Volume 10 Issue 9 September 2004 The Monthly Newsletter of St. George Greek Orthodox Church www.stgeorgegoc.org St. Eustathios, The Great Martyr September 20 he holy Martyr Eustathius before his baptism was an T illustrious Roman general named Placidas in the days of the Emperor Trajan. While hunting in the country one day, he was converted to the Faith of Christ through the apparition of an uncommonly majestic stag, between whose antlers he saw the Cross of Christ, and through which the Lord spoke to him with a human voice. Upon returning home, he learned that his wife Tatiana had also had a vision in which she was instructed to become a Christian. They sought out the Bishop of the Christians and were baptized, Placidas receiving the name Eustathius, and Tatiana the name Theopiste; their two sons were baptized Agapius and Theopistus. The family was then subjected to such trials as Job endured. Their servants died, all their goods were stolen, and on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem they were scattered abroad, each not even knowing if the others were still alive. By the providence of God, they were united again after many years, and returned to Rome in glory. Nevertheless, when they refused to sacrifice to the idols—a public sacrifice from which no Roman general could be absent—the Emperor Hadrian, who had succeeded Trajan, had them put into a large bronze device in the shape of a bull, which was heated with fire until they died. When their holy bodies were removed, they were found to be without harm. They suffered martyrdom about the year 126. Apolytikion—Fourth Tone Kontakion—Second Tone Thy Martyrs, O Lord, in their courageous contest for Thee O blest one, since thou didst emulate Christ's sufferings received as the prize the crowns of incorruption and life and drankest His cup with eagerness, thou didst become from Thee, our immortal God. For since they possessed a partaker and joint-heir of His glory, O wise Eustathius; Thy strength, they cast down the tyrants and wholly and since He is God of all things, He gave thee divine destroyed the demons' strengthless presumption. O Christ power from Heaven's heights. God, by their prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful. Archdiocese and Diocese News ....................................... Page 2 Pre Conference Thematic Address Summary ...................Page 11 Stewardship ..................................................................... Page 3 Parishioners Namedays, Birthdays, and Anniversaries .....Page 14 Parish Council Meeting Notes .......................................... Page 4 Book Store News ..............................................................Page 15 Parish News and Announcements .................................... Page 5 Youth Update ...................................................................Page 17 Archbishop Demetrios Keynote Address Summary .......... Page 9 Calendar of Events ...........................................................Page 19 Page 2 Glad Tidings September 2004 REGULAR WEEKLY NEW YORK SUPREME COURT JUSTICE DISMISSES OCL LAWSUIT AGAINST GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA SERVICES New York, NY - On February 2, 2004, several individuals brought an action in New York State Supreme Holy Confession Court against the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and Archbishop Demetrios seeking to invalidate By Appointment the 2003 Charter granted by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Vespers On August 6, 2004, Justice Ira Gammerman of the New York State Supreme Court rendered a decision Saturday 5:00 PM granting, with costs, the motion of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese to dismiss the lawsuit. The Justice wrote, (September—May) “I do not think it can seriously be disputed that the Greek Orthodox Church is hierarchical.” The Court relied Orthros on a United States Supreme Court decision, Serbian Eastern Orthodox Diocese for the USA. v Milivojevich, Sunday 8:30 AM 426 US 696 (1976), stating such decision was “squarely on point.” The Court further stated that pursuant to the Milivojevich case, “the courts simply do not have the authority to interfere with the manner in which Divine Liturgy churches organize the titles of their clerics, to determine the eligibility criteria for candidates for Archbishop or Sunday 9:45 AM bishop, to oversee monasteries, or to inject the state judicial authority into other matters raised by this action.” Sunday School (September through May) The Court’s memorandum decision is posted at the Archdiocese website at starts after administration of http://www.goarch.org/en/archdiocese/documents/. Holy Communion For Weekday Services please IOCC RESPONDING TO VICTIMS OF IRAQI Beginning operations in Iraq in April 2003, check the Calendar of Events CHURCH BOMBINGS IOCC has been distributing food, hygiene, and included in this bulletin. first-aid parcels through the Middle East Council of The broken stained glass has been swept up, the Churches and its network of churches and mosques. !!! structural damage is being repaired, but the IOCC is the humanitarian aid agency of the Standing Christian community of Iraq will take a long time to Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Church Staff and Office Hours recover from the August 1 car bomb attacks. Americas (SCOBA). All of its assistance is Church Office Hours Iraqi Christians, a minority in this delivered solely on the basis of need. Monday through Thursday predominantly Muslim country, have been left Donations may be sent to IOCC, "Middle 8:00AM—3:00PM reeling from the large-scale violence against their East Crisis," P.O. Box 630225, Baltimore, Md. communities in Baghdad and Mosul. International 21263-0225. Donations may also be made Rev. Fr. Richard Demetrius Andrews, Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), a online at www.iocc.org or by calling toll-free 1-877- Presbyter humanitarian aid agency of Orthodox Christians, 803-4622. IOCC has worked in the Middle East (651) 222-6220 is working to meet the immediate needs of those since 1997 and, in addition to Iraq, has programs in Email: [email protected] most affected by the attacks. the Holy Land, Syria and Lebanon. To learn more Yiannis Stamatopoulos Several of the damaged churches in Baghdad about IOCC's humanitarian and self-help Administrative Assistant are part of a local ecumenical network of IOCC programs around the world, please visit www. (651) 222-6220 partners that has been active in distributing food iocc.org. Email: [email protected] and hygiene kits to Iraqis in need over the past year. Ron Adkins Since the bombings, IOCC staff, led by Dr. Saad SCOBA/SCOOCH Statement On Parish Council President Gedeon, have visited the churches and interviewed Iraq Church Bombings (651) 738-1630 their priests and bishops. Email: [email protected] "We are assessing the needs of the families of The hierarchs of the Standing Conference of Reva Adkins those killed or injured by these senseless acts of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas Philoptochos President brutality and IOCC will be providing assistance to (SCOBA) and the hierarchs of the Standing (651) 738-1630 them as we are able," said Dr. Gedeon, program Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches in Email: [email protected] coordinator for IOCC Iraq. "Christians around the America (SCOOCH) learned with great sadness the Steve Ryan world must stand with those who have fallen victim news that religious edifices were targeted by certain Sunday School Director to this brutal violence, letting them know that we extremist elements in Iraq. (651) 292-9948 are with them not only in thought and prayer, but SCOBA and SCOOCH have been and are deeply Email: [email protected] also in deed, in the days and weeks to come as they committed to interfaith dialogue. In Iraq, citizens of Barbara Bauman work to rebuild." different faith backgrounds have lived together Choir Director Despite the violence and unrest, IOCC peacefully and harmoniously for centuries. “We (651) 415-0556 continues its work in Iraq. Through IOCC's deplore the violent and destructive acts of persons Anna Christoforides distribution network, hundreds of low-income Iraqi seeking to create disharmony and division among Greek School Director families receive food and other necessities. Victims people whose faiths derive from one common (651) 225-8016 of the recent attacks will receive food parcels, Abrahamic source,” stated Archbishop Demetrios, Email: [email protected] hygiene kits, and other forms of assistance, chairman of SCOBA and Metropolitan Philip Saliba, Dan and Jackie Matuska depending on their needs. IOCC is one of four vice-chairman of SCOBA. Glad Tidings Editors implementing partners for the relief alliance Action Archbishop Barsamian, chairman of SCOOCH, (320) 629-2689 by Churches Together (ACT) in Iraq and is added, “We pray for the victims of these divisive Email: [email protected] working in partnership with the United Methodist forces. We pray for the enlightenment of those who [email protected] Committee on Relief. sow division. And we express our love for and solidarity with all persons of good will in Iraq.” JanuarySeptember 2004 2004 Glad Tidings Glad Tidings Page 3 Stewardship is Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, in his encyclical marking the beginning of the New Ecclesiastical year, wrote: “‘Whatever a man sows that he will also H reap’ (Galatians 6:7). Yet the task of sowing and reaping is a work that moves beyond the scope of the personal. Within parishes, the task of sowing seeds of growth takes on a communal and social dimension.