIOR) IS MOST LIKELY PUSHED FORWARD INTO THE SUMMER MONTHS.

ONCE WE HAVE THE “SHELL” COMPLETE AND HAVE THIS BUILDING STANDING ON SITE, WE WILL STILL NEED ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO COMPLETE THE INTERIOR AND OUR COMMERCIAL KITCHEN.

WE ONCE AGAIN ASK FOR THOSE WHO HAVE PLEDGED TO CONSIDER HONORING THEIR PLEDGE AT THIS TIME, AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE WILLING & ABLE, TO CONSIDER AN AD- DITDIONAL GIFT TO OUR BUILDING FUND.

A VERY SPECIAL “THANK YOU” TO THOSE WHO HAVE CHOSEN TO BE A PART OF THIS EFFORT TO PROVIDE FOR OUR PARISH FUTURE. OUR PLANS CALL FOR A PLAQUE IN OUR COMMU- NITY CENTER TO RECOGNIZE ALL WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS EFFORT.

WITH LOVE AND A STRONG BELIEF IN OUR PARISH FUTURE,

CHAIRMAN ED [email protected] 781-749-3250 ext. 110 Cell: 781-570-1503

Community Center Mission Statement:

A PANAGIA COMMUNITY CENTER WILL STRENGTHEN OUR VIBRANT CHURCH COMMUNITY BY ENCOURAGING BROADER PARTICIPATION AMONG OUR EXISTING PARISHIONERS AND WILL DRAW NEW PARISHIONERS INTO THE RICH TRADITION OF OUR CHURCH, ENSURING GROWTH AND UNITY UNDER THE GREEK ORTHO- DOX FAITH FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

PANGIA PARISH HAS:

-A BEAUTIFUL CHURCH DEDICATED TO OUR HOLY MOTHER.

-A GORGEOUS SETTING ON STRAIT’S POND.

-NO DEBT.

A STRONG LEADER IN THE VERY REV. FATHER TONY VRAME

-STRONG LEADERSHIP ON OUR CURRENT DEDICATED PARISH COUNCIL.

-STRONG LEADERSHIP ON OUR COMMUNITY CENTER BUILD COMMITTEE.

-A RELATIVELY SMALL BUT DEDICATED STEWARD BODY WE ARE “GROWING”.

-A STRONG START ON OUR COMMUNITY CENTER BUILDING, INCLUDING: --A FOUNDATION. --PERMITS TO BUILD --UNDERGOUND UTILITIES. --A DEDICATED ARCHITECT IN CLARK BREWER. --A DEDICATED GRANT WRITER. --A DEDICATED COMMUNITY CENTER BUILD COMMITTEE.

-A STRONG START ON OUR SAVINGS ACCOUNT TOWARDS OUR NEW BUILDING.

-SIGNIFICANT PLEDGES TOWARDS THE NEW BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.

-A PAID IN FULL INVESTMENT OF OVER $300,000.

-A SET OF DRAWINGS/PLANS FOR THE NEW COMMUNITY CENTER.

FUNDRAISING CONTINUES: A FUNDRAISING SUB COMMITTEE TO OUR BUILD COMMITTEE HAS BEEN SET UP. GEORGE ALEX HAS VOLUNTEERED TO WORK WITH THIS GROUP.

BEST, ED LOFGREN, CHAIR, COMMUNITY CENTER BUILD COMMITTEE

Sunday School

Hello Families,

It is so nice to see you in church, even though we are wearing masks, we can still all smile with our eyes. . Due to the social distancing requirements, we will not be able to meet as a group unless we can go outside. Let’s hope for some warm October and November Sundays. It has been lovely seeing our older students reading the epistle and our younger boys join the altar servers. I encourage all children to join in the procession at the Great Entrance. In October we recognize many of our church’s saints. I would love to see each child learn about a saint and share that information with our parish at the end of the liturgy. I will leave some books and handouts in the narthex and will meet with children individually to work with them on this.

If you would like more information about our Sunday School, or would like to volun- teer please let me know.

Sue Theodorou [email protected] 781-775-0074 Treasurer’s Report by Cindy Dedes

The financial situation for our parish as of 3/25/2021 is that we have been able to pay all of our March bills. We have in our unrestricted funds $36,910.77. That is the combined funds from our operating, events and repair accounts. We need $8,361 each month to keep current with our 2021 budget. Remember what I said a few months ago that we should have a 6 month buffer in those accounts and what we have is slightly more than 4 months. The newly installed Board of Stewards has set the budget for 2021.

Budget 2021 Income Candles 11,882 Offering Tray 10,374 Stewardship 55,065 Events/Donations/Other 30,500 Total Income 107,821

Expenses Payroll/payroll taxes 24,440 Arch Dio. Clergy benefits 9,048 Arch Dio. Dues 13,259 Rent Expense 12,000 Candle Expense 2,312 Insurance Expense 6,000 Electric 3,024 Gas Heat 7,473 Water 387 Water/Sewer assessments 1,595 Telephone 1,025 Maintenance/Repair of Church 3,702 Religious Education 200 Events Expense 8,093 Printing/Postage 4,098 All other (supplies, bank fees, prof fees) 3,678 Total Expenses 100,334

Net Operating Income 7,487 President’s Message

Happy Spring & a Blessed Lent to All

Hoping Spring is bringing New Life & New Beginnings to all. Here at Panagia we have many new & exciting things happening. Work on the site of our community center is underway with changes every week. New Altar clothes were purchased by a few parishioners make the altar table look amazing. They may seem like small steps, but it is truly Awesome to see work being done. I feel energized when pulling up to church every Sunday, a feeling that has been missing for a while. The parish council is meeting and working on new ideas to bring life back to our little Panagia. Come by and visit, see the work we are doing. Hopefully now that people are receiving their vaccines and feel safer returning, the numbers will increase. Lent is the Perfect time to come back.

We have several community Outreach programs going on right now. We are collecting for Carolina Hill House in Marshfield (a shelter for woman & children) and for the Veterans Housewarming Project. I hope you will consider making a donation to one or both. The dollar stores are perfect for these collections. And we continue to collect for the Food Pantry in Hull. We will be doing the Holy Friday Luminaries again this year. Look for the sign-up sheet.

If you have not filled out your 2021 Stewardship Pledge card yet, we urge you to do so soon.

With Love for Panagia Kerri Vallas Luisi

KOLIVA TRAY If anyone would like Koliva made please reach out to Faye Papadopolous, she needs one week notice and there is a $100 fee. 781-337-6728 Downing Funeral Chapel Correct number is 781-749-0340 THE NATIVITY OF THE VIRGIN MARY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH 811 Jerusalem Rd., Cohasset, MA 02025 781.383.6380 PARISH PRIEST: FR. TONY VRAME Day time: 646-519-6300 Emergency: 617-680-1549 Email: [email protected]

OUR PARISH COUNCIL PRESIDENT Kerri Vallas Luisi [email protected] COMMUNICATIONS/BULLETIN SECRETARY Nancy Theodorou Joan Cara Donna Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Phone: 617.930.2537 TREASURER Cindy Dedes STEWARDSHIP: [email protected] George P. Belezos [email protected] VICE PRESIDENT Faye Papadopolous Ed Lofgren Home - 781.545.7876 Email: [email protected] Phone: Work - 781.749.3250 OUTREACH Home - 781-826-6984 Fr. Tony Vrame Day time: 646-519-6300 BOARD MEMBERS: Emergency: 617-680-1549 Faye Papadopolous Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Cynthia Dedes - 781.383.9647 Eva Sedell Email: [email protected] SUNDAY SCHOOL: Donna Rumble Suzan Theodorou Email: [email protected] Email: suzantheodorou@gmail. Peter Booras com Email: [email protected] Maria Argos Barber Email:[email protected] Nancy Theodorou Email: [email protected] Andrea White Email: [email protected] Audrey Jean Samara DiBona Email:[email protected] Suzan Theodorou Email: [email protected]

BUILDING & GROUNDS: Ed Lofgren THE NATIVITY OF THE VIRGIN MARY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH 811 Jerusalem Road Cohasset, Massachusetts 02025

781 383-6380