THUNDER BAY BULLETIN HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH ΕΛΛΙΝΙΚΗ ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΗ ΚΟΙΝΟΤΗΤΑ ΑΓΙΑΣ ΤΡΙΑΔΟΣ 651 Beverly Street, Thunder Bay, ON, P7B 6N2 Telephone/Fax: (807) 344-9522 www.gothunderbay.org holytrinity@tbaytel.net September 2014 Volume 10 Issue 8 SEPTEMBER 14: EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS 14 ΣΕΠΤΕΜΒΡΙΟΥ: Η ΥΨΩΣΙΣ ΤΟΥ ΤΙΜΙΟΥ ΣΤΑΥΡΟΥ 1 THUNDER BAY BULLETIN – Published monthly. Editor(s): Rev. Fr. Nikolaos Tambakis PARISH PRIEST: Rev. Fr. Nikolaos Tambakis; 106 Essex Court, Thunder Bay, Ontario, P7A 7N6 # (807) 472-1341 cellular; # (807) 344-9522 office Church email: holytrinity@tbaytel.net; Fr. Nikolaos’ email: ntambakis@hotmail.com Website: www.gothunderbay.org Office hours: by appointment HELLENIC COMMUNITY PRESIDENT: VICE PRESIDENT: SECRETARY: TREASURER: CONSTANTINE TSEKOURAS NICK KOUKOS TBA JIM PAZIANOS #(807) 577-6192 HOME; #(807) 355-6025 MOBILE #(807) 767-8545 HOME BOARD MEMBERS: LOUIS PORT, PETER PANTOULIAS, GEORGE COMMINOS, TIMOLEON KAROUTAS, TED FRISKY, ACHILLES STATHOPOULOS. # (807) 344-9522 OFFICE RELIGIOUS AND LEGAL AUTHORITIES HIS EMINENCE METROPOLITAN SOTIRIOS - GREEK ORTHODOX METROPOLIS IF TORONTO (CANADA), 1 PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW WAY (86 OVERLEA BOULEVARD) ,TORONTO, ONTARIO M4H 1C6; TELEPHONE: (416) 429-5757; FAX: (416) 429-4588; EMAIL: METROPOLIS@GOMETROPOLIS.ORG; WEBSITE: WWW.GOMETROPOLIS.ORG. EMBASSY OF GREECE - 80 MACLAREN STREET; OTTAWA, ONTARIO K2P 0K6; TELEPHONE: (613) 238-6271;FAX: (613) 238-5676; WEBSITE: WWW.GREEKEMBASSY.CA. CONSULATE GENERAL OF GREECE - 365 BLOOR STREET E, SUITE 1800, TORONTO, ONTARIO M4W 3L4; TELEPHONE (416) 515-0133; FAX: (416) 5150209; WEBSITE: WWW.GRCONSULATE.COM. GREEK TOURIST OFFICE (TORONTO) - 1300 BAY STREET, TORONTO, ONTARIO M5R 3K8; TELEPHONE: (416) 968-2220; FAX: (416) 968-6533; EMAIL: GRNTO.TOR@SYMPATICO.CA. 2014 – 2015 PARISH COUNCIL (L TO R): GEORGE COMMINOS, ACHILLES STATHOPOULOS, TIMOLEON KAROUTAS, TED FRISKY, CONSTANTINE TSEKOURAS, PETER PANTOULIAS, JIM PAZIANOS, NICK KOUKOS, LOUIS PORT WITH FR. NIKOLAOS TAMBAKIS. 2 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I hope that you had a wonderful summer with your family and loved ones. Now September is here and the Ecclesiastical New Year is upon us. May it be a blessed one filled with health, love, happiness and growth. It is time to refocus and regroup. There are over 75 senior citizens in our community who need our help, our love and our friendship. There are over 60 middle-aged people (30-60) striving to raise a family, develop their careers, and fulfil their daily obligations who need our support and encouragement. However, we also need their commitment and leadership (that’s you!) and help in the following aspects of parish life listed below. You are our successors – the ones to pass the torch and I beg you to get involved in your Parish life – to learn and understand its traditions, and to take it to the next level. Most important is that there are 53 children and youth in our parish! They are not only our precious future, but they are our “NOW”; they look upon us for love, guidance and opportunities to grow physically, culturally and spiritually. As the African proverb says, “it takes a village to raise a child” – it surely requires a full time open parish to raise a Greek Orthodox child. We have over 25 children ages 6 to 14. The new year will see another year of Greek School (over 60,000 Greek words are in the English dictionary, let alone the value of Hellenic culture and civilization. Please sign up our children and help them grow culturally. As well, a dance group began last year with the youngest children, and we ask for instructors to help this group strive for success. GOYA (ages 10-17) has geared up for September with a new executive that has great ideas and vision for their future. A Junior GOYA group (ages 6-10) is in the works. Please let our youth share the fellowship and grow, and encourage them to come to the meetings. Sunday School begins once again in September. Please sign up your children. We do not inherit our precious faith and culture. Every generation must be taught their FAITH and culture – to live it, share it, love it, and appreciate it. Parents and guardians do your duty to sign up our children – they are our future, and the future is NOW. Altar Attendant duty begins in September again as well. Parents please bring your boys to church to serve. Come and learn our faith as classes Orthodoxy and Bible Study begin in September with Fr. Nik presiding. We also need your help in the fundraising events whose income keeps our parish financially afloat. Souvlaki Dinners are confirmed to begin on September 18 – please confirm your commitment. As well, a new Bingo system starts on September 2 nd and requires two trained members for two hours. Please let me know if you can help; bingo money pays a lot of our bills. Fr. Nik and the Board are working hard to have everything in place for September. I would love to see our community members take a share of spiritual and cultural leadership to take the parish to next level – even more commitment to our Greek orthodox faith, traditions, culture and fellowship. Let us reconnect again, regroup and grow as a parish family of Greek Orthodox believers. Even so faith, if it has not works, is dead (James 2:17); let us be alive in our Orthodox faith. Costa Tsekouras 3 Thank you to all the people who brought their flowers from their home gardens and decorated the Panagia so beautifully this year for the Dormition feast. May she guide and protect us always. 4 Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church presents: SOUVLAKI DINNER (Souvlaki, Tzatziki, Mediterranean Rice, Greek Salad and Pita) FALL 2014 DATES: Thursday, September 18 Thursday, October 2 Thursday, October 16 Thursday, October 30 Thursday, November 13 Thursday, November 27 4:00pm – 6:30pm Take Out/Pickup only Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 651 Beverly Street (at Balmoral) Email us at greekdinner@tbaytel.net to be on our mailing list! Facebook – Join our group – “The Great Souvlaki Dinner Takeout” Website: www.gothunderbay.com 5 14 ΣΕΠΤΕΜΒΡΙΟΥ: Η ΥΨΩΣΙΣ ΤΟΥ ΤΙΜΙΟΥ ΣΤΑΥΡΟΥ Τὸ ἔτος 326 ἡ Ἁγία Ἑλένη πῆγε στὴν Ἱερουσαλὴμ γιὰ νὰ προσκυνήσει τοὺς Ἁγίους Τόπους καὶ νὰ εὐχαριστήσει τὸ Θεὸ γιὰ τοὺς θριάμβους τοῦ γιοῦ της Μ. Κωνσταντίνου. Ὁ Θεῖος ζῆλος, ὅμως, ἔκανε τὴν Ἅγια Ἑλένη νὰ ἀρχίσει ἔρευνες γιὰ τὴν ἀνεύρεση τοῦ Τιμίου Σταυροῦ. Ἐπάνω στὸ Γολγοθὰ ὑπῆρχε εἰδωλολατρικὸς ναὸς τῆς θεᾶς Ἀφροδίτης, τὸν ὁποῖο γκρέμισε καὶ ἄρχισε τὶς ἀνασκαφές. Σὲ κάποιο σημεῖο, βρέθηκαν τρεῖς σταυροί. Ἡ συγκίνηση ὑπῆρξε μεγάλη, ἀλλὰ ποιὸς ἀπὸ τοὺς τρεῖς ἦταν τοῦ Κυρίου; Τότε ὁ ἐπίσκοπος Ἱεροσολύμων Μακάριος με ἀρκετοὺς Ἱερεῖς, ἀφοῦ ἔκανε δέηση, ἄγγιξε στοὺς σταυροὺς τὸ σῶμα μίας εὐσεβέστατης κυρίας ποὺ εἶχε πεθάνει. Ὅταν ἦλθε ἡ σειρὰ καὶ ἄγγιξε τὸν τρίτο σταυρό, ποὺ ἦταν πραγματικὰ τοῦ Κυρίου, ἡ γυναῖκα ἀμέσως ἀναστήθηκε. Ἡ εἴδηση διαδόθηκε σὰν ἀστραπὴ σὲ ὅλα τὰ μέρη τῆς Ἱερουσαλήμ. Πλήθη πιστῶν ἄρχισαν νὰ συρρέουν γιὰ νὰ ἀγγίξουν τὸ τίμιο ξύλο. Ἐπειδή, ὅμως, συνέβησαν πολλὰ δυστυχήματα ἀπὸ τὸ συνωστισμό, ὕψωσαν τὸν Τίμιο Σταυρὸ μέσα στὸ ναὸ σὲ μέρος ὑψηλό, γιὰ νὰ μπορέσουν νὰ τὸν δοῦν καὶ νὰ τὸν προσκυνήσουν ὅλοι. Αὐτή, λοιπόν, τὴν ὕψωση καθιέρωσαν οἱ ἅγιοι Πατέρες, νὰ γιορτάζουμε στὶς 14 Σεπτεμβρίου, γιὰ νὰ μπορέσουμε κι ἐμεῖς νὰ ὑψώσουμε μέσα στὶς ψυχές μας τὸ Σταυρὸ τοῦ Κυρίου μας, ποὺ ἀποτελεῖ τὸ κατ᾿ ἐξοχὴν «ὅπλον κατὰ τοῦ διαβόλου». (Ὁρισμένοι Συναξαριστές, αὐτὴν τὴν ἡμέρα, ἀναφέρουν καὶ τὴν ὕψωση τοῦ Τιμίου Σταυροῦ στὴν Κωνσταντινούπολη τὸ 628 ἀπὸ τὸν βασιλιὰ Ἡράκλειο, ποὺ εἶχε νικήσει καὶ ξαναπῆρε τὸν Τίμιο Σταυρὸ ἀπὸ τοὺς Ἀβάρους, οἱ ὁποῖοι τὸν εἶχαν ἁρπάξει ἀπὸ τοὺς Ἁγίους Τόπους). http://www.phys.uoa.gr/~nektar/orthodoxy/agiologion/09/14.htm 4 6 SEPTEMBER 14: EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS A tradition which took shape early and was definitely established in the Sixth century reports that Saint Helen, the mother of Emperor Constantine, rediscovered near Golgotha the three crosses which served to execute Christ and the two thieves. The healing of a dying woman permitted Bishop Makarios to recognize, as being the Lord's Cross, the one whose contact affected the miracle. The Holy Cross was preserved in the Basilica of the Resurrection until May 4, 614, the date on which the Persians carried it away after having taken the city of Jerusalem and destroying the Basilica. In 628, Emperor Heraclius defeated Chosroes and brought the Holy Cross back to Jerusalem. Heraclius took the venerable wood upon his shoulders and carried it back to Calvary with great pomp. According to legend, upon reaching the door of the church, the Emperor, magnificently dressed and wearing gold, was stopped by an invisible force. Zachary, the Bishop of Jerusalem, said to him: "Be careful, Emperor, that with these ornaments of triumph, you don't imitate sufficiently the poverty of Jesus Christ and the humility with which He carried His Cross." The Emperor laid aside his splendid clothes to dress himself in an ordinary cloak, and with bare feet, he was able to continue on his way. The site where tradition places the discovery of the Holy Cross by Saint Helen is venerated in the crypt of the Holy Resurrection, in Jerusalem. This commemorative chapel was made form part of an ancient drain which existed in the time of Our Lord in Jerusalem. Filled up later on, it was used by Constantine's architects in the crypt of the basilica. A part of the Cross, brought to Rome in the Sixth century, was exposed for the veneration of the faithful by order of the oriental Pope Sergius I (687-701), in the Church of the Savior. That is why, equally in the East and the West, the feast of the Holy Cross had a considerable importance in the liturgical calendar from this epoch. It is made on Good Friday which is a direct reference. But, whereas the feast of Good Friday insists more on the historic event of Christ's Redemption, in His sufferings and death, today's feast more particularly represents for us the glorious aspect of this event, consequently, the instrument of execution on which the Lord died. The Church calls to mind for us in the Office the Old Testament signs, the heralds of the Cross: the tree of Eden, by which we were lost (the Cross was meant to save us); Noe's ark which accomplished the salvation of the just (the Cross affected the same to sinners); Jacob crossing his hands to bless his son Joseph; Moses extending his arms to open in the Red Sea a door of salvation to the Israelites, then throwing some wood into the waters of Mara to sweeten their bitterness; the same Moses striking the rock with his staff to make life-giving water spring forth, and praying, with hands crossed, for the victory of the Jewish people over Amalec; the rod of Aaron; the brazen serpent, the predisposition in the Cross taken by the Jewish people around the Ark of the covenant... The Cross is the instrument of the passion, the stool upon which the Lord rested His feet, the trophy of victory, the rampart of the Church, the cure of all ills, the honor of Christians. Nevertheless, the texts of the Divine Liturgy maintain still more the spirit of the sorrowful Passion of the Lord, abandoned by His Father on the Cross, "a scandal for the Jews and a folly for the Greeks" (that is, the pagans). http://www.rongolini.com/synseptember.htm#September%2014 7 SCHEDULE OF DIVINE SERVICES - SEPTEMBER 2014 SUNDAY 7 +SUNDAY BEFORE THE EXALTATION OF THE CROSS. ORTHROS 9:15AM, DIVINE LITURGY 10:30AM. MONDAY 8 +NATIVITY OF THE MOST HOLY THEOTOKOS. ORTHROS 9:15AM, DIVINE LITURGY 10:15AM. SUNDAY 14 +EXALTATION OF THE CROSS. ORTHROS 9:15AM, DIVINE LITURGY AND PROCESSION OF THE CROSS 10:30AM. SUNDAY 21 +SUNDAY AFTER THE EXALTATION OF THE CROSS. ORTHROS 9:15AM, DIVINE LITURGY 10:30AM. SUNDAY 28 +1ST SUNDAY OF LUKE. ST. CHARITON THE CONFESSOR. ORTHROS 9:15AM, DIVINE LITURGY 10:30AM. ΠΡΟΓΡΑΜΜΑ ΙΕΡΩΝ ΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΙΩΝ - ΣΕΠΤΕΜΒΡΙΟΥ 2014 ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ 7 +ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΠΡΟ ΤΗΣ ΥΨΩΣΕΩΣ. ΟΡΘΡΟΣ 9:15ΠΜ, ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΑ 10:30ΠΜ. ΔΕΥΤΕΡΑ 8 +ΓΕΝΕΘΛΙΟΝ ΤΗΕ ΥΠΕΡΑΓΙΑΣ ΘΕΟΤΟΚΟΥ. ΟΡΘΡΟΣ 9:15ΠΜ, ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΑ 10:30ΠΜ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ 14 +Η ΥΨΩΣΙΣ ΤΟΥ ΤΙΜΟΥ ΣΤΑΥΡΟΥ. ΟΡΘΡΟΣ 9:15ΠΜ, ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΑ ΚΑΙ ΛΙΤΑΝΕΥΣΗ ΤΟΥ ΤΙΜΙΟΥ ΣΤΑΥΡΟΥ 10:30ΠΜ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ 21 +ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΜΕΤΑ ΤΗΝ ΥΨΩΣΙΝ. ΟΡΘΡΟΣ 9:15ΠΜ, ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΑ 10:30ΠΜ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ 28 +ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ Α’ ΛΟΥΚΑ. ΑΓ. ΧΑΡΙΤΩΝΟΣ ΟΜΟΛΟΓΗΤΟΥ. ΟΡΘΡΟΣ 9:15ΠΜ, ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΑ 10:30ΠΜ. THE FIRST DUTY OF A CHRISTIAN, OF A DISCIPLE AND FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST, IS TO DENY ONESELF. TO DENY ONESELF MEANS TO GIVE UP ONE'S BAD HABITS, TO ROOT OUT OF THE HEART ALL THAT TIES US TO THE WORLD; NOT TO CHERISH BAD DESIRES AND THOUGHTS; TO QUENCH AND SUPPRESS BAD THOUGHTS; TO AVOID OCCASIONS OF SIN; NOT TO DO OR DESIRE ANYTHING FROM SELF-LOVE BUT TO DO EVERYTHING OUT OF LOVE FOR GOD. TO DENY ONESELF MEANS, ACCORDING TO THE APOSTLE PAUL, TO BE DEAD TO SIN AND THE WORLD, BUT ALIVE TO GOD. ST. INNOCENT OF ALASKA, INDICATION OF THE WAY INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN 8 OUR MEMBERS – So far only 84 people have submitted their membership dues for 2014. We ask and encourage everyone to so as soon as possible. Each member is indispensable for the well-being and functioning of our parish. We thank all who have taken the time to submit their membership dues already as of August 12, 2014: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. Mr. G.Aspropotamitis Mr. Nick Balina Mr. Charlie Biniaris Mr. Bill Biniaris Mrs. Dimitra Biniaris Mrs. Katerina Biniaris Mr. George Biniaris Mrs. Toni Biniaris Mr. Tony Biniaris Mrs. Irene Biniaris Mrs. Athena Blieske Mr. George Comminos Mr. Bill Comminos Mrs. Tarja Comminos Miss Jenny Comminos Miss Katina Comminos Mrs. Nitsa Comminos Mr. Peter Comminos Mrs. Bayba Frattolin Mr. Peter Giardetti Mrs. Tara Giardetti Mrs. Jenny Hartviksen Mr. Sotirios Hatzis Mrs. Theodora Hatzis Ms. Penny Kahramanos Mr. Andy Karanasos Mrs. Lori Karanasos Mr. Gus Kelos 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. Mrs. Athanasia Kelos Mr. Nick Koukos Mrs. Joyce Koukos Mr. Ray Leino Mrs. Virginia Leino Mr. Chris Lent Mrs. Joanne Lent Mr. Jack Lotsios Mrs. Effie Lotsios Mrs. Helen Machairas Mrs. Dolores Maki Mr. Tom Marinis Mr. Tom Mellas Mrs. Smaragde Mellas Ms. Georgina Mellas Mrs. Maria Mellas Mrs. Tina Mellas Ms. Bess Melville Mr. Tax Milionis Mrs. Ahileas Mitsopoulos Mrs. P. Mitsopoulos Mrs. Athina Morakis Mrs. Maria Morakis Mrs. Angie Palo Mrs. Nikki Pantoulias Mr. John Pavlou Mrs. Maria Pavlou Mr. Tom Pazianos 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75. 76. 77. 78. 79. 80. 81. 82. 83. 84. Mrs. Leila Pazianos Mrs. Virginia Pazianos Mrs. Lola Saites Mr. Peter Saites Mr. Steven Scollie Mr. Kosmas Sitko Mr. Artie Soulias Mr. Kelly Soulias Mrs. Euphrosine Sourtzis Mr. Spyro Sourtzis Mr. Marinos Spourdalakis Mrs. Nora Spourdalakis Mr. Jimmy Stathopoulos Ms. Tina Stathopoulos Mr. Constantin Todosia Mrs. Manuela Todosia Mr. Constantine Tsekouras Mrs. Jane Tsekouras Mr. Ahileas Tsekouras Mr. Paul Tsekouras Mrs. Sylvia Tsekouras Mr. Harry Tsekouras Mrs. Lily Tsekouras Ms. Elaine Tsekouras Mr. John Tsekouras Mr. Taki Vlotaros Mr. Ryan Witiluk Mrs. Christine Witiluk A REMINDER OF FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS: ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DUES: A MEMBER IN GOOD STANDING HAS IN THE PAST 3 YEARS, PAID THEIR MEMBERSHIP DUES FOR 2 CONSECUTIVE YEARS. - ADULT MEMBERS: $ 300 - ASSOCIATE MEMBERS: $150 - STUDENTS: $100 SACRAMENT-RELATED FEES - FOR MEMBERS IN GOOD STANDING; NOTE THAT THESE ARE FEES RELATED TO THE OPENING OF THE CHURCH. - BAPTISM: $150 - WEDDING: $250 - FUNERALS: NO FEE. HALL RENTAL - MEMBERS: $150 - NON-MEMBERS: $400 9 YOUR AD HERE SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY Bess and Sheila want you to come join the fun at Bingo! Wednesday, September 3rd, 2014 ALL BINGOS ARE AT THE C.L.E. LOCATION at 5:45 PM 10 YOUR AD HERE SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY 11 12