1392 Δ΄ ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΤΩΝ ΝΗΣΤΕΙΩΝ 2012

16
1 ΙΕΡΑ ΑΡΧΙΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΗ ΑΥΣΤΡΑΛΙΑΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΟΣ ΚΟΙΝΟΤΗΣ- GREEK ORTHODOX COMMUNITY & PARISH ΕΝΟΡΙΑ ΠΡΟΦΗΤΟΥ ΗΛΙΟΥ ΝΟΡΓΟΥΝΤ OF PROPHET ELIAS NORWOOD & EASTERN ΚΑΙ ΑΝΑΤΟΛΙΚΩΝ ΠΡΟΑΣΤΕΙΩΝ SUBURBS INC. 87 BEULAH RD. NORWOOD SA 5067 P.O. BOX 277, KENT TOWN SA 5071 ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO THE HON. SECRETARY ΕΒΔΟΜΑΔΙΑΙΟΝ ΦΥΛΛΑΔΙΟΝ «O ΛΟΓΟΣ ΤΟΥ ΘΕΟΥ» ΤΗΛΕΦΩΝΑ 24 ΩΡΕΣ ΓΡΑΦΕΙΟΥ: 8362 4139 ΟΙΚ. 8431 7789 ΚΙΝ. 04 12 710 037 ΗΜΕΡΟΜΗΝΙΑ 25-03-12 ΕΤΟΣ 27 ΟΝ ΑΡΙΘ. 1392 WEEKLY MAGAZINE “THE WORD OF GOD” PHONES: 8362 4139 H. 8431 7789 M. 0412 710 037 DATE 25-03-12 YEAR 27 TH NUMBER 1392 WEB PAGE: WWW.PROPHETELIAS.ORG.AU ONLINE MAGAZINE & RADIO PROGRAM: WWW.PROPHETELIAS.BLOGSPOT.COM EMAIL: [email protected]

Transcript of 1392 Δ΄ ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΤΩΝ ΝΗΣΤΕΙΩΝ 2012

1

GREEK ORTHODOX COMMUNITY & PARISH OF PROPHET ELIAS NORWOOD & EASTERN SUBURBS INC.

87 BEULAH RD. NORWOOD SA 5067 P.O. BOX 277, KENT TOWN SA 5071 ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO THE HON. SECRETARY

O 24 : 8362 4139 . 8431 7789 . 0412 710 037

25-03-12 27 . 1392

WEEKLY MAGAZINE

THE WORD OF GODPHONES: 8362 4139 H. 8431 7789 M. 0412 710 037

DATE 25-03-12 YEAR 27 TH NUMBER 1392WEB PAGE: WWW.PROPHETELIAS.ORG.AU ONLINE MAGAZINE & RADIO PROGRAM: WWW.PROPHETELIAS.BLOGSPOT.COM EMAIL: [email protected]

2

(. 2:11-18) 25 M 2012 . . 25 . . . . , . .

... , . . , . . . . . . ; ; , , , . , .

3

. , . , . , . , !!!

... , . . , . , , . . , . , . . . , . . . , . . . , , . . . 400 , , 1821 .

4

, 21, . :

. ;. ... , , , ... , . ; ; ; ; ; ; , . . . . :

, . : ,

. : . . : . , . . , . . . , : , ,

, , .

5

, , , . : ; ; . . 4th SUNDAY OF LENT (Heb. 2: 11-18) 25 March 2012 Today, dear brethren, we have a double celebration, and the issue that we will cover is also very current. We are looking at serious issues that surely concern us as Orthodox Christians and as Greeks, as we are. Certainly the 25th of March is a day of great joy and celebration. It is a day that reminds us of the titanic battles and victories of the embattled yet glorious Greek Nation. Above all we are reminded of the salvific and Archangelic message from Heaven to earth; the joyous message of the coming of Christ into humanity. Many, many things have been written about these two salvific events for all freedom-loving people and especially the GreekOrthodox. Today we will borrow just a few of these words just to provide a simple reminder of the events that have marked human history with such an intense colour. and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. The Lord came to free humanity from slavery to the devil, man had been enslaved and felt that there was nothing that can possibly free him. Man lived with the thought of the real tyranny of this life, but even more so lived under fear of eternal judgement. Therefore the Freedom-granter Lord came and achieved that which was humanly impossible. Oppression and slavery were the lot of humanity before the Lord came, brethren. Human remained in their slavery to the devil without the slightest resistance. Their God and Creator had told them so many things. He told them to take freely from the rich creation, and brought to their attention the things that they were to avoid, He also told them what would happen if they disobeyed. Do you see the kindness He used? Do you see the fatherly love and protectiveness that God showed humans brethren? And yet, as strange as it sounds, as soon as the devil said one word against God, they believed him. From that moment onwards that they disobeyed God, they became the devils slaves. Toiling day and night under the oppression of sin and humiliation. The feeling of guilt arose within them because of their disobedience towards God, it became a permanent nightmare and daily terror. The fear of death and their eternal sentence tormented them terribly. They were terrified of death and the horrible evils of eternal hell. But look!!! Today, the chapter of our salvation begins Finally, as though it was today, the message of freedom and salvation, and freedom itself comes. As though it was today Heaven spoke to the enslaved inhabitants of earth. And truly the Lord came and was victorious over the devil and He cut the bonds of the enslaved human race. The

6

Annunciation, the incarnation, the crucifixion and sacrifice of Christ, brought redemption, and freed humanity. Now we have every opportunity to remain always free in this temporary life, but also in the eternal inheritance. Thousands and millions, who believed in this freedom, embraced Christ within the depths of their hearts and were saved. All faithful Christians now live within this victory of freedom and triumph. They are the ones who feel the flame of spiritual freedom inside. Christs crucifixion and death leads all of those who believed, to freedom and eternity. Unfortunately sin continues to enslave the people in our times. The difference is that now we have the nuclear weapon of the Holy Sacraments of our Church that free us and make us triumphant, invincible soldiers, the ranks of the Lord. Unfortunately, even today there are people who prefer the devil over God. They prefer eternal slavery over eternal freedom. They prefer hell over Heaven. As silly and paradoxical as it sounds, and as much as we do not want to admit it, this is the sad truth. However we do not have the space to further elaborate on them today. Together with this our Homeland Greece celebrates freedom from turkish oppression. After 400 years of slavery, finally for the faith of our Holy Motherland and freedom, the heroes of 1821 gave battle and were miraculously victorious. Without faith in Christ, the Greek uprising of 21 would surely have been suicide. It was with such faith in Christ that Kolokotronis said: God Himself has signed for the freedom of our motherland, and He will not take this back. And when the just God is helping us what enemy can overcome us?. To be a nation, we need to have the foundations of civilisation, harmony, religion, and proper freedom and let us not rely on foreigners, but on ourselves and on God. And who said these things? A wise man? Someone well educated? A European? Someone from Brussels? Someone from the IMF or the World Bank? No, he was none of these. The person who said these things was a Greek patriot. He was a simple man, who as history was to show, was a great hero. He was a leader with dignity who believed in God and put Him as a co-fighter for the struggle for freedom and was not wrong. Makriyiannis said: Without virtue and pain in our nation, and faith in our religion, our nation does not exist. In the same way Rigas Velestinlis said: Come with zeal at this time, to make our oaths on the Cross. And Adamandios Korais would say: Only learning the Gospel can save this selfdirected generation. Others have said: The Church and Her clergy were the leaders and the support of our nation during the long-lasting slavery, and in the revolution. Brethren, it was in these that they believed, and these things they said, and they proved them to be correct. They were victorious and brought freedom to our Motherland. Today, from where they are, surely they will be shedding tears of pain over our actions. They cry because their descendants are not in a position even to earn their daily bread, and now are waiting on other nations to provide their food. They are crying because they see their descendants begging and being humbled in the eyes of the whole world for just a small piece of bread. If Makriyiannis was to wake up now he would shout out with his characteristic simplicity: And now we

7

have these politicians, Greeks, offspring of the Jews, telling us to banish our Holy Faith, Orthodoxy, because France does not want us with such Orthodox dress. If they touch my country and my religion, I will speak out, I will act and I dont care what they will do to me. And so we ask ourselves: to who will Makiyiannis directing his anger? Perhaps the Turks, or the European Union? No. It would be towards with the Greeks that have sold-out, and are working against God.

- , 60 18 2012. , , , . , . , . , . , , , . , , , , . , . . . , , . 150 . , . , , , . , , . , . . .

8

, , . . , , . , , . , , 600 . , . . .. , . . . . - . . , . . . , . . , . . , . , , . / , ,

9

. , , . , . . $45.325.00 . . , , . , . , , . , , , . .

. , . . .

. , , . ,

10

. , : . ...., ( . ). ; , , : , , , , , , , , , . , , , . : , . . . . , . . , , , . - - - , -, -

11

. , , . , , : , , , , , , , . , : , , , , , , , . . , . . . , . , , , . , , . . , , , . , , , , , , . . , .. , .

12

,

. , , . . , . , ' (. 15,16)

, , , . . , . . , , , , , , , . . . , . . .

13

, . , , , . . , , , . . , , . , . . . . , , : , , , , . , .

( ) $50 .

, , , 6.30 7.30 .

14

7.15 9.00 , . , 5.30- 6.15. 8-11 6-7 .

: . . . , ; , 7-8. .

- 20 2012 , , , 93 . , . Centinial Park Cemetery , . , , . , , . , .

News from our Community-Parish A Miracle of the PantanassaThe success of the function organized by about sixty devout ladies last Sunday 18th March 2012 was evidence of a miracle of the Panagia. Yet again, in these dark and difficult times, God has granted us a ray of holy grace to come to Adelaide and shine in our hearts. In the middle of Lent, the Lords Holy Cross shone and gave strength and courage to the faithful present. The Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Pantanassa Revd Archimandrite Elder Fr Evsevios, accompanied by Monk Fr Nektarios, arrived, bringing holy relics of St Panteleimonos the Wonder-Worker, St Stephen the First Martyr, the Holy

15

Unmercenary Saints Kosmas and Damianos and the Great Martyr Saints Efthimia and Paraskevi. With incense and knocking of the talantos, the relics were received at Prophet Elias and the Ladies Choir of Norwood, clearly moved, chanted the apolytikia of the saints. The contritional Divine Liturgy in English, celebrated by Fr Evsevios with the assistance of Deacon Fr Michael, was unforgettable. The Byzantine Choir John of Damascus, in complete harmony with the emotional environment of the Church, created a perfect atmosphere of spiritual elevation. Among the more than 150 faithful who attended Divine Liturgy in English and venerated the holy relics were some who did not know English. For all that, they said, they felt an inexplicable embrace which they did not want to cease. Of particular splendour, reminiscent of the Resurrection Service, was the joint celebration last Sunday by Fr Evsevios, Fr Theodoros and Fr Stavros. The spacious Church of Prophet Elias was full to the brim with the faithful gathered from all over Adelaide, eager to venerate the holy relics of the saints. Fr Evsevios, speaking in both languages, at the Divine Liturgy the previous Saturday and also last Sunday, truly helped us in our endeavour to become better Christians. The devoted ladies who organized the meal were gripped by emotion and enthusiasm when they saw the hall and areas outside filled to capacity by more than 600 faithful. Though many of them had not had opportunity for sleep, they felt not the slightest fatigue. Obviously, the Pantanassa blessed them and kept them going all through the luncheon. Firstly, we thank His Eminence Archbioshop Stylianos of Australia for his leave and blessing, especially for the beautiful letter which was read at the luncheon. We also thank His Grace Bishop Nikandros of Doryleon. Fr Evsevios spoke movingly on the God-pleasing efforts of the organizers and gave a beautiful icon of the Bride of Christ, painted at the holy Monastery of Pantanassa, to Fr Stavros. God willing, we shall be decorating this icon in the services of the Bride, from this year on. The Abbot also gave an icon to the ladies who organized the function. Fr Stavros in his turn thanked the Abbot on behalf of all of us for his spiritual gifts. He also thanked the organizers for their self-sacrifices and their love for the work

16

of the Chruch. He also thanked everyone present for their generous donations to the purpose of the function. Warm thanks also went to Mr George Psorakis for the outstanding recording, Mr George Karatassas for the successful auction, the Committee of St Andrew for the seating and the Sitaras brothers for its transport, Mr Andrew and Constantine Psaromatis, the President and members of the Executive Committee for the video screening, preparations of the hall and general supervision of the program. It is very moving that during the three days that the Holy relics of the Saints were at our Church, thousands of faithful from all over Adelaide came and venerated them with devotion. The organizers sincerely apologise to those who could not find a place to join in the luncheon. The amount raised last Sunday and given to the Fathers of the Holy Monastery of Pantanassa was $45 325. Much moved, the Abbot blessed us and asked God for our health and every good thing. Our Newsletter Committee, which has described similar successes in the past, congratulates everyone who contributed to the success of the spiritual and family weekend. May God, through the intercessions of the Panagia of Pantanassa, help and bless us and our families always. Last Tuesday morning, when the fathers of Pantanassa reverently packed and took with them the holy relics, we felt an emptiness. Then we cast a glance to the lit candle, which had been constantly shining over the relics and realized that our Church is not empty. The grace of the Saints has not abandoned us.

Program for LentEvery Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evening, Great Vespers, 6.30 7.30. Every Wednesday and Friday morning, the Hours, Beatitudes and Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts, 7.15 9.00. Every Saturday evening Vespers, 5.30 6.15. Every Sunday morning, Matins and Divine Liturgy, 8 11 and every Sunday evening, Contritional Vespers, 67. Death-Funeral On Tuesday March 2012 Mr. Theodoros Skaltsias passed away at age 93. His funeral service took place in our Church last Friday morning. More details regarding the Funeral will appear in our next edition.