7/30/2019 1428 2012

1/16

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 CORRES PONDENCE TO THE HON. SE CRETAR Y

O

24

: 8362 4139 . 8431 7789 . 0412 710 037

02-12-12

29. 1428

WEEKLY MAGAZINE

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

DATE 02-11-12

YEAR 29TH NUMBER 1428

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/

7/30/2019 1428 2012

2/16

2

.

. ,

. , ,

,

.

. : ,

.

: . ,

.

.

.

,

.

.

, , , .

- - ,

.

.

.

7/30/2019 1428 2012

3/16

3

.

. :

, .

, .

,

. ;

,

; , ,

.

.

,

.

,

.

.

.

,

.

. ,

, , ,

, .

.

,

.

7/30/2019 1428 2012

4/16

4

, .

: , .

,

.

,

, .

,

. :

, .

, .

.

,

.

: , ,

, ,

,

. .

-

- .

,

.

,

.

. ,

.

, ;

,

;

7/30/2019 1428 2012

5/16

5

! ; ,

, ,

:

;

;

; ,

,

. -

-

. , . ; ;

14th SUNDAY OF LUKE (Ephes. 5, 8-19) 2nd December2012

It is as thought the letter that Paul sent to the Ephesians was written today. The

text is more suited to our current times than at the time of Christ. This can easily

be ascertained by anyone wishing to investigate this, even at a first glance. For

you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of

the light.

With the miracle of the giving of sight to the blind man of Jericho, we are

transported to before creation, when darkness was everywhere. With Christs

command: Receive your sight we are reminded of Gods firsts actions through

which the entire universe was created, and more specifically when light was

created. We are transported to the vast impenetrable darkness that was

everywhere and we are reminded of Gods command: Let there be light, and

there was light. The event of creation, as well as the prophecies concerning the

coming of the Messiah were familiar to all the Jews. They were passed down

from generation to generation systematically, something that is continuing today.

These things, then, were also well known to the blind man of todays gospel

reading.

7/30/2019 1428 2012

6/16

6

Undistracted by the multiple concerns that man faces through his eyesight he

was continuously meditating on Gods greatness and His omnipotence. In his

mind the blind-man travelled through the impenetrable darkness that through

Gods command was filled with light, when suddenly innumerable stars, suns,

galaxies, and planets filled the universe. God in his wisdom put all of these lights

in their places to give light to man, to create in him a sense of wonderment so

that he would glorify his Creator and God. It was about these things amongst

others that the blind-man would have been thinking about while he was sitting in

his darkness and so the beginning of hope sprang up inside of him.

An unusual commotion and noise shook him away from his thoughts. He got up

from where he was sitting and asked what was going on. When he heard his

compatriots who were rushing past him saying that : Jesus of Nazareth was

passing by. he jumped up and began to call out: Jesus, son of David, have

mercy on me! In vain his compatriots tried to stop him, they were unable to until

finally Christ stopped. Therefore the crowds of people could not stop this faithful

person from showing his love for Christ, because of His love for the man who

belies Christ stopped. Why were the crowds unable to stop him? What was the

source of the strength that the blind-man had to continuously get up after

stumbling and falling down until he achieved that which he desired?

Brethren, this uneducated blind-man of Jericho was able to theologise all of

those things that the Rabbis, the Scribes and the Pharisees were unable to

understand for all of that time. And this theology became useful to all

theologians from him until today. In his mind the blind-man was able to see all of

the events of Gods creation, and with the purity of heart he was able to discern

Gods plan for mankind. That firstly, before anything else material God created

light, this shows that light is indispensable for man and for the preservation of all

of His creation. It is the basic requirement for all of life. The blind-man was able

to see that only the God of love could prepare such a perfect world for man.

7/30/2019 1428 2012

7/16

7

Deep inside he believed that the God of love and the Creator of light would also

one day give him sight. He was waiting for the living presence of God in his life.

The expectation of his secret hope, nurtured the belief within him that He who

was performing miraculous healing of those who were suffering, demonically

possessed, paralysed, and even raised the dead, was none other than the

expected Messiah. Nobody was in a position to be able to change his mind.

When he heard that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by him, this belief became

even more fervent within him and nothing was able to stop him. He was certain

that any contact with the Light-bearing and Life-giving Jesus would have the

desired outcome. He therefore shouted out for His attention: Jesus, son of

David, have mercy on me!

If he had allowed the crowds of people to dissuade him and prevent his meeting

with Christ, he would have unfortunately remained blind for ever. If he was

thinking that as a worldly , civilised person he would have to be quiet and act like

all the rest, he would have remained in darkness. If he was afraid that his

compatriots would look down upon him and stop him asking for mercy, he would

have died a scorned beggar. So for this reason he called out with all of his

strength: Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!

Brethren, in the beginning of His creation God spoke and natural light was

created. In the case of the blind man He spoke and sight came to his natural

eyes. Todays apostolic reading refers to the spiritual light that Christ brought

when He came to earth for the spiritual enlightenment of all mankind. When

Paul says: For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk

as children of the light. His aim is to inform the newly baptised Ephesians that

now that they have been baptised and enlightened, in their hearts has been

installed spiritual energy. For so many years they were in spiritual darkness,

they were impatiently waiting for this spiritual connection- which through the

7/30/2019 1428 2012

8/16

8

Sacrament of Baptism has been fulfilled. And now the only thing that you need

to do is to flick the switch and be immediately filled with spiritual light.

Paul noticed that the Christians of Ephesia were retuning back to their old habits,

to the lives that they lead before the came to Christianity, and he is attempting to

convince them that this is not allowed. Ok then, before when you were immersed

in spiritual darkness you justifiable were stumbling around, however now that you

have been enlightened, why are your actions still the works of darkness? Why

dont you flick the switch to connect to spiritual light before every action?

Truly! What is going on with us Christians? With great sadness, we observe that

today baptised Christians, behave as though their spiritual eyes are shut and we

ask ourselves: Why dont these blessed people flick the switch, why do they

stumble about in spiritual darkness? Do they not know that the spiritual

connection with heavenly light has been made? In reality this is indeed what is

going on, one I asked a young man if he knew about this connection, and he

answered that he had never heard about this spiritual connection, nobody had

ever told him about it. Honestly father- he said to me- not my parents, nor have

my God-parents, nor anybody else has spoken to me about this. And honestly I

believed him. What do you think, can you believe this?

2 5 ,

,

. ,

, .

.. ,

. ,

, . .

7/30/2019 1428 2012

9/16

9

, ,

,

.

. .

25 ,

, 85 .

,

,

. , , . ,

,

.

25 ,

, 93 .

, , 3

10.30 . , , .

, ,

,

.

24 , ,

57. ,

4 11

. .

.

7/30/2019 1428 2012

10/16

10

7,

. , 24

, ,

, , ,

,

1.00 .

.

,

, 7.30 9.00 ,

-8-9.30 8-11 .

6.00 , .

.

, , ,

, ,

.

5 , 7.00-8.30 ,

. , 8.45-9.45

,

. , 6

, 8.00-11.00

,

.

7/30/2019 1428 2012

11/16

11

, . ,

, , ,

,

, ,

. , , ,

, . ,

. ... .

, , .

, .

, .

, .

. ,

, ,

, .

: .. .... ,

.

.

,

. ,

.

, ,

. ,

- , .

7/30/2019 1428 2012

12/16

12

.

DJ.

, , .

.

.

,

. ,

, .

, , .

. 9

2012.

$300

$150

A .

, the Greek School End-of-Year Concert will be held

in our Community Centre Hall at 5 pm. With the help of the teaching-staff,

students have prepared a wonderful programme. Honouring our concert by their

presence will be His Grace Bishop Nikandros of Doryleon, His Excellency the

Consul-General of Greece in Adelaide Mr Ilias Maniakis Grivas, the Chairman of

the Ethnic Schools Board of SA Mr John Kiosoglou and other guests. As well as

7/30/2019 1428 2012

13/16

13

parents and grandparents who have a duty to be present, everyone who would

like to spend a lovely evening with us is also welcome. Come and share our joy

as we follow the progress of our children in the learning of our mother-tongue and

congratulate them on their great efforts.

Last Sunday evening 25th November, Anastasia Diakostergou of Rhodes passed

away, aged 85 years. Her funeral was held in our Church last Thursday. The

burial was at Payneham Cemetery and the coffee of condolence was offered by

the family in our Community Centre Hall.

+++

Last Sunday morning 25th November, George Samonas of Chios passed away,

aged 93 years. His funeral will be held in our Church

at 10.30 am.

+++

On Friday 23rd November, Afendra of the Karippidis family passed away aged 57

years. Her Funeral will be held in our Church on

+++

The Priest, President, and the members of the Executive Committee and

Philoptohos extend their sincere sympathy to the families of the departed and

pray they may have strength and comfort from above. More details of the

funerals in the next Newsletter.

It is a fact that when someone beloved departs this life, we grieve and feel their absence

intensely. Because of anti-Christian ideology which is seen to creep in amongst otherwise

faithful Christians, I wish to mention a few things on this matter. First of all, the emptiness

created by the absence of a departed husband, for example, can only be filled within the

Church. There the husband is present. He is found in Church but in a different space.

Throughout Divine Liturgy, the widow observes that, during the Proskomidi, the Great

Entrance, the Holy Petition, right up to the Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, she is

7/30/2019 1428 2012

14/16

14

accompanied by her husband. The Church is the only place which maintains vividly the

communion of the living with those fallen asleep. It is the so-called communion of the Saints,

because we all meet at the sacrament of Holy Communion, around the Holy Table, the Altar, of

the Lord. Within this sacrament in the company of Heaven and earth, are found our departed

Fathers and brothers, all our beloved faces who have departed this world in repentance and

confession. The whole Church is present. The Martyrs, Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles,

Fathers: the soul-nurturing table gathers them all. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we

die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lords. For to this end

Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living

(Romans 14, 8-9). Therefore, having communion with the Lord through the sacraments, we

commune with the saints and also with our departed brothers and sisters who live in Christ.

The Holy Spirit unites everyone and therefore the saints are close to us. And when we pray to

them in the Holy Spirit, they hear our prayers and within our souls, we feel their intercessions.

The Church is the meeting-place of the departed, the living, and those who are yet to be born,

where with love, they gather around the holy table and declare their faith in God. In Christ, we

live and move and have our being. Alive or dead, we are all in Him. Or rather, we are all

alive in Him, because in Him, death does not exist. Unfortunately, the devil rejoices when

people grieve, dress in black and feel disillusioned. So he contrives to keep away from Church

the beloved of the departed, creating an unbridgeable void. To convince his victims, the

cunning one sends others to act on his behalf. They persuade the mourners not to go to

Church. But God is not God of the dead, but of the living. He is your God, He is the God of

whosoever dies. There exists only one God, and we are all united in the one God. Therefore,

we can maintain unbroken our unity and our love, since we expect the resurrection of the dead

and life everlasting.

With the help of God, Divine Liturgy is being celebrated in our Church daily until

1st January 2013, 7.30am 9am, apart from the major celebrations, 8am

9.30am, and Sundays, 8am11am. On Christmas Day, the service will begin at

6am, as in previous years.

The year is passing and the Festival of St Nicholas is nearly upon us. Prophet

Elias is the only Church of our Holy Archdiocese in South Australia to celebrate

7/30/2019 1428 2012

15/16

15

the memory of St Nicholas annually with Great Vespers, anoixantaria, Holy

Unction and Vigil. The program is as follows:

, Great Vespers with anoixantaria,

artoklasia and homily, 7 pm 8.30 pm. Holy Unction, 8.45 pm 9.45 pm,

followed by Vigil with teaching on the life and work of St Nicholas.

Day of St Nicholas, Matins and Divine Liturgy with

artoklasia, homily and procession of the holy icon of the Saint around the church

grounds, 8 am11 am. Afterwards, delicious lunch of fish, salad and skordalia in

our Community Centre.

St Nicholas was truly a man of faith, meekness, self-control, humility and

integrity. The apolytikio of St Nicholas is one of the most beautiful hymns of

praise to a human. All his life was evidence of his sainthood. As soon as he

heard the heretic Arius blaspheme the deity of Christ during the first Ecumenical

Council, St Nicholas struck him in front of everybody present, in front of the

Emperor and many distinguished people. He struck him because he could not

bear the sound of his lie. His gesture was indicative of the high Orthodox courage

of the saint. Surely, if St Nicholas was among us today, he would strike in the

same manner and even more boldly, all those who falsify the truth. Nonetheless,

St Nicholas was also a deeply humble man: it was out of humility that he hid to

avoid being made Bishop. Thus he would chastise upstarts today: schismatics,

heretics and Protestants who dare to behave with the authority of an Orthodox

Bishop. Today, we can only ask St Nicholas to correct the unwise as he did so

long ago and bring the love of God amongst us.

, there will be the regular Vigil, starting at 9 pm. The

Vigil comprises Mikro Apodeipno, the 24 verses of the Akathistos Hymn, Great

Vespers, Prayer in the Narthex, blessing of loaves, homily and Matins and Divine

Liturgy, concluding with blessing of the table around 1 am. This is a spiritual

7/30/2019 1428 2012

16/16

16

opportunity for those who humbly desire to feel the living presence of God within

them.

On Wednesday 5th December from 7-8 pm, we will have the opportunity to hear

the personal experiences from a gentleman who recently has visited the Holy

Mount in Greece. A person who although is not an Orthodox Christian, is

seeking to find the true religion. So please come along on this coming up

Wednesday night from 7-8 and listen to what Mr Lawrence Johnson has to say

about his visit to the Holy Mount.

Approximately every ten years, we update our record of addresses of our blessed

parishioners. There is usually significant change over this period of time,

requiring this small effort. Please would you provide name, address and

telephone number(s) on the form available at the front counter of our Church.

This is an important help to the priest in arranging Agiasmos of your homes.

It seems that time is going so fast, that no sooner has one event finished, than

we are preparing another one. For example, when someone asked me a week

ago if tickets were available for our Community-Parish New Years Eve Dance, I

was taken aback. Hastily, I printed the tickets and they are now ready for

everyone looking forward to spending New Year in a delightful family

atmosphere. We shall follow the same programme as usual. Tsambikos will

entertain us with a great DJ; there will be a gold lira door-prize; and need I

mention the most delicious food, sweets and drinks? There are places still

available and tickets are the same price as last year.