The Trophy-Bearer Trophy... · The word Paraklesis has two different meanings. The first meaning of...

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The Trophy-Bearer A monthly publication of Saint George Greek Orthodox Church New Castle, Pennsylvania August 2018 Volume II, Issue 8 Saint Stamatios of Volos August 16th

Transcript of The Trophy-Bearer Trophy... · The word Paraklesis has two different meanings. The first meaning of...

Page 1: The Trophy-Bearer Trophy... · The word Paraklesis has two different meanings. The first meaning of Parkalesis is “consolation” or to use another word, “comforter,” and the

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

New Castle, Pennsylvania August 2018 Volume II, Issue 8

Saint Stamatios of Volos August 16th

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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 [email protected]

Parish Council Members President—Helen Ritchie

Vice-President—Artie Christou Treasurer—Nicholas Ligerakis

Secretary—Melissa Sotiriou Flossie Foukas Nik Foukas Eric Karmecy Christina Raineri Elias Tsiris

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 followed by 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 ([email protected]) 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.

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Fr. Michael’s Message Christ is in our Midst!

The first fifteen days of every August, our Holy Orthodox Church enters into one of the four major fast periods that we have throughout the year. The first major fast of the Ecclesiastical Year is the Christmas or Nativity Fast, the second is the period known as Great and Holy Lent, the third is the Apostles Fast,

and the last major fasting period is what we begin on August 1st every year and end on August 15th with the falling asleep of the Virgin Mary.

When we listen to the services that we have in our Church, we hear the name of the Virgin Mary, the Theotokos again and again, at every service that we have, so it should not be a surprise to us that the Church has dedicated a fasting period, and set aside a special time of the year dedicated to the Mother of God.

Saint John of Damascus points out that when the Blessed Virgin Mary became the Mother of God and gave birth to Jesus Christ, she became the mother of all of us, the mother of all mankind. Her title, the THEOTOKOS, in Greek means the God-Bearer. In the music that we use in our Church, we hear the Theotokos referred as “blessed among women”, and that she was chosen to “bear the Savior of our souls.” We Orthodox Christians consider the Theotokos to be the highest of all the saints and angels.

Knowing why we hold such a high place for the Theotokos, we can understand a little bit better why the Church has a period set aside for special veneration of the Theotokos. Asking for her protection, love and guidance should be done throughout the entire year, but these first two weeks of August are for us to use as a reminder to ask her help for all these things. We can never forget to ask for her intercessions in times of danger and sickness, and we must thank her for her care and the prayers that she does on our behalf.

During the first 14 days of August, Orthodox Christians around the world go to church to celebrate the service known as the Paraklesis, in honor of the Theotokos. The word Paraklesis has two different meanings. The first meaning of Parkalesis is “consolation” or to use another word, “comforter,” and the second meaning is “supplication” or “petition”. The service of the Paraklesis to the Theotokos consists of hymns of supplication so that we are able to obtain consolation and courage. A lot of times as a priest people come up to me and say something along the lines of, “Father, I have been really upset about this matter, or, so and so is making me mad,” and they proceed to tell me that they tried screaming into a pillow, taking a walk, etc. etc. But my answer to them is simple, “Pray the service of the Paraklesis to the Theotokos and ask for help.” This service should be said during times of temptation, discouragement, or sickness. As I have stated many times before, instead of wasting time discussing all the problems around the world that have been in the news lately, take that time to pray, take that time to pray the Paraklesis Service. The words that we hear over and over again during the Paraklesis Service are, “Most Holy Theotokos, save us.” If we ever have a problem, or if something is weighing heavy on our souls, maybe we feel spiritually uneasy, maybe we are mad at ourselves or others around us, then these first 14 days of August are a perfect time to come to Church and ask the Theotokos for her intercession. If we are fortunate enough to be at peace with ourselves, and the others around us, than this is a perfect opportunity to come to the service of the Paraklesis and thank not only the Lord Almighty, but also to thank his mother, the Theotokos for the blessings that they both have given unto us, and unto our families.

Since these Paraklesis Services to the Theotokos are primarily petitions for the welfare of the living, let the whole Church pray for you during the first fifteen days of August and especially on the Great Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos on August 15th. Don’t let your laziness or apathy cause you to miss this great blessing and inspiration that the Church can bestow upon you. Let the peace and holiness that only the Mother of God can give you enter into your life. “Let us lay aside all earthly cares,” and let us truly, during these fifteen days, participate in the fasting and prayer life of the Church so that we can “taste and see that the Lord is good” and so that we may fully experience the spiritual blessings that the Church offers to us at this holy time. “Blessed is he whom He shall find watching.” Come and pray to the Theotokos with us and with the Church, and by her prayers and intercessions, may our souls be saved!

With Love in Christ, Fr, Michael A. Gavrilos

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Information about the life of Saint Stamatios come from three sources: his contemporary John Kariophyllis, who wrote a short account about the Neomartyr, Saint Nikodemos the Hagiorite also wrote about him in his New Martyrology, in which he refers to his source John Kariophyllis but also indicates a different date for his martyrdom, and the Athonite monk Iakovos Kophos of New Skete, who along with the martyrdom also wrote a Service of Praise in his honor in 1860. Saint Stamatios was born in the village of Agios Georgios Nileias in Magnesia on the northwest side of Pelion. The exact year of his birth has not come down to us, but according to local tradition he was a descendent of the family of Stamatopoulos. Noteworthy is the fact that villagers today show the ruins of an old house, which is considered the ancestral home of the Saint, as well as an old fountain which bears the name "The Fountain of Stamatopoulos or of Saint Stamatios". From a young age Stamatios was distinguished for his faith in Christ and his love for his enslaved country. Hence, living in the seventeenth century, he experienced intensely the oppression of the Greeks by their conquerors and especially the economic hardships of the time. The residents were exhausted economically, often forming committees of the most respectable persons of the area who addressed the Sublime Porte, requesting tax relief. Around 1680 a certain Aga came to the region to gather the Harac (a land tax in the Ottoman Empire for non-Muslims) of Valide Sultan Kosem, to whom was given the peninsula of Magnesia. This Aga was very oppressive in the collection of the tax, treating Christians unjustly and oppressing them. Desperate, residents decided to send a delegation to Constantinople, to the Sublime Porte, in hopes of finding justice. Stamatios was a key member of this delegation. They thus travelled to Constantinople, presented themselves to the Vizier, and began to complain about the injustice of the Aga. The Vizier, however, because he was friends with the tax-collector, ordered for them to be thrown out, so they were pushed out and beaten. Some of the delegation, the Saint among them, complained loudly shouting about the injustice done. Then some Turkish officials standing nearby, who were friends of the Aga, separated the Saint from the rest and brought him before the Vizier, falsely testifying and slandering the Saint saying that he became a Turk and now is going around as a Christian. Of course, the Saint strongly denied this accusation before the Vizier. But he sent him to the authority to be judged on this matter, where the Saint was interrogated and he again denied the accusation, saying that he was slandered. The judge then told him: "So if you never became one, become one now." The Holy Martyr with a loud voice replied: "I certainly would not be so mindless as to deny my Christ. It would be better for me to die and be with my Christ, then to live in this world with its myriad of pleasures and glories." When the judge saw the firm stance of the Martyr he sent him to the Vizier, who tried in many ways, with flatteries, promises, honors and positions, to dissuade the Martyr. He even promised him to make him his aide. For a second time the Saint confessed his faith in Christ and said in a loud and firm voice: "I have my Christ as my riches, my glory and my honor, Who dwells in the heavens, in glory and life eternal. Your honors and glories are perishable and quickly lost with all those who seek them." The Vizier ordered him to be imprisoned and tortured. After some days he was ordered to be brought again before the Vizier, who again tried to lure and persuade him through terror. For the last time the Martyr responded: "Even if you condemn me to innumerable deaths, I will never deny my Christ. I am ready to be tormented for His Name for the rest of my life." Then the Vizier became enraged and gave him over to the prefect to kill him. They beheaded him on Monday 15 August 1680, in front of the Royal Palace, next to Hagia Sophia.

SOURCE: https://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2014/08/holy-new-martyr-stamatios-of-volos-1680.html

COVER ICON—Saint Satmatios of Volos August 16th

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August 2018

New Castle Greek Fest

New Castle

Greek Fest

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy 6:00 p.m. Small Paraklesis

2

8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy 6:00 p.m. Great Paraklesis

3

8:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy (Saxonburg Monastery) 6:00 p.m. Small Paraklesis

4

8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy 6:00 p.m. Great Vespers

5

10th Sunday of Matthew Orthros & Divine Liturgy 5:30 p.m. Vigil at Ellwood City Monastery

6

8:30 a.m. Orthros & Divine Liturgy 6:00 p.m. Small Paraklesis

7

8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy 6:00 p.m. Great Paraklesis

8

8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy 6:00 p.m. Small Paraklesis

9

8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy 6:00 p.m. Great Paraklesis

10

8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy

Festival Baking—

Kourabiedes 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m. Small Paraklesis

11

8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy 6:00 p.m. Great Vespers

12

11th Sunday of Matthew Orthros & Divine Liturgy

6:00 p.m. Great Paraklesis

13

8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy 6:00 p.m. Small Paraklesis

14

8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy 7:00 p.m. Great Vespers Holy Dormition Oakmont

15

Dormition of the Theotokos Orthros & Divine Liturgy

16

Festival Baking—

Moussaka 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

17 18

19

12th Sunday of Matthew Orthros & Divine Liturgy Parish Council Meeting

20

Festival Baking—

Bake Baklava & Iced Cookies 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

21 22

Festival Baking—

Pastitsio 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

23 24

10:30 a.m. Agiasmos for Festival

25

26

13th Sunday of Matthew Orthros & Divine Liturgy

27 28 29 30 31

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September 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

2

14th Sunday of Matthew Orthros & Divine Liturgy

3

Labor Day

4 5 6 7

6:00 p.m. Vigil at Saxonburg Monastery

8

Nativity of the Theotokos 9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy At Saxonburg Monastery

9

Sunday before Holy Cross Orthros & Divine Liturgy

Blessing & First day of Sunday School

10 11 12 13 14

Exaltation of the Holy Cross Orthros & Divine Liturgy

15 Orthodox Food Festival

16

Sunday after Holy Cross Orthros & Divine Liturgy

Parish Council Meeting

Orthodox Food Festival

17 18 19 20 21 22

23

1st Sunday of Luke Orthros & Divine Liturgy

24 25 26

Falling Asleep of St. John the Theologian Orthros & Divine Liturgy

27 28

50th Anniversary Consecration of Transfiguration Monastery 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy

29 Metropolis Clergy Laity Holy Cross Pittsburgh

30

2nd Sunday of Luke Orthros & Divine Liturgy

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