The Trophy-Bearer A monthly publication of Saint George Greek Orthodox Church

New Castle, Pennsylvania January 2020 Volume IV, Issue 1

Saint Maximos Kavsokalyvites January 13th

ΙΕΡΟΣ ΝΑΟΣ ΑΓΙΟΥ ΓΕΩΡΓΙΟΥ SAINT GEORGE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

315 W. Englewood Avenue - New Castle, PA 16105 Church: (724) 654–8521 - www.stgeorgenewcastle.org

Fr. Michael A. Gavrilos - Parish Priest FrMichael@stgeorgenewcastle.org

Parish Council Members President—Helen Ritchie

Vice-President—Artie Christou Treasurer—Nicholas Ligerakis Secretary—Deno Neofotistos

Josh Ballew Nik Foukas

Eric Karmecy

Service Times Please Check the Monthly Calendar for Services

Services Times—Unless Otherwise Noted

Sunday Orthros 8:15 a.m. Sunday Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m. Mon-Sat Orthros & Divine Liturgy 8:30 a.m. Evening Services 6:00 p.m.

Confession: By Appointment

The Trophy-Bearer If you would like an article, or photos in The Trophy-Bearer, submit them electronically to

Fr. Michael (FrMichael@stgeorgenewcastle.org) no later than the 15th of the month.

“Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.” -James 5:14

If you or your loved one is sick, in the hospital, or need a priest, please contact Fr. Michael so that he will be able to visit them.

http://www.stgeorgenewcastle.orgmailto:FrMichael@stgeorgenewcastle.orgmailto:FrMichael@stgeorgenewcastle.org

To the plenitude of the Church, Grace, mercy, and peace from the newborn Savior Christ in Bethlehem, Beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord, Having once again arrived at the great feast of the Lord’s Nativity, we glorify with hymn and spiritual song the One who emptied Himself for our sake and assumed our flesh so that He might redeem us from captivity to evil and open the gates of paradise to the human race. The Church of Christ rejoices as it liturgically experiences the whole mystery of Divine Economy and receives a foretaste of the glory of the eschatological kingdom, offering a good and godly witness to faith, hope, and love in the world. The character of the Church, while “not of this world,” does not isolate the Church from historical and social reality, but inspires and strengthens its witness. The Church, then, ever in reference to the eternal destiny of man, serves his existential needs, pouring out, like the Good Samaritan, “oil and wine” on his wounds, becoming a “neighbor” for everyone “who falls among thieves” (cf. Luke 10.25–37), healing contemporary “cultural illnesses” and illuminating people’s minds and hearts. As the presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of the faithful, spirituality means witnessing in word and deed to the hope that is in us and has nothing to do with barren introversion. The Holy Spirit is the giver of life, the source of goodness, the bestower of gifts, life and light. The Christian is a human being that is afire, loves God, humanity and beauty, active and creative. The Gospel of the Nativity is again heard this year in a cultural environment where supreme value is attributed to “individual rights.” Self-centeredness and the deceit of self-realization diminish social integrity, weaken the spirit of fellowship and solidarity, and objectivize interpersonal relations. Unrestricted emphasis on economy and secularization deepen the existential vacuum and lead to the diminishment of man’s creative forces. The Church cannot possibly ignore these developments, whose consequences are primarily endured by our youth through the enchanting mechanism of technology and the manifold promises of “false paradises.” The Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church (Crete, 2016) emphatically invited our youth “to become aware that they are bearers and at the same time the continuation of the ancient and blessed tradition of the Orthodox Church,” to actively participate in the life of the Church, “to courageously preserve and dynamically cultivate the eternal values of Orthodoxy in order to convey the life-giving witness of Christianity” (Encyclical, § 8–9). In this same spirit, adhering to the exhortation of the Holy and Great Council but also in light of the recent election and enthronement of the new Archbishops of America, Australia and Thyateira-Great Britain for three large Eparchies of the Ecumenical Throne in the Diaspora, we declare 2020 as the “year of spiritual renewal and due concern for the youth,” inviting all our clergy and faithful to participate in and support this inspiring effort. We aspire to the advancement of a “dialogical pastoral ministry” with imagination and vision, with unshakable faith in the eternally flowing grace of God and confidence in the power of human freedom. This pastoral ministry is centered on human persons and must turn young people away from “seeking their own interests” and “pleasing themselves” to a love that “does not seek its own” and “is pleasing to God,” from “material goods” to “the only One who is good,” from “endless needs” to the “one thing that alone is needed,” thereby contributing to the promotion of everyone’s charismas. Our truly free self is born by offering our self. The foundation of the Christian conscience’s awakening remains to this day the experience and understanding of the meaning of Christian worship as well as its communal, Eucharistic and eschatological character. Young people must recognize that the Church is not a “union of Christians” but the “Body of Christ.” We call the reverend clergy of the Holy Great Church of Christ throughout the world to a “kenotic” pastoral mobilization. We should not wait for our young men and women to come to us, but we should reach out to them ourselves, not as judges but as friends, in imitation of the “good shepherd,” who “gives his life for his sheep” (John 10.11). A shepherd is always vigilant and on guard, aware of the pastoral needs of the youth and their social environment in order to act accordingly. His pastoral intervention draws inspiration and direction from the tradition of the Church, offering young people not merely “support” but the “truth” of freedom “to which Christ has set us free” (Gal. 5.1). With these thoughts, we devoutly worship the Holy Child of Bethlehem and wish all of you from the festive Phanar a blessed Holy Twelvetide as well as a fruitful new year of our Lord, invoking on you the life-giving grace and great mercy of our Savior Christ, who condescended to the human race, the “God with us.” Christmas 2019 Your fervent supplicant before God

+Bartholomew of Constantinople

Saint Maximos Kavsokalyvites was educated at the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos at Lampsakos. At seventeen years of age he left his parental home, became a monk, and passed his obedience under Elder Mark, the finest spiritual instructor in Macedonia. After the death of his teacher, the Saint pursued asceticism under the guidance of several desert fathers of extremely strict life. Arriving in Constantinople, Maximos was constantly at the Blachernae Church of the Most Holy Theotokos, as though he had taken up his abode at the entrance.

From his youth, Maximos had a great love for the Mother of God. He persistently entreated her to grant him the gift of unceasing noetic prayer. One day, as he was venerating her icon, he felt a warmth and a flame enter his heart from the icon. It did not burn him, but he felt a certain sweetness and contrition within. From that time, his heart began to repeat the Jesus Prayer continuously. In this way, the Virgin Theotokos fulfilled his request.

Saint Maximos fulfilled his obedience in the Great Lavra of Saint Athanasios on Mount Athos. In order to conceal his ascetic deeds of fasting and prayer, and to avoid celebrity, he behaved like a fool. One day, he had a vision of the Mother of God, who told him to ascend the mountain. On the summit of the Holy Mountain, he prayed for three days and nights. Again, the Most Holy Theotokos appeared to him surrounded by angels, and holding her divine Son in her arms.

Prostrating himself, the Saint heard the All-Holy Virgin speak to him, "Receive the gift against demons... and settle at the foot of Athos, for this is the will of my Son." She told him that he would ascend the heights of virtue, and become a teacher and guide for many. Then, since he had not eaten for several days, a heavenly bread was given to him. As soon as he put it in his mouth, he was surrounded by divine light, and he saw the Mother of God ascending into Heaven.

Saint Maximos told his vision to a certain Elder living by the Church of the Holy Prophet Elias at Carmel. He was skeptical, but the Saint turned his disbelief to belief. He pretended to be slightly crazy in order to conceal his prodigious ascetic deeds, privations, his hardship and solitude. Maximos did not live in a permanent abode, but wandered from place to place like a lunatic. Whenever he moved, he would burn his hut down. Therefore, he was called "Kavsokalyvites," or "Hut Burner."

Those on the Holy Mountain, knowing of the extreme deprivations and sorrows of Maximos, for a long time regarded him with contempt, even though he had attained the height and perfection of spiritual life. When Saint Gregory of Sinai (August 8) arrived on Athos, he encountered the holy fool. After speaking to him, he began to call him an earthly angel. Saint Gregory persuaded Saint Maximos to stop behaving like a fool and to live in one place so that others might benefit from his spiritual experience. Heeding the words of Saint Gregory and the advice of other Elders, Saint Maximos selected a permanent dwelling in a cave near the renowned Elder Isaiah.

Knowing of his gift of clairvoyance, the Roman Emperors John Palaiologos (1341-1376) and John Kantakouzenos (1341-1355) visited him and were surprised by the fulfillment of his predictions. Theophanes, the abbot of Vatopaidi Monastery, wrote about Maximos: "I invoke God as my witness, that I myself saw several of his miracles. Once, for instance, I saw him travel through the air from one place to another. I listened as he made a prediction concerning me, that first I would be an abbot, and then Metropolitan of Ochrid. He even revealed to me how I would suffer for the Church."

Saint Maximos abandoned his solitude only just before his death, and settled near the Great Lavra of Saint Athanasios, where he surrendered his soul to the Lord at 95 years of age in the year 1365. After his death, as in life, Saint Maximos was glorified by many miracles.

Source: https://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2011/01/saint-maximus-kavsokalyvites.html

COVER ICON—Saint Maximos Kavsokalyvites January 13th

https://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2011/01/saint-maximus-kavsokalyvites.html

January 2020

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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5

Sunday before Theophany 8:00 a.m. Orthros, Divine Liturgy, Agismos

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Holy Theophany Orthros, Divine Liturgy, Agismos

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St. John the Forerunner Orthros & Divine Liturgy

8 9 10 11

12

Sunday After Theophany Orthros & Divine Liturgy

13 14 15 16 17

St. Anthony Orthros & Divine Liturgy

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19

12th Sunday of Luke Orthros & Divine Liturgy

Parish Council Meeting

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Priests, Presidents, Treasurers Meeting St. John Youngstown 10:00 am-3:30 pm

26

15th Sunday of Luke Orthros & Divine Liturgy

27 28 29 30

Three Hierarchs Orthros & Divine Liturgy

31

House Blessings—Contact Father Michael

House Blessings—Contact Father Michael

House Blessings—Contact Father Michael

House Blessings—Contact Father Michael

February 2020

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

2

Presentation of Christ in the Temple Orthros & Divine Liturgy

3

Adult Education 7:00 p.m.

4 5 6 7 8

9

Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee Orthros & Divine Liturgy

10

St. Haralmabos Orthros & Divine Liturgy

Adult Education 7:00 p.m.

11 12 13 14 15

16

Sunday of the Prodigal Son Orthros & Divine Liturgy

Parish Council Meeting

17

St. Theodore the Tyro Orthros & Divine Liturgy

Adult Education 7:00 p.m.

18 19 20 21 22

Saturday of Souls Orthros, Divine Liturgy, Memorials

Gyro Festival 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m

23

Judgment Sunday (Meatfare Sunday) Orthros & Divine Liturgy

24

1st & 2nd Finding of the Head of St. John Orthros & Divine Liturgy

Adult Education 7:00 p.m.

25 26 27 28 29

Saturday of Souls Orthros, Divine Liturgy, Memorials

Saint George Greek Orthodox Church 315 W. Englewood Avenue New Castle, PA 16105

Vasilopita Sunday Sunday, January 12th, 2020

Cutting of the Vasiloopita &

Philoptochos Sponsored Luncheon after Divine Liturgy