Proistamenos: Fr. Douglas Papulis ST. NICHOLAS (636) 527-7843 (314) 974-4613cell MONTHLY NEWSLETTER Parish Priest: Fr. Michael Arbanas ST. NICHOLAS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH (314)909-6999 4967 FOREST PARK AVENUE Office (314)361-6924 ST. LOUIS, MO 63108-1495 Fax (314)361-3539 Executive Secretary: Kathy Ellis ST. NICHOLAS CHURCH FAMILY LIFE CENTER Bookkeeper: Diane Winkler 12550 S FORTY DRIVE Email: [email protected] ST. LOUIS, MO 63141 Website: www.sngoc.org January 2018 Volume 22- Number 1 The Feast of Epiphany Christ, according to Orthodox teaching, gave the rite of passage to the Church on the day He Himself was baptized. On this day, St. Gregory of Nyssa tells us, Jesus entered the filthy water of the world, and thereafter brought up and purified the world. It is this purification through Je- sus’ Baptism that we commemorate on this day. And it is God’s revelation of Himself as Trinity who makes salvation and eternal life possible, that we also observe. Epiphany’s Gospel les- son, which comes from Matthew 3:12-17, speaks to us about these events, both of which are necessary for salvation The Gospel lesson is a simple one. Shortly before Jesus’ desert experience and the com- mencement of his earthly ministry, Jesus went to the River Jordan to be Baptized by his cousin John. John, on seeing Jesus, knowing that He is without sin, sought to prevent Him from being baptized by saying, “I need to be Baptized by you, and are you coming to me” (Jn. 3:14)? But Jesus retorted by saying, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting to fulfill all righteousness.” Oh what a marvel! Jesus who was fully God and fully man, who had no need to be saved “through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,” condescended to be Baptized. But what was even more marvelous is what transpired thereafter. Following the River Jordan, the Evangelist Matthew tells us, the fullness of the Trinity took place. Jesus’ Baptism is the manifestation of the Father. The voice from Heaven identified his “beloved Son.” God the Holy Spirit descended upon Him like a dove.” (Jn. 3:17) It is this joyous manifestation, of course, for which reason our Holy Orthodox Church on this Epiphany day sings the beloved troparion: “By thy Baptism, O Lord in the River Jordan, worship to the Trinity hath made it ap- pearance; for the voice of the Lord did come forth to thee with the testimony, naming thee be- loved Son; and the Spirit in the likeness of a dove, confirming the word. Wherefore, O thou who didst appear and lighted the world, O Christ, glory to thee.” Epiphany, also called Theophany, comes from the Greek word epiphaneia. This word literally means “appearance” “manifestation from above.” God from above manifested Himself on the first day of Epiphany when he revealed Himself in the manner that he did. Patriarch Germanos in one of the Matins Hymns of the day puts it this way. He states, “Light of light. Christ our God. God made manifest has shone upon the world.” Similarly, the Holy Apostle Paul in his Epistle to Titus expresses this truth thusly “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to men” (Titus 2:11). Rev. PauI Cotopoulos 1 . St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Monthly Bulletin January 2018 St. Nicholas Servants 2017 PARISH BOARD Announcements Andrew Galakatos,MD, President 314-922-4457 Carol Kamburis, Vice-President Jonathan Hartley, Secretary Peter Takes PhD, Treasurer Christine Anastas Calendar of Events Helen Carey Elizabeth Glynias Stefan Glynias Jan. 1—Divine Liturgy at FLC Yemane Habtu Jan. 5—Forefeast of Epiphany Marilynn Jemas Bill Mastorakos, DDS Divine Liturgy and Blessing of Mary Ann Mastorakos The Waters at Church Joseph Palazzola Kon Vellios Jan. 6 –Holy Epiphany AUDIT COMMITTEE Divine Liturgy and Blessing of Mark Vleisides, Chairperson 314-576-2898 the Waters at FLC Roxana Couternais Peter Lemakis Jan. 7—Vasilopita Sunday and Luncheon Janet Papageorge Jr GOYA Social Event CEMETARY COMMITTEE Jan. 12-15—GOYA Ski Trip William Karides, Chairperson 636-281-0727 Pat Johnson Jan. 21—Family Ministry Event at FLC Irene Schildroth Jan. 27—Philoptochos General Membership CHURCH SCHOOL Co-Directors Bess Fitzmaurice 636-343-3849 Brunch Meeting at FLC Despina Hartley 618-447-6548 Jan. 30—Three Hierarchs DANCE TROUPE Divine Liturgy & Lunch at FLC Georgia Johnson 314-832-0061 ELECTION COMMITTEE ———————— Tina Paradowski , Chairperson 314-781-0781 Friday Night Basketball Paul Leara FLC—Jan. 5 and 12 Pat Lekich Demi Nicozisin Church—Jan 19 and 26 Mark Vleisides GREETERS COMMITTEE Roxana Couteranis, Director 314-752-0252 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) DEMETRIOS Tsikalas (Co-chair) 314-323-2838 St. Nicholas Jonathan Hartley (Co-chair) 618-520-9569 LIBRARY COMMITTEE Book Group Elaine Coulson, Chairperson 314-991-5033 Michael Doran Brandon Redmann The St. Nicholas Book Group will MINISTRY, PRISON Clark Porter, Director 314-518-6747 meet Monday, January 8th at PHILOPTOCHOS 7:00pm, to discuss City of Carol Kamburis, President 314-803-2451 PHYSICAL FACILITIES -CHURCH Secrets by Stewart O’Nan. This Dino Pappas, Chairperson 314-701-8118 thriller follows a Holocaust survivor Bill Coulson Pat Johnson in post-War as he starts a new life PHYSICAL FACILITIES –FAMILY LIFE and becomes increasingly involved Nick Tharenos, Chairperson 314-576-7011 Mike Kamburis in the underground movement that Nick Koskolos Robert Meyer worked to undermine the British Sam Mezines PLANNED GIVING Mandate and establish the state of John Koch, Chairperson 636-922-7732 Israel. We will meet at 7:00pm at Sam Mezines SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE the Family Life Center. Denise Karras, Chairperson 314-368-4205 Barbara Corrigan Yemane Habtu Peter Takes St. Irenaeus Orthodox Theological Institute PLEASE JOIN US!!! Michael G. Tsichlis, PhD 314-361-6924 x330 STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE EVERYONE is Welcome Stefan Glynias, Chairperson 314-644-1875 Ted Anastas Abrahatzion Habtu Yemane Habtu Marilynn Jemas Mary Ann Mastorakos Steve Ott John Russon WEBSITE Rosie Hartley, Webpage Administrator 618-239-9359 Please submit all articles by the 10th of month Email: [email protected] Thank You Jennifer English, Editor 2 . St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Monthly Bulletin January 2018 Philoptochos Corner January 2018 Happy New Year! St. Nicholas Vespers Reception My heartfelt thanks to the Philoptochos Board, Executive and St. Nicholas Day Brunch Board, and entire Membership for their continued support, – December 5 & 6 – hard work, and countless hours spent serving on commit- Many thanks to Maria Kamburis and Georgia Ferretti for tees, in order to meet our Philoptochos commitments. chairing the lovely Vespers Reception and St. Nicholas Thank you for being generous with your time and talents. Day Brunch. It was a beautiful way to kick-off our week A special thanks to Father Doug Papulis and Father Mi- long St. Nicholas Centennial Celebrations. Huge thanks chael Arbanas for their constant spiritual support, love, to the Philoptochos Board for hosting an elegant 100th and guidance. Anniversary Tea Reception. We were honored to have His Grace Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos join us for our Grecian Kitchen Holiday Open House centennial weekend. Best wishes to the next 100! - November 4 - Congratulations to the Grecian Kitchen Co-chairs, Christi- Annual Vasilopita Luncheon na Anastas, Carol Kamburis, and their committees for an – Sunday, January 7 – amazing event! Congratulations Jeanne Tompras and the Philoptochos will host its Annual Vasilopita Luncheon with Prayer Shawl Ministry committee for a beautiful display of proceeds to support St. Basil’s Academy. For more than handmade crocheted and knitted items from our Ladies of half a century, St. Basil’s Academy has provided a “home St. Nicholas Philoptochos. Guests enjoyed delicious away from home” for Orthodox young people who come Greek lunch and pastries, Grecian Kitchen specialties to from broken homes, or are victims of poverty, abuse or take home and bake for the holidays, and boutique shop- abandonment. Please join us for a wonderful lunch. ping from over 26 vendors. We look forward to another successful event next year. Save the date for November Calendar of Events: 3, 2018. 1/07 Vasilopita Luncheon 1/11 Board Meeting Grecian Kitchen Harvest 1/27 General Membership Brunch Meeting Luncheon/Bake Sale 2/04 Godparent/Godchild Sunday – November 19 – 2/04 GK Pre-Lenten Luncheon/Bake Sale Thank you to Georgia Ferretti and her committee for an- 2/19 First day of Lent/Clean Monday other successful GK Harvest Luncheon/Bake Sale. Spe- Lenten Luncheon cial thanks to Dianne Zotos who does a great job handling 2/25 Sunday of Orthodoxy all the Grecian Kitchen orders which continues to be a huge success! Thanks to the ladies who donated home- made pastries for our bake sale. The success of these events make it possible for us to continue our work in helping the needy, and our beloved St. Nicholas! Three Hierarchs Our fathers among the saints Basil the Great (January 1), Gregory the Theolo- gian (January 25), and John Chrysostom (November 13) are known as the Three Holy Hierarchs for their leadership of the Church. Their shared feast day is celebrated on January 30. During the eleventh century, disputes raged in Constantinople about which of the three hierarchs was the greatest. By the will of God, the three hierarchs appeared to St. John Mauropous ('Black-foot'), Bishop of Euchaita (June 14 or October 5), in the year 1084, and said that they were equal before God: "There are no divisions among us, and no opposition to one another." St. John chose January 30 for their Feast, thus peacefully ending the controversy. 3 . St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Monthly Bulletin January 2018 The Remarkable Story of Carl Who Cared for the Garden Behind a Minister’s Residence Carl was a quiet man.