The Vine - Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church

The Vine
May 2011
The Vine
“Rejoice, Vine bearing the unfading Bloom…Xai=re, Blastou= a0mara/ntou klh=ma”
The Monthly Newsletter of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church Scranton, pA
XRISTOS ANESTH !
Христосъ Воскресе!
CHRIST IS RISEN!
‫ ﺣﻘﺎ ُ ﻗﺎﻡم‬،٬‫! ﺍاﻟﻤﺴﻴﯿﺢ ﻗﺎﻡم‬
The glorious hymns of the Vesperal Liturgy of Holy and Great Saturday cry to us saying:
“Today Hades groans and cries aloud: ‘My dominion has been swallowed up; the Shepherd has been crucified and He
has raised Adam. I am deprived of those whom I once ruled; in my strength I devoured them, but now I have cast them
forth. He who was crucified has emptied the tombs; the power of death has no more strength.’ Glory to Thy Cross, O
Lord, and to Thy Resurrection.”
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Through this hymn we see how Christ, through death, trampled down the gates of sin and death, and pulled Adam, along with all of
us, from the depths of Hades. St. Epiphanios of Cyprus says wonderfully that when Christ descended into Hades before His
Resurrection, He carried with Him the Cross, not as a symbol of death, but as a symbol of victory. This is why the Cross of Christ has
become a most precious thing to us Orthodox Christians. It is not, as it was once put to me by another Christian, that we “worship a
dead Savior”. Never! It is that our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ, through His crucifixion, destroyed that which He, as man,
encountered as well… death. Quoting from Psalm 23 and Psalm 67 (Septuagint), St. Epiphanios shows us how awesome of a moment
is was when Christ entered into Hades and delivered from the chains of death those righteous who were held there: “The blinding bolt
of lightening from above darkened the countenances of the hostile powers of Hades and they heard thunder-like voices and the
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[angelic] host commanding, ‘Lift up your gates, o ye princes!’ Do not merely open them, but lift them from the foundations, uproot
them, remove them so that they never again be closed… Wherefore O princes, though till now ye have wickedly held sway over those
fallen from the ages past, from henceforth ye shall not be their rulers, nor rulers of others, but only of your own selves, but not even
of yourselves. For Christ the Heavenly Door is present. ‘Prepare ye the way for Him that rideth upon the setting of Hades. Lord is
His name and the pathways leading forth from the gates of death are those of the Lord’s Lord.’”
Through Christ’s glorious Resurrection we are once again able to taste of the sweetest joys of Paradise. Adam, through the New
Adam, was set free, along with all of us, if we will only choose to be free; to live a Christ-like life of crucifixion of our passions and
the resurrection of the virtues which give us the Grace of the Holy Spirit, Who will “guide us is all truth” unto Eternal Life. St. Paul,
speaking to the Ephesians, admonishes us saying: “Now that He ascended, what is it except that He also descended first into the
lower parts of the earth? The One Who descended is the same also Who ascended above all the heavens, in order that He might fill
all things (Eph.4:9).” May we, through our striving to live as true Christians, not merely by name, be “filled” with the Uncreated
Light of Christ through His most awesome, glorious, life giving, and light giving Resurrection.
Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!
Fr. Konstantine Eleftherakis
May 2011
The Vine
May 2011 Liturgical Schedule
The Vine Vol. 2 Issue 4
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church
505 North Washington Ave. Scranton, PA
18509 Tel: 570-342-0566 * Fax: 570-342-9722
Website: www.annunciationscranton.org
Parish Priest - Rev. Fr. Konstantine Eleftherakis
Cell – 570-851-7023
*
2011 Parish Council
George Vaitsopoulos – President
Sophia Vaitsopoulos – Treasurer
Demetrios Vaitsopoulos – Assistant Treasurer
Andrew Witko – Secretary
Demetrios Scantzos
John Moutsakis
Juana Chappen
Dr. Stelios Galanakis
Sundays May 1st, 15th, 22nd, 29th
Orthros @ 8:45 followed by Divine Liturgy @ 10:00am
Please Note: On Sunday May 8th, there will be no
services at our parish due to Fr. Konstantine being
away. Parishioners are asked to attend Divine Liturgy at
Holy Protection Monastery or at another local Orthodox
parish.
Saturdays May 21st, 28th
Great Vespers @ 5:00pm.
Wednesdays May 18th, 25th
Office Hours: Tuesday-Friday 10:00am-3:00pm
Please call to make an appointment.
Paraklesis to the Theotokos @ 6:00pm
Normal Weekly Services
Wednesdays – Paraklesis to the Theotokos @
6:00pm unless otherwise noted.
Saturdays – Great Vespers @ 5:00pm
Sundays – Orthros @ 8:45am
Divine Liturgy @ 10:00am
Friday May 20th
* Fr.’s personal cell phone. Please call Church
number first during office hours.
Great Vespers @ 5:00pm
Saturday May 21st – Sts. Konstantine & Helen
Orthros @ 8:30am followed by Divine Liturgy
Please see Weekly Bulletin for most up to date Liturgical Schedule
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May 2011
News, Recent, and Upcoming Events
in the Life of our Community
Interested in having your Business Advertised in our Monthly Bulletin or
on our new Website??
Please consider sponsoring these two means of communication to offset the costs
incurred. Please contact the Church Office for further information.
2011 Stewardship Commitments
Please be sure to fill out and send in your 2011 Stewardship Commitment Form. It is imperative that we
receive a form from all parishioners of the community. When calculating the number of stewards, needs of
the Church, etc. we will be using these forms as a guide. No matter how you are giving your stewardship
(weekly, monthly, etc.) you are asked to fill out a form to be on the list of the current year’s stewards. Please
Note: There are still many parishioners who have not sent in a Stewardship Commitment Form.
Please be aware that only those who send in a completed form will be considered stewards for the
present year. A form is included below for your convenience.
May God bless all our efforts in properly supporting our community!
2011 Current List of pledging members
Please note: This list is not synonymous, nor does it indicate, members in “good spiritual and/or financial” standing with the parish.
Jeremiah & Tera Andrews
James & Hareklia Scantzos
Total Pledged Amount: $20,860
Constantine & Emmanuelle Barry
Ron Jaghab
Average Pledge: $870
Elaine & Stan Blondek
Lisa Toole
Stephen & Sarah Carellas
Sara Toole
George & Cassie Carros
Nick Tsioles
Juana Chappen
Demetrios & Eleni Vaitsopoulos
Fr. Konstantine & Presbytera Maria Eleftherakis
George & Debbie Vaitsopoulos
Sophia & Jerry Fives
Gus Vlassis
Steve, Vasiliki, & Maria Koroneos
Andrew & Elizabeth Witko
Alexander Lalos
Edie Witko
Lucille O’Boyle
Sophie White
Anastasios Rigalos & Maria Stakias
Dimitri & Daphne Zacharopoulos
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May 2011
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Adult Education
PLEASE NOTE: Adult Education Classes will resume after Bright Week. Information will be
forthcoming as to the start date and topic.
Parish Bookstore
We are in the process of beginning a parish bookstore. We should be up and running
sometime before the festival. Anyone who would like make a donation to help further
this ministry, please contact Fr. Konstantine at the Church Office.
Festival Preparation
The final leg of Festival Preparation will be underway after Bright Week. Dates and
times, along with foods being prepared, will be announced in the weekly bulletin, noted
after the Divine Liturgy, and placed on a sign-up sheet in the Social Hall. PLEASE
support our Festival by offering your time and talents! In addition, a sign-up sheet for
volunteering at the actual Festival is included in this month’s bulletin for your
convenience.
Website Updates
Our parish website is still in the process of being built and updated, but there is much
that has been done. If you have not already done so, please go to
www.annunciationscranton.org for parish information, Orthodox Christian articles,
videos, audio, etc. and a full calendar of events. In the near future we will have all 2011
Festival information online. If you have any suggestions or ideas regarding the website,
or if you would like to make a donation to help offset the incurred cost, please contact
Fr. Konstantine in the church office.
Save the Date!
Parish Paschal Pilgrimage to St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Monastery in Roscoe N.Y.
Thursday May 26th 2011 – Departure from Church at 8:00am SHARP.
Because the Fathers have generously set the entire day aside for our community, all
those interested are asked to RSVP by placing your name(s) on the sign-up sheet in the
social hall and/or contacting Fr. Konstantine.
More information will be provided regarding travel arrangements, etc. once we have a
definite number of participants. Please note, that this is an official parish event and will
not be made open to the general local Orthodox Christian community.
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May 2011
“Come and See”
2011 ANNUNCIATION GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH CONFIDENTIAL STEWARDSHIP
COMMITMENT FORM
Please mail this form back to the church – “Attention Stewardship Ministry”
We ask ALL parishioners to please send in this form.
Our list of stewards will be taken from these forms.
Family Name:
Address:
City:
Home Telephone:
State
Zip
Email:
In gratitude for God’s blessings I/we make the following commitment to the
ministries of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church:
£ $10 weekly ($520) £ $15 weekly ($780) £ $20 weekly ($1040)
£ $50 weekly ($2600) £ Other
Come and See God work through your talents, skills and experience, as well as your financial support. Your offering
to Christ and His Church can do as much as you empower it to do. We give to Christ and His Church not according
to our means but according to our love for Him.
Please note that the various expenses, and ministries of our parish costs approximately $9500 monthly.
Please have this in mind when prayerfully reflecting on your stewardship commitment to your church.
An annual Festival cannot (and should not) be the sole provider of the needs of a parish.
CONFIDENTIAL: May not be Distributed or Reproduced / For Authorized Parish Personnel Only
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May 2011
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Stewardship message: May 2011 -‐ Help Wanted With Pascha still fresh in our minds and hearts, I am sending a "help wanted" request for this
monthly message. I am looking for one or two stewards to assist with some of the duties of
the stewardship committee. The duties involved are mostly discussion and some interpersonal
- making contacts with fellow parishioners and getting the message out as prescribed by our
Archdiocese of what it means to become an active steward of the church.
At this point, most ideas can be discussed during the fellowship/coffee hour after Divine
Liturgy. It would be great to see one or more who have been away from a regular church life
schedule come forward.
We want you - we need you! As not too many "Help Wanted" ads would read... Pay: None.
Benefits: Eternal. Apply within! There are other areas within the church looking for the
giving of your time and talents. The time is here, now. Come and see.
Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!
Ron Jaghab
(rjaghab@aol.com)
“Become a good manager of those things given you by God.”
~Saint John Chrysostom
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May 2011
Easter or Pascha?
By Fr. Mark Munoz of Holy Anargyroi Greek Orthodox Church Rochester, MN
With the “Feast of feasts” and “Festival of festivals” drawing near, it seems to be a good time to take a look
at our terminology for the holiest season. Out of convenience and habit, we hear Orthodox Christians speak
of an “Orthodox” versus a “Western” Easter (“Eastern Easter” would sound difficult indeed!). We sometimes
hear “Greek” versus “American” Easter. The emphasis in these expressions seems to be as if we were saying:
“Well, we are celebrating the same thing, we just do it in different ways and on (usually) different days.” If
this were true, we would be justified in our modern practice, but we ought to take a closer look at the word
“Easter”. According to Webster’s, the word “Easter” is the “name of the old Teutonic goddess of spring!”
(1961 edition). Millions of English-speaking Christians extol the emancipation of humanity in Christ with the
name of some pagan goddess. For we who are Orthodox (which means right-believing) Christians, this
should be something of an issue. You may be saying to yourselves, “Come on, Father, aren‘t we being too
much?” If you think so, let me give you the example of what Greek-speaking Christians have done in the
past. The Greek word Pascha is not Greek at all! It comes from the Hebrew word “Passover” and is borrowed
by means of transliteration. In the Greek language, the Jewish Passover is no longer described by the word
Pascha; rather, they use the expression “Nomikon Faska” (literally, legal Passover or Passover of the Old
Law). Notice how the Greek language has borrowed a Hebrew word, Pascha, deprived it of its old meaning
and clothed it with a new one - the glorious Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
What’s more, the Greek language has slightly altered the word (Pascha becomes Faska) in order that
there be no confusion. And so the Feast of the Resurrection retains all of the symbolism of the Old Covenant
with all the reality of the New. Compare this with ‘Easter”. The goddess of spring symbolizes the
Resurrection of our Saviour?? We do not believe in myths, but in the revelation of God (and even if we did,
shouldn‘t we call it “Greek Persephone” rather than “Greek Easter”?). Take a close look at the following
symbols surrounding “Easter”, see if they correspond to the Orthodox Faith of Christ. Butterflies, bunnies,
candy, balloons, flowers, sunrise services and day-glow colors; are these the symbols of the Church???
I do not list these to poke fun at them; there are those who take them very seriously, but I do think we should
consider their content. For Orthodox Christians, symbols are not empty, rather they are full. Our faith is
revealed in symbols, much as Christ revealed Himself and His Kingdom in parables. We need to take them
seriously, probably more seriously than they were ever intended. The sappy, flowery, commercialized
“Easter” of our modern world may describe the faith of many “Christians” today, but it in no way even
caricatures the the Orthodox Christian Pascha. I use the word Pascha because it is our word, given from the
Holy Scriptures themselves. I use the word Pascha much the same way I use “Amen”. “Amen” is not English,
much less Greek; it is another example of a borrowed Hebrew word, which was transliterated into Greek, and
means “So be it”. So there is plenty of precedent for using Pascha! With the word “Pascha” we retain our
faith, we even preach it. For you will not find theologians and professors in the Orthodox Church (much less
hierarchs) who deny the bodily Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. You will not find a cheap
sentimentality about the Risen Lord in our Paschal Services, but you will find the deepest understanding of
the “Light that shineth on the darkness”. To be frank, its fine with me if the world wants to celebrate Easter
every year with shopping specials and gifts and business as usual (maybe better). Making money off the
Passion of our Savior is nothing new. For we who are Orthodox, let the difference in days also be a difference
in expression and in attitude. Let the slight inconvenience be counted as a blessing. Let us be thankful for the
return of spring, but let us not celebrate it as did the pagans! Let us celebrate the Holy Pascha, ever thankful
to our merciful Lord Who gave Himself up for the life of the world, once for all, and Who is risen from the
dead in His glorious Resurrection!
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ANNUNCIATION GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH
505 N. Washington Ave., Scranton, PA. 18509
2011 FESTIVAL SIGN-UP SHEET:
Tuesday, June 7, Through Saturday, June 11
PLEASE COMPLETE AND GIVE TO ANY MEMBER OF THE PARISH COUNCIL. YOU
MAY ALSO MAIL OR FAX THE SHEET DIRECTLY TO THE CHURCH. WE ARE KINDLY
ASKING THAT YOU RETURN THE SIGN-UP SHEET AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE SO WE
MAY BEGIN TO PREPARE STAFFING.
Church Telephone #: (570) 342-0566
Name: _________________________
Church Fax #: (570) 342-9722
Address:_________________________
_________________, ____, Zip-Code:_______
Telephone: (
) _______________
These are shifts that are available. Please check off those you can help. If the time
you can offer differs from the shifts listed, please write in the times you can help.
SHIFT:
TUES.
WED.
THUR.
FRI.
SAT.__
6:00 AM-10:00 AM_______________________________________________________
10:00 AM-2:00 PM_______________________________________________________
2:00 PM-6:00 PM________________________________________________________
5:00 PM-9:00 PM________________________________________________________
We appreciate any help you may be able to offer the church this year.
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May 2011
Προτρεπτικοί λόγοι
Γέροντας Ιωσήφ ο ησυχαστής
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Λοιπόν, όταν εσύ δεν αµαρτάνεις, δεν ψεύδεσαι, δεν κατακρίνεις, δεν πονηρεύεσαι κατά του
πλησίον σου, τότε έχεις φόβο Θεού. Τότε είσαι σοφός και κατανοείς το Θεό, και για να µην
Τον λυπήσεις δεν αµαρτάνεις. Και αυτή είναι η όραση του Θεού, και ο Θεός που βλέπει τα
πάντα σε σκεπάζει από τις παγίδες του σατανά.
Όλες τις θλίψεις, παιδί µου, αν τις υποµένουµε, βρίσκουµε Χάρη παρά Κυρίου. Γι αυτό µας
αφήνει ο Κύριος να πειραζόµαστε, για να µας δοκιµάζει και να µας πλέξει στεφάνους.
Παραιτήσου από το δικό σου θέληµα, για να βρεις ειρήνη ψυχής. Γιατί το θέληµα του
ανθρώπου έχει γίνει χάλκινο τείχος και εµποδίζει το φωτισµό και την ειρήνη.
Όντως µέγα είναι, στ αλήθεια, το µυστήριο της υπακοής! Αφού ο γλυκύς µας Ιησούς πρώτος
χάραξε το δρόµο και έγινε παράδειγµα για µας, πόσο µάλλον εµείς είµαστε οφειλέτες να Τον
µιµηθούµε.
Ο µοναχός δεν αλλάζει τόπο κατοικίας, χρώµα ενδυµάτων και ιδίως νοηµάτων. Ο µοναχός
και η µοναχή αλλάζουν νουν και καρδιά µαζί. Δε σκέφτονται όπως οι κοσµικοί.
Όλη η δύναµη της ψυχής είναι η προσευχή. Και καθώς το σώµα δυναµώνει µε τις τροφές και
τα διάφορα καρυκεύµατα που του προσφέρουµε, έτσι και η ψυχή µας θέλει ευχή, ανάγνωση,
λόγο προφορικό, να βλέπει παράδειγµα και έτσι λίγο-λίγο ξυπνάει. Με πολλή απλότητα να
πορεύεσαι, για να βρεις την καθαρότητα της ψυχής. Η απλότητα είναι µεγάλη ευτυχία για την
ψυχή.
Τους µεν κανόνες οι άνθρωποι τους κατάργησαν, αλλά δεν τους κατάργησε ο Θεός. Μένουν,
όπως τους έθεσαν οι Πατέρες και οι θείοι Απόστολοι. Εποµένως να τους φυλάττουµε, αν
θέλουµε να σώσουµε την ψυχή µας, για να µη βρούµε αντιµέτωπο το Θεό να υπερασπίζει
τους νόµους των αγαπητών Του δούλων.
Το στόµα σου αδιαλείπτως να µελετά την ευχή: Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ, Υιέ του Θεού, ελέησόν
µε. Με την ευχή, θα καθαρίσει ο νους σου και θα την κατεβάσει στην καρδιά και θα γίνει
διαδροµή, ένωση νου, λόγου και καρδιάς, και θα γίνει Παράδεισος µέσα σου.
Από τη στιγµή που αρχίζουµε να διαπράττουµε την αµαρτία γινόµαστε δούλοι των δαιµόνων.
Ο φιλάνθρωπος Θεός έκανε τον άνθρωπο αυτεξούσιο και µας δίδαξε να µη µετέχουµε σε
πράξεις αισχρές και δε σκεπτόµαστε σοβαρά τα θεία και σωτήρια λόγια Του.
Δεν υπάρχει άλλη θυσία τόσο ευώδης προς το Θεό, όσο η αγνότητα του σώµατος.
Τίποτε άλλο δε µισεί τόσο ο Θεός, όσο την παράνοµη ηδονική ακαθαρσία του σώµατος.
Σ? αυτή τη ζωή είναι αγώνας. Με τα ακάθαρτα πνεύµατα πολεµάς, που δε σου ρίχνουν γλυκά
και λουκούµια, αλλά σφαίρες οξείες που θανατώνουν ψυχή, όχι σώµα
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The Holy Hieromartyr Ephraim of Nea Makri
(+1425) is commemorated January 3 & May 5th
He is known as a heavenly intercessor for, among other things, drug addicts,
suicidals, and despairing youth.
“Overdose”
I. Monk Ephraim
In the year of 1425 a monk was taken captive and tortured to death in his monastery in
Greece for being an Orthodox Christian. He was slowly tortured to death over a period of a
year. After each episode his wounds were allowed to heal, and then he was subjected to new
and worse punishments. Finally they executed him. He was hung upside down from a tree in
his monastery grounds and run through with a pole which had been sharpened to a point and
set on fire. All traces of his life and martyrdom were forgotten until this century, when he
appeared to the abbess of a convent and told her of his life and sufferings. He also revealed
the spot where his bones, which had never decomposed, were buried. They dug up the bones
for the glory of God.
II. The Addict and the Saint
Some years later an American teenager in the Midwest was grappling with his own life. He
was heavily using drugs (cocaine and heroin) and was quickly sliding to destruction. He had
neither a stable family life nor a religious upbringing, and though still young was in serious
trouble.
One night an ugly old man appeared to him and said, "I am your friend, I want to make an
appointment with you to meet me." He directed him to get into his car and drive as quickly
as he could down a certain road which had a hairpin turn at the end with a sheer cliff at the
bend. The young man did as he was told, got into his car and drove as fast as he could down
the road. Losing his nerve at the last minute he managed to slam on his brakes and barely
made the turn. He arrived home shaken.
Two nights later, the old man appeared again and said with anger and indignation, "I am
very disappointed that you didn't meet me. Get into your car again and drive as fast as you
can and this time don't put on the brakes." The young man felt strangely compelled to do
this. Once again he got into his car, drove as fast as he could and this time didn't stop but
drove at high speed off the cliff. The car was demolished but, surprisingly, he escaped with
only cuts and bruises, and with a concussion…continued on page 12.
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May 2011
The Resurrection of Christ is the annihilation of Death
By Protopresbyter George Metallinos
Dean of the Athens University School of Theology
The most significant event of History: The Resurrection of Christ is the most significant event to take place in History.
It is the event that differentiates Christianity from every other religion. Other religions have mortal leaders, whereas the
Head of the Church is the Resurrected Christ. “Resurrection of Christ” implies the deification and the resurrection of
human nature, and the hope for deification and resurrection of our own hypostasis. Since the medicine has been
discovered, then there is hope for life.
Through Christ’s Resurrection, both life and death take on a new meaning. “Life” now means communion with God;
“Death” is no longer the end of this present lifetime, but the distancing of Man from Christ. The separation of the soul
from the mortal body is no longer seen as “death”; it is only a temporary slumber.
It is Christ’s Resurrection, which justifies His uniqueness and exclusiveness, as the Saviour Who is able to truly
vitalize us and transfuse His Death-defeating Life into our perishable lives. Christ is one; the Resurrection is one; and
the possibility for salvation-deification is also one. This is why our expectation to transcend all the impasses that
muddle our lives is oriented towards Christ; to the Christ of the Saints; to the Christ of History.
The distorted “Christ” found in heresies or the “relativized” Christ found in the religious syncretism of the New-Age
pan-religion constitute a rejection of the real Christ, as well as the Salvation offered by Him. The Christ of our Saints is
also the Christ of History, and He rules out every possibility of confusing Him with all the other redemptive substitutes
invented for misleading the masses; because that is the only way deception can maintain something fraudulent: by
facilitating the dominion of antichrist powers (which may quite easily have infiltrated even the Church); powers, which
albeit spread Death in their path, nevertheless can appear as “angels of light” and “deacons of justice”.
When studying the experience of our Saints, we become aware that there are no existences as tragic as those “who have
no hope” – hope for resurrection – inasmuch as they regard biological death as destruction and the end. Unfortunately,
science has also succumbed to this tragic state, by desperately seeking methods for prolonging Man’s lifespan and by
conveying the illusion of being able to overcome natural death. However, equally tragic are those – even Christians –
who become entrapped in “hermetically tight” Chiliast visions of universal bliss and mundane eschatology (thus losing
the true meaning of the Resurrection) and sacrificing the hyper-cosmic to the endo-cosmic; the eternal to the transient.
The Resurrection of Christ as the resurrection of Man and all of Creation acquires a meaning only in the framework of
Patristic soteriology; in other words, in the co-crucifixion and the co-resurrection with Christ. This is the way that
Hellenism also preserved the Resurrection during its historical course. Forever faithful to the Resurrection of Christ,
Orthodoxy has been characterized as “Church of the Resurrection”, because it is on the Resurrection that it structures
its entire historical presence, grafting the resurrectional hope into the conscience of Peoples; a fact that is revealed in
their cultural continuance. Among them, the Hellenic People also learnt to dispel - in the Light of the Resurrection –
the darkness that permeated their years of slavery (as was the Turkish occupation) during which, they would not
hesitate, on wishing each other “Christ is Risen!” to add: “and Hellas is risen!” And they preserved this, for a full four
hundred years…It is within this notional framework that the hope-filled invitation of “Come forth and receive Light!”
is contained. It is an invitation to the resurrectional, uncreated Light, which is bestowed only on those who have
cleansed their heart of vices and passions. Without the “catharsis” of the heart – in other words, repentance – one
cannot commune with the Light of the Resurrection. Repentance is the transcending of sin, the cause of our death.
This is the fact that we are constantly reminded of, by the peculiar (to the uninitiated ear) monastic saying:
“If you die before you die, then you will not die when you die”!
Christ is Risen !!
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May 2011
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Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church
505 N. Washington Ave.
Scranton, PA 18509
A few weeks after he was out of the hospital,
the ugly man appeared to him once again and
said, "I am furious with you for not keeping
our appointment. Tonight without fail you will
meet me! Put a double dose of the drug in
your needle." Again the boy felt compelled to
do this, and after injecting himself went into a
coma from the overdose. He was taken to the
hospital where doctors told his family that he
probably wouldn't live. And if by chance he
did live he would only be semi-conscious - in
a vegetative state. There was almost no chance
of recovery. In two weeks, however, the
young man did awake, fully conscious. He
told those around him that he had seen a man,
which looked like some sort of radiant monk.
He came to him and said, "I have been praying for you.... God has given you another chance. You
will live, but you must correct your life. You are to go to Greece so as to visit the resting place of
my bones, giving thanks to God for your salvation. My name is Ephraim.
Through the prayers of the Great Martyr Ephraim of Nea-Makri,
Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us!
12

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