The Voice of the Greek Community MAY/JUN 2016 1 CELEBRATING 65 YEARS OF COMMUNITY NEWS AND HISTORY VOL. 76 • NO. 550 HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL • 600 EAST BLVD • CHARLOTTE, NC 28203 • 704-334-4771 www.htgo.org MAY-JUN 2016 Our Vision: With the Grace of God, to provide a loving and caring Community where all belong to Christ, through worship, sacramental life, everyday spiritual discipline, sanctification, education, witness and fellowship. CongratulationsCongratulations Graduates!Graduates! Our Mission WHAT’S INSIDE THIS ISSUE.... Our Mission is to become faithful Father Angelo - Spirituality ............................................. 3 followers of Christ and thus active Greek Father Theodore - Graduation Time ................................ 4 Charlotte, NC 28203 NC Charlotte, 600 East Boulevard East 600 Orthodox Christians Construction Update ........................................................ 7 by accepting and submitting to the Will High School Graduates .................................................... 8 Father Angelo - Spirituality . 3 Permit No. 871 No. Permit Charlotte, NC Charlotte, of our Lord so that we Father Theodore - Graduation Time . 4 PAID Vacation Bible School .................................................... 11 may realize salvation Construction Update . 7 U.S. Postage U.S. and enter into the Remembering Father C and Presvytera ........................ 14 High School Graduates . 8 Non-profit Organization Non-profit Kingdom of God. Vacation Bible School . 11 Remembering Father C and Presvytera . 14 2 MAY/JUN 2016 The Voice of the Greek Community A Message From The Editor Voice Editorial and Business Staff Hello again everybody, The Voice Staff Cathedral Staff I hope you are having a great summer. At the time Angelo Pete Politis, Editor John Georgopoulos, Youth Dir./ of this writing, Holy Trinity welcomes our new priest, George Zogzas, Deputy Editor Bldg Operations Father Vasileios Tsourlis. Look for a complete biography George Andrews, Business Manager Kathy Xyrafakis, Office Secretary of Father, Presvytera and their family in the next issue of Contributors: Frances Zogzas, Financial Secretary The Voice. Angelo Tatsis, Building Assistant We want to wish Father Angelo and Presvytera Patricia Fr. Angelo Artemas success in their new Parish. Fr. Theodore Ehmer Ministry and Program Directors I also want to congratulate our 12th graders who John Mahairas, PC President’s Mes- Maria Kleto and Cindy Balatsias, graduated in the past month and are featured in this issue. sage Preschool May you always have success in your careers and, more Ministry Writers: Larry Peroulas, Greek School importantly, in family and life. Gloria Kontoulas, Archives Vickie Koskinas, Georgia Harakas, I will keep this Olga Yamalis, Choirs and Amber Tsumas, Sunday School short and sweet, John Georgopoulos, GOYA-Hope/ Lucy Pappadakes, Choir everybody have a Toni Karnazes, First Choir great summer. Joy Larry Peroulas, Greek School Dr. Philip Thevaos, Baritone Choir Until next time, Irina Monzolevskaya, Organist be safe. Stacie Peroulas, HDF Angelo Pete Frances Troupes, Philoptochos Parish Council: Politis Nick Kallelis, Stewardship John Mahairas, President Teresa Meletiou, Sunday School John Tsumas, Vice President Organizations: Despina Kaltsounis, Secretary George Kokalis, AHEPA Pete J. Pappas, Assistant Secretary Eleni Bingham, Daughters of Jimmy Christodoulias, Treasurer Penelope George T. Karres, Assistant George Zogzas, Foundation Treasurer Council Members: Mitch Christen- Editor Politis greets Fr. Vasileios in his office on July 1. Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral bi-monthly publication is bury, Elias Elia, Jimmy Georgiou, published 6 times per year. Church John Karagiannis, Angelo Kefalas, NotesTelephone: for Page 704/334-4771; 2: Preschool: Margaret Nixon, Dino M. Pappas, Gus A. Pappas, Angelo Spero YIASOU FESTIVAL Official printer of The Voice Updated704/333-4961 submissions schedule located below Masthead The Voice Submissions Schedule for 2016 Thursday - Sunday Mullen Publications Inc. Below is the deadline schedule for submitting articles, photographs, and advertisements to The Voice for inclusion in the remaining issues for 2016. September 8 - 11 www.MullenPublications.com Issue Deadline Highlights JUL-AUG Friday, August 19, 2016 Renovations update Your Help Is Needed Charlotte, NC • 704-527-5111 SEP-OCT Friday, October 14, 2016 New Ecclesiastical and school year; Yiasou Festival NOV-DEC Friday, December 16, 2016 Thanksgiving and Christmas Resize the Ballas Chiropractic ad (lower left corner) to a 5” X 5” dimension. It should be the same as the Gus’s Tree Service ad. Resize the Official Printer box and/or www.htgo.org to take up slack. The Voice of the Greek Community MAY/JUN 2016 3 spiritual? What is being spiritual? Remarks From By defi nition “spirit” is something that comes from outside the person, not from within the person. The Father Angelo Hebrew word for spirit is “wind.” There is only one type of wind that comes from within the person, and that is not a pleasant wind. Spirit is something that comes from outside and has an impact and an effect on people. That is why there is a spirit in the air at stadiums, ballparks, theaters and other centers. Even alcohol at one time in America was referred to as “spirits” because alcohol came from outside the person and had an imbibing effect on the drinker. If one would argue that they don’t have to go to church to be spiritual, the question to ask is where does the spirit of their spirituality come from? Does the spirit come from the by Father Angelo Artemas newspaper, the television, music, or their friends? Does the Dean of the Cathedral spirit come from their dorm, school, or their car? Does the spirit come from their internal fuzzy feelings about God? St. John of the Ladder writes “He who has himself for his Spirituality spiritual father has a fool for a spiritual father.” Going outside of oneself and joining others has Why do people like to attend sporting events, operas, always been an essential element of spirituality - even in movies, concerts and dances? Perhaps because when monasticism. Many adults feel indifferent, stagnant or even people come together with others with the same interests, bored with religion, but a sure way to revive spirituality is there is a certain spirit in the air. Fanaticism or being a fan to go and join others in worship and fellowship. makes more sense when one is with others. One cannot For too many people, going to the local parish may be considered a true fan if they turn down tickets because seem too familiar or too ordinary, but going is always they would rather stay at home and watch on television an opportunity to reinvigorate our souls and our lives. or listen on a speaker. Worshiping with others has a way of reawakening one’s Most people do not think twice about attending a true spirituality, and can change the way we worship at favorite event with thousands of other people, until they home. are invited to church. Why is it that so many adults will Enough of the frivolous excuses and shallow arguments. argue that they don’t have to go to church in order to be One cannot be spiritual in a vacuum. Go to Church! Upcoming Notable Church Feast Days and Events DORMITION OF THE BEHEADING OF JOHN THE NATIVITY OF THE EXHALTATION OF THE DORMITION FAST BEGINS HOLY TRANSFIGURATION THEOTOKOS BAPTIST THEOTOKOS HOLY CROSS Monday August 1 Saturday August 6 Monday August 15 Monday August 29 Thursday September 8 Wednesday September 14 Other Important Events and Dates CHARLOTTE KNIGHTS CATHEDRAL OFFICE YIASOU GREEK FESTIVAL FINAL PREPARATIONS YIASOU GREEK FESTIVAL BASILE THE COMEDIAN GREEK HERITAGE NIGHT CLOSED 5K ROAD RACE FOR YIASOU FESTIVAL BEGINS BASILE & BOUZOUKIA (BB&T BALLPARK) Monday August 15 Saturday August 20 Saturday August 27 Weekend September 3 - 5 Thursday September 8 Saturday October 15 • Free Delivery • 15% off Every 3rd of the Month on all non-Prescription Items • Drive Thru • Durable Medical Equipment • Six Month Supply Discount • US Post Office 2334 South Blvd 704-523-8608 www.cannonpharmacies.com 4 MAY/JUN 2016 The Voice of the Greek Community to have guides or else we will lose our way. If we don’t have a seasoned guide PC President’s Message Remarks From or a good map, we might stumble across Father Theodore pits, bears, or who knows what else that might harm us. This same reality is especially true for us when it comes to our spiritual life which is at the center of our lives whether we acknowledge it or not. How do we make our way through all of the unknowns of life, up an unknown path that can be full of snares ready to entrap us? Ultimately, Christ is the path Himself. He says as much in the 14th chapter of the Gospel of St. John when he says: “Ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ ὁδὸς.” This is by Father Theodore Ehmer often translated as I am the Way. But by John Mahairas Associate Priest this could also be translated as: I am the Road, or, I am the Path. He is the Way, Thoughts for Graduation Time… the Road, the Path which leads to Truth Greetings Holy Trinity Parishioners, pledge or donation today. We need every and Life. But how do we keep that from I sincerely hope all is well with you parishioner’s participation in this area in With May and June comes the end of just being a vague concept? Well, let and your families. On behalf of all of order to achieve our goal. the school year, otherwise known as the me suggest three important things for us here at Holy trinity I would like to Our Greek festival is quickly best time of the year (or at least it was graduates, and all of us. First, being congratulate all of our Sunday School approaching and as a community we need when I was growing up!) And along close to Holy Scripture is extremely and Greek school graduates. Both of to focus on making this year’s festival a with the end of the school year, we important.