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Monthly Newsletter - 1999-2001 Archive April 2001 / May 2001 - Volume 5, Number 21 ![[St. Anthony's Logo]](/images/stanthonys_logo.gif){kind=logo}
"Immortal One, when You went down into the tomb, You overthrew the power of Hades, O Christ God, You rose victorious from the dead! You greeted the ointment bearing women, gave peace to your disciples, and resurrection to those who had fallen." Pascha Kontakion. Beloved Faithful Parishioners, Christ is risen! He is truly risen! One of the greatest feelings in life is to experience something that provides you with security, hope and strength. Jesus Christ our Lord, the Immortal One, has given us hope and joy and has granted "resurrection to those who have fallen." Only those who solely live for the present and don't care about the future cannot experience the joy of things resurrected and transformed. The glorious Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ has inspired humankind and uplifted the hearts and minds of countless people for more than two thousand years. It is the greatest and most influential event in our history. It touches the essence of our being. Boris Pasternak, the great Russian poet, in a poem dedicated to Mary Magdalene (part II) expresses the drama of the divine condescension to save the fallen and to give her and all humankind the glorious day of Resurrection:
I shall lie prostrate, faint before
For whom Thy life, Thy open arms,
Three days of agony shall pass, For the faithful of Saint Anthony's Church and the millions of Christians throughout the world,The Resurrection of our Lord came again in a glorious way. It touched our hearts and renewed our faith. More than any other time, in the fifteen years of ministry in our beloved parish, this year I have seen the special glow of the Resurrection in the faces and the eyes of each and every faithful individual and particularly in our children. The fifth sticheron of the Resurrection epitomizes and expresses the incomparable message of this great event: "Behold, today is the day of the resurrection: let us glory in the feast, let us embrace one another in joy and say: "O brothers and enemies too: we forgive everything on resurrection day. Let us all sing together:" Christ is risen from the dead! He has crushed death by his death and bestowed life upon those who lay in the tomb."
Christos Anesti! Alithos Anesti! HIS EMINENCE ARCHBISHOP DEMETRIOS PRIMATE OF THE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF AMERICA VISITS OUR PARISH His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of the Greek Orthodox Church of America accompanied by His Eminence Metropolitan Anthony of Dardanellion and Presiding Hierarch of the Diocese of San Francisco and the Rev. Deacon Nektarios Morrow visited our parish in the morning of Saturday, March 29, 2001 from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. It was the first visit of Archbishop Demetrios to St. Anthony's Church. Archbishop Demetrios, who is long time friend of Father Efstathios expressed his wish to meet with the younger members of his Church during his visit to Southern California. The Archbishop who received his Doctorate of Philosophy from the Faculty of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences of Harvard University and his Doctorate of Theology from the Faculty of the School of Theology of the National Capodistrian University of Athens, Greece taught as a visiting professor of Biblical and Christian Origins at the holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts and as a Professor of New Testament Studies at Harvard University. On August 19, 1999, His All Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople elected Metropolitan Demetrios of Vresthena to the position of " the largest and most dynamic Eparchy of the Ecumenical Throne," the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Archbishop Demetrios was enthroned on September 18, 1999, at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Holy Trinity in Manhattan, New York. On this glorious day, he unfolded his threefold plan for ministry in America: 1) Cultivation, nurturing, and sustaining a vibrant and dynamic Orthodox faith in the United States; 2) Teaching and practicing limitless love and philanthropy; 3) Emphasizing, pursuing and enhancing the establishment of a strong and unbreakable unity within the Church and the human community in general. At St. Anthony's Church on the morning of Saturday, March 31, 2001, the Archbishop came to meet with hundreds of his younger flock, who gathered from throughout Southern California. It was a challenging encounter. The questions were pertinent and probing. The answers of the Archbishop were direct and went to the hearts of the young questioners. No question was left unanswered. There was a long line of young people with questions ranging from what color the Archbishop likes to the role of women in the Church, to what will happen in heaven after death to the ties of married people, families and friends. The Archbishop's approach and his humanity captured the imagination and touched the hearts of all who were present. As Archbishop Demetrios and Metropolitan Anthony arrived, they were greeted by Father Efstathios, other Orthodox Clergy, Dean Efstathiou, President of St. Anthony's Parish Council, other Parish Council members, young people and parents. After the greetings, they entered the Church to worship and pray. A brief Service took place during which the following prayer was red by John Rigas, a head altar boy: Lord Jesus, we thank You for the gift of this day. When You came to earth for us, You grew as a child and as a young person in wisdom and grace. As Lord You received children in Your arms. You blessed them and said that Your kingdom belongs to them. Dear Jesus, receive us also, young people of the world, who are wondering and searching for answers to many perplexing issues. Receive us this day and please answer our questions and hear our morning prayer. Bless, O Lord, our beloved Archbishop Demetrios and our Beloved Metropolitan Anthony, our priests, our parents, our teachers and all those who love and care for us. Bless us, also and protect us from danger and evil. Give us the strength to be truthful, honest, kind, and helpful to others. Guide us to grow in grace and wisdom as members of Your kingdom. You are my Lord and King, and to You we give praise and thanks forever. Amen. Prayer for children from the book, My Orthodox Prayer Book as revised by Father Efstathios V. Mylonas on the commemoration of the first visit of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America to St. Anthony's Church on Saturday, March 31, 2001. At the conclusion of the Service His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios spoke eloquently words of wisdom and love for all present in the Church. Then Father Stathis welcomed the Archbishop with the following words: On behalf of our faithful and particularly of those precious young people, I would like to respectfully welcome you this morning , Your Eminence. Your presence in the midst of us is a special blessing. It is a historic day for us in Southern California. It is also a great honor and privilege that you visit our Church, a parish of great growth in young families with children within the last ten years, with plans for a full time day care and a multifunctional Community Center. I would like to thank our beloved Metropolitan Anthony for initiating your visit to Southern California and to Saint Anthony's Church. He knew how much we would gain from your spirituality and your words of wisdom. We already feel very close to you. The eyes of these young people are turned to you. They look at you with admiration, great anticipation, love and hope. They sense your spiritual wealth and your beautiful humanity, your love for them. Along with them, we too sense that we are in the presence of a true Father of the Church. I remember you, Your Eminence from the 70s, in Boston during your studies and teaching years, and your visits to Brockton, Massachusetts as Bishop of Vresthena to celebrate the Divine Liturgy. We were much younger then, I always valued your depth of theological thought that melds meaning and knowledge and your understanding of a world so perplexed and confused as our is today. Your presence here is a powerful inspiration and sure direction for all of us. God sent you to us to lead our Greek Orthodox Church in this great Country of ours, in a transformation and a true Orthodox spiritual renewal as Saint Gregory of Nyssa develops this concept in his famous Mystical Treatises "From Glory To Glory." May the Lord our God strengthen your Archpastoral Ministry to lead us from glory to glory and grant you good health and many fruitful years. Amen. The 36th Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress will convene in Los Angeles, California Sunday, June 30 through Thursday, July 4, 2002 His Eminence Metropolitan Anthony announced that the Diocese of San Francisco will host the 36th Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress in Los Angeles, California. The dates of the Congress will be Sunday, June 30 through Thursday, July 4, 2002. The National Philoptochos Conference will take place concurrently with the Clergy-Laity Congress. The Archdiocese Young Adult League Conference will take place from June 27-June 30, 2002, and the Diocese Church Music Federation Conference will take place from June 28-June 30, 2002. His Eminence also announced the convening of a special meeting for the 2002 Clergy Laity Congress, inviting all priests, parish council presidents, Philoptochos presidents, youth representatives, and choir directors from the Southern California region of the Diocese to participate. The meeting will take place on Saturday, April 28, 2001, in the St. John's room at St. Sophia Cathedral in Los Angeles, at 2:00 p.m. The purpose of the meeting will be to provide further details regarding the venue of the Congress, outline the proposed scheduled of events, and form committees to begin preparing for the Congress. Metropolitan Anthony stated, "It is with great joy and not a little pride that the Diocese of San Francisco accepts the invitation to host the first Archdiocesan Clergy-Laity Congress of the third millennium in Los Angeles, California, fifty years after the Clergy Laity Congress of 1952 in Los Angeles. It is our intention to provide a beautiful and memorable event along the lines of the last Congress hosted by the Diocese in 1982, utilizing the wealth of artistic and cultural resources available in the city of Los Angeles and the Southern California region."
For more information regarding the 2002 Clergy-Laity Congress, contact
the Diocese of San Francisco at (415) 753-3075, or via e-mail at
diocese@sanfran.goarch.org
February 13, 2001
To: The Reverend Clergy of the Diocese of San Francisco
From: Metropolitan Anthony
Re: Laypeople speaking in the Church
By way of reminder, it is the express policy of the Greek Orthodox
Archdiocese of America, and conversely of this Diocese, that laypeople
are not permitted under any circumstances to offer homilies, eulogies,
or otherwise to speak publicly in the church edifice without special
permission from the local bishop. Speeches by laypeople are more
appropriately offered in the church hall, or-in the case of a funeral-at
the makaria gathering.
Thank you for your attention to this reminder.
Holy Sacraments
Wedding
Baptism
Chrismation
Funeral
A Very Special Acknowledgment
We are deeply grateful to our anonymous family, who generously donated
the new beautiful carpet of the Church. This great and most generous
gift was in place and on time as His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of
the Greek Orthodox Church of America was visiting our Church on
Saturday, March 29 and we were preparing to observe Holy Week Services
and the glorious Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are moved by
the generosity of these dedicated people, but also by their request to
remain anonymous. Following the Biblical teaching of the Lord, "...do
not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing," they felt
the spiritual joy, which only God can create in our hearts, "and your
Father who sees in secret will reward you" (Matthew 6:3-4). May the
Risen Christ bless abundantly this family for helping His Church.
More Acknowledgements
We are deeply appreciative to the following people: Gus and Judith
Christopoulos and their family for donating the Icon of The
Transfiguration of our Lord in memory of their beloved mother. Florence
Stefanovic, Chris and Helen Bonorris for donating the Icon of SS.
Constanite and Helen in memory of their beloved son Deno Chris, Larry
and Helen Alex for donating the Icon of St. Eleftherios, Chris and
Constantine Athanasoulis and their family for donating the Icon of St.
Efstathios and SS. Theopistis, Theopistos and Agapios, Dr. James and
Sophia Angelos for donating the Icon of St. Sophia. Many thanks and
appreciation to George Mavredakis, James Hagelis and John Machas for
designing, creating, paying the expenses and placing the special wood
within the apse of the Holy Altar on which to hang up our portable
Icons. To all those faithful people who helped and donated to our
Church during Holy Week and Pascha thanks and appreciation. Special
thanks to Dan Bozikis and Joseph Coccia families and their helpers for
donating work and talent and purchasing flowers to prepare the beautiful
Epitaphios, John Kefalas and George Treantafelles for preparing the
Easter mageiritsa, Evelyn Kefalas, Sofia Vanegas, Litsa Vanegas for
preparing the Easter breads and eggs and to all their helpers.
Announcements
With the full participation of all the Hierarchs, the Holy Eparchial
Synod of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese convened its regular spring
session on March 13 and 14, 2001.
The deliberations were conducted in a spirit of unity, creativity and
congeniality. The topics which were discussed were the following:
Administration, Clergy/Laity Congress of 2002, Hellenic College/Holy
Cross School of Theology. Greek Education, Liturgical matters, revision
of the Charter, monasticism, financial matters, legal matters, clergy
benefits, family and mixed marriages.
The establishment of two new Departments at the Archdiocese was
announced at the meeting, namely the Department of Family Ministry and
the Department of Charitable Institutions and Philanthropic Works of the
Church. In addition, the formation of an advisory committee of
scientists was announced whose purpose will be to offer advice to the
Archdiocese on matters relating to the Church and Sciences, specifically
on bioethics, technology and information technology, economy,
environment, cosmology and medicine.
The Holy Eparchial Synod also finalized the proposal by which the next
Clergy-Laity Congress of 2002 will take place in the Diocese of San
Francisco. March 14, 2001
Office of the Holy Eparchial Synod
Vacation Bible School:
Save the week of July 30th to August 3rd, 2001. Registration forms will
be sent for "Beach Trek 2001." For further information call Esther
Vavoulis at (818) 790-3395 or Irene Albeck at (626) 792-8122.
Pasadena AHEPA
Rose Bowl Chapter #373 50th Anniversary Dinner will take place on
Saturday, April 28, 2001 at the Beckham Grill and Crown Bar, 77 Walnut,
Pasadena. 6:30 p.m. Cocktails, 7:30 p.m. Dinner, complimentary valet
parking. $50 each, limited to 85 persons. Paid reservations required.
For further information call Dean Tripodes.
A Garden of Aliki Books
For kids who love books ...and "doting adults" on Saturday, May 26,
2001. Lunch and festivities - 11:00 - 3:00. The beautiful gardens of
Helen and Jerry Stathatos , 1470 Virginia Road, San Marino. Aliki will
chat...read...draw and personally sign her books for you. Drawings will
be auctioned to take home. All proceeds will benefit the Library of the
Patriarch Athenagoras Orthodox Institute, Berkeley, CA. "Doting" adults
$45 each. Reservations close May 21, 2001. For information: (323)
877-4696 or Chris Hoidos (310) 823-1459.
Consecration Vesper Service
Of SS. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church of Cardiff-by-the
Sea, CA will take place on Saturday, June 16, 2001 at 5:00 p.m. His
Eminence Archbishop Demetrios with His Eminence Metropolitan Anthony
will preside.
St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church of Redondo Beach, CA will be consecrated on
November 24 and 25, 2001.
A very important meeting
A Pan-Orthodox exploratory meeting to jointly create and fund an Eastern
Orthodox senior extended care Nursing Home will take place on Monday,
April 30, 2001 at 7:00 p.m. Location: St. Nicholas Cathedral, 2300 West
3rd St., Los Angeles, CA. This is the third meeting of concerned and
dedicated clergy and lay people, who are determined to explore all
possibilities to create a place of comfort and care for our Orthodox
elderly. We need your input and support to continue with this much
needed project!
Friends of Hellenic Studies at Loyola Marymount University, 7900 Loyola Blvd., Los Angeles, CA will
honor six distinguished Greek American scientist, engineers and high
tech entrepreneurs on Saturday, May 12, 2001. Reception at 6:00 p.m.
And Dinner at 7:00 p.m. For further information call: (310) 338-4463.
St. Sophia Philoptochos Society
Mother's Day luncheon and fashion show honoring mother of the year 2001,
Mary Arvanitis Gallanis will take place on Saturday, May 25 at The
Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel, 9500 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills.
Reception at 11:00 a.m. Luncheon at noon. The profits from this event
will benefit a future Orthodox Christian Nursing Home and Rehabilitation
Center, St. Sophia Camp and Retreat Center and other Philoptochos
charities. For information on reservations call Electra Koutsoukos at
(323) 466-5355.
Church Music Conference
The choir members and faithful of Holy Trinity, Portland, Oregon are
honored to host the 2001 Church Music Conference, June 28 to July 1, in
beautiful Portland the City of Roses. Details and registration
materials will be mailed soon. For information call: (503) 234-0468.
San Francisco Diocese Church Music Federation Xenia Anton Desby Memorial
Organ Scholarship were established to assist and encourage the musical development and
training of Greek 0rthodox Church organists. Two awards in the amount
of $500-are available. One is for the applicant who does not have any
formal organ instruction. The second award is for the applicant who has
had organ instruction. It is the hope and expectation that the
recipients of the Xenia Anton Desby Organ Scholarships will serve (or
continue to serve) the Greek Orthodox Church. Directions: (1) Deadline:
Application to be postmarked on or before 9 June 2001. (2) A letter of
recommendation form your priest to be sent directly to the XADMOS
Committee chair whose address is: Mrs. Anna M. Counelis, XADMOS
Committee Chair, 109 Casa Vieja Place, Orinda, CA 94563-3832. (3) For
further information, please contact Mrs. Counelis by either way: FAX:
925/254-2845 - TEL: 925/254-2843.
The Greek Orthodox Cemetery Section at Rose Hills Memorial Park can be reached
at (562) 260-9671 or 1-877-385-4861 Ext. 795, Voicemail: (562) 692-1212 Ect. 596, Website:
www.gomf.org.
St. John the Baptist of Anaheim
Greek Festival on Saturday, May 19 from noon - 10:00 p.m. and Sunday, May 20 from noon
- 10:00 p.m. For more information call: (714) 827-0181.
St. Demetrios of Camarillo Greek Festival on Saturday, June 9 - 8:00 a.m. For information,
call: (805) 231-3181 or (805) 482-1273.
Archbishop Demetrios' Visit to St. Anthony's Church: Over 300 people
attended the breakfast with Archbishop Demetrios and Metropolitan
Anthony. The St. Anthony's Community would like to thank Christiann
Arapostathis and her crew for helping in the kitchen. We would also
like to thank John and Anthia Lucas for donating all the fruit.
Fontaine Malisos and the St. Anthony's Philoptochos for setting up and
helping with all the details and Maria Karras for taking the Photos
during the breakfast. We also want to thank Dr. & Mrs. Ronald Kvitne
for donating all the flowers. Presbytera Maria Mylonas designed and
made up all the all the flower arrangements for the event, we thank her
as well.
St. Anthony's YAL Retreat: May 4 - 6. All Young Adults are welcome to
attend our retreat at St. Sophia Camp. Cost is $95 dollars per person.
The retreat begins at 8:30 p.m on Friday and ends on Sunday at 1:30
p.m. For more information, call Bill Tragus at (626) 449 -6943.
GOYA Night: GOYA Night - May 15 at 7:30 p.m. We will be seeing a slide
show on Greece, Mount Athos and Turkey and then go out for ice cream.
GOYA Beach Outing: Saturday, May 26th at 12:00 p.m. until sundown. We
will meet at the church and go together. We will stay until sundown and
then BBQ dinner at the beach. For more information, call Bill Tragus at
the Church. Note: we need some parent volunteers to come along and help
with this event.
Promotion Sunday for Sunday School: Sunday, June 17th. The students
will meet in their classrooms and will be escorted into church.
High School and College Graduate Recognition Luncheon: St. Anthony's
Church presents the Annual Recognition Luncheon for high school and
college graduates on Sunday, June, 2001. It will begin immediately
following Divine Liturgy
Oratorical Festival: The St. John Oratorical Festival will be held at
Saint Paul's on Sunday, May 6th at 1:00 p.m. This year's theme is "The
holy Fathers." For more information, call Bill Tragus at the Church.
YAL Fellowship: Every Monday night at St. Anthony's in the meeting room
upstairs. We will be having a discussion on our faith, the Bible or the
Sacraments of the Greek Orthodox Church on every Monday night until June
4th. All are welcome to attend. You do not have to be a young adult to
attend our fellowship group and sit in our discussions. For info, call
Bill Tragus at (626) 449-6943
Cameroon, Africa mission Trip Fundraiser: A Mission Team led by
Metropolitan Anthony will take place this summer. The team will assist
in the building of Saint Dimitrios Orthodox Church in Ebolowa, in
Central Africa. The St. Anthony's YAL will be hosting Party/BBQ on May
12 at 6:30 p.m. at Dean Tripodes' house as a fundraiser for the church
to be built. Cost: 20/person. For more information, call Bill Tragus at
St. Anthony's Church or go to
ocmc.org.
St. Sophia Summer Camp: Week 1 (July 14 - July 21), Week 2 (July 21 -
July 28), Week 3 (July 28 - August 4), Week 4 (August 4 - August 11).
Check out there website at saintsophiacamp.org.
For more information, call St. Sophia Cathedral at (323) 737 - 2424.
St. Nicholas Ranch Summer Camp: July 8th - 14th grades 3 - 12, July
15th - 21st grades 3 - 12, July 22nd - 28th grades 3 - 12. For more
information, please call George Katrenos at (559) 338 - 2103
Spiritual Quest 9th - 12th grade: Spiritual Quest is new this year to
the St. Nicholas Camp program. It is a special program with its
emphasis on spirituality and leadership; spiritual Quest will be the
highlight of the week for many participants. Campers will leave the
main Saint Nicholas housing area for an overnight campout. Participants
will cook a light meal, and have a traditional campfire, and other
special activities. Call George Katrenos at (559) 338 - 2103.
Ionian Village: 2001 Summer Program dates are as follows; Summer Travel
Camp (Ages 12 - 15) July 2 - 20, Byzantine Venture (ages 16 - 18) July
26 - August 13, Spiritual Odyssey (ages 19 and older) July 15 - July
30. You can get an application from Bill Tragus at church.
Orthodox Bookstore: The Life-Giving Spring Orthodox Bookstore will have
its grand opening celebration from April 21st - 28th, 2001. It is a
great source for Books, Icons, Music, Children's Books, computer
Programs, Greeting cards, Gifts, Baptismal & Wedding Items, Incense &
Candles. They are located at 800 N. Glendale Ave., Glendale, CA.
91206. For more information, please call the bookstore and talk with
Anastasia Kalivas. The Phone number is: (818) 551 - 0544.
Philanthropia Ministry: The Philanthropia Ministry, which focuses on
helping others in need of physical and spiritual healing, continues to
send out a newsletter that reports on the actions of the ministry and
also includes terrific articles on our faith. To find out how to send
donations or receive the newsletter, contact them at:
hometown.aol.com/philanthropiamin
Their address is:
St. Anthony's Golf Tournament: May 4, 2001, at Brookside Golf Course in
Pasadena. The event will include awards for best net and gross scores
as well as awards for the longest drive and closest to the pin for both
men and women. Following will be hors d' oeuvres and a lamb dinner at
St. Anthony's Cultural Center. For more information, call the Church at
(626) 449 - 6943.
It's a Night at the Club: St. Sophia Camp fundraiser - Saturday, May
19, 2001. Join us in a benefit dinner, silent auction and casino
games. All proceeds will go toward the maintenance of the facility and
some exciting, new construction planned at St. Sophia Camp. Come for an
evening of good food, fun and great company and of course to support St.
Sophia Camp. Invitations have been mailed, for more information please
call (323) 737 - 2424.
Community Directory: Please note that we are finishing the community
directory and if anyone does not want to be on the directory, they must
call Alma at the Church by May 30th, 2001.
Revlon Run/Walk: Saturday, May 12th. The event raises money to help
fund the fight against breast and ovarian cancer. This is the 4th year
the Xanthos Family will be participating with the team name "Angel
Babies." The Xanthos Family would like to extend an invitation to
anyone who would like to join their team or who would prefer to make a
pledge. Participating in the Revlon Walk is truly a memorable
experience and a wonderful way to honor the memory of or walk in support
of a loved one or dear friend.
Hellenic College - Holy Cross: HC/HC offers B.A. programs for
undergraduates and Masters programs for those who have a four-year
degree. For a free catalog and application, please call (617) 731 -
3500.
PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS
April Activities:
General Meeting:
May Activities:
Community Outreach:
Coffee Hour: |