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- 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 CORRES PONDENCE TO THE HON. SE CRETAR Y

O

24

: 8362 4139 . 8431 7789 . 0412 710 037

14-10-12

29. 1421

WEEKLY MAGAZINE

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

DATE 14-10-12

YEAR 29TH NUMBER 1421

WEB PAGE:WWW.PROPHETELIAS.ORG.AU

ONLINE MAGAZINE & RADIO PROGRAM:WWW.PROPHETELIAS.BLOGSPOT.COM

EMAIL:PROPHETELIAS@ESC.NET.AU

http://www.prophetelias.org.au/http://www.prophetelias.org.au/http://www.prophetelias.org.au/http://www.prophetelias.blogspot.com/http://www.prophetelias.blogspot.com/http://www.prophetelias.blogspot.com/mailto:prophetelias@esc.net.aumailto:prophetelias@esc.net.aumailto:prophetelias@esc.net.auhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_the_Greek_Orthodox_Church.svgmailto:prophetelias@esc.net.auhttp://www.prophetelias.blogspot.com/http://www.prophetelias.org.au/

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SUNDAY OF THE HOLY FATHERS (.3, 8-15) 14 October 2012

When our Church commemorates the Holy Fathers of the Ecumenical

Councils, we hear read in our Holy Temples a portion of the Apostle Pauls

third letter to his disciple Titus. This is done because in the advice that he

addressed to Titus he clearly shows the way that all Christians should

behave. At different times there emerged people who wandered away from

the Christian path that the Apostles laid, and so the Ecumenical Councilswere convened with the aim of brining the transgressors to their senses and

strengthening the Orthodox.

The faithful, my brethren they should be certain of the things that they

believe in and they should also put them into practice in their daily lives.

The Apostle Titus carried out his pastoral service willingly, with fervent faith

and absolute devotion, so Paul calls him his brother. He was a worthy co-

worker of the Gospel and had the rank of high priest. And so, Paul

recognising the living Christian example of Titus decided that it would be

easy for people to believe what he said because he was not a man of words

only but a man of actions.

He instructs Titus to tell the faithful that the things that he says to them are

not just ideas and empty words, but a lived reality. For this reason these

words have certainty and they should listen to them without objection.

Everything must be clear so that no doubts can arise. If we must be clear

about every aspect of our lives, then it must be doubly true on matters of

faith in the True God. ...this is a faithful saying, and these things I want you

to affirm constantly. In these words we see that faith and certainty are two

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separate things. However when the faithful person is able to bring these

things together- no matter how separate they may seem- then he has in his

disposition a great treasure. He has a complete picture of the Orthodox

Christian faith. Faith is the letter, and certainty is the signature and seal.

When a person believes all of the things that you say regarding the true

Christian faith, and this faith is accompanied by analogous works and

behaviours, then we have a complete follower of Christ. We say for

example, that God is present everywhere and sees everything, He not only

sees my actions, but reads my thoughts as well, just as He saw Nathaniel

under the fig tree and saw that his heart was without cunning, He sees meas well. Despite this I continuously fill my mind with disgusting and cunning

thoughts, I work towards my own gain, I take advantage of the weak, I

desire material wealth, and I do all of these things in front of Gods eyes.

The majority of these thoughts and actions I can keep secret from other

people out of embarrassment and fear. What about God then Who sees all

of these disgusting things that I do? How then do I make such

compromises? The answer is simple, this situation clearly show just how

little faith I really have. Faith tells me that God sees me, but faithlessness

clouds my mind and I carry on as though He cannot see. In this way we sin

every day in Gods sight, and due to the darkness of sin we think that God

does not see us.

In todays apostolic reading we hear Paul say that the faithful have to

support and carry out good works, since these are the things that they

desire and these confirm their belief in the true faith. Our actions are the

proof of our faith. If our actions and behaviours in our daily lives and

interactions with our fellow man are filled with the Spirit of God, then we

have proof that our faith is true and it is guiding us to the salvation of our

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soul. However if our actions are filled with a cunning spirit, then we have

proof that we are faithless, or at the very least, our little faith is little.

Truly we bless all of those Christian heroes of our faith who had faith and

certainty in their faith to carry out philanthropic and God pleasing actions.

We bless them because they sensed the constant presence of God in their

minds and in their hearts, and they carried out their spiritual struggle and

won the blessed life of immortality. Many men and women, of the Old and

New Testament showed themselves to be giants of faith in the True God.

Abraham showed this faith because despite of his old age and that Sarah

was barren it would seem that there was no chance that he would be ableto bring a child into the world, As he lifted the knife to sacrifice Isaac, as

God had commanded him, it seem that nothing would save him from

childlessness. And yet none of these attacks on his senses could reduce

his steely and steadfast faith in Gods words that promised him: for in Isaac

your seed shall be called. (Gen. 21, 12) Brethren compared to Abraham

and all of those believed and lived according to their faith, we are small. Do

you see how we are fooled by our senses and become slaves to our

passions and worldly attachments? Today let us celebrate the Holy Fathers

of our Church, since they are worthy, but above all let us take the decision

to be like them.

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Again the gates of our Greek school have opened wide to receive students for

the last school-term of 2012. We welcome the children and pray that the Lord

may help them to continue zealously their study of the immortal Greek language.

Day of the Glorious Apostle and Evangelist

St Luke, Matins and Divine Liturgy, 8 am10 am approx..

Day of St Gerasimos of Kefallinia, St

Artemios and St Matrona, Matins and Divine Liturgy, 8 am10 am.

, Vespers, 5.30 pm6.30 pm.

This year, the 28th October celebrations including the official Doxology Service

fall on the actual day of the anniversary. After Divine Liturgy, the Doxology for our

National Anniversary (28 October 1940) will take place in our Church. All

students are required to assemble in the Community Hall at the rear of the

church at 9.30am. Students who do not wish to dress up in national costumes

are to come dressed in blue and white clothing.

Some time prior to the end of the Divine Liturgy, the students of our Greek

School, holding flags and dressed in our national colours of blue and white or in

the national costumes of our Community-Parish, will come into church,

accompanied by the teaching staff. At about 11.00am, following the Divine

Liturgy, a short Doxology service will be held to commemorate this special

occasion.

Afterwards, there will be a luncheon for everyone in our Community Hall. Whilst

the luncheon is taking place, the Greek School students will recite poems and

songs and our Dance Group will perform to commemorate this special day.

It is our patriotic duty to urge our children to come and take part in our National

Day celebrations. Our National Day celebrations will remind the children not only

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of the victories of our Fatherland but also and above all, the victories against the

occupiers for freedom for all nations and of the individual.

Our Greek National Day celebrations have a universal character. We arent

celebrating territorial freedom but the ideal of the freedom of man. The words

Death or Freedom send a message to all peoples that death is preferable to

slavery. If the people of the world had this message in their hearts, we would not

have wars and territorial claims. Every nation would confine itself to its

boundaries and would try to cultivate friendships and trust with all other nations

and not live under uncertainty with hand on trigger.

Today, more than at any other age, it is necessary for our children and grand

children to learn that we are celebrating the freedom not only of Greece, but the

freedom of all nations on the earth. Let us also tell them that the ideal of freedom

cannot succeed without sacrifice and much struggle. We come to commemorate

those fighters who struggled and fell in the field of battle. We come every year to

tell them that we have not forgotten them. That we recognize their struggle and

their superhuman sacrifices. We also reassure them that, now that they are at

rest, their heroic blood has not been wasted.

With these thoughts, we can preserve the spirit of freedom in the hearts of our

children and future generations. This day is an opportunity to show by our living

presence that we are not slaves. Also, to show practically to our children, that we

are not ungrateful, unthankful and enslavedbut grateful, thankful and free.

Parents are advised that this event is a compulsory part of the school curriculum

and all students are expected to attend and participate in the Doxology Service.

Your active participation as well as your children's on this important day in our

spiritual and national calendar is very important. We ask that parents bring their

children along and help them to dress up in the communitys national costumes

prior to their entry into the church. Members of the School Committee as well as

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teaching staff will be there to assist parents and coordinate the dressing up of the

students into the communitys costumes.

Every year, as these historic days for the freedom of our Fatherland approach,

we are filled with feelings of patriotism. Our thoughts focus on the honourable

witness of the patriotic feeling of Greeks around the globe: every Greek, that is,

who does not allow the place where he lives to change his faith in God and his

love for his mother Greece. Alas for those Greeks who sell their religious and

national consciousness, who have forgotten history, who heed not the sacrifices

of our heroic ancestors. Woe to the peoples who do not hear the ceaseless

knock of our indebtedness for unity of mind and soul; who do not hear the

insistent witness of history for the necessity of peace and love amongst peoples.

Our Church continues through the centuries to hold fast the lit beacon of struggle

which is first and foremost the beacon of freedom and martyrdom. The Church

raises it now in our tumultuous days, empowering and enlightening mankind in

our wretched and nightmarish darkness. That which we celebrate every year is

mankinds yearning for freedom. This is the message which as free Greeks, like

the swallows which herald spring, like proud champions of freedom, we are

obliged to pass on to the next generation. On Sunday 28 th October, the Doxology

for the National Anniversary of 194044 will be held in our Church. Afterwards,

we shall repair to our Community Hall where the students of our Greek school will

recite poems and speeches and perform Greek dances. This is an opportunity to

show practically, parents, grandparents and children, that, though the years pass,

no-one and nothing can extinguish the flame of freedom. Please would students

come dressed in our national colours or the national costumes provided by our

Community-Parish. Your lively and enthusiastic presence, the flag-bedecked

Church, the Greek flag itself, our national dress, together with the National

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Anthem, patriotic poems and songs, create a beautiful atmosphere, which the

children will remember forever. We look forward to you joining us.

Last Monday evening, the regular monthly meeting of the Executive Committee

was held in our Museum. The topics which were discussed were:

1. Meeting of the Committee of the Annual Festival, Monday 22nd October2. School celebration of 28th October3.Annual General Meeting, Sunday 4th November4. The Forty-Day Church Services from 14th November5. Festival of St Nikolaos, 5th6th December6. Publication of calendars 20137. School exams, 2nd December8. Christmas function, Sunday 23rd December9. New Years Eve Dance, 31st December10. Norwood Annual Festival 9th March 201311. Glenelg Festival

Also sorted were various details of the functions and the upkeep of our blessed

Community-Parish. Please would you note the above dates so we can come

together for these functions.

Last Wednesday, we had the opportunity to discuss the God-Man Lord as

presented in Holy Scripture. This Wenesday, we shall study the God-Man nature

of Christ. Discussions are in English, with Greek as required. The studies are

suitable for all, especially those who have not attended catechism. Groups meet

in the rooms of our Community Centre every Wednesday evening 7pm - 8pm.

Donations for the air-conditioning system continue to come and we thank

everyone for their various amounts and those who promise to pay little by little.

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Even people who have already donated continue to offer whatever they have in

surplus and we thank them especially.

Every ten years approximately, we update the record of addresses of our blessed

parisioners. The period of ten years incurs significant change. Please would you

complete the form at the front counter of our Church, with name, address and

telephone numbers. This is a big help for the priest in the organizing of the

Agiamos of your homes. Please return the forms by 9th December 2012. Thank

you for your cooperation.

On Sunday 21ST October at 3 pm, the Annual General Meeting of our Philoptohos

will take place in our Community Centre Hall. Would all ladies who can spare a

few hours to help their fellow-man please join the Committee of our Philoptohos.

Many hands make light work. The Church appeals to all ladies in our Parish to

take part and allow those heroines who have been serving our Parish faithfully for

the last almost fifty years to take a little rest.

Those who do not know what the important role of the Philoptohos entails, come

and learn more at this meeting next Sunday 21ST October. The members of the

Philoptohos who offer wholeheartedly their services are the first to taste the

sweet fruits of their labour. If you have not yet become a member, come and try.

We look forward to welcoming you.