From Glory to Glory The monthly newsletter of the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church Fr. Joseph Strzelecki Fr. Anastasios Theodoropoulos March 2019 1755 Des Peres Road Sermon on the Sunday of Orthodoxy Town & Country, MO 63131-1405 By Fr. Raphael Daly Phone: 314-966-2255 Kitchen: 314-966-6720 This morning, I would like to tell you the story of two women, who chose very Web Site: www.assumptiongoc.org different paths for their respective lives, but arrived at the same destination. The background for this story is the iconoclast controversy, and the feast we Fr. Anastasios Theodoropoulos celebrate today – the Sunday of Orthodoxy. I won’t get into the history of the Email: [email protected] iconoclast controversy this morning – there are many fine books on the subject Office Manager: Diane Sieckmann already written, and chances are most of you know the story already. But for Email: [email protected] those that don’t, in the 8th century, the church came under attack from those who proclaimed that having icons and venerating them is wrong. This error was Secretary: Diakonissa Kristen Vogt refuted at the Seventh Ecumenical council, but unfortunately, the iconoclasts as Email: [email protected] they are known, had the emperors of Constantinople on their side for a time. The story I’d like to tell you picks up towards the end of the iconoclast controversy – at the beginning of the reign of the Emperor Theophilus, the very last iconoclast emperor. Theophilus was a young man at the beginning of his Dates to Remember in March reign, and he needed a wife. So his mother arranged a brideshow for him. The most beautiful eligible noble women in the empire were gathered to the palace, March 2 and participated in a contest. The winner would be handed an apple made of 1st Saturday of the Souls gold and would become the empress. Theophilus narrowed the contestants down to six semi – finalists. Amongst the six were our two heroines – Cassiani March 3 and Theodora. Both were exquisitely beautiful and brilliant, but where Meat Fare Sunday Theodora was very modest and humble, Cassiani had something of a sharp tongue. Cassiani did not suffer fools gladly. Unfortunately for Cassiani, the March 10 emperor Theophilus was something of a fool. He was impressed most by Cheese Fare Sunday Cassiani’s beauty and went up to her, ready to give her the apple. But he Forgiveness Sunday decided to wax philosophical first, and I suppose looking at the apple and thinking of Eve in the Garden said, “From women flowed corruption.” Without March 11 missing a beat Cassiani shot back “But also from woman sprang forth what is Clean Monday - Great Lent Begins superior” (meaning that God himself deigned to be born of a woman, the Theotokos). Theophilus didn’t have a comeback to that one. He opted instead to March 17 hand the apple to modest, silent Theodora. He and Theodora were married. Losing the contest suited Cassiani just fine – she hadn’t really wanted to be Sunday of Orthodoxy married to Theophilus, or become empress. She was now free to pursue the life she really wanted – a life of prayer and study in a convent which she herself March 24 established and managed as Abbess. She still spoke her mind to the emperor St. Gregory Palamas however. When Theophilus continued to be a harsh enforcer of the laws attacking icons, Cassiani joined other monastics in publicly defying him. He March 25 had her persecuted and beaten, but she would not be silent, she continued to Annunciation publicly defend icons and support those who venerated them. She believed one ought to speak out against injustice. Although monks and nuns are supposed to March 31 love silence, Cassiani once said, “I hate silence when it is time to speak!” Veneration of the Holy Cross Thirteen years after the brideshow, Theophilus died, and left Theodora as the regent. But what Theophilus didn’t know – and never found out – was that his 2018 Parish Council humble, submissive Theodora ALSO venerated icons and had raised his five daughters and one son to also venerate and love icons and Orthodoxy. On Mt. Fr. Joseph Strzelecki Athos, there’s an icon that Theodora owned. One side is an icon, the other is a Fr. Anastasios Theodoropoulos Scott Thompson, President mirror. Whenever Theodora was alone she’d flip it around and pray in front of Greg Simos, Vice President the icon, and then flip it back to the mirror side when her husband came into Elefteria Marcou, Secretary her room. As soon as Theophilus was dead, she restored icons and the clergy Gus Harris, Treasurer who defended them. She permanently finished the iconoclast movement. Daniel Gantner, Carol Marshall, Pam Martin, If you look at the icon of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, you’ll see the empress Samia Rabie, Pete Regopoulos, Vasilios Simos, Greg Simos, Sotirios Sotiriou, Tom Stamos, Theodora and her son Michael standing next to the famous Directress Icon of Chris Tsoubanos, Nick Tsoubanos, Tonis the Theotokos. But in the corner, you’ll see a nun standing with all the monks. Zafiropoulos That would be Cassiani. Cassiani was also a hymnographer, by the way. She Acolytes wrote some of the most famous and important hymns during the year, including John Nicholas Adult Orthodox Christians (18 years +): some very important parts of the Tridion season, which we are currently in. Diane Sieckmann Some people worry about the role women in the Church – whether they ought Bible Study to be outspoken like Cassiani or submissive like Theodora. Both Theodora and Fr. Daniel Morton Cassiani are now venerated as saints because they defended icons, and Bookstore Orthodoxy itself. Each had her own method of defending Orthodoxy, but it was Christos Tsiaklides, Diakonissa Kristen Vogt Chanters the faith they defended that matters ultimately. The triumph of the icons in the Steve Bellos 9th century wasn’t simply a victory of people who wanted to kiss icons, but of Choir the faith of the Orthodox. They ensured that the Orthodox faith – our faith – Stephanie Saunders would not bend to the whim of emperors and the currents of history. Our icons, Church Tours Janice Hazeltine our liturgy, monasticism, the clergy – are all part of this faith, the faith Friday Luncheon proclaimed by Prophets, Apostles and Teachers. Theodora and Cassiani have Art Liyeos defended this faith and handed it to us, to defend and maintain as they did. We Greek Festival too, must uphold the faith we have received unchanged. We must resist and Greg Simos, Art Liyeos denounce, as they did, the idea that our faith must be reworked to accommo- Greek School Savas Kyramarios date the age we live in. We must offer our witness outspokenly to world, as Greek Dancers Cassiani, and also to our children, as Theodora did. Kyklos: & Armonia Stella Afentoullis http://stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/orthodoxy/sermons/2006/sundayoforthodoxy Ta Paidakia, Neo Kyma: Aliki Malek GOYA (9th -12th Grade) Yvonne Alexopoulos, Dr. Jenny Kardaris Greeters Eleni Murphy JOY (4 years - 4th Grade) Jr. GOYA (5th - 8th Grades) The Assumption Alki Lappas Case, Dr. Debbie Cosmopoulos Kafenio Philoptochos Monday, Mach 11, 2019 Art Liyeos Little Angels (infant - 5 years) invites everyone Fr. Anastasios Theodoropoulos to begin Great Lent together Orthodox Faith & Life: Dr. Farid Sadaka, Anna Sadaka Philoptochos Flora Dimitriou, President Planned Giving Committee 10:30 am Great Compline Amy Johnson immediately followed by Prison Ministry Bill Goranitis Stewardship Michael Afentoullis Clean Monday (Kathara Deftera) Lenten Luncheon Sunday School Diane Sieckmann Vacation Church Camp (VCC) $7.00 per person Anna Sadaka Women’s Bookstudy Presvytera Laura Morton Young Adult Ministry (18-30 yrs) Fr. Anastasios & Presvytera Elizabeth 2 Lenten Services Special services are celebrated during Great Lent for our spiritual edification. † Great Compline is chanted on various evenings. † Presanctified Liturgies are celebrated on Wednesday evening and Friday morning. 2019 † Salutations to the Theotokos are chanted on Friday Schedule of Lenten Services evenings. Please see the monthly calendar for the scheduled times of these services. 1st Sunday - Triumph of Orthodoxy March 17 – 5:00 p.m. Confessions Assumption Greek Orthodox Church Please contact your 1755 Des Peres Rd, St. Louis, MO 63131 father confessor to Host Rector: V Rev Father Joseph Strezlecki make an appointment Guest Homilist: Rev Father Joel Wilson for confession. Orthodox Christians nd 2 Sunday – St. Gregory Palamas receive the March 24th – 5:00 p.m. Sacrament of Holy St. Michael Orthodox Church Confession to purify 1901 Ann Ave, St. Louis, MO 63104 their hearts, minds Host Rector: V Rev Father Christopher Phillips and bodies so that they may approach rd the Holy Chalice 3 Sunday – Veneration of the Holy Cross with a clean heart. By March 31 – 5:00 pm. confessing our sins Ss. Cyril & Methody Orthodox Church we empty our hearts 4770 Maryville Rd., Granite City, IL 62040 of sin and corruption Host Rector: Very Rev. Father Andrew Moulton so that it can be filled with God's grace and All services are sponsored by the Orthodox Christian love, and so that we Clergy Brotherhood of the Greater St. Louis Area. can receive Jesus' Services are followed by a pure body and blood light lenten meal and fellowship and become united with Him eternally. Fasting Great Lent is a period of strict abstinence. The traditional fast is as follows: † Monday - Friday: Abstinence from meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine and oil (shell fish is allowed). † Every Saturday and Sunday, and Holy Thursday: wine and Saturday of Souls oil are allowed. On the Saturday prior to the commencement of Great Lent, † March 25 and Palm Sunday: Fish is allowed. it is the sacred Tradition of the Church to pray for the † Wine and oil are not allowed on Holy Saturday.