Bartholomew by the Mercy of God, Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome, and Ecumenical Patriarch: Grace and Peace from the Creator of all creation our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ

When Paul the Apostle to the Nations advised the Thessalonians to "give thanks in all circumstances" (I These. 5:18), he also counselled them to "always rejoice, and pray without ceasing" (I These. 5:16-17), thus demonstrating that thanksgiving as prayer and everlasting joy go together and coexist inseparably. Truly, the one who gives thanks experiences the joy that comes from the appreciation of that for which he or she is thankful, and from the overabundance of joy they turn toward the giver and provider of the good things received in grateful thanksgiving. Conversely, the person who does not feel the internal need to thank the Creator and Fashioner of all the good things of this very good world, but ungratefully and geocentrically receives them--when the person is indifferent toward the one who provided these good things and thus worships the impersonal creation rather than the Creator (Romans 1:25)--that person does not feel the deep joy of receiving the gifts of God, but only sullen and animalistic satisfaction. Such a person is given over to irrational desires, to covetousness, and to "robberies from injustice" (Isaiah 61:8) that are despised by God. As a result, that person will undergo the breaking "of the pride of his power" (Leviticus 26:19), and will be deprived of the sublime, pure, and heavenly joy of the one who gives thanks gratefully.

The belief that every creature of God created for communion with human beings is good when it is received with thanksgiving (I Timothy 4:3-4), leads to respect for creation out of respect for its Creator; it does not fashion an idol out of creation itself. The person who loves the Creator of a given work cannot be disrespectful toward it nor maliciously harm it; but certainly neither does a person worship it while disregarding the Creator (Romans 1:21). Rather, by honoring it, one honors its Creator.

The Ecumenical Patriarchate, having ascertained that natural creation commonly referred to as "the environment," which in recent times has to a great extend been maliciously harmed, has undertaken an effort that strives to sensitize every person--especially Christians--to the gravity of this problem for humanity and particularly to its ethical and theological dimension. For this reason, the Patriarchate has established the first day of September each year, which is the natural landmark of the yearly cycle, as a day of prayer for the environment. This prayer, however, is not merely a supplication and petition to God for the protection of the natural environment from the impending catastrophe that is being wrought by humankind, but it is also in thanksgiving for everything that God in His beneficent providence offers through creation to both the good and the wicked, the just and the unjust.

The saints of the Christian Church and other sensitive souls, illumined by the divine light that enlightens everyone who comes into the world (John 1:9), providing that he or she sincerely and unselfishly desires to receive this light (John 1:11-12), have acquired great sensitivity to all evil that harms any creature of God, and consequently to every element that makes up our natural environment.

The saints are models for every faithful Christian to imitate, and their sensitive character is the ideal character toward which we all are obliged to strive. However, because not everyone has this same refinement, those who are responsible for the education of the people must continually teach them what must be done. In light of this, we applaud with great satisfaction the proposal of the Committee on the Environment of the World-wide Federation of Organizations of Engineers, which met in Thessaloniki during the Third International Exhibition and Conference on Technology of the Environment, that a binding "Global Code of Ethics" for the environment be drafted.

For its part, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, in addition to proclaiming September 1 as the annual day of prayer for the environment, successfully organized "Symposium II: the Black Sea in Crisis," in collaboration with other interested parties. In continuation on this effort, the Patriarchate established the Halki Ecological Institute, which was held successfully this year, and which aims at preparing capable people in the countries and churches surrounding the Black Sea to strive in their respective regions to rouse their leaders and people concerning the danger of the impending death of the Black Sea and the general threat of irreparable and harmful damage to the environment. For this reason, the Patriarchate is currently preparing a Third International Ecological Symposium, this time on the Danube, which is a significant source of the pollution for Black Sea, and which has also undergone enormous ecological alterations and disasters because of the recent dramatic bombings.

In addition to the ecological and environmental disasters effected by humankind, natural ones have also occurred, such as the recent earthquakes that have struck Turkey. Despite the fact that oftentimes the consequences of these natural occurrences are determined by factors for which humans are responsible, the Church fervently beseeches God to show mercy and compassion on human responsibility, and to show His righteousness and goodness both to those responsible and those not responsible.

The Ecumenical Patriarchate is fully aware that the end of the second Christian millennium has been sealed by sad and exceptionally destructive occurrences which transpired mainly in Yugoslavia and Turkey, but which also continue to occur in varying degrees in other parts of our planet. This is principally due to the fact that the internal spiritual environment of the conscience of each person has not become good, nor has it changed for the better by the grace of God, due to the human ego opposing the beneficent influence of this grace. For this reason, along with the invitation to all that they respect the natural environment each for his or her own benefit since it is a gift from God to all humankind, the Ecumenical Patriarchate appeals to all that they amend their feelings toward their fellow human beings. Only in this way will the eternal, unchangeable, all-compassionate and merciful God be able to positively influence the free will of the human person and avert the disastrous man-made activities upsetting the balance of the environment.

We recognize that heaven and earth pass away,, but the laws of God are eternal and unchangeable as is God Himself. But we also know that the law of God is found in the authority of man to determine, to a great extend, the path his life takes.

For this reason, we summon both ourselves and each other to work toward the good in all areas, and especially in the area of the environment, which in the final analysis is the realm which refers first of all to our fellow human beings, and then to natural creation.

In closing, we invoke the grace and blessing of God upon everyone who works toward the good, and upon those who out of ignorance of human weakness do evil, we invoke divine illumination and the great mercy of God, so that they might come to full knowledge and be converted. Amen.

September 1, 1999
Your beloved brother in Christ and fervent supplicant before God, Bartholomew Archbishop of Constantinople and Ecumenical Patriarch

Enthronement speech by the Archbishop of America Demetrios
Holy Trinity Cathedral, New York, September 18, 1999

Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever. Amen (Revelation of John 7:12)

This beautiful Biblical hymn from the book of the Revelation of John expresses my feelings at this solemn hour: feelings of fervent worship and adoration offered to the Triune God, and, at the same time, intense prayer to have His mercy, love, and power supporting me in the sacred task in which He has called me, to serve as Archbishop to His selected and beloved people of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

My adoring reference to God, is accompanied by feelings of the warmest thanks to His All Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomaios and to the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for the supreme honor of bestowing upon me the awesome responsibility of tending the bright and high promising flock of the Greek Orthodox faithful in this great country.

I am thinking, also very thankfully, of my distinguished and holy predecessors, the Archbishop Alexander, Athenagoras and Michael of blessed memory, and the Archbishops Iakovos and Spyridon. They have served with all their power the very same people whom I am going to serve, thus continuing their work. I extend my particular thanks to His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos for the very gracious words he offered me as representative of the Ecumenical Patriarch and for his truly inspiring and edifying address.

I should like to extend my sincere thanks to my precious Brothers the Metropolitans and Bishops, the pious clergy and the faithful lay people for the warm reception and the plentiful of love they showed me. My wholehearted thanks also extend to the Church of Greece and to the Greek Government for their support and their presence here through distinguished representatives. Last but not least, I am expressing my warm thanks to the honorable representatives of the U.S.A. Government and political leadership and to all the distinguished friends, religious, civil, academic, and business leaders, who were kind enough to participate in this ceremony.

On this solemn occasion, please allow me, in the spirit of love and honor for all of you, to bring to our attention a few basic issues which are significant for our work in the years to follow. I will limit myself to three of them which seem to be the most significant and which constitute fundamental priorities in the life of the Church.

The first, is the issue of the cultivation and growth of our Orthodox faith which our Ecumenical Patriarchate has preserved intact and immaculate. This is a faith by which our Church lives and functions for twenty centuries. A faith which gave to the world millions of true Christians faithful to the gospel of Christ and millions of saints and martyrs. A faith which the great and genius Fathers and Ecumenical Teachers of the Church defended, safeguarded and delivered to us whole, clear, undistorted. A faith which created a wonderful tradition in which with utter discretion and control have been used and incorporated elements from the Greek cultural heritage.

This Orthodox faith has been always and is still today a basic priority for us. This is the reason why a number of serious questions is raised at this crucial moment: How much intense and deep is our consciousness of this Orthodox faith? How much we feel bound as individuals and as a community to our Orthodox Christian beliefs? How much do we know the substance of this faith as power and knowledge? As a power capable of changing the human beings and the world, as capable of moving even the mountains and of rendering the impossible possible (Matthew 17:20-21)? As a knowledge which offers the saving truth about God, humanity, and the creation. Finally, how much our Orthodox faith constitutes our real and genuine identity within the pluralistic and multidimensional world of the contemporary American society?

The questions are many and so are the answers, as we contemplate the past and look towards the future which the love of God has granted to us. Regardless of the answers, however, one thing is certain: Here, a remarkably wide field of truly great work is open to us. A work with immense possibilities and huge perspectives. A work aiming at the invigoration, cultivation and growth of a dynamic and illumined faith within the clergy and the lay people of the blessed Omogeneia which constitute the flock of our Holy Archdiocese.

To this superb work, to this wonderful effort I should like to invite all the beloved brothers and sisters, We have to be the Church which should give whole, powerful and genuine the witness of faith to this great country of America where God has planted us in. All of us, without exception have been called by the Lord to become conscious, true, dynamic and illumined people of faith, who, as Apostle Peter underlines, are ready and prepared to make a defense to any one who calls us to account for the hope that is in us (I Peter 3:15).

Within the same perspective, all the Dioceses and the Communities of our Holy Archdiocese are called to make the work of the cultivation and development of the Orthodox faith a substantive part of their activities and programs, by using all possible available means, from the traditional educational processes to the advanced communication technologies. Our target is the growth and preservation of a robust and illumined Orthodox identity as a basic characteristic of the members of our Greek Orthodox Church, particularly of our young generation, of our beloved and very promising children. This Greek Orthodox identity will enable our Greek- American faithful to stand with dignity and pride in the midst of our American fellow-citizens, respecting their religious and political beliefs with the large scheme of pluralism and globalization but, at the same time, insisting in the effort to safeguard the unique treasure which is our Orthodox faith, and to cherish our precious asset which we all acknowledge to be our Greek heritage.

The second major issue which deserves special attention is the issue of love, charity, and care for the human being. Our Orthodox Church, faithful to the Gospel of her Founder, is the Church which loves each and every human person without any limitation, discrimination or reservation, especially when he or she is in a condition of need, pain and ordeal.

Center of our faith is a God, Who is love, is the Son of God who became man in order to serve man, in order to redeem humanity and the whole of creation from evil, decay and death. Our Church following the steps of this God who is a serving God, is permanently dedicated to the care of man, serves man not only within the limits of the possible but beyond any limit. Simply, she loves beyond any measure.

All our communities in the Archdiocese are invited to intensify and to continually optimize this excellent spirit of love and diakonia, service. Let the living mutual love and the eagerness to transcend ourselves for the sake of the other who is in need, be the distinctive sign of our Orthodox ethos. Here we are not talking only about philanthropy or offering of material help to the suffering brothers and sisters. Here we are talking about an attitude of life which encompasses our whole existence, and which means initiative and dynamism and avant-guard programs which cover conditions of sorrow, isolation and loneliness, sickness, despair, poverty, and all sorts of ordeals. Of course, our Church in America has given for many years plenty of palpable evidence for her philanthropic ethos and disposition. Today, however, we emphasize the need to intensify such an offering towards all directions. Here, there is an outstanding human dynamic and in addition tremendous possibilities due to the astonishing progress and the very impressive growth of the Omogeneia on all levels. Here, there appears the bright opportunity for the Greek Orthodox Church in America to be, with the blessings and the grace of God who is love, a truly model Church in terms of offering love to man. A Church which embraces every human being, especially the suffering ones, and offers, on a continuous basis, love, care, and tenderness to a world tormented by cruelty, violence, alienation and selfishness.

Limitless love translated into service of the suffering human being, is a basic priority, which we have as members of the Church of Christ, especially in view of the dawning third millennium. A millennium, which, in all probability, may have in store serious ordeals for humanity. It seems that the people will need strong support in order to survive and progress in the midst of huge changes in the environment, the economy, the social transformations, the biotechnology, the population explosion, the ideological confusion and the continuous technological revolution. Our Church here in the United States, as a Church of limitless love and philanthropy, as a Church destined to serve and to give, can play a significant role in the sacred effort to support man and the right to life and to contribute in the task of resolving the pressing problems which humanity will face in the years to come. Here, the limitless, wise and inexhaustible love of the Church becomes a strong element in the confrontation with the future, no matter what this future might be.

At this point, please allow me to indicate, and close with it, a third important issue, which in addition to the two previous ones, constitutes a basic priority for us. This is the issue of unity, concord, and unanimity of our ecclesiastical body, and of our Greek Orthodox Community in general.

Let us remember what the Lord immediately before - requested f " the Father concerning the believers: keep them in your name, which you have given me, so that they may be one like us (John 17:11)...that may they all be one; even as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they may also be one in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me (John 17:21). And Paul, the Apostle to the nations, pleads with the believers to live forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Why? Because we are one body and one Spirit, just as we are called to the one hope that belongs to our call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all of us (Ephes. 4:1-6).

This is precisely the reason why, we feel our duty to stress the need for unity and peace among us. Without fear or hesitation we are invited, beloved brothers and sisters, to set aside difference, misunderstanding or conflict that could create distances among us. Distances that shake the unity and drive away the peace of God. Nothing should jeopardize the great and divine gifts of unity and harmony, of unanimity and communal accord. We have all the presuppositions, as people and as Church to build in the highest and strongest possible degree, a unity dynamic and unbreakable so that we could be and stay one body, one soul, one mind, one will. In our case the continuation and intensification of the task for unity and peace, is the wonderful work into which God calls us today. He calls us in view of the great objectives which are being set in front of us. The future is our superb destination, and the future cannot be built but only on the basis of our unity.

Such multidimensional unity and concord is not exhausted within the area of our Archdiocese, but is supported and treasured as a unity integrally connected to the Mother Church, our Ecumenical Patriarchate. A unity which through our Ecumenical Patriarchate is extended to the larger circle of the Orthodox Churches in the United States, in order to embrace, finally the world.

Today, all of us then under the wings of God, we are called to continue our creative march. To continue it, in the bright avenues in which the love and the wisdom of our God lead us. This is a march of a dynamic faith, of an unlimited love and of an unbreakable unity, a march in every step of which we will feel the need to repeat the beautiful hymn from the Book of Revelation with which we started: Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God for ever and ever.Amen (Revelation of John 7:2).

Orthodox Study Bible

Studying the Bible from an Eastern Orthodox Christian point of view can be a very exciting achievement in your life. You will obtain a working knowledge of the book that will study in the Bible and will be able to closely study many of the significant chapters.

The importance of obtaining spiritual knowledge of the Bible described by His Grace Bishop Kallistos Ware as follows: "As God's divine word of salvation in human language, Scripture should evoke in us a sense of wonder. Do you ever feel, as you read or listen, that it has all become too familiar? Has the Bible grown rather boring? Continually we need to cleanse the doors of our perception and to look in amazement with new eyes at what the Lord sets before us." As we study the First Epistle of St. Paul to Corinthians, we will also study " The Christian Life in the Early Church and Today according to St. Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians," a book authored by Barbara Pappas.

We will also invite guest speakers during our Orthodox Study Bible. Among them Michael B. Phelps, Director and Nick Zarkantzas, Co-Director of the Ancient Biblical Manuscript Center, a research center of the Claremont School of Theology.

Our first session took place on Thursday, September 23 at 7:00 p.m. The next sessions are scheduled for October 7 and 28, 1999 at 7:00 p.m. We will conclude our sessions by December 2, 1999. Please call our Church Office and let us know if you plan to attend. It is imperative to start from the very beginning. No late registration. All our sessions will be contacted in English only.

We express our sincere condolences to the following faithful members of our parish who have recently lost relatives: Pam Ames and her family on the death of her beloved mother, Florence E. Ames and Irene Albeck and her family on the death of her beloved relatives, Dr. Donald Farr and Lauren Ashby. May their memory be eternal.

A Greek Orthodox Section at the Rose Hills Memorial Park

"Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die" (John 11:26 - NRSV).

It is our Orthodox faith, this same faith in Jesus christ that teaches and strengthens us to look confidently beyond the present life and all its uncertainties. For we know that when death comes and inevitably it will come to each one of us, we will be with the Lord. "For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens" (II Corinthians 5:1 - NRSV).

It began with a dream and a vision years ago. A place where those who share the common Orthodox faith, those who believe in Christ the Lord will also share a common place, a cemetery, a place of rest for the body until the coming of the Lord. A place where families can pay their respects to those who have past, say a prayer and reminisce in a beautiful setting memories of the village cemeteries in Greece. A place where these memories of families and friends will abound, and one will not be forgotten.

Nestled in the beautiful setting at the top of a hill, this Greek Orthodox Section will include a Byzantine Greek Orthodox Chapel open to all of the Greek Orthodox Faithful in Southern California.

Limited spaces are available and will be sold on first come, first serve basis. Be among the first to select from these prime locations...they will not last long! A 10% discount on funeral services is also offered. Now is the time to make these arrangements while you can plan together, as a family should. Call today at (562) 260-9671, Voice Mail: (562) 692-1212 Ext. 596 or Fax: (562) 923-3696 or write to: Attn Maria McDaniels CES 7314, Greek Orthodox Memorial Foundation, Rose Hills Memorial Park and Mortuary FD-970, P. O. Box 110, Whittier, CA 90608-9977.

The Greek Orthodox Memorial Foundation of Southern California is an independent non-profit Religious Corporation supporting The Greek Orthodox Diocese of San Francisco, P. O. Box 1144, Downey, California 90240.

Father Efstathios V. Mylonas
Chairman of the Board
Greek Orthodox Memorial Foundation
of Southern California

The Millennium Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will take place at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles on Sunday, January 23, 2000 at 4:00 p.m. Guest speaker will be His Eminence Cardinal Mahony of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The last Week of Prayer for Christian Unity of the Second Millennium was observed at St. Anthony's Greek Orthodox Church on January 24, 1999. Guest speaker was the Rev. Dr. Cecil Murray, Pastor First African Methodist Episcopal Church, Los Angeles accompanied by the famous Choir of his Church. It was a day to remember, a glorious day in our Church!

Ladies Philoptochos Society Saint Anthony Greek Orthodox Church Officers and Board Members were installed by Father Stathis on Sunday, September 26, 1999 following the Divine Liturgy. Officers and Board members 1999-2001 are the following: President: Fontaine Malisos, First Vice Presidents: Jeanne Karaioannoglou and Charlene Vayos, Second Vice President: Ann Rouman, Recording Secretary: Alexis Fine, Corresponding Secretaries: Judith Din and Konstantina Paziouros, Treasurer: Maria Kokoris, Advisor: Katherine Skandale, Pennies and Prayers: Maria Hronas, Beautification: Maria Kypreos, Outreach: Christina Becronis, Publicity: Pam Buzas, Sunshine: Teddi Efstathiou, Welfare: Pres. Maria Mylonas and Connie Becker, Coffee Hour: Irene Albeck and Alma Vorgias, Family and Society: Tashia Vagenas.

To our St. Anthony's Ladies Philoptochos Society Officers, we express our warmest wishes and we congratulate them. May the Lord our God bless their philanthropic work that the suffering and those in need will be comforted.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter

For reservations or more information and weekend dates call Bud and Marcia Taylor at (559) 439-8605 or write to them at 6301 N. Marks Avenue, Fresno, CA 93711. Please send your registration to this address. Future dates: October 22-24, 1999 in Ontario, February 04-06, 2000 May 19-21, 2000 in Fresno. This is an Orthodox Marriage Encounter to take a fresh look at your Marriage. The program is supported by our Diocese of San Francisco. For more information, please call our Church office at (626) 449-6943.

The Annual Greater Pasadena Area CROP Hunger Walk, Communities Reaching Out to People will take place on Sunday, October 17, 1999. Registration and pre-walk Festivities begin at 1:00 p.m. Walk kick-off at 1:30 p.m.10K and 2K Routes available, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1757 N. Lake Ave. (Just South of New York). We have sent information about CROP in our October Church Bulletin. We encourage our young people to participate. Over the last twenty years, the greater Pasadena CROP Hunger Walk has raised $522,675 to help end hunger locally and globally. Call Father Stathis for more information at (626) 449-6943.

Kids on Skid Row No Voice and No Choice

These kids aren't invisible...They are real! The fastest growing segment of the Skid Row population, is children. They are nobody's children really. Left in hotels, while their parents roam around searching for the latest way anesthetize to themselves out of pain. The plight of these children who don't exist in the eyes of society will break your heart. Please help The City of Los Angeles Mission a religious nonprofit organization dedicated to introducing destitute and dysfunctional men, women and children to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They provide them with the opportunity for life-changing rehabilitation, equipping them to become functioning members of society. This is accomplished through offering: Food, shelter, clothing, counseling, emergency services, parenting training, reuniting families, transitional housing, health/physical, training, medical help, professional care and direction of staff, vocational training, education/GED/ computer skills, recreation experiences, Biblical instruction, volunteerism, community service opportunities. You can contact The City of Los Angeles Mission, P. O. Box 55900, Los Angeles, CA 90055-0630 or visit their location: 303 E. 5Th Street or call Tel. (213) 629-1227.

Our Parishioners and St. Anthony's Ladies Philoptochos Society sent generously assistance through the San Francisco Greek Orthodox Diocese to the victims of the devastated earthquake in Turkey and in Athens Greece. If you did not have the opportunity to help, please send your charitable contribution to St. Anthony's Greek Orthodox Church. We will forward your donation to our Diocese or the Archdiocese for the earthquake relief fund. Please indicate to which earthquake victims you would like to send it. We wish also to urge you to send help to the victims of the catastrophic earthquake in Taiwan. There are many reliable agencies that can be contacted. We recommend Red Cross.

International Orthodox Christian Charities since 1992, using individual donations of relatively small amounts, IOCC has leveraged over $70 million in funds and helps millions of people. From the Caucasus to the Balkans, from the Middle East to Central America, the IOCC staff has performed exceptionally and courageously. This most important Eastern Orthodox philanthropic organization is supported by the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas.

The Serbian Orthodox Church of the USA and Canada has established the Kosovo Fund of the Serbian Orthodox Church in order to help the suffering people of their beloved and ancestral homeland, Serbia, especially in light of the recent Kosovo crisis. You can support our Serbian Orthodox brothers and sisters by sending your charitable contribution to the Kosovo Fund of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Administrative Office, 18550 Stony Island Avenue, Lansing, IL 60438. Should you have any questions, calls are being taken by Nancy Colakovic at (800) 513-8447 or (708) 474-8417. Our parish sent over $3,000 to Kosovo Fund of the Serbian Orthodox Church (generous private donations and a tray we passed on Easter night).

Goodwill Industries of Southern California (GISC) has been creating hope, jobs and futures since 1919. Making difference in people's lives takes more than just a good thought. There must be a real desire to help. Throughout the years, Goodwill's desire to help has led Goodwill Industries to assist people to overcome barriers to employment because of physical, economic and social obstacles. Please send your charitable contribution to: Goodwill Industries of Southern California, 342 San Fernando Rd., Los Angeles, CA 90099-4584. Please make check payable to: Goodwill Industries of Southern California.

Internet School of Orthodox Studies Begins Fall Semester Program of Adult Religious Education Classes on the Internet Tonight

The Department of Religious Education in conjunction with the Department of Internet Ministries will be broadcasting live, via the Internet, the first in a series of religious education classes for adults in the Diocese of Boston. The live webcasts are available at: goarch.org/webcasts/religioused.html

"Sing Praises to the Lord: A Theological Examination of the Eight Tones" is the theme of the ISOS (Internet School of Orthodox Studies) fall semester classes. The series of 90 minute educational classes are intended to assist Orthodox Christians to better prepare themselves for Sunday Orthros and Liturgy.

The fall semester are set for Tuesday evenings (Sept 28 - Nov. 30, 1999, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.) on the campus of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. They will be taught primarily by the Rev. Dr. Frank Marangos, Director of the Department of Religious Education for the Holy Archdiocese and adjunct professor of Religious Education for Holy Cross School of Theology. Several clergymen from the Boston Diocese have also been invited to co-teach the classes. Participants will examine the scriptural and theological aspects of the hymnology of Eight Tones in a casual yet systematic fashion.

The presentation will also be achieved so that students can listen to the classes when their schedule permits.

The Faculty of the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology has voted to give a certificate of educational recognition to students who participate in the classes.

The classes are offered free of charge to all Orthodox faithful. The first class will convene tonight, September 28 at 7:00 p.m. In room 223 at Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, 50 Goddard Ave., Brookline, MA. Participants are asked to please bring their bibles.

Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology Receives Technology Grant

New York, NY--Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology is one of 40 theological schools to receive a $10,000 planning grant from Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment Inc. To participate in national technological initiative.

The Endowment aims to address the needs of seminaries to gain access to important technological resources, train faculty and staff, and rethink teaching practices in light of the new possibilities that these technologies offer.

Notification of this award comes on the heels of the opening of the new Archbishop Iakovos Library and Learning Resource Center.

Holy Cross will also be eligible for a $300,000 implementation grant when the Endowment announces the grantees next summer.

The Endowment is a private foundation supporting the causes of community development, education, and religion. Web site: www.goarch.org E-mail: communications@goarch.org

The National Office and Young Adult Ministries of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese 1999-2000 Planner, is pleased to announce the publishing of The 1999 2000 Planner, The Orthodox Daily Organizer and Calendar. This year's theme is "The Tradition of the Orthodox Church," whereby the weekly messages are based on this topic. If you need a copy or copies please contact the National Youth Office at (212) 570-3560, Fax: (212) 570-3587, E-mail: youtho ffice@goarch.org

AHEPA Float 2000

The millennium AHEPA Float will be a most beautiful entry to the famous Pasadena Roses Parade on Saturday, January 1, 2000. The theme of the entry is: "Celebration 2000 - Visions of the Future." There is a competition for flowers for the Float. 6 grand prizes include all of the following for young adults ages 12 - 18: 1) Ride on the only Hellenic Float in the Roses Parade, sponsored by the entire AHEPA Family, 2) Two tickets for Grandstand Seating at the Tournament of Roses Parade, 3) Tour of Float Building Facility, 4) Float Decorating Opportunity, 5) Post Parade Brunch, 6) Commemorative Pin and T-shirt. All entries must be postmarked no later than November 10, 1999. "Certified/Return Receipt Requested." For information and entry forms contact: Flowers for the Float, PMB 311, 2022 Cliff Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93109, or call Dean S. Tripodes at (626)296-6470 or visit the website: ahepafloat.org.

Won't you help make The Hellenic Rose Parade Float a success? Please contact Nick Perdaris at (818) 505-2502 or Chris Mellas at (714) 701-9848. Won't you join the AHEPA Family? Find more information on ahepafloat.org.

Hellenic University Club Of Southern California announces a forthcoming lecture by Peter Limber on Lord Byron and the Greek Cause, again informing his audience of the details of another figure in Greek history, about which most of us know little. This story is part of Peter's upcoming book Historika: Short Histories on Hellenic Themes. Date of the lecture is: Saturday, October 9, 1999. Social hour: 6:00 p.m., dinner: 7:00 p.m. Place: St. Robert's Auditorium, Loyola Marymount University. Donation: $25.00. Mail your reservations a week before lecture or call 3 days before lecture. The Hellenic University Club, P.O.Box 45581, Los Angeles, CA 90045-0581, tel. (310) 215-3130. Other events: October 28 and 29, 1999 (Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m.) Play: The Glorious OXI (English) at St. Sophia Hall. Tickets: $25.00 adults, $15.00 children and students under 20. December 4, 1999 (Saturday at 6:00 p.m.) HUC Christmas party. Place: Jonathan's Club, Los Angeles. Reservations (818) 841-0313. September 11 thru December 5 Play: The Greeks , Odyssey Theater , 2055 Sepulveda Blvd., For reservations call (310) 447-2055. See The Hellenic University Club web site at www.huc.org.

The Spiritual Renewal Ministry presents
the 1999 annual Ladies Philoptochos Retreat "Byzantine Iconography"

Rev. Father Michael Courey trained in the Byzantine School of Iconography will be the retreat director at St. Nicholas Ranch and Retreat Center on October 22 - 23 - 24, 1999. The cost is $110 per person, including meals - Registration deadline: October 10. Please make checks payable to: Diocese of San Francisco Philoptochos and mail to 4700 Lincoln Ave., Oakland, CA 94602. Attn. Fofo Olson, Coordinator. For more information call (510) 531-3400 or (925) 687-8337.

Announcing for year 2000 The Hellenic Times Scholarship Fund is offering $100,000 in Scholarships.

For applications, visit their Website at HTSFund.org or simply call, E-Mail or write the Hellenic Times at: Hellenic Times Scholarship Fund, 823 Eleventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019-3535. Attn. Nick Katsoris. Tel. (212) 333-7456 or (212) 986-6881, Fax: (212) 977-3662, E-Mail address: HTSFund@aol.com. Transcripts may be forwarded from your schools any time up until March 1, 2000. It is the application that is needed by February 12, 2000.

St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Christian Cathedral Festival on Sunday, October 3, 1999. For information cantact Haitham or Tanya Matar at (818) 563-3338. Location: 2300 West Third St., Los Angeles, CA 90057.

Greek Festival 1999 Friday, October 1 6:00 - 10:00 p.m., Saturday, October 2 noon to 10:00 p.m. Sunday, October 3 noon to 9:00 p.m. at 722 Knob Hill, Redondo Beach, between PCH and Prospect. Proudly sponsored by St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church. Admission: $2.00, senior $1.00, kids under 12 free. Free parking. For more information call (310) 540-2434.

Cretan Dinner Dance on Saturday, November 6, 1999 at Quiet Canyon, 901 North Via San Clemente, Montebello Country Club, Montebello. Featuring music and dance from Crete the Mainland by noted Cretan musicians: Kostas Verdinakis (Lyra) and Manolis Verdinakis (Laouto). 6:00 p.m. Cocktails, 7:00 p.m. Dinner. Donation: $40.00, children: 12 and under $25.00. Call now to purchase your tickets: George Skandale (818) 790-5028 or Gus Sapon (818) 343 7988 or Stamatis Zoumberakis (562) 923-5750.

Holy Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Cathedral Russian Festival on Sunday, October 17, 1999 from 11:00 a.m. To 5:00 p.m. (Following 9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy). Tours of the Cathedral, Kiosk (religious Books and items). Location: 650 Micheltorena Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026. For information call (323) 666-4977.

December 13 - 20, 1999 Holyland Tour. 8 days-6 nights inclusive, $1595 pp dbl occ. Single suppl. available. This tour is being organized by Dr. Diana N. Savas, Professor Pasadena/City College and member of St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Dr. Savas has made this pilgrimage before and is looking forward to returning with new and season Christian travelers to the Holy Land. Tel.: (818) 951-8043 or (626) 585-7158, E-mail: dnsavas@paccd.cc.ca.us

Deadline for $100 deposit: October 4, 1999.

Knoll Pharmaceutical Company Cordially Invites You to Attend

ILLNESS & HEALING:
Images of Cancer

The Art of Robert Pope

October 13-16
City of Hope
National Medical Center and Beckman Research Institute
Platt Auditorium
1500 East Duarte Road
Duarte, California

Press Preview Reception October 13:
4:30 - 6:30 pm
Opening Reception October 14:
6 - 9 pm
Free and open to the public:
October 14 - 16: 10 am - 6 pm

St. Anthony's Sunday School teaching staff:
Nursery Ann Rouman
Ellen Avignonne
Preschool Sophia Kypreos
Vas Kypreos
Kindergarten/First Margaret Vagenas
Second/Third Angie Stavros
Fourth/Fifth Jenny Tsouvalas
Sixth, Seventh, Eighth
Dena Tripodes,
George Kypreos,
and Theoni Vagenas
High School Judy Christopoulos
Substitute Maria Grover

Sunday School Support Committee

Nicolette Angelos, Anastasia M. Baumeister, Vangie Dupas, Maria Grover, Kristen McGregor, Chryssa Mobayen, Dena Tripodes, Esther Vavoulis, Nick Zarkantzas (Oratorical Festival)