Dear Parishioners, As we prepare once again to enter Holy Week and celebrate Pascha, let us walk firmly in the light of the anticipated Resurrection. Let these days of prayer, worship and fasting serve as an opportunity for us to prepare ourselves to pass from darkness to light, from death to life. Holy Week is one of the most solemn seasons of Orthodox Christianity. While our Orthodox worship services unfold the passion of Christ, it likewise gives us an opportunity to gather our entire family in an atmosphere of chanting and repentance. Holy Week is a time to gather with our families at the morning and evening church services to praise God with common prayer and hymns and feel the power and love of Jesus Christ. Holy Week is a time of repentance. The preparation of Christ's Passion and Resurrection is an important time for the Sacrament of Holy Confession, the Sacrament which restores the resurrected nature of man. After having experienced the Sacrament of Confession, we partake of the Holy Body and Blood of our Resurrected Saviour Jesus Christ. My dear Christians, as we experience Christ’s Passion and Resurrection, let us allow ourselves to be changed by Him. Let us trust in the One who died for our sins, who rose again to give us hope, certainty of life, eternal life and hope for the resurrection. Let us receive Him now so we may be able to know and feel the “Good News” of Pascha….He is Risen!!!! Have a truly blessed and joyous Easter together with your loved ones. May the joy, peace, grace and salvation of the resurrection fill your hearts and homes so united we may proclaim: CHRIST IS RISEN!!! With Love and in Anticipation of His Glorious Resurrection, Father Anargyros Αγαπητοί Ενορίτες, Γιά άλλη μιά φορά με τη χάρη του Κυρίου σε λίγες μέρες θα γιορτάσουμε την εορτή των εορτών και Πανήγυριν των Πανηγύρεων, την Ανάσταση του Χριστού μας. Θα γιορτάσουμε το μεγαλύτερο και σπουδαιότερο γεγονός στην Παγκόσμια Ιστορία, που είναι το κέντρο και ο άξωνας πάνω στον οποίο στηρίζεται και περιφέρεται ολόκληρο το Χριαστιανικό οικοδόμημα. Με την Ανάσταση του, ο Κύριος επιφράγησε το κοσμοσωτήριο έργο του, θεμελείωσε το Πνευματικό του Βασίλειο, την Εκκλησία του, συνέτριξε το κεφάλι του αρχέκακου όφεως, άνοιξε τις κλεισμένες πόρτες της Βασιλείας των Ουρανών, κατάργησε τον Θάνατο, φώτησε το πυκνό σκοτάδι του Άδη, έλυσε οριστικά το μυστήριο του Θανάτου και έγινε το προμήνημα της δικής μας αναστάσεως. Γιά να γευθούμε όμως τους γεμάτους χάρη καρπούς της Αναστάσεως του Κυρίου, πρέπει να αναστηθούμε από τώρα Πνευματικά. Να σηκωθούμε από τα χαμηλά επίπεδα στα οποία μας κατάντησε η πολύχρονη δουλεία στην αμαρτία. Να αποτινάξουμε την σκόνη της ανομίας. Να καθαρισθούμε από τα πάθη μας. Χωρίς ψυχική κάθαρση, καθαρή καρδιά, και φωτισμένο μυαλό, δεν είναι ορατός ο Αναστημένος Ιησούς και δεν μπορούμε να πάρουμε μέρος σ’αυτή την εορτή των εορτών και πανήγυριν των πανηγύρεων. Ας προσπαθήσουμε λοιπόν να ζήσουμε το νόημα της Αναστάσεως σε όλο το μέγεθος της αφήνοντας την ψυχή μας να πλημμυρίση από την Θεία ευφροσύνη του κοσμοσωτηρίου αυτού γεγονότος, “Αυτή η ημέρα εν εποίησεν ο Κύριος αγαλιασσόμεθα και ευφανθώμεν εν αυτή”. Ας συκώσουμε το κεφάλι μας όρθιο από ενθουσιασμό αφού δώσουμε το φίλημα της αφοσιώσεώς μας σαν την Μαρία τη Μαγδαλινή στα πόδια του θριαμβευτού Ιησού. Ας αφήσουμε τον σκεπτικισμό και τις αμφιβολίες μας μαζύ με την αμαρτία και ας ανοίξουμε την καρδιά μας να υποδεχθούμε τον Κύριο. Με ταπείνωση ας παραδώσουμε τον εαυτό μας στο άρματου και ας αφήσουμε Εκείνον να μας τραβήξη πίσω του. Μόνο όταν συμβούν αυτά θα νοιώσουμε σε όλο το πλάτος τη νικηφόρα ιαχή : “ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ”! Ευχόμεθα σε όλους σας ένα αληθινό ευλογημένο και χαρούμενο Πάσχα μαζύ με τους δικούς σας. Με αγάπη Χριστού, Πατήρ Ανάργυρος Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen! Let all pious men and all lovers of God rejoice in the splendor of this Feast. Let the wise servants blissfully enter into the joy of their Lord. Let those who have borne the burden of Lent now receive their pay, and those who have toiled since the first hour, let them now receive their due reward. Let any who came after the third hour be grateful to join in the Feast, and those who may have come after the sixth hour, let them not be afraid of being too late, for the Lord is gracious and He receives the last even as the first. Let no one fear death, for the death of our Saviour has set us free. He destroyed death by enduring it. Hades is angered because it has been mocked. It seized a Body, and lo, it discovered God. O Hades, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? Christ is risen, and you are abolished. Christ is risen, and the demons are cast out. Christ is risen and the angels rejoice. Christ is risen, and the tombs are emptied of the dead. For Christ, being risen from the dead, has become the Leader and Reviver of those who had fallen asleep. To Him be glory and power, unto the ages of ages. Amen. Excerpts from the Feast of Pascha Homily written by St. John Chrysostom. EASTER BASKETS AND EASTER EGG HUNT Easter Sunday, April 15th 11:30 a.m. We invite ALL families, children and Adults to attend the special Agape Service on Pasha, Easter Sunday. Following the service, all the children of our Parish will receive a basket and are invited to participate in the Easter Egg Hunt. Let us come together to celebrate this special day of our Orthodox Faith AN INVITATION TO THE FEAST OF FEASTS We fervently request all our parishioners to share fully in the Observance of Holy Week and in the celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord. Note that the Service of the Resurrection is not over until the completion of the Divine Liturgy - please do not deny yourself the full blessings of the Feast by leaving before the end of the Service! CHILDREN AND HOLY WEEK AND THE RESURRECTION All of us, Orthodox Christians are asked to fervently set aside this holiest of all weeks, Holy Week, and to plan to spend it in worship as much as possible. It is also very important for all parents with children to be a part of these services of Holy Week as well. These special services bring to life the events of Jesus’s last days on Earth prior to His Resurrection. It is understandable that the smaller children may not be able to participate in some of the services because of the lateness of the hour. However, parents have the responsibility to bring their children regardless of age to: The Sacrament of Holy Unction on Holy Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. The Apokathilosis or the removal of Jesus’ body on Holy Friday at 3:00 p.m. The Holy Saturday Vesperal Divine Liturgy beginning at 8:30 a.m., whereby ALL children should be prepared to receive Holy Communion. The Agape Services on Easter Sunday beginning at 11:30 a.m. and whereby immediately following the Agape Service they will receive the Easter Baskets and be able to participate in the annual Easter Egg Hunt. Parents, please keep these days of Holy Week in mind and please make it a point to attend with your children to all of these very important Holy Week services. Excuse notes in order to leave early from school to attend Holy Wednesday and Holy Friday Services are available upon request, by contacting the Church Office. PARENTS...IT IS UP TO YOU!!!! A MESSAGE FROM THE PARISH COUNCIL PRESIDENT Dear Parishioners, Being in the middle of Great Lent and Easter just a few weeks away, I wish you all a Kali Anastasi. We are in the middle of the preparations of our annual festival which will take place on May 17-20. Please come and help prepare the delicious food. Also, sign-up to help on the days of the festival. We need everyone to help to make this a successful event for our community. Kostas Panagiotopoulos Parish Council President St. Athanasios Greek Orthodox Church is pleased to host The Eastern Federation of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians District of New Jersey in The Spirit of Lent A Choral Offering of Ancient and Modern Works in English and Greek Kathryn Athanasoulas Director ~~~- E. Hope Demitry Organist Friday, April 6, 2012 - 8:00 p.m. Donation: $10 Children under 12: Free GREEK SCHOOL NEWS Dear parishioners, On Sunday January 29th, the students of our Greek and Sunday Schools, celebrated the Three Hierarchs, the “Greek Letters Day”, reciting poems and singing songs. The date of the Three Hierarchs, is also designated, as the time to recognize the students who obtained certificates for the Greek language (Regents tests). We congratulate Alexandra Katechis and Michael Higgins who successfully passed the exams, and we wish them the best of luck!!! On Monday February 27th, (Clean Monday) our students had fun flying their kites at the parking space of the church, according to the tradition. Afterwards, they enjoyed a Lenten meal that the PTO had prepared for them. On Monday March 5th, the students of 4th, 5th, and 6th grades, and also youngsters from GOYA , (including enough parents), visited the Onasis Center in New York City, to see the exhibit “Transition to Christianity”. It was a great experience, and every one was enthused about it. We hope to have the chance to do similar trips soon in the near future. There will be no classes from April 9-April 16 (Easter celebration) We wish everyone A HAPPY EASTER Sophia Stamatiou Greek School Principal PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS Dear Parishioners, On behalf of St.