THUNDER BAY BULLETINHOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΗ ΚΟΙΝΟΤΗΤΑ ΑΓΙΑΣ ΤΡΙΑΔΟΣ

DECEMBER 2019

651 Beverly Street, Thunder Bay ON P7B 6N2 Tel: 807-344-9522 www.gothunderbay.org holytrinity@tbaytel.net

Christ is Born, Glorify Him!

Χριστός Γεννάται, Δοξάσατε!

Priest: Rev. Fr. Konstantinos Tsiolas; 807-357-9984 Church Email: holytrinity@tbaytel.net; Fr. Kosta’s email: fatherkosta@gmail.com Website: www.gothunderbay.org Office Hours, Confessions: Please call/text Fr. Kosta on his mobile phone to arrange a meeting. COMMUNITY CONTACTS President: Daniel Vasiliu 807-630-7642 Vice President: Dolores Maki 807-344-9522 Secretary: Vacant Treasurer: Florina Nisioiu 807-709-2958 Board Members: Jennie Hartviksen, Maria Morakis, Nick Balina GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF CANADA 86 OVERLEA BLVD (1 PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW WAY) 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.MFA.GR/CANADA/EN/

CONSULATE GENERAL OF GREECE 365 BLOOR STREET E, SUITE 1800 TORONTO, ONTARIO M4W 3L4 TELEPHONE: (416) 515-0133 FAX: (416) 515-0209 WEBSITE: WWW.MFA.GR/CANADA/EN

Απολυτίκιο της Αγίας Τριάδος Ευλογητός εί, Χριστέ ο Θεός ημών, ο πανσόφους τους αλιείς αναδείξας, καταπέμψας αυτοίς το Πνεύμα το Άγιον, και δι᾽ αυτών την οικουμένην σαγηνεύσας, φιλάνθρωπε, δόξα σοι.

Hymn of the Holy Trinity Blessed are You, O Christ our God. You made the fishermen all-wise by sending down upon them the Holy Spirit, and through them You drew the world into Your net. O lover of mankind, glory to You.

Church Etiquette

When attending Divine Services we will have the responsibility of maintaining proper decorum and atmosphere in the church. The very first thing to keep in mind is that we are to be at Divine Services on time. The church is the house of God. Reverence and good manners are required at all times. Not irreverent or irrelevant conversations should go on in the Narthex or in the church proper. There are certain times during the Divine Services when no one should be moving about, or entering the church, or being seated at a pew. Wherever a person happens to be at these moments, he or she should stop and stand reverently until the proper moment to be seated. These times are: During the Doxology, when the priest is censing. During the small Entrance - the procession of the priest and Altar servers with the Holy Gospel. When the priest cense the Altar, icons, and congregation throughout the Service. During the reading of the Epistle and Gospel. During the Great Entrance - the procession of the priest and the Altar servers with the Holy Gifts. During the recitation of the Creed of Faith and the Lord’s Prayer (Our Father). During the Consecration of the Holy Gifts. (Se Imnoumen Hymn) During Holy Communion. When receiving any Sacrament of the church, use your baptismal/chrimation name. During any special services such as Memorials or Blessing or the Loaves, special Doxologies, etc. The General rule is that whenever the priest is outside the Holy Altar either with the censer or giving a blessing, there should be no movement in the church. Also, we remind everyone that we should attend the Divine Liturgy and all services of Divine Worship from the beginning.

Εκκλησιαστική Εθιμοτυπία

Όταν είμαστε στην εκκλησία, όλοι έχουμε την ευθύνη να κρατήσουμε τη σωστή ευπρέπεια και ατμόσφαιρα του ναού. Το πρώτο πράγμα που πρέπει να θυμόμαστε είναι ότι πρέπει να είμαστε στην εκκλησία στην ώρα μας. Η εκκλησία είναι ο οίκος του Θεού. Η ευλάβεια και οι σωστοί τρόποι απαιτούνται πάντα. Δεν πρέπει γίνεται άσχετη ή ασεβής συζήτηση στον Νάρθηκα ή μέσα στον ναό. Υπάρχουν μερικές στιγμές στις ακολουθίες που κανένας δεν πρέπει να κινείται, ή να μπαίνει στην εκκλησία, ή να κάθεται. Όπου και να βρίσκεται ο άνθρωπος αυτές τις στιγμές, πρέπει να σταματήσει και να σταθεί όρθιος με σεβασμό έως την κατάλληλη στιγμή να καθίσει. Αυτές οι στιγμές είναι: Στην Δοξολογία, όταν ο ιερέας θυμιάζει. Στην Μικρή Είσοδο, στην διάρκεια της πομπής του Ευαγγελίου με τα Ευριπίδη και τον ιερέα. Όταν ο ιερέας θυμιάζει το Ιερό, τις εικόνες, και τον κόσμο στην διάρκεια της Θειας Λειτουργίας. Στην ανάγνωση του Αποστόλου και του Ευαγγελίου. Στην Μεγάλη Είσοδο, στην διάρκεια της πομπής τον Άγιων Δώρων με τα ιερόπαιδα και τον ιερέα. Στην απαγγελία του Πιστεύω και της Κυριακής Προσευχής (Πάτερ Υμών). Στην Αναφορά (καθαγίαση) των Άγιων Δώρων (Στον ύμνο Σε Υμνούμεν). Στην Θεία Κοινωνία. Όταν λαμβάνουμε ένα Μυστήριο της Εκκλησίας, χρησιμοποιούμε το βαπτιστικό μας όνομα. Σε ειδικές ακολουθίες, σαν τα μνημόσυνα, τις αρτοκλασίες, ειδικές δοξολογίες, κτλ. Ο γενικός κανόνας είναι, όταν ο ιερέας είναι εκτός του Ιερού, είτε με το θυμιατό ή για να δώσει ευλογία, δεν γίνεται κίνηση στον ναό. Επίσης, θυμίζουμε όλους ότι πρέπει να είμαστε στην Λειτουργία και όλες τις ακολουθίες από την αρχή. Μην ξεχνάτε ότι τα μέλη του συμβουλίου είναι υποχρεωμένα να κρατήσουν την τάξη και την ευπρέπεια στην εκκλησία. Ζητάμε την κατανόηση σας. Συνεργαστείτε μαζί μας. Οι ιερείς είναι εδώ να υπηρετήσουν. Η συνεργασία σας στην παρακολούθηση αυτών των κανονισμών θα μας βοηθήσει πολύ στο έργο μας να προσφέρουμε τη βοήθεια μας σε όλες τις πνευματικές ανάγκες σας.

Priest’s Message

Beloved in the Lord,

“God sent forth his Son ... so that we might receive the adoption as sons.” What can one add to the precise words of the Apostle? The Church has rephrased this tremendous and extraordinary revelation by saying that‚ ”God became man so that man may become god (holy).” One of the principles of the Orthodox faith is that whatever we see in Christ, our Lord, it is destined for us, his followers. If He is God-become-man, we are called to be humans-become-God: He calls us to theosis (holiness). If God takes on himself the frail and sinful human nature and becomes a baby, it is—as the hymn says—for our sake. 

As we heard before, God became one of us not because He needed it, but so that we might again rejoin the Father’s household. If therefore, the Creator was made flesh for us, and if we are so precious in God’s eyes—not bond-servants, but sons and daughters — let us open ourselves up for His work in us. We should not deny our calling as human beings. Let us not think of ourselves as lower than children of God, for God “sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father!” 

Christmas is not a yearly commemoration of some event that happened a long time ago, in a distant place. We celebrate the Nativity as the beginning of our journey with Christ. What do we, the hosts, offer this heavenly guest who wants to be with us not only for a night but forever one of us? The angels and the shepherds give glory, and the magi bring their gifts to Bethlehem; the earth itself offers a cave. As for us, the Liturgy suggests the following: “let us commend ourselves and our whole life unto Christ, our God!” 

I wish a Merry Christmas to all of you, and a blessed Nativity Feast.

With Love in Incarnate Christ, Fr. Kosta

How a Fifteen Year Old Child Martyr Shows Us the Right Path

By Fr. Elias Makos Translation by John Sanidopoulos

The New Martyr John who was from Gouves in Monemvasia was a child, just fifteen years old, and his memory is celebrated on October 21st. He was made worthy to be martyred for his faith in God, and in a very tragic way. His father was an Orthodox priest from Geraki who served with much reverence in the parish of the village of his wife called Gouves, and this is where John was born. In the year 1770, when John was just a teenager and barely grown up, the hordes of the Albanian Hadji Osman invaded Gouves, and they slaughtered John's father before his very eyes. The young man held him up as being an excellent role model and he loved him, and this event made John grow in maturity even more. John and his mother were captured and were brought to Larisa. There John was sold to a Turk, who valued his many gifts and sought to adopt him in order to secure for him a better life, after, of course, he converted to Islam. John didn't want to even hear about the possibility of becoming a Muslim. He declared he was an Orthodox Christian, who worshiped Jesus Christ as the one true God, just like his parents. Soon the love of the Turk turned to hatred. And this hatred turned to rage. This rage manifested itself through torture. After torturing John for not becoming a Muslim, he killed him on 21 October 1773 by driving a knife into his heart. A child of only fifteen showed us the path. What path is this? It is the path of a genuine life. It is not enough that we declare ourselves members of the Orthodox Church, and by this we think we have fulfilled our mission. It is not enough to only have faith but there must also be consistency, and we find this in the person of a boy who did not yet have facial hair. It is not conceivable to believe correctly and act wrongly. Our lives must be in harmony with our faith and should never be contrary to it. It is like, for example, a coin with two sides. You cannot have one side without the other. In order to not get caught up in our imperfections and the lack of a life which practices its faith, we must be people of both right faith and good works. Otherwise as we get to know ourselves it will be revealed how our soul is suffering and our conscience is wounded.

The Word Became Flesh: The Inexpressible Mystery of Salvation (St. Symeon the New Theologian)

When God, the Son of God, entered the womb of All-Holy Virgin and took flesh from her, He was born a perfect person and perfect God, without confusion. When has anything more important ever happened for us? We all believe in this Son of God and Son of the ever-virgin Mother of God, Mary, which is why we confidently accept this information about Him and this event. If we confess Him and repent from the bottom of our heart then the word of devotion [to Him] is born within us like a seed, in exactly the same way as the Word of the Father entered the womb of the Virgin. Marvel at this great and astonishing miracle and accept it in all certainty and faith. So we conceive this Word, not bodily, as the Virgin and Mother of God did, but spiritually and in truth. And we have Him in our hearts Who is the same Christ born of the Pure Virgin, as Saint Paul says: ‘For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ’ (II Cor. 4, 6), as if saying: ‘He’s been wholly born within us’. This is clear from what he goes on to add: ‘But we have this treasure in earthen vessels’ (II Cor. 4, 7), meaning, by ‘treasure’, the Holy Spirit. Elsewhere he calls the Holy Spirit ‘Lord’, because, as he explains, the Holy Spirit is the Lord. So whenever you hear ‘the Son of God’, you should also understand ‘the Spirit’ and when you hear ‘the Holy Spirit’ you should also understand ‘the Father’, as Saint John says ‘God is Spirit’ (Jn, 4, 24), teaching that the Holy Trinity is undivided and of the same substance. In other words, where the Son is, there is the Father; where the Father is, there is the Spirit; and where the Holy Spirit is, there are the three Persons of the Godhead, one God and Father, together with His Son and the Spirit all sharing the same substance: ‘Who is blessed forever. Amen’. (Rom. 1, 25). So when we believe wholeheartedly, and repent fervently, we’ll conceive the Word of God in our hearts, as has been said, as the Virgin conceived Him, offering Him our pure and virgin souls. And just as she wasn’t consumed by the fire of the Godhead, because she was pure and all-spotless, neither are we when we offer Him our pure and cleansed hearts. Instead we feel a heavenly dew within us, a spring of water and a stream of immortal life. As to the fact that we also receive the full force of the fire of the Godhead, listen to the Lord when He says: ‘I have come to set fire to the earth’ (Luke, 12: 49). What else does He mean, if not the Spirit, Who is of the same substance as the Godhead, and Who comes to us and is known to us, together with the Son Himself and the Father? Since the Word of God once became incarnate and was born to the Virgin, in the body, ineffably and beyond reason, and that it’s not possible for each one of us to give birth to Him in the flesh, what has He arranged? For nourishment, He gives us that spotless Body which He took from the All-Pure Mother of God, at the time when He was born in the flesh. If we partake of it worthily, we have within us the whole of the incarnate God, Jesus Christ our Lord, this same Son of God and Son of the Virgin, Who sits at the right hand of God and Who says: ‘Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood remain in me, and I in them’ (Jn. 6, 56). He doesn’t come from us, nor is born in the body by us, though He’s never parted from us. We don’t feel Him as flesh, though He’s within us, just like an infant, but rather He’s bodiless within a body, ineffably intermingled with our nature and our essence, making us divine, because we’ve become completely at one with Him, that is, flesh of His flesh and bone of His bone. This is the greatest and most dread mystery of His inexpressible providence and condescension, which I’ve been reluctant to write about because I tremble to attempt it. But God always wants His love for us to be revealed and manifested, so that we, at some stage, will understand His great goodness and, feeling ashamed, will be more than ready to love Him in return. This is why I was moved by the Holy Spirit, Who illumines our hearts, to reveal to you these mysteries in writing, though not to show that we’re the same as her who give birth to the Lord- God forbid!- that would be impossible. The incarnation and birth of the Divine Word by the Virgin is one thing, and what happens to us spiritually is another. By giving birth to the Son and Word of God she actuated, here on earth, the mystery of the re-creation of the human race and the salvation of the whole world, that is, Our Lord and God, Jesus Christ, He Who united in Himself the things that were divided and washed away the sin of the world.

PHILOPTOCHOS CHRISTMAS BAKE SALE & ARTISAN BAZAAR!

SUNDAY DECEMBER 1 FROM 1PM TO 5PM

JOINING US THIS YEAR:

LOCAL ARTISANS SELLING THEIR BEAUTIFUL WORKS

COME OUT FOR A FUN AFTERNOON AND SUPPORT OUR PHILOPTOCHOS AND OUR COMMUNITY!

TRADITIONAL Greek pastries and Christmas bread for the

holidays.

1. Mrs. Angie Amorgianos 2. Mr. Mike Amorgianos 3. Mr. Peter Avgeropoulos 4. Mrs. Joyce Avgeropoulos 5. Mr. Nick Balina 6. Mrs. Dimitra Biniaris 7. Mrs. Katerina Biniaris 8. Mr. George Biniaris 9. Mrs. Toni Biniaris 10. Mrs. Irene Biniaris 11. Mrs. Athena Blieske 12. Mr. Gus Chimbakis 13. Mrs. Helen Chimbakis 14. Mr. Bill Comminos 15. Mrs. Pagona Comminos 16. Mr. Peter Comminos 17. Ms. Angela Damianakos 18. Mrs. Athena Damianakos 19. Mr. Billy Damianakos 20. Mrs. Adamantia Frattolin 21. Mrs. Joanne Frisky 22. Mr. Peter Giardetti 23. Mrs. Tara Giardetti 24. Mr. Harry Glymitsas 25. Mrs. Dimitra Glymitsas 26. Mrs. Jennie Hartviksen 27. Mr. Lei Hartviksen 28. Mr. Sotirios Hatzis 29. Mrs. Theodora Hatzis 30. Mr. Bill Hatzis 31. Mrs. Stella Hatzis 32. Mrs. Lisa Kahramanos 33. Ms. Penny Kahramanos 34. Mr. Andy Karanasos 35. Mrs. Lori Karanasos

36. Mrs. Voula Karanasos 37. Mr. Mike Karanasos 38. Mrs. Faye Karoutas 39. Mr. Nick Koukos 40. Mrs. Joyce Koukos 41. Mr. Peter Koukos 42. Mrs. Angela Lento 43. Mr. Jack Lotsios 44. Mrs. Effie Lotsios 45. Mr. George Lotsios 46. Mrs. Dolores Maki 47. Mrs. Smaragde Mellas 48. Ms. Georgina Mellas 49. Mrs. Maria Mellas 50. Ms. Bess Melville 51. Mrs. Despina Metsopoulos 52. Mr. Ahileas Mitsopoulos 53. Ms. Maria Morakis 54. Mrs. Florina Nisioiu 55. Mrs. Nikki Pantoulias 56. Mr. Peter Pantoulias 57. Mrs. Helen Pantoulias 58. Mrs. Maria Pavlou 59. Mr. Tom Pavlou 60. Mrs. Rosa Pavlou 61. Mr. Tom Pazianos 62. Mrs. Leila Pazianos 63. Mrs. Virginia Pazianos 64. Mr. Louis Port 65. Mrs. Dimitra Port 66. Mr. Imad Qeer 67. Mrs. Effie Saites 68. Mrs. Maria Sancartier 69. Mr. Steven Scollie 70. Mr. Marinos Spourdalakis

71. Mrs. Nora Spourdalakis 72. Mr. Constantin Todosia 73. Mrs. Manuella Todosia 74. Mr. Constantine Tsekouras 75. Mrs. Jane Tsekouras 76. Mr. Ahileas Tsekouras 77. Mr. Paul Tsekouras 78. Mrs. Sylvia Tsekouras 79. Mr. Harry Tsekouras 80. Mrs. Lily Tsekouras 81. Ms. Elaine Tsekouras 82. Mr. John Tsekouras 83. Mr. Daniel Vasiliu 84. Mr. Peter Vlotaros 85. Mrs. Christine Vlotaros 86. Ms. Gina Voulgaris 87. Ms. Theodora Voulgaris 88. Mr. Chris Welbourne 89. Mrs. Pat Welbourne

“I know My own and My own know Me.” (John 10:14)

Stewardship is an act of faith. When we believe, stewardship follows. Stewardship is caring for our church community and its members. It is faith in action; action motivated by humble gratitude to God for his blessings in our life. Our church is a tremendous blessing in our lives. 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. There will come a time for each one of us when we shall no longer be able to give. When death comes, our giving will be over. For all eternity God will be doing the giving to us. So, the time for us to give is now. The time for us to love is now. The time for us to share what God has given us is now.

ΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΙΕΣ ΔΕΚΕΜΒΡΙΟΥ 2019

ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ 1 14η ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΛΟΥΚΑ Όρθρος 9:15 π.μ. Θεια Λειτουργία 10:30 π.μ. Αγιασμός των Υδάτων για τον Νέο Μήνα 11:45 π.μ.

ΠΑΡΑΣΚΕΥΗ 6 ΑΓΙΟΥ ΝΙΚΟΛΑΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΘΑΥΜΑΤΟΥΡΓΟΥ, ΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΟΥ ΜΥΡΩΝ Όρθρος 9:15 π.μ. Θεια Λειτουργία 10:30 π.μ.

ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ 8 10η ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΛΟΥΚΑ Όρθρος 9:15 π.μ. Θεια Λειτουργία 10:30 π.μ.

ΠΕΜΠΤΗ 12 ΑΓΙΟΥ ΣΠΥΡΙΔΩΝΟΣ ΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΟΥ ΤΡΙΜΥΘΟΥΣ Όρθρος 9:15 π.μ. Θεια Λειτουργία 10:30 π.μ.

ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ 15 11η ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΛΟΥΚΑ, Αγίου Ιερομ. Ελευθέριου & μητρός αυτού Ανθούσα Όρθρος 9:15 π.μ. Θεια Λειτουργία 10:30 π.μ. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ 22 ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΠΡΟ ΤΩΝ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥΓΕΝΝΩΝ, Αγίας Μεγαλομάρτυρος Αναστασίας Όρθρος 9:15 π.μ. Θεια Λειτουργία 10:30 π.μ.

ΤΡΙΤΗ 24 ΠΡΟΕΟΡΤΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΓΕΝΝΗΣΕΩΣ ΤΟΥ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥ - Παραμονή Χριστουγέννων Εσπερινή Θεία Λειτουργία Αγίου Βασιλείου 7:00 μ.μ.

ΤΕΤΑΡΤΗ 25 Η ΓΕΝΝΗΣΙΣ ΤΟΥ ΚΥΡΙΟΥ ΗΜΩΝ ΙΗΣΟΥ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥ Όρθρος 9:15 π.μ. Θεια Λειτουργία 10:30 π.μ.

ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ 29 ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΜΕΤΑ ΤΗ ΓΕΝΝΗΣΗ, Των 14,000 Αναιρεθέντων Νηπίων Όρθρος 9:15 π.μ. Θεια Λειτουργία 10:30 π.μ.

ΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΙΕΣ ΙΑΝΟΥΑΡΙΟΥ

ΤΕΤΑΡΤΗ 1 ΠΕΡΙΤΟΜΗ ΤΟΥ ΙΗΣΟΥ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥ, Του Αγίου Βασιλείου του Μεγάλου Όρθρος 9:15 π.μ. Θεια Λειτουργία Αγίου Βασιλείου 10:30 π.μ.

ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ 5 ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΠΡΟ ΤΩΝ ΦΩΤΩΝ Όρθρος 9:15 π.μ. Θεια Λειτουργία 10:30 π.μ. Αγιασμός των Υδάτων για τα Θεοφάνεια 11:45 π.μ.

ΔΕΥΤΕΡΑ 6 ΤΑ ΑΓΙΑ ΘΕΟΦΑΝΕΙΑ ΤΟΥ ΚΥΡΙΟΥ Όρθρος 9:15 π.μ. Θεια Λειτουργία 10:30 π.μ. Αγιασμός των Υδάτων για τα Θεοφάνεια 11:45 π.μ.

ΤΡΙΤΗ 7 Η ΣΥΝΑΞΗ ΤΟΥ ΑΓ. ΙΩΑΝΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΠΡΟΔΡΟΜΟΥ Όρθρος 9:15 π.μ. Θεια Λειτουργία 10:30 π.μ.

“The person who loves their (own) dream of community will destroy community, but the person who loves those around them will create community.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

“Το πρόσωπο που αγαπάει το δικό του όνειρο κοινότητας θα καταστρέψει κοινότητα, αλλά το πρόσωπο που αγαπά αυτούς γύρω του θα δημιουργήσει κοινότητα.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer

SERVICES FOR DECEMBER 2019

SUNDAY 1 14th SUNDAY OF LUKE Orthros 9:15 am Divine Liturgy 10:30 am Blessing of the Water Service for the New Month 11:45 am

FRIDAY 6 ST. NICHOLAS THE WONDERWORKER BISHOP OF MYRA Orthros 9:15 am Divine Liturgy 10:30 am

SUNDAY 8 10th SUNDAY OF LUKE Orthros 9:15 am Divine Liturgy 10:30 am

THURSDAY 12 ST. SPYRIDON BISHOP OF TRIMYTHOUS Orthros 9:15 am Divine Liturgy 10:30 am

SUNDAY 15 11th SUNDAY OF LUKE, The Priest-Martyr Eleftherios & his Mother Anthia Orthros 9:15 am Divine Liturgy 10:30 am

SUNDAY 22 SUNDAY BEFORE THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST, The Great Martyr Anastasia Orthros 9:15 am Divine Liturgy 10:3 am

TUESDAY 24 EVE OF THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great 7:00 pm

WEDNESDAY 25 THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST Orthros 9:15 am Divine Liturgy 10:30 am

SUNDAY 29 SUNDAY AFTER THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST, The 14,000 Children Killed by Herod Orthros 9:15 am Divine Liturgy 10:30 am

SERVICES FOR JANUARY 2020

WEDNESDAY 1 CIRCUMCISION OF OUR LORD, St. Basil the Great Orthros 9:15 am Divine Liturgy 10:30 am

SUNDAY 5 SUNDAY BEFORE THEOPHANY Orthros 9:15 am Divine Liturgy 10:30 am Blessing of the Waters at Theophany 11:45 am

MONDAY 6 HOLY THEOPHANY OF OUR LORD Orthros 9:15 am Divine Liturgy 10:30 am Blessing of the Waters at Theophany 11:45 am

TUESDAY 7 THE SYNAXIS (GATHERING) FOR ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST Orthros 9:15 am Divine Liturgy 10:30 am

HOLY TRINITY CROSS DIVE

AT THE VOLUNTEER POOL ALL AGES

SIGN-UP SHEET LOCATED ON THE BULLETIN BOARD

SUNDAY JANUARY 12; 12:30PM

Blessing of Homes for Theophany If you wish to have Fr. Kosta bless your home and/or business during the

Theophany season, please contact him directly:

Phone/Text: 807-357-9984 Email: fatherkosta@gmail.com

FR. KOSTA WILL NOT SHOW UP TO YOUR HOME UNANNOUNCED. Ο π. ΚΩΝ/ΝΟΣ ΔΕΝ ΘΑ ΠΕΡΑΣΕΙ ΑΠΟ ΤΑ ΣΠΙΤΙΑ ΧΩΡΙΣ ΡΑΝΤΕΒΟΥ.

Fr. Kosta’s schedule is as follows:

Monday, January 6th: 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Tuesday, January 7th: 10:00 am to 2:00 pm or 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Wednesday, January 8th: 10:00 am to 2:00 pm or 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm

If you live out of town, or need special arrangements, call Fr. Kosta.

ΚΑΛΑΝΤΑ! CHRISTMAS CAROLS!

OUR YOUTH WILL BE COMING TO YOUR HOME TO SING HEARTFELT CHRISTMAS CAROLS CELEBRATING THE COMING OF

OUR LORD!

H ΝΕΟΛΑΙΑ ΜΑΣ ΘΑ ΠΕΡΑΣΟΥΝ ΑΠΟ ΤΟ ΣΠΙΤΙ ΣΑΣ ΝΑ ΠΟΥΝΕ ΤΑ ΚΑΛΑΝΤΑ ΜΕ ΟΛΗ ΤΗ ΚΑΡΔΙΑ ΤΟΥΣ!

FORT WILLIAM – SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, AFTER 4:00PM PORT ARTHUR – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, AFTER 4:00PM

IF YOU CANNOT BE THERE TO WELCOME THE KIDS AT THE ABOVE TIMES, PLEASE BE COURTEOUS AND CALL/TEXT FR. KOSTA AT

807-357-9984.

ΑΝ ΔΕΝ ΜΠΟΡΕΙΤΕ ΝΑ ΕΙΣΑΣΤΕ ΕΚΕΙ ΝΑ ΤΟΥΣ ΚΑΛΩΣ ΔΕΧΘΕΙΤΕ, ΠΑΡΑΚΑΛΟYΜΕ ΝΑ ΠΑΡΕΤΕ ΤΗΛΕΦΩΝΟ ΤΟ Π. ΚΩΝ/ΝΟ ΣΤΟ

807-357-9984.

Fr. Konstantinos and his family, the Board Directors of the Greek Orthodox Community of Thunder Bay, the Philoptochos, the Youth

Groups and our Chanters wish you a Merry Christmas

and a Blessed New Year!

God bless you and your families!

Why do I go to Church?

Because the Church is a place of prayer, where we feel closest to God, where we resort to a difficult time to place our hope, light a candle, let our heart speak, let a tear roll. Because we want it and feel it, when we pass outside a church, to enter and worship, at any time, quietly and humbly, away from the inquisitive opinions of "how it should". Because we know that there is a God Who hears us n every sorrow and in every joy, in every request of our heart, because God is everywhere and always, and He is the ultimate Love sacrificed for us! Because in the Church there are the Mysteries, the great miracles of faith, which unite man with God, which take us to another dimension, where God and the soul exist beyond space, time, and matter eternally. Because only in the Church can we experience the miracle of Forgiveness, the spiritual rebirth that gives wings to the soul and fi lls the everyday with new, optimistic prospects. Because we know very well that the Church means a congregation of believers. I am not alone with God, but united with all, in a body headed by Christ, I participate in the great feast of the Kingdom of God! Because church is the participation of all in the Common Cup, the Body, and the Blood of Christ, the greatest gift of God to us humble and sinners, "for the forgiveness of sin and eternal life." Because church attendance means not only seeing my friends, but also growing with them, in a relationship built on healthy and true foundations, without the malice of hypocrisy and cynicism. Because church is equal to joy, and joy cannot stand alone, but needs to be communicated and spread, in order to be an essential experience for us. Because in the end the Church means to me inner joy, true and unending - what else does one ask for in his life, but a little joy and a little happiness.

Γιατί εκκλησιάζομαι;

Γιατί η Εκκλησία είναι τόπος προσευχής, εκεί όπου αισθανόμαστε πιο κοντά στο Θεό, εκεί που καταφεύγουμε σε κάποια δύσκολη στιγμή για να καταθέσουμε την ελπίδα μας, να ανάψουμε ένα κερί, να αφήσουμε την καρδιά μας να μιλήσει, να αφήσουμε ένα δάκρυ να κυλήσει. Γιατί  το θέλουμε και το νιώθουμε, όταν περνάμε έξω από μια εκκλησία, να μπούμε και να προσκυνήσουμε, οποιαδήποτε ώρα, ήσυχα και ταπεινά, μακριά από τα αδιάκριτα βλέμματα των “καθώς πρέπει”. Γιατί γνωρίζουμε ότι υπάρχει Θεός και μας ακούει, σε κάθε θλίψη και σε κάθε χαρά, σε κάθε αίτημα της καρδιάς μας, γιατί ο Θεός βρίσκεται παντού και πάντα, είναι η υπέρτατη Αγάπη που θυσιάζεται για μάς! Γιατί μέσα στην Εκκλησία τελούνται τα Μυστήρια, τα μεγάλα δηλαδή θαύματα της πίστης, που ενώνουν τον άνθρωπο με το Θεό, που μας μεταφέρουν σε μια άλλη διάσταση, όπου πέρα από το χώρο, το χρόνο και την ύλη υπάρχει ο Θεός, η ψυχή και η αιωνιότητα. Γιατί μόνο στην Εκκλησία μπορούμε να ζήσουμε το θαύμα της Συγγνώμης, την πνευματική αναγέννηση που δίνει φτερά στην ψυχή και γεμίζει την καθημερινότητα με νέες, αισιόδοξες προοπτικές. Γιατί γνωρίζουμε πολύ καλά ότι Εκκλησία σημαίνει κοινωνία πιστών, δεν είμαι μόνος μου απέναντι στο Θεό, αλλά ενωμένος με όλους, σε ένα σώμα με κεφαλή το Χριστό, συμμετέχω στο μεγάλο πανηγύρι της Βασιλείας του Θεού! Γιατί εκκλησιασμός είναι η συμμετοχή όλων στο κοινό Ποτήριο, το Σώμα και το Αίμα του Χριστού, τη μέγιστη δωρεά του Θεού προς εμάς τους ταπεινούς και αμαρτωλούς, “εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν καί εἰς ζωήν αἰώνιον”. Γιατί εκκλησιασμός σημαίνει όχι μόνο να βλέπω τους φίλους μου, αλλά και να τους αυξάνω, σε μια σχέση που χτίζεται σε υγιείς και αληθινές βάσεις, χωρίς την κακομοιριά της υποκρισίας και της επιφυλακτικότητας. Γιατί εκκλησιασμός ίσον χαρά, και η χαρά δεν μπορεί να σταθεί από μόνη της, αλλά έχει την ανάγκη να κοινοποιείται και να εξαπλώνεται, για να αποτελέσει ουσιαστικό βίωμα του ανθρώπου. Γιατί τελικά Εκκλησία σημαίνει για μένα χαρά εσωτερική, αληθινή και αστείρευτη -μήπως τί άλλο ζητά ο άνθρωπος στη ζωή του; λίγη χαρά, λίγη ευτυχία.

CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PARTY!

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2019 AFTER THE DIVINE LITURGY

CHILDREN 12 YEARS OLD AND UNDER: SIGN UP TO GET A PRESENT FROM SANTA!

Sign-up sheet for Santa’s visit is located on the bulletin board by the hall entrance.

DEADLINE FOR SIGN-UP: SUNDAY DECEMBER 15, 2019

1 Καλήν εσπέραν άρχοντες κι αν είναι ορισμός σας

Χριστού την θεία γέννηση να πω στ΄ αρχοντικό σας

Χριστός γεννάται σήμερον εν Βηθλεέμ τη πόλη

οι ουρανοί αγάλλονται χαίρει η φύσις όλη

Εν τω σπηλαίω τίκτεται εν φάτνη των αλόγων

ο βασιλεύς των ουρανών και ποιητής των όλων

— Good evening masters,

and if it's your command Christ᾽s divine birth

We’ll sing to your home

Christ is born today in the city of Bethlehem;

the heavens are celebrating And creation is rejoicing

In the cavern is placed in the manger of horses The King of the heavens

and Creator of all

2 Ήρθε πάλι νέο έτος εις την

πρώτη του μηνός ήρθα να σας χαιρετίσω δούλος

σας ο ταπεινός. Ο Βασίλειος ο Μέγας, ιεράρχης

θαυμαστός εις την οικογένειά σας να ‘ναι

πάντα βοηθός. Τα παιδιά εις το σχολείο να

πηγαίνουνε συχνά

να μαθαίνουνε το βίο, της πατρίδας τα ιερά.

Και για τους ξενιτεμένους έχω να σας πω πολλά

σας αφήνω καληνύχτα και του χρόνου με υγειά.

— The new year has arrived In the first of the month,

I your humble servant came To greet you.

Basil the Great, The miraculous Bishop

Always be in your family Your helper.

May the children go to school To learn life and holy things.

And about those who moved away

I have much to say to you, But I leave you with goodnight

And may the year bring you health.

3 Αφέντη μου στο σπίτι σου χρυσή καντήλα φέγγει. Φέγγει τους ξένους να οδηγούν τους ξένους να

αγκαλιάζουν. Κυρά μ’ κυρά μ’ κι αρχόντισσα

κι αρχοντοπαραδειγμένη. Σε κάλεσαν οι αρχόντισσες στην εκκλησιά να πάεις.

Ο αφέντης μας είναι καλός στον κόσμο ξακουσμένος. Ας είναι πολλά τα έτη του,

καλά κι ευτυχισμένα Ας είναι πολλά τα έτη του,

καλά κι ευτυχισμένα. ––

Master at your house A bright lamp is burning

It lights strangers

To lead strangers And to embrace them.

Lady, my Lady And my example,

The ladies called you To church to go today.

Our master is good And known in all the world. May he have many years,

With goodness and happiness, May he have many years,

With goodness and happiness.

Παραδοσιακά Κάλαντα Χριστουγέννων / Traditional Greek Christmas Carols