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March 2016 Dean’S Message “A Sickness of the Soul”

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March 2016 Dean’S Message “A Sickness of the Soul” March Saint 2016 Sophia Greek Orthodox CathedralPage HERALD INSIDE THIS ISSUE MARCH 20, 2016 Dean’s Message 2 President’s Message 3 Stewardship 4 Philoptochos News 5 Philoptochos VIP 5 Inner Stillness Center 6 Ministries list 8 Sacraments/Memorials 9 Holly Week Schedule 12 Feast Day Article 12 Orthodox Calendars 14,15 The Thessaloniki Epitaphios. Liturgical Cloth, c.1300 AD, Silk, Gold, Silver Wire on Linen, Overall: 72 X 200 cm Museum of Byzantine Culture, Thessaloniki, Greece V. Rev. Fr. John S. Bakas, Dean Tel. 323-737-2424 Sunday of Gregory Palamas - March 27 1324 S. Normandie Avenue Fax. 323-737-7029 Sunday of the Holy Cross - April 3 Los Angeles, CA 90006 www.stsophia.org Sunday of Saint John Climacus - April 10 Page 2 March 2016 Dean’s Message “A Sickness of the Soul” I had a dream last night about Fr. Arsenios, a monk at Fr. Arsenios ended his story by reminding us that as iron is Simonopetra Monastery on Mt. Athos. Perhaps seeing for the eaten by rust, so are the envious consumed by envy. fourth time the wonderful CBS 60 Minutes presentation about Recalling this story made me reflect on what envy can do to Mount Athos, and seeing once again on my TV screen the rust out the good plans of parish ministry and goals. It divides majestic and towering monastery awakened my subconscious the faithful and even infects us who are graced with the memories of the week I spent at Simonopetra a few years priesthood. It rusts out friendships, relationships in families ago. and business partnerships. Envy is sadness at another's good, as if that good were an affront to one's own superiority. I met Fr. Arsenios in one of the monastery's guest meeting The envious person hates to see anyone else happy or rooms for an impromptu talk about the monastic path to successful. It is as though it is taken from them. Since the encountering God. Unexpectedly he asked the fifteen or so envious person cannot go up, he tries to achieve equality by pilgrims gathered there a dramatic question, "Who crucified pulling the other down. The soul sickened by envy begins its Jesus Christ. Do you know?". There was a momentary course by seeking to lower the reputation of another, either silence; one man said it was the Jews, another said it was secretly or by gossip or overtly by detraction. It seeks to stir Pontius Pilate and the Roman soldiers. "No", said Fr. up conflicts, to arouse controversy and foster antagonism. In Arsenios, "you are all wrong.” It was envy and jealousy, those reality the only person worth envying is the person who foul passions that sicken the human heart. That's what doesn't envy. crucified Christ and still crucifies Him today." He continued, "There are many roads to hate, but envy is the shortest of I remember Fr. Arsenios saying that one of the most effective them all." ways of counteracting jealousy and envy in ourselves is to say a prayer immediately for the person we resent. By referring He closed his eyes, stroked his long gray beard and again our enemies to God and by spiritually wishing them well, we continued to speak. "My dear beloved, let me tell you a story crush the impulse toward envy. The sunlight of love will kill all from The Desert Fathers about this: Satan, cursed be his the germs of jealousy and envy. A second means is to try to name, was training his demons on the art of attacking the emulate those who provoke our envy. The Church holds up Holy Fathers, sending them out with the intent of causing the good example of the Saints, not to discourage us in our them to fall into sin. A cunning novice demon on assignment, failings, but to encourage us to greater efforts. 'Let us keep approached a monk on his way to the market place disguised one another in mind, always ready with incitements to charity as a beautiful and suggestively dressed woman trying to lure and to acts of piety." (Heb. 10:24) him into an immoral act. The holy monk closed his eyes and turned his back on her and took another path. The frustrated In Christ, demon didn't give up. He laid another trap. He placed a bag full of gold coins on the side of the road. The monk nearly stumbled over it. He opened it. The shining coins glistened in the sunlight. He picked up the bag, took it into the town and gave it to the authorities saying that some unfortunate traveler must have lost it. It should be returned to him.' V. Rev. Fr. John S. Bakas, Dean The demon was frantic with anger. He returned to the pit of hell to report to Satan and admit his failure. “I tried using lust and greed but nothing worked.” the downcast demon said. Satan smiled and shook his head, “Some of these monks are very hard to crack. You are a beginner. Come, come with me and I'll show you how it's done!” Satan and the demon disguised themselves as monks and encountered the holy monk on the road as he was returning to his hut. After the usual monastic greetings and exchange of pleasantries Satan told the monk, “Father, did you hear the wonderful news? Your brother, Fr. Athanasios, was just elected Patriarch of Alexandria.” Red faced and shaking, the monk spat on the ground and said: “Why that good for nothing and worthless brother of mine is not half as worthy or able as I am to hold that office.” Satan laughed an eerie and soul piercing laugh. “You see, my little demon, many a holy monk eventually will fall by the passions of envy and jealousy.” March 2016 Page 3 PARISH COUNCIL MESSAGE Reflect in your Mind and Heart All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and was love and gifts to make this happen and I want to thank small, all things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made you for your trust, your willingness to help and your loving them all gifts to help generations to come to continue to hear the beautiful music of our Church. Each little flower that opens, each little bird that sings, He made their glowing colors, He made their tiny wings Through your gifts we are able to not only support our The rich man in his castle, the poor man at his gate, God ministries but to expand our ministries to meet the diversity of made them, high or lowly, and ordered their estate. our people’s needs. There is something for everyone and I hope you will belong and continue to help us grow. We need The purple-headed mountain, the river running by, the you, we hear you and we aim to serve you to continue to sunset, and the morning, that brightens up the sky; make Saint Sophia the beacon of light on the rocky shores of The cold wind in the winter, the pleasant summer sun, the Los Angeles. ripe fruits in the garden, He made them every one. Please take the time to keep the words from the poem above The tall trees in the greenwood, the meadows where we in your mind and heart. Join us in our Lenten services, pray play, the rushes by the water, we gather every day; for Father Bakas’ strength and guidance to continue at Saint Sophia for many years to come, believe and support our He gave us eyes to see them, and lips that we might tell, Parish Council and our Ministries and always pray for the sick, how great is God Almighty, who has made all things well. the needy and the lives of our people who will benefit from -Cecil Frances Alexander yours and God’s gifts for years to come. I wanted to share one of my favorite poems with all of you. As Thank you for your friendship, your spirituality, your beliefs Springtime continues, daylight savings started, and soon we’ll that what we are doing is helping to grow and to meet the be in our Greek Orthodox Lenten season looking forward to needs of our Saint Sophia Community. Dare to dream and to our Holy Week services and Pascha, I’m reminded to take the remember all of the gifts that God has given us. time to stop, look around, notice and forever be grateful for Yours in Christ, the day that has been given to us by God. Upon walking into Brent A. Noyes, Parish Council President the Cathedral and in passing other parishioners and friends along the way, I’m reminded by many of them that God is Good and Great and that God gave all for us. At Saint Sophia, I’m reminded over and over of the many gifts that we share together such as friendship, our acts of kindness toward each other, our beliefs and practices of our religious teachings, our memories and love for those who passed and for those who live, and finding so many ways to share our gifts for our Cathedral and community. Each of you bring your gifts and talents to Church which helps us to continue to grow spiritually and financially. For example, through your gifts and in our fundraising successes for Father Bakas’ 20 years anniversary, we were able to purchase and install our new Cathedral organ and soon, our new bell system. There was a need, there was a purpose and there Page 4 March 2016 Believe and Belong through Christian Stewardship STEWARDSHIP FAMILIES JANUARY 2016 $20,000+ Fovos, Ms.
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