The Hellenic Community of Ottawa

Dormition of the Virgin Mary

Greek Orthodox Church Protopresbyter

Fr. Alex Michalopulos

Church office: 613-225-8016 ext. 222

Father Alex’s personal line: ext. 230

Life threatening emergency answering service: 239-4736

Community office: 613-225-8016 ext. 221

Website: www.helleniccommunity.com

Ελληνική Κοινότητα Οττάβας

Ορθόδοξος Ιερός Ναός

Κοιμήσεως της Θεοτόκου Πρωτοπρεσβύτερος

Πατήρ Αλέξανδρος Μιχαλόπουλος

Γραφείο Ιερού Ναού: 613-225-8016 εσωτ. 222

Προσωπική γραμμή π. Αλέξανδρου: εσωτ. 230

Επείγοντα περιστατικά: 613-239-4736

Γραφείο Κοινότητας: 613-225-8016 εσωτ. 221

Ιστοσελίδα: www.helleniccommunity.com

CHRISTMAS 2016 ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥΓΕΝΝΑ *************************************************************************

Prepared under Ecclesiastical Supervision

Church Calendar

Saturday, December 24th- Christmas Eve

-Morning: Matins 9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy 9:45 α.m.

-Evening: Matins 9:30 p.m. Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great 10:30 p.m.

Sunday, January 1st New Year - St. Basil the Great

Matins 9:45 a.m., Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great 10:30 a.m.

Metropolitan Archbishop Sotirios Celebrating

Εκκλησιαστικό Ημερολόγιο

Σάββατο, 24 Δεκεμβρίου - Παραμονή Χριστουγέννων

-Πρωί Όρθρος 9.00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 9.45 π.μ. (πρωί)

-Βράδυ Όρθρος 9.30 μ.μ.

Θ. Λειτουργία Χριστουγέννων, του Μεγάλου Βασιλείου 10.30 μ.μ. (βράδυ)

Κυριακή, 1 Ιανουαρίου - Νέον Έτος - Περιτομή Ι. Χριστού και Μεγάλου Βασιλείου

Όρθρος 9.45 π.μ., Θ. Λειτουργία του Μεγάλου Βασιλείου 10.30 π.μ. υπό του

Σεβασμιωτάτου Μητροπολίτη Τορόντο (Καναδά) κ.κ. Σωτηρίου

Father Alex,

the Board of Directors,

the Greek Ladies Philoptochos

Society, the Choir, the Sunday

School and the Youth Groups

wish you all a

Blessed Christmas

and

Happy New Year

Ο πατήρ Αλέξανδρος,

τα μέλη του Διοικητικού

Συμβουλίου της Κοινότητας,

η Φιλόπτωχος Αδελφότης, η

Χορωδία, το Κατηχητικό

Σχολείοκαι η Νεολαία

σας εύχονται

Καλά Χριστούγεννα και

Ευτυχισμένο το Νέο Έτος

Thank You ~ Ευχαριστίες

Fr. Alex would like to thank all the individuals who donated the beautiful

Christmas poinsettias and all the flowers for the Church this Christmas season.

Ο πατήρ Αλέξανδρος ευχαριστεί θερμά όσους προσέφεραν για την αγορά των όμορφων

αλεξανδριανών (poinsettias) και των άλλων λουλουδιών που στολίζουν τον ιερό μας ναό

κατά την περίοδο αυτών των Αγίων Ημερών των Χριστουγέννων.

Απόστολος: Επιστολή Παύλου - Προς Γαλάτας 4:4-7

Πᾶσα ἡ γῆ προσκυνησάτωσάν σοι καὶ ψαλάτωσάν σοι.

Στίχ. Ἀλαλάξατε τῷ Κυρίῳ πᾶσα ἡ γῆ.

Ἀδελφοί, ὅτε δὲ ἦλθεν τὸ πλήρωμα τοῦ χρόνου, ἐξαπέστειλεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ,

γενόμενον ἐκ γυναικός, γενόμενον ὑπὸ νόμον, ἵνα τοὺς ὑπὸ νόμον ἐξαγοράσῃ, ἵνα τὴν

υἱοθεσίαν ἀπολάβωμεν. Ὅτι δέ ἐστε υἱοί, ἐξαπέστειλεν ὁ θεὸς τὸ πνεῦμα τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ

εἰς τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν, κρᾶζον, Ἀββᾶ, ὁ πατήρ. Ὥστε οὐκέτι εἶ δοῦλος, ἀλλʼ υἱός· εἰ δὲ

υἱός, καὶ κληρονόμος θεοῦ διὰ Χριστοῦ.

Ευαγγέλιο: Κατά Ματθαίον 2:1-12

Τοῦ δὲ ᾿Ιησοῦ γεννηθέντος ἐν Βηθλεὲμ τῆς ᾿Ιουδαίας ἐν ἡμέραις ῾Ηρῴδου τοῦ

βασιλέως, ἰδοὺ μάγοι ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν παρεγένοντο εἰς ῾Ιεροσόλυμα λέγοντες· ποῦ ἐστιν ὁ

τεχθεὶς βασιλεὺς τῶν ᾿Ιουδαίων; εἴδομεν γὰρ αὐτοῦ τὸν ἀστέρα ἐν τῇ ἀνατολῇ καὶ

ἤλθομεν προσκυνῆσαι αὐτῷ. ᾿Ακούσας δὲ ῾Ηρῴδης ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐταράχθη καὶ πᾶσα

῾Ιεροσόλυμα μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ, καὶ συναγαγὼν πάντας τοὺς ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ γραμματεῖς τοῦ λαοῦ

ἐπυνθάνετο παρ᾿ αὐτῶν ποῦ ὁ Χριστὸς γεννᾶται. Οἱ δὲ εἶπον αὐτῷ· ἐν Βηθλεὲμ τῆς

᾿Ιουδαίας· οὕτω γὰρ γέγραπται διὰ τοῦ προφήτου· καὶ σὺ Βηθλεέμ, γῆ ᾿Ιούδα, οὐδαμῶς

ἐλαχίστη εἶ ἐν τοῖς ἡγεμόσιν ᾿Ιούδα· ἐκ σοῦ γὰρ ἐξελεύσεται ἡγούμενος, ὅστις ποιμανεῖ

τὸν λαόν μου τὸν ᾿Ισραήλ. Τότε ῾Ηρῴδης λάθρα καλέσας τοὺς μάγους ἠκρίβωσε παρ᾿

αὐτῶν τὸν χρόνον τοῦ φαινομένου ἀστέρος, καὶ πέμψας αὐτοὺς εἰς Βηθλεὲμ εἶπε·

πορευθέντες ἀκριβῶς ἐξετάσατε περὶ τοῦ παιδίου, ἐπὰν δὲ εὕρητε, ἀπαγγείλατέ μοι,

ὅπως κἀγὼ ἐλθὼν προσκυνήσω αὐτῷ. οἱ δὲ ἀκούσαντες τοῦ βασιλέως ἐπορεύθησαν· καὶ

ἰδοὺ ὁ ἀστὴρ ὃν εἶδον ἐν τῇ ἀνατολῇ προῆγεν αὐτούς, ἕως ἐλθὼν ἔστη ἐπάνω οὗ ἦν τὸ

παιδίον· ἰδόντες δὲ τὸν ἀστέρα ἐχάρησαν χαρὰν μεγάλην σφόδρα, καὶ ἐλθόντες εἰς τὴν

οἰκίαν εἶδον τὸ παιδίον μετὰ Μαρίας τῆς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ, καὶ πεσόντες προσεκύνησαν

αὐτῷ, καὶ ἀνοίξαντες τοὺς θησαυροὺς αὐτῶν προσήνεγκαν αὐτῷ δῶρα, χρυσὸν καὶ

λίβανον καὶ σμύρναν· καὶ χρηματισθέντες κατ᾿ ὄναρ μὴ ἀνακάμψαι πρὸς ῾Ηρῴδην, δι᾿

ἄλλης ὁδοῦ ἀνεχώρησαν εἰς τὴν χώραν αὐτῶν.

Ανακοινώσεις

Χριστουγεννιάτικα καλάθια – Ευχαριστούμε τους δωρητές!

Τα μέλη της Φιλοπτώχου Αδελφότητας επιθυμούν να ευχαριστήσουν όλους

όσοι δώρησαν τρόφιμα, χρήματα ή βοήθησαν κατά την προετοιμασία των

χριστουγεννιάτικων καλαθιών. Με τη δική σας συνεισφορά είμαστε, και

πάλι, σε θέση να βοηθήσουμε περισσότερες από εκατό οικογένειες που

έχουν ανάγκη. Για όσους δεν πρόλαβαν να συνεισφέρουν, μπορούν να

κάνουν, ακόμα και τώρα, τη δωρεά τους προς τη Φιλόπτωχο Αδελφότητα.

Φιλόπτωχος Αδελφότης – Κοπή της βασιλόπιτας, 8 Ιανουαρίου

Το ετήσιο γεύμα για την κοπή της βασιλόπιτας θα πραγματοποιηθεί την Κυριακή, 8

Ιανουαρίου, 2017, στο Κοινοτικό μας Κέντρο, στις 12 μ.μ. Είστε όλοι ευπρόσδεκτοι, σε αυτή

την πρώτη, κοινή μας συνάντηση για το νέο έτος, κατά την οποία ο πατήρ Αλέξανδρος θα

ευλογήσει και θα κόψει την βασιλόπιτα. Τα εισιτήρια είναι 25 δολ. για ενήλικες, 12 δολ. για

παιδιά 6-12 ετών και δωρεάν για παιδιά κάτω των 5 ετών.

A.X.E.Π.A. διοργανώνει «Βραδιά Κωμωδίας» την Παρασκευή,27

Ιανουαρίου 2017, στο Κοινοτικό Κέντρο. Η είσοδος θα είναι ανοιχτή από τις

7.30 μ.μ. Το πρόγραμμα θα αρχίσει στις 8.30 μ.μ. Τιμή εισιτηρίου: 35 δολ.

Για εισιτήρια παρακαλείσθε να απευθύνεστε στους: Νίκο Ηατζηθεοδοσίου

613-725-7847 ή hatziniko@gmail.com, Μάικ Σιάτρα 613-596-0705 ή

mikesiatras@hotmail.com ή Γιάννη Χατζόπουλο 613-276-8201 ή

johnhatzopoulos@rogers.com.

«Jeanne Rosemary Georgiles Foundation» Υποτροφίες – Ακαδημαϊκό Έτος 2016-2017

To πρόγραμμα αυτό προσφέρει δύο υποτροφίες εκ 1000 δολαρίων η καθε μία,

σε μαθητές/μαθήτριες που απεφοίτησαν από το Λύκειο (12η τάξη) κατά το 2016

και έχουν εγγραφεί για πλήρη φοίτηση στο Πανεπιστήμιο για σπουδές κατά το

τρέχον ακαδημαϊκό έτος. H ημερομηνία λήξεως υποβολής αιτήσεων είναι η

3η Φεβρουαρίου 2017. Οι υποψήφιοι πρέπει να είναι μέλη της Ελληνικής

Κοινότητας Οττάβας. Αιτήσεις και έντυπα με περισσότερες πληροφορίες θα

βρείτε στον νάρθηκα του Ιερού Ναού και στην ιστοσελίδα

www.helleniccommunity.com ή το γραφείο της Κοινότητας (613-225-8016 εσωτ. 221).

mailto:hatziniko@gmail.commailto:mikesiatras@hotmail.commailto:johnhatzopoulos@rogers.comhttp://www.helleniccommunity.com

Announcements

Christmas Baskets THANK YOU

The Greek Ladies Philoptochos Society, would like to thank everyone who donated

food, funds and their time to make the annual Christmas baskets program a success.

We were able to help over 100 families this year. If you wanted to contribute and

didn't have the opportunity to do so, you can still make a monetary donation to the

Greek Ladies Philoptochos Society.

Philoptochos Vasilopita Luncheon - January 8th

The Greek Ladies Philoptochos Society’s annual Vasilopita Luncheon will be held at the

Banquet Centre on Sunday, January 8th at 12:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome and encouraged

to attend our first gathering of the year as one family where Father Alex will Bless and cut

the Vasilopita. Tickets are $25 for Adults, $12 for Children 6-12 years of age, and free for

Children 5 years & under.

AHEPA Comedy Night – January 27th

The Ottawa Chapter of AHEPA is hosting a Comedy Night featuring comedian

Mike Macdonald with special guest Efthimios Nasiopoulos on Friday, January

27th, 2017 at the Banquet Centre. Doors open at 7:30 pm, with the show

starting at 8:30 pm. Tickets are $35. For more information & to purchase

your tickets, please contact Niko Hatzitheodosiou 613-725-7847 or

hatziniko@gmail.comMike Siatras 613-596-0705 or mikesiatras@hotmail.com

or John Hatzopoulos 613- 276-8201 or johnhatzopoulos@rogers.com

The “Jeanne Rosemary Georgiles Foundation Scholarship” - Academic year 2017-2018

The foundation provides two scholarships of $1,000 each to students who have

graduated from High School (Grade 12) in 2016 and entered University as full

time students. The application deadline for this scholarships is February

3rd, 2017. All recipients must be members of the Hellenic Community of Otta-

wa. Detailed information and application forms are available at the narthex of

the church, from our website www.helleniccommunity.com and from the HCO

office at 613-225-8016 ext. 221.

Epistle of St. Paul: Galatians 4:4-7

Let all the earth worship you, and sing praises to you.

Verse: Shout with joy to God, all the earth.

BRETHREN, when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman,

born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive

adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,

crying, "Abba! Father!" So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then also an heir of

God through Christ.

The Nativity of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ

The Gospel Reading: St. Matthew 2:1-12

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king,

behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he who has been

born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship

him." When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and

assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the

Christ was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the

prophet: 'And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the

rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.'"

Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the

star appeared; and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child,

and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him." When

they had heard the king they went their way; and lo the star which they had seen in the East

went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the

star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they saw the child with

Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they

offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return

to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

mailto:hatziniko@gmail.commailto:mikesiatras@hotmail.commailto:johnhatzopoulos@rogers.comhttp://www.helleniccommunity.com

Dec 19, 2016

Prot. No. 1297

Patriarchal Encyclical for Christmas

+B A R T H O L O M E W

By God’s Mercy

Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome

and Ecumenical Patriarch

to the Plenitude of the Church

Grace, Mercy and Peace from the Savior Christ Born in Bethlehem

“Christ’s incarnation is my own recreation”[1]

Beloved brothers and sisters, dear children in the Lord,

We praise and glorify the God in Trinity, who deemed us worthy once again this year

to reach the great feast of the Nativity in the flesh of the Son and Word of God the

Father in “little Bethlehem.”

The holy Church is celebrating with fullness of joy, for Christ “assumed flesh”

through His incarnation[2] and rendered the Church “an adornment for the world.”[3]

Indeed, the entire human race, and even “all of creation,” rejoices over this divine

blessing. “All of creation is today filled with joy because Christ is born of a Vir-

gin.”[4]

In contrast to the “unmoved mover” of the ancient Greeks, our God is the communion

of love and lovingly moves in time toward humankind and the world. “In this is love,

not that we loved God but that He loved us.” (1 John 4.10)

The pre-eternal Word of the Father, who granted “being” to humankind, now grants us

“well being” through His incarnation. “This is the reason behind the feast; this is why

we celebrate today: namely, God’s descent to us so that we might ascend—or return—

to God . . . in order that, by laying aside the old man, we may assume the new man;

and in order that, by dying to Adam, we might therefore live in Christ; in order that

we might be with Christ, be crucified with Him, be buried with Him, and arise with

Him.”[5] The way of deification through grace is henceforth open to everyone coming

into the world. All of us are “capable of containing God.” “There is neither Jew nor

Greek, neither slave nor free man, neither male nor female; for all of you are one in

Christ Jesus.” (Gal. 3.28)

τὰ δικαιώματα τῶν παιδίων, ἐνώπιον τῆς μάστιγος τῆς παιδικῆς θνησιμότητος, τῆς πείνης, τῆς παιδικῆς ἐργασίας, τῶν σωματικῶν κακώσεων καὶ τῆς ψυχολογικῆς βίας, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῶν κινδύνων

ἀλλοιώσεως τῆς παιδικῆς ψυχῆς λόγῳ τῆς ἀνεξελέγκτου ἐκθέσεώς των εἰς τὴν ἐπιρροὴν τῶν

συγχρόνων ἠλεκτρονικῶν μέσων ἐπικοινωνίας καὶ τῆς καθυποτάξεως αὐτῶν εἰς τὸν

καταναλωτισμόν, ἀνακηρύσσομεν τὸ 2017 Ἔτος προστασίας τῆς ἱερότητος τῆς παιδικῆς ἡλικίας,

καλοῦντες πάντας νὰ ἀναγνωρίζουν καὶ νὰ σέβωνται τὰ δικαιώματα καὶ τὴν ἀκεραιότητα τῶν

παιδίων.

Ὅπως τονίζεται εἰς ἕτερον σπουδαῖον κείμενον τῆς Ἁγίας καὶ Μεγάλης Συνόδου, ἡ Ἐκκλησία τοῦ

Χριστοῦ, μὲ τὸν λόγον αὐτῆς, δὲν ἀποβλέπει πρωτίστως «εἰς τὸ νὰ κρίνῃ καὶ νὰ καταδικάσῃ τὸν

κόσμον»[15], ἀλλὰ εἰς τὸ νὰ προσφέρῃ εἰς αὐτὸν ὡς ὁδηγὸν τὸ Εὐαγγέλιον τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ

Θεοῦ, τὴν ἐλπίδα καὶ βεβαιότητα ὅτι τὸ κακόν, ὑπὸ οἱανδήποτε μορφήν, δὲν ἔχει τὸν τελευταῖον

λόγον εἰς τὴν ἱστορίαν καὶ δὲν πρέπει νὰ ἀφεθῇ νὰ κατευθύνῃ τὴν πορείαν της »[16].

Προσκυνοῦντες ἐν ταπεινώσει καὶ κατανύξει τὸν Σωτῆρα ἡμῶν, ὅστις ἐπεσκέψατο ἡμᾶς ἐξ ὕψους,

καὶ ἀνυμνοῦντες ᾄσμασιν ἐνθέοις τὸ μέγεθος τῆς περὶ ἡμᾶς θείας Οἰκονομίας, κλίνοντες τὸ γόνυ

ἐνώπιον τῆς βρεφοκρατούσης Ὑπεραγίας Θεοτόκου, ἀπευθύνομεν ἐκ τοῦ ἀκοιμήτου Φαναρίου

τὸν ἑόρτιον χαιρετισμὸν «Χριστὸς γεννᾶται˙ δοξάσατε. Χριστὸς ἐξ οὐρανῶν˙ ἀπαντήσατε» πρὸς

τὰ μακρὰν καὶ τὰ ἐγγὺς τέκνα τῆς Κωνσταντινουπολίτιδος Ἐκκλησίας καὶ ἀποστέλλομεν πρὸς

αὐτὰ τὰς πατρικὰς εὐχὰς καὶ τὴν Πατριαρχικὴν ἡμῶν εὐλογίαν.

«Ἐνδυναμούμενοι ἐν τῇ χάριτι τῇ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ»[17], ἂς ἀγωνισθῶμεν ἅπαντες ἐν ὁμοψυχίᾳ,

ἐν πίστει καὶ ἀγάπῃ ἀνυποκρίτῳ, τὸν καλὸν ἀγῶνα τῆς καινῆς ἐν Ἐκκλησίᾳ ζωῆς, τηροῦντες ὅσα

ἐνετείλατο ἡμῖν ὁ Κύριος, ὁ ὢν μεθ᾿ ἡμῶν «πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας ἕως τῆς συντελείας τοῦ

αἰῶνος»[18].

Χριστούγεννα ‚ βις΄ (2016)

† Ὁ Κωνσταντινουπόλεως

διάπυρος πρὸς Θεὸν εὐχέτης πάντων ὑμῶν

___________________________________________________________

Ἀναγνωσθήτω ἐπ᾿ ἐκκλησίας κατὰ τὴν Θείαν Λειτουργίαν τῆς ἑορτῆς τῶν Χριστουγέννων, μετὰ

τὸ Ἱερὸν Εὐαγγέλιον. [1] Γρηγορίου τοῦ Θεολόγου, Ἔπη ἠθικά, ΛΔ΄, ΒΕΠΕΣ 61, 227.

[2] Ἰωάννου τοῦ Χρυσοστόμου, Ὁμιλία πρὸ τῆς ἐξορίας, P.G. 52, 429.

[3] Ὠριγένους, Εἰς τὸ κατὰ Ἰωάννην Εὐαγγέλιον Ἐξηγητικῶν, τόμος στ΄ ΒΕΠΕΣ 12, 63.

[4] Ὄρθρος Χριστουγέννων.

[5] Α΄ Ἰωάν. δ΄, 10.

[6] Γρηγορίου τοῦ Θεολόγου, Λόγος ΛΗ΄ εἰς τὰ Θεοφάνια, εἴτουν τὰ Γενέθλια τοῦ Σωτῆρος, ΒΕΠΕΣ

60, 65.

[7] Γαλ. γ΄, 28.

[8] β΄, 13.

[9] Παρ. 8.

[10] Ματθ. ιη΄, 3-4.

[11] Λουκ. ιη΄, 17.

[12] Πρβλ. Λουκ. ιη΄, 16.

[13] Πρβλ. Ματθ. ιη΄, 6.

[14] Ἐκδ. Ἵκαρος, 13.

[15] Πρβλ. Ἰωάν. γ΄ 17 καὶ ιβ΄ 47.

[16] Ἀποστολὴ τῆς Ὀρθοδόξου Ἐκκλησίας εἰς τὸν σύγχρονον κόσμον. Εἰσαγωγή.

[17] Πρβλ. Β΄ Τιμ. β΄ 1.

[18] Ματθ. κη΄ 20.

http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchnativity2016#_ftn1http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchnativity2016#_ftn2http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchnativity2016#_ftn3http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchnativity2016#_ftn4http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchnativity2016#_ftn5http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchalchristmasencyclical2016#_ftn15http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchalchristmasencyclical2016#_ftn16http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchalchristmasencyclical2016#_ftn17http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchalchristmasencyclical2016#_ftn18http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchalchristmasencyclical2016#_ftnref1http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchalchristmasencyclical2016#_ftnref2http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchalchristmasencyclical2016#_ftnref3http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchalchristmasencyclical2016#_ftnref4http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchalchristmasencyclical2016#_ftnref5http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchalchristmasencyclical2016#_ftnref6http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchalchristmasencyclical2016#_ftnref7http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchalchristmasencyclical2016#_ftnref8http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchalchristmasencyclical2016#_ftnref9http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchalchristmasencyclical2016#_ftnref10http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchalchristmasencyclical2016#_ftnref11http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchalchristmasencyclical2016#_ftnref12http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchalchristmasencyclical2016#_ftnref13http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchalchristmasencyclical2016#_ftnref14http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchalchristmasencyclical2016#_ftnref15http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchalchristmasencyclical2016#_ftnref16http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchalchristmasencyclical2016#_ftnref17http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchalchristmasencyclical2016#_ftnref18

Unfortunately, the Gospel of Christmas is once again proclaimed to a world where the

racket of weapons is heard, where unprovoked violence against individuals and peoples is

enacted, and where inequality and social justice prevail. It is unbearable to witness the state

of countless children, victims of military conflict, irregular situations, manifold

exploitations, persecutions and discriminations, as well as hunger, poverty and painful

dispossession.

Last April, we had the opportunity in Lesbos to witness with our own eyes —together with

His Holiness Pope Francis of Rome and His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and

All Greece—the tragic circumstances of refugees and immigrants, and especially the acute

problems of the suffering children, innocents and defenseless victims of military violence,

as well as the racial and religious discrimination and injustice, all of which are constantly

increasing.

The feast of God’s Word, who became an infant—the child Jesus, whose disappearance is

pursued by worldly authority, according to the Evangelist Matthew (Matt 2.13)—is a

reminder and invitation for us to care for children, to protect these vulnerable victims and

to respect the sacredness of childhood.

Of course, children and sensitive souls are also threatened in economically developed and

politically stable countries of the world, whether by the immense crisis of marriage and

family, or by diverse interventions as well as the use of physical or spiritual force. A

child’s soul is altered by the influential consumption of electronic media, especially

television and the internet, and by the radical transformation of communication. Unbridled

economics transfigures them from a young age into consumers, while the pursuit of

pleasure rapidly vanishes their innocence.

In light of these dangers, the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church addressed

children and young people “with particular love and affection” (Prov. 8) by including the

following in its Encyclical:

Amid the medley of mutually contradictory definitions of childhood, our most holy Church

presents the words of our Lord: “Unless you turn and become like children, you will never

enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 18.3) and “whoever does not receive the kingdom of

God like a child shall not enter it (Luke 18.17), as well as what our Savior says about those

who “prevent” (Luke 18.16) children from approaching Him and about those who

“scandalize” them (Matt 18.6).

The mystery of Christmas is crystallized in the words of the festive Kontakion: “For us, a

new child was born, God before all ages.” The divine Word as child and the child as God is

revealed to the world with “the pure heart” and simplicity of a child. Children comprehend

truths, which “wise and prudent” people are unable to approach. As Elytis observes in his

poem From one’s neighbor: “You can build Jerusalem out of children alone!”

Δυστυχῶς, τὸ Εὐαγγέλιον τῶν Χριστουγέννων κηρύσσεται καὶ πάλιν εἰς ἕνα κόσμον, ὅπου

ἠχεῖ ἡ κλαγγὴ τῶν ὅπλων, ὅπου ἀσκεῖται ἀπρόκλητος βία εἰς βάρος ἀτόμων καὶ λαῶν, ὅπου

κυριαρχεῖ ἀνισότης καὶ κοινωνικὴ ἀδικία. Ἀφόρητος εἶναι ἡ κατάστασις εἰς τὴν ὁποίαν

εὑρίσκονται τὰ ἀναρίθμητα παιδία, θύματα πολεμικῶν συγκρούσεων, ἐκρύθμων

καταστάσεων, ποικιλωνύμων ἐκμεταλλεύσεων, διωγμῶν καὶ διακρίσεων, πείνης, πενίας καὶ

ἐπωδύνων στερήσεων.

Κατὰ τὸν παρελθόντα Ἀπρίλιον εἴχομεν τὴν εὐκαιρίαν, μετὰ τοῦ Ἁγιωτάτου Πάπα Ρώμης

Φραγκίσκου καὶ τοῦ Μακαριωτάτου Ἀρχιεπισκόπου Ἀθηνῶν καὶ πάσης Ἑλλάδος Ἱερωνύμου,

νὰ διαπιστώσωμεν ἰδίοις ὄμμασιν ἐν Λέσβῳ τὰς περιπετείας τῶν προσφύγων καὶ τῶν

μεταναστῶν καὶ ἰδίως τὰ ὀξέα προβλήματα τῶν ταλαιπωρημένων παιδίων, τῶν ἀθώων καὶ

ἀνυπερασπίστων θυμάτων τῆς πολεμικῆς βίας, τῶν φυλετικῶν καὶ θρησκευτικῶν διακρίσεων

καὶ τῆς ἀδικίας, ὁ ἀριθμὸς τῶν ὁποίων αὐξάνει συνεχῶς.

Ἡ ἑορτὴ τοῦ νηπιάσαντος δι᾿ ἡμᾶς Λόγου τοῦ Θεοῦ, τοῦ παιδίου Χριστοῦ, τὸν ἀφανισμὸν

τοῦ ὁποίου ζητεῖ ἡ κοσμικὴ ἐξουσία συμφώνως πρὸς τὸν Εὐαγγελιστὴν Ματθαῖον[8], εἶναι

ὑπόμνησις καὶ κλῆσις νὰ μεριμνήσωμεν διὰ τὰ παιδία, νὰ προστατεύσωμεν τὰ εὐάλωτα αὐτὰ

θύματα καὶ νὰ σεβασθῶμεν τὴν ἱερότητα τῆς παιδικῆς ἡλικίας.

Τὰ παιδία καὶ αἱ εὐαίσθητοι ψυχαί των ἀπειλοῦνται βεβαίως καὶ εἰς τὰς χώρας τοῦ

ἀνεπτυγμένου οἰκονομικῶς καὶ σταθερωτέρου πολιτικῶς κόσμου, ἀπὸ τὴν μεγάλην κρίσιν

τοῦ γάμου καὶ τῆς οἰκογενείας, ἀπὸ ποικιλομόρφους παρεμβάσεις καὶ τὴν ἄσκησιν

σωματικῆς καὶ ψυχικῆς βίας. Ἀλλοιώνεται ἡ παιδικὴ ψυχὴ ἐκ τῆς καταλυτικῆς ἐπιρροῆς τῶν

ἠλεκτρονικῶν μέσων καὶ ἰδίως τῆς τηλεοράσεως καὶ τοῦ διαδικτύου εἰς τὴν ζωήν των καὶ

ἀπὸ τὴν ριζικὴν ἀλλαγὴν τοῦ ἐπικοινωνιακοῦ περιβάλλοντος. Ὁ ἄκρατος οἰκονομισμὸς τὰ

μετατρέπει ἐνωρὶς εἰς καταναλωτὰς καὶ ὁ εὐδαιμονισμὸς ἐξαφανίζει ταχύτατα τὴν παιδικὴν

ἀθωότητα.

Ἐν ὄψει τῶν κινδύνων αὐτῶν ἡ Ἁγία καὶ Μεγάλη Σύνοδος τῆς Ὀρθοδόξου Ἐκκλησίας,

ἀπευθυνθεῖσα "μετ᾿ ἰδιαιτέρας ἀγάπης καὶ στοργῆς" πρὸς τὰ παιδία καὶ τοὺς νέους, ἀναφέρει

ἐν τῇ Ἐγκυκλίῳ αὐτῆς[9] τὰ ἑξῆς: "Μέσα εἰς τὸν κυκεῶνα τῶν ἀλληλοαναιρουμένων

ὁρισμῶν τῆς ταυτότητος τῆς παιδικῆς ἡλικίας, ἡ ἁγιωτάτη ἡμῶν Ἐκκλησία προβάλλει τὰ

Κυριακὰ λόγια, "ἐὰν μὴ στραφῆτε καὶ γένησθε ὡς τὰ παιδία, οὐ μὴ εἰσέλθητε εἰς τὴν

βασιλείαν τῶν Οὐρανῶν"[10] καὶ τὸ "ὅς ἐὰν μὴ δέξηται τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ ὡς παιδίον,

οὐ μὴ εἰσέλθῃ εἰς αὐτήν"[11], ὡς καὶ ὅσα ἀναφέρει ὁ Σωτὴρ ἡμῶν δι᾿ ἐκείνους, οἱ ὁποῖοι

"κωλύουν"[12] τὰ παιδία νὰ Τὸν πλησιάσουν καὶ δι᾿ ὅσους τὰ "σκανδαλίζουν"[13].

Τὸ μυστήριον τῶν Χριστουγέννων συμπυκνοῦται εἰς τοὺς λόγους τοῦ Κοντακίου τῆς ἑορτῆς

"Δι᾿ ἡμᾶς γὰρ ἐγεννήθη παιδίον νέον, ὁ πρὸ αἰώνων Θεός". Ὁ Θεὸς Λόγος ὡς παιδίον καὶ τὸ

παιδίον ὡς Θεὸς ἀποκαλύπτεται εἰς ἀνθρώπους μὲ "καθαρὰν καρδίαν" καὶ μὲ τὴν ἁπλότητα

τοῦ παιδίου. Τὰ παιδία κατανοοῦν ἀληθείας, τὰς ὁποίας "οἱ σοφοὶ καὶ οἱ συνετοὶ" ἀδυνατοῦν

νὰ προσεγγίσουν. "Ἀπὸ παιδιὰ καὶ μόνον φτιάχνεις Ἱεροσόλυμα", σημειώνει ὁ Ἐλύτης εἰς τὸ

"Ἐκ τοῦ πλησίον"[14].

Ἀδελφοὶ καὶ τέκνα ἐν Κυρίῳ,

Ἀπευθύνομεν ἔκκλησιν πρὸς πάντας, νὰ σέβωνται τὴν ταυτότητα καὶ τὴν ἱερότητα τῆς

παιδικῆς ἡλικίας. Ἐνώπιον τῆς παγκοσμίου προσφυγικῆς κρίσεως, ἡ ὁποία θίγει κατ᾿ ἐξοχὴν

http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchalchristmasencyclical2016#_ftn8http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchalchristmasencyclical2016#_ftn9http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchalchristmasencyclical2016#_ftn10http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchalchristmasencyclical2016#_ftn11http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchalchristmasencyclical2016#_ftn12http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchalchristmasencyclical2016#_ftn13http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchalchristmasencyclical2016#_ftn14

Beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord,

We appeal to all of you to respect the identity and sacredness of childhood. In light of the

global refugee crisis that especially affects the rights of children; in light of the plague of

child mortality, hunger and child labor, child abuse and psychological violence, as well as

the dangers of altering children’s souls through their uncontrolled exposure to the

influence of contemporary electronic means of communication and their subjection to con-

sumerism, we declare 2017 as the Year of Protection of the Sacredness of Childhood,

inviting everyone to recognize and respect the rights and integrity of children.

As underlined in another significant document of the Holy and Great Council, the Church

of Christ does not look to “judging and condemning the world” with its word (John 3.17;

12.47), “but rather to offer to the world the guidance of the Gospel of the Kingdom of

God, namely, the hope and assurance that evil, no matter its form, does not have the last

word in history and must not be allowed to dictate its course.”[6]

Therefore, we venerate our Savior with humility and compunction, for He has visited us

from on high; we praise with divine song the immensity of the sacred Incarnation; we

kneel down before the All-Holy Theotokos, who holds the child Jesus; and we address

from the sleepless Phanar the festive greeting to all children of the Church of Constantino-

ple, both near and afar: “Christ is born; glorify Him. Christ has come from heaven; come

out to meet Him,” together with our paternal wishes and patriarchal prayer.

“Be strong in the grace of Christ Jesus.” (2 Tim. 2.1) Let us all strive together with faith

and sincere love in the good struggle of new life in the Church, adhering to all that the

Lord has commanded. For He is with us “all the days of our life, to the end of the

ages.” (Matt 28.20)

Christmas 2016

+BARTHOLOMEW of Constantinople

Fervent supplicant of all before God

[1] Gregory the Theologian, Moral Poems 34.

[2] John Chrysostom, Homily before Exile PG 52.429.

[3] Origen, Commentary on the Gospel of John 6.

[4] Christmas Matins.

[5] Gregory the Theologian, Homily 38 on Epiphany, namely the Nativity of the Savior .

[6] The Mission of the Orthodox Church in the Contemporary World, introduction.

19 Δεκεμβρίου 2016

Ἀριθμ. Πρωτ. 1297

ΠΑΤΡΙΑΡΧΙΚΗ ΑΠΟΔΕΙΞΙΣ

ΕΠΙ ΤΟΙΣ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥΓΕΝΝΟΙΣ

+ Β Α Ρ Θ Ο Λ Ο Μ Α Ι Ο Σ

ΕΛΕΩ ΘΕΟΥ ΑΡΧΙΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΟΣ ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΟΥΠΟΛΕΩΣ,

ΝΕΑΣ ΡΩΜΗΣ ΚΑΙ ΟΙΚΟΥΜΕΝΙΚΟΣ ΠΑΤΡΙΑΡΧΗΣ

ΠΑΝΤΙ ΤΩ ΠΛΗΡΩΜΑΤΙ ΤΗΣ ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑΣ

ΧΑΡΙΝ, ΕΛΕΟΣ ΚΑΙ ΕΙΡΗΝΗΝ

ΠΑΡΑ ΤΟΥ ΕΝ ΒΗΘΛΕΕΜ ΓΕΝΝΗΘΕΝΤΟΣ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥ

* * *

"Χριστοῦ δ᾿ ἐνανθρώπησις, ἄλλη μοι πλάσις"[1].

Ἀγαπητοὶ ἀδελφοὶ καὶ τέκνα ἐν Κυρίῳ πεφιλημένα,

Ὑμνοῦμεν καὶ δοξάζομεν τὸν ἐν Τριάδι Θεόν, τὸν ἀξιώσαντα ἡμᾶς καὶ ἐφέτος νὰ φθάσωμεν εἰς

τὴν μεγάλην ἑορτὴν τῆς ἐν "Βηθλεὲμ τῇ μικρᾷ" κατὰ σάρκα Γεννήσεως τοῦ Υἱοῦ καὶ Λόγου τοῦ

Θεοῦ Πατρός.

Ἑορτάζει ἐν χαρᾷ πεπληρωμένῃ ἡ Ἁγία Ἐκκλησία, ἧς "σάρκα ἀνέλαβεν" ὁ Χριστὸς σαρκωθείς

[2], καταστήσας αὐτὴν "κόσμον τοῦ κόσμου"[3]. Σκιρτᾷ διὰ τὰς θείας εὐλογίας ὄχι μόνον

σύνολον τὸ ἀνθρώπινον γένος, ἀλλὰ "πᾶσα ἡ κτίσις". "Τὰ σύμπαντα σήμερον χαρᾶς πληροῦνται ˙

Χριστοῦ τεχθέντος ἐκ τῆς Παρθένου"[4].

Ἐν ἀντιθέσει πρὸς τὸ "πρῶτον ἀκίνητον" τῶν Ἀρχαίων, ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν εἶναι καθ᾿ ἑαυτὸν κοινωνία

ἀγάπης καὶ κινεῖται ἐν χρόνῳ ἀγαπητικῶς πρὸς τὸν ἄνθρωπον καὶ τὸν κόσμον. "Ἐν τούτῳ ἐστὶν ἡ

ἀγάπη, οὐχ ὅτι ἡμεῖς ἠγαπήσαμεν τὸν Θεόν, ἀλλ᾿ ὅτι αὐτὸς ἠγάπησεν ἡμᾶς"[5].

Ὁ προαιώνιος Λόγος τοῦ Πατρός, ὁ ὁποῖος ἔδωκεν εἰς τὸν ἄνθρωπον τὸ "εἶναι", χαρίζεται εἰς

αὐτὸν διὰ τῆς Ἐνανθρωπήσεώς Του τὸ "εὖ εἶναι". "Τοῦτό ἐστιν ἡμῖν ἡ πανήγυρις, τοῦτο

ἑορτάζομεν σήμερον, ἐπιδημίαν Θεοῦ πρὸς ἀνθρώπους, ἵνα πρὸς Θεὸν ἐκδημήσωμεν, ἢ

ἐπανέλθωμεν..., ἵνα τὸν παλαιὸν ἄνθρωπον ἀποθέμενοι τὸν νέον ἐνδυσώμεθα, καὶ ὥσπερ ἐν τῷ

Ἀδὰμ ἀπεθάνομεν οὕτως ἐν τῷ Χριστῷ ζήσωμεν, Χριστῷ καὶ συγγεννώμενοι καὶ

συσταυρούμενοι καὶ συνθαπτόμενοι καὶ συνανιστάμενοι"[6]. Εἰς πάντα ἄνθρωπον ἐρχόμενον εἰς

τὸν κόσμον εἶναι πλέον ἀνοικτὴ ἡ ὁδὸς τῆς κατὰ χάριν Θεώσεως. Ὅλοι εἴμεθα "Θεοῦ

χωρητικοί". "Οὐκ ἔνι Ἰουδαῖος οὐδὲ Ἕλλην, οὐκ ἔνι δοῦλος οὐδὲ ἐλεύθερος, οὐκ ἔνι ἄρσεν καὶ

θῆλυ˙ πάντες γὰρ ὑμεῖς εἷς ἐστε ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ"[7].

http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchnativity2016#_ftn6http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchnativity2016#_ftnref1http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchnativity2016#_ftnref2http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchnativity2016#_ftnref3http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchnativity2016#_ftnref4http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchnativity2016#_ftnref5http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchnativity2016#_ftnref6http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchalchristmasencyclical2016#_ftn1http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchalchristmasencyclical2016#_ftn2http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchalchristmasencyclical2016#_ftn3http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchalchristmasencyclical2016#_ftn4http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchalchristmasencyclical2016#_ftn5http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchalchristmasencyclical2016#_ftn6http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarchalchristmasencyclical2016#_ftn7