Trumpet The Archangel Michael

36 Pages·2015·3.01 MB·English

Trumpet
The Archangel Michael
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Jun-Aug 2015 • Issue 24 • Archangel Michael Church • Port Washington, NY
2 Mission & Vision Statement
3 Father Dennis’ Message
4 Worship Services & Sacraments
4 Stewardship Update
5 Father Nikolas’ Message
6 The Consecration
16 Stewardship Thank You
17 Philoptochos
17 Greek School Board
18 Greek School PTA
19 Sunday School
20 Byzantine Youth Choir
21 Adult Choir
21 Athletics
21 GOYA
22 Dance Troupe
23 HOPE/JOY
23 Peter Christofer Memorial
24 Festival
28 Community Photos
30 Calendars
QUICK NEWS & EVENTS
Tues., June 2nd:
Greek School Moving-Up
Ceremony for Grades K - 2
Fri., June 5th:
Greek School Moving-Up
& Graduation
Sun., June 7th:
Philoptochos Board Elections
8:45 am
Sunday School Moving-Up
Ceremony & Fellowship BBQ
Thurs., June 11th:
Watsonian Golf Outing
Iconography: Athanasios Clark
Fri., June 12th:
Preschool Moving-Up & The Holy Relics of St. Panteleimon, St. Kyrikos and St. Barbara
Graduation Ceremonies
were permanently sealed in the Altar Table at the Consecration of
Mon., June 15th :
The Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church, April 25, 2015
Philoptochos Year-End Dinner
Trumpet
The Archangel Michael
About the Parish
Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church
100 Fairway Drive
Port Washington, New York 11050
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Website: ArchangelMichaelChurch.org
Email: [email protected]
Archangel Michael Church is a parish of the Direct Archdiocesan District
and Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (www.goarch.org) under the
spiritual jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.
Clergy
Father Dennis Strouzas, Protopresbyter
Father Nikolas Karloutsos, Presbyter
Chanter: Andreas Modenos
Neokoro: Niko Evangelidis
Office Staff
Dora Gouramanis, Sandra Anagnostos, Catherine Papagianakis
Parish Council Members
Executive Board
President: Michael Cavounis
1st Vice President: Michael Psyllos
2nd Vice President: Michael Bapis
Treasurer: Chris Neocleous
1st Assistant Treasurer: James Sfiroudis
The Archangel Michael Greek
2nd Assistant Treasurer: John Halkias
Secretary: Nicholas Kokinakis Orthodox Church is dedicated
to the continuation of
Tammy Ashley, Dean Chiros, Tommy Dimopoulos, Tom Gargas,
our Lord and Savior Jesus
George Kaparos, Adam Karras, Michael Kavourias, Nick Kokis,
Barbara Mavro, Nicholas Papain, Mark Pappas, Dominick Christ’s ministry of salvation
Petruccelli, Peter Tsekouras, Demetrios Ziozis.
through the proclamation
Mission
About the Trumpet and teaching of the Gospel.
Statement
The Trumpet is the newsletter of We are a community of
Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church. individuals and families who
Production share the traditions and
2015 Parish Council President: Michael Cavounis
ageless beliefs of our Holy
Editors: Barbara Mavro, Eleni Sfiroudis
Orthodox Christian Faith.
Calendar Editors: Dora Gouramanis, Sandra Anagnostos
Copy Editors: Penny Stefanakis, Stella Tsimisiris
Advertising: Sandra Anagnostos
Direct inquiries to: [email protected]
Our vision is to provide
The Trumpet welcomes news and events from our community
and organizations! a loving, caring and
Vision welcoming environment
Please submit information as follows:
Articles: [email protected] Statement where all belong and
Advertising information and sales: [email protected] grow in the faith through
Calendar events: [email protected] worship, service, witness
June/July/August Worship Schedule and fellowship.
Sunday Services: 8:30am Matins, 9:30am Liturgy
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Pastoral Message from Father Dennis
As mentioned in the March-April issue of the TRUMPET, we will St. Barbara was born in the early third century. Her father was
devote this article to the Saints whose relics now reside in the a pagan named Dioskoros who was convinced that Christianity
Holy Altar table of our church. The relics are: St. Panteleimon, was his worst enemy. Barbara, however, managed to find
St. Barbara and St. Kyrikos. The following has been condensed truth in the teachings of Christ and was secretly baptized.
from the book “Orthodox Saints” written by Fr. George Poulos: She continued to pray and practice her faith concealing it
from her father out of parental respect. Eventually, her
“The Holy Relics of the martyred Saints that have been placed father found out and was instrumental in her brutal death. All
in the Altar Table of a church is a reminder that the church accounts record that Barbara’s father was killed by a bolt of
community is founded on the deep love, devotion and ultimate lightning while on his way back home from the execution of his
sacrifice of good Christian men and women for almost 2,000 daughter. St. Barbara could have saved herself when she was
years. Their presence must be honored, respected…” given the opportunity to appease her father by denying her
Savior, but instead, she chose to proclaim her faith to him. St.
The Consecration of a church and its Holy Altar offers us an Barbara is recognized as the patroness of firefighters and those
opportunity to bear witness to these in hazardous occupations. Her feast
Saints, their love, dedication and day is celebrated on December 4th.
sacrifice. It reminds us of a legacy of
faith, service and commitment that THEY ARE A St. Kyrikos was the three-year
has been in existence, not in terms old son of St. Julitta. Fearing the
CONSTANT REMINDER
of years, decades or centuries, but persecution of Diocletian, she left
THAT ULTIMATELY
rather millennia. They are a constant the city of Iconium and took her son
reminder that ultimately good will GOOD WILL TRIUMPH to Seleucia; but finding the same
triumph over evil. evil there, she went over to Tarsus
OVER EVIL.
in Cilicia where the magistrate had
St. Panteleimon was a young doctor her arrested. He took her son from
born in the third century in Asia Minor. her and tried to persuade him to
His father was a pagan, from whom denounce his mother. Kyrikos, in his
he inherited his profound intellect, and his mother was a childish voice, called upon the name of Christ and kicked the
Christian of great spiritual awareness. Together, Panteleimon’s magistrate in the belly so hard, that the tyrant became
parents provided him with the skill and dedication to become enraged and cast him down a long staircase. The child
a physician of remarkable ability. His fine reputation drew the suffered severe blows to the head and died. As for his
attention of the Emperor Maximilian increasing his renown. mother, she endured many torments and finally was
Reminded, however, by a pious Christian named Ermolaos beheaded in the year 296. We commemorate them on
that “from the Most High comes healing”, Panteleimon openly July 15th.
proclaimed that his power of healing was not attributable to
physician skill alone, but to divine intervention as well. As In His Service and Love,
his reputation grew, he became known more as a man of God
than of science, bringing upon him instead, the wrath of the
emperor. When given the choice between Christ and the idols,
Panteleimon reaffirmed his Christian identity. After he survived
several attempts to torture and kill him, he was beheaded. St. Fr. Dennis Strouzas
Panteleimon gave his life for Christ on July 27th, the day that
we honor as his feast day.
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News & Events
Worship Services & Sacraments
Saturday, July 18th 4:00 pm, Wedding of Vinny
Bonkowski and Despina Raftopoulos
WORSHIP SERVICES
(All Paraclesis services are in the Chapel)
Saturday, August 22nd 2:00 pm, Wedding of Peter
Saturday, June 20th 10:30am, Challenge Liturgy Pavlakos and Martha Tsoumpas
Tuesday, June 30th 9:30 am, Chapel Liturgy, 4:00 pm, Wedding of Thomas
Synaxis of the Holy Apostles Lomino and Kay Lagaros
Wednesday, July 15th 9:30 am, Liturgy, Julitta and
Kyrikos the Martyrs
GOLF OUTING
Saturday, July 18th 10:30am, Challenge Liturgy
Monday, July 27th 9:30am Liturgy, St. Panteleimon The 22nd annual AMC Watsonian Golf Outing will be held
on June 11th. There are many ways to participate for
Monday, August 3rd 7:30 pm, Paraclesis Service
both golfers and non-golfers. Please check our website
Thursday, August 6th 9:30am, Liturgy, Holy Transfiguration for more information or refer to the recent mailing for
further details.
Friday, August 7th 7:30pm, Paraclesis Service
Monday, August 10th 7:30pm, Paraclesis Service
Stewardship Update
Wednesday, August 12th 7:30pm, Paraclesis Service
Friday, August 14th Vespers at area churches: Brooklyn,
Island Park,Port Jefferson, Hamptons Through March 31st, 2015, we have seen a 3% increase in the
Saturday, August 15th 9:30am, Challenge Liturgy, number of our active stewards, to 318, versus last year. These
Dormition of the Theotokos
318 active stewards have pledged $265,000, an increase from
SACRAMENTS $235,000 last year at this time, an encouraging 13% increase.
Saturday, June 6th 2:00 pm, Wedding of Anthony This combination of more active stewards pledging higher
Zachariadis and Erin Laird
amounts signifies that our community is engaged in the won-
4:30 pm, Baptism:
derful work being done by our organizations and shows sup-
Child of Jay and Diana Rushin
port for our ministries, which are funded from Stewardship
Saturday, June 13th 10:30am, Baptism:
commitments. With a budgeted goal of achieving $550,000 in
Child of Marko and Vicki Georgiou
stewardship pledges for 2015, we are hopeful the early prog-
1:00pm, Baptism:
Child of Dean and Fotini Handrinos ress seen so far will continue and enable us to achieve our
ambitious goals.
Sunday, June 14th 12:30 pm, Baptism:
Child of Phil and Areti Galanis
We want to take this opportunity to thank all of the stewards
2:00 pm, Baptism:
Child of Peter and Sophia in our community for their ongoing support.
Cocolaras
Saturday, June 20th 1:00pm, Baptism END-of-YEAR BARBECUE
Child of Christian and
Maria Casco
Our traditional End-of-Year Barbecue will be held on
Sunday, June 21st 3:00pm, Wedding of Nick Sunday, June 7th, immediately following the Divine
Papasifakis and Tina Trentidou Liturgy and Sunday School Moving Up ceremony. Please
join us in fellowship as we celebrate the end of another
Saturday, June 27th 4:00 pm, Wedding of Matthew
great year of Sunday School, Greek School, Preschool,
Smith and Anastasia Alimaras
Ministries and organization activities.
5:30 pm, Wedding of Steve Petsis
and Jackie Vakalopoulos
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Pastoral Message from Father Nikolas
The Saints are In the Holy Altar, the Priest is At stand well. Let us stand in awe. Let us be attentive,
the Altar, and We, the Holy People of God, are that we may present the holy offering in peace.” This
On the Altar comes from the Greek word anaphero which in one
sense means “to carry” or “bring up, to lead up” and in
another sense, has the meaning “to put upon the altar,
The title of this message is inspired not only by our
to bring to the altar, to offer” and still in another, “to
present reality at the Archangel Michael Church but
place on one’s self anything as a load to be supported
also by a subheading from a chapter in a book by Fr.
or sustained.” This is why just prior to the priest lifting
Anthony Coniaris titled Introducing the Orthodox Faith:
up the paten and chalice, he intones on behalf of the
Its Faith and Life (an incredibly practical primer on
faithful “We offer to You these gifts from Your own gifts
Orthodoxy). The chapter deals with the Divine Liturgy
in all and for all.”
and initially focuses on the bread offering or prosphoro,
which is of course essential to the Eucharist (a.k.a.
To take it a step further, if we are in fact both the
Holy Communion) which in turn is the heart and soul
“body of Christ” and a “royal priesthood” then that
of every Divine Liturgy. What we may not realize is
means that we offer sacrifices in imitation of Christ
that if we truly believe that the
crucified and Risen. We offer
Body of Christ is on the altar at ...lifting up to Him
gifts that we have received
every Liturgy, then that means
all that originates from Him. The Archangel
that indeed, WE are on the
Michael Church community has
altar—after all, St. Paul tells us with Him…
done just that from its earliest
in 1 Corinthians chapter 12 that
days—offered and sacrificed
namely our love,
“[we] are the body of Christ and
and a crowning moment in this
individually members of it.”
our thanks, story of sacrifice, of faithful
and dedicated Christian witness
This belief is echoed elsewhere our commitment, was made manifest on the altar
in scripture and in our Orthodox
at the Consecration services
and our whole lives.
teachings. As members of what
of April 24th and 25th. And so
St. Peter calls in his first epistle
as we reflect on the decades,
“a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people…”
years, days and weeks leading up to the Consecration,
and within the Orthodox Church generally, we are
may we always remember the continuous posture that
encouraged to “commit ourselves and one another and
we ought to have toward our Creator and Giver of life
our whole life to Christ our God” (from the Divine Liturgy
and every good thing—that of lifting up to Him all that
of St. John Chrysostom). To put it another way, we are
originates with Him…namely our love, our thanks, our
all about offering: consider the bread and wine offered
commitment, and our whole lives. In this way, we will
up to God which become the Body and Blood of Christ;
always find ourselves on the Holy Altar, together with the
listen to the voices of praise of our choirs and people
saints, drawing near to Christ our God, and emboldened
being lifted up to God in song; recall any one of the
to carry out His work, to become the “body of Christ”
many raising up or elevating movements in our worship
for the salvation of the world.
e.g. the blessing Cross, the kouvouklion at Pascha; and
of course, think of our hearts at every liturgy (“Let us
In the Light and Love of our Lord,
lift up our hearts”). The Greek word we use to capture
and communicate this distinctive posture toward our
Creator is “anaphora.”
The Eucharistic anaphora (a.k.a. offering or sacrifice)
Fr. Nikolas Karloutsos
begins immediately following the creed with “Let us
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News & Events
The Consecration of
The Archangel Michael
Greek Orthodox Church
Our beloved Archangel Michael Church was transformed over
the weekend of April 24-25, 2015. What follows is a summary
of the significance of the events of the Consecration service.
The Consecration began on Friday evening, April 24, 2015.
While holding white candles, children from each of our youth
programs lined the center aisle of the church. When His Grace
Bishop Andonios entered the Church on Friday evening, he
brought with him the relics of three Saints: Saint Barbara the
Great Martyr (December 4th), Saint Kyrikos the Martyr (July On Saturday morning, the service of Orthros (Matins) began
15th), and Saint Panteleimon the Great Martyr and Healer with the reading of six Psalms (3, 37, 62, 87,102,142) and
(July 27th), which would be permanently sealed in our altar. ended with the Great Doxology. During Orthros, both resurrec-
These relics were placed on a Paten (Diskarion) and covered tion and consecration hymns were sung. Father Dennis and nu-
with a communion veil, which remained on the Altar Table merous other clergy (Bishop Andonios, six visiting priests, and
overnight, along with a Vigil Light. As he entered in procession three deacons) celebrated part of the Proskomidi Service (pre-
into the narthex, His Grace led a short prayer service honoring paring the Gifts which will be used during the Divine Liturgy).
the memory of the three Saints, followed by a Vespers service.
His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios was greeted outside the
In addition to His Grace, ten priests and two deacons honored
church and presented with spring flowers by students from
our community with their presence that evening to share in
the Archangel Michael Greek Language Institute. His Eminence
the joy of this historic event. Following the Vespers service,
then entered the Church and put on his vestments. At the end
the community joined in fellowship at a reception hosted by
of Orthros, His Eminence began the Service of Consecration by
the Ladies Philoptochos.
offering prayers for the Holy Relics.
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The Consecration Of The Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church

Following these prayers, Archbishop Demetrios and clergy, to-
gether with all faithful in attendance, prepared for three pro-
cessions around the Church. These processions represent the
setting aside of an area which will be separate and sacred from
all other areas. The procession was led by the acolytes, choirs,
the Clergy, with Fr. Nikolas carrying the Icon of the three Saints
and Fr. Dennis carrying the Holy Gospel, Archbishop Demetrios
carrying the Holy Relics on the Paten, and the faithful, thus
leaving the church empty. As the church was circled, the choirs
sang special Consecration Hymns and Agios O Theos.

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The Consecration Of The Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church
The first two processions stopped at the front of the church at
which time there was an Epistle reading and a Reading from
the Holy Gospel. After the final procession, before re-enter-
ing the church, Archbishop Demetrios offered a dialogue from
Psalm 24, representing Christ the King entering and taking
over the Church building by defeating the power of the devil.
Archbishop Demetrios knocked on the door of the church with
his staff and said: “Lift up the gates, O you rulers, and be
lifted up, you everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall
enter.” Father Peter Karloutsos was the only person inside
the church and representing an Angel, responded with: “Who
is this King of Glory?” to which Archbishop Demetrios replied,
“The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory.”
Archbishop Demetrios raised the Paten and made the sign of
the Cross three times in front of the church doors, which were
then opened and all proceeded back inside the church. Arch-
bishop Demetrios entered the Sanctuary, carrying the Paten
with the Holy Relics. He uncovered the Paten and placed
the Holy Relics in a small box. He then poured Holy Chrism
over the Relics. This symbolizes the union between our Lord
and his Martyrs and at the conclusion, Archbishop Demetrios
offered prayers for the deceased founders of the Church. It
is important to remember that in the early years of Christi-
anity, the Church was not allowed to exist, and Christians
were persecuted and killed. In those days, Christians met in
underground burial places and celebrated the Eucharist on
the graves of the martyred and the Saints. Over time, when
the Church was permitted to exist, and when these persecu-
tions ended, the custom of celebrating the Eucharist over the
graves of the martyrs continued by placing the Holy Relics in
the Altar at the time of Consecration. In this manner, we are
always reminded that the Church was built on the Blood of
the Martyrs and their faith in the Lord.
The Consecration centers around the Holy Altar Table, since it
represents all of the Sacraments and services of the Church.
Archbishop Demetrios offered prayers for God’s help to con-
tinue with the service and then placed the box containing
the Holy Relics into a special cavity in the Altar. In order
to permanently seal them, Archbishop Demetrios poured wax
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The Consecration Of The Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church
melted
with mastic over them. The wax and mastic contain sweet
smelling and fragrant spices, which were used by Joseph of
Arimathea and Nicodemus to anoint the Body of Christ in prep-
aration for his burial. The Holy Altar represents the Tomb in
which our Lord’s body was placed. Archbishop Demetrios re-
moved the excess wax, and the placing of the Holy Relics in
the Altar Table was completed.
Archbishop Demetrios anointed the Altar with Holy Chrism,
once in the center and then on either side while singing “Al-
leluia” three times. He spread the Holy Chrism over the entire
Altar Table as he recited a section from Psalm 132. The priests
then wiped the excess Chrism with new, soon to be used An-
timinsia. Next, icons of the four Evangelists were fastened to
the Altar, one in each corner. The completed Altar represents
the entire Church, from which the four corners of the world
Archbishop Demetrios prepared the Altar Table to be anointed.
are held together by the Lord, and is built on Him through the
Since the Altar Table represents the Tomb of Christ and His
preaching of the Gospel. Following the anointing, Archbishop
body, the Altar must undergo its own “Baptism”, or washing,
Demetrios began the vesting (putting on the new coverings) of
and “Chrismation”, or anointing. Before washing and anoint-
the Altar table.
ing the Altar Table, Archbishop Demetrios put on a white gar-
ment called a Savanon, blessed the water brought forth, and
poured it on the Altar three times saying: “In the name of the
Father, the Son and Holy Spirit.” This act symbolizes Baptism:
the Altar is cleaned by washing, and sanctified (made holy) by
the grace of the Holy Spirit. After washing, the Altar Table was
dried. During this time, Psalm 83 was being read. Archbishop
Demetrios then sprinkled rosewater on the Altar. The rosewa-
ter is sweet smelling and was used to anoint the Body of Christ
for burial. Archbishop Demetrios continued the rest of Psalm
50 while the Altar was wiped dry by the assisting priests using
new white towels to do so.
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The Consecration Of The Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church
The Altar table was then covered with the “Katasarkion”, a
white linen cloth that represents our Lord’s burial shroud.
The Kataskarion was tied with a cord that represents the cord
with which our Lord’s hands were tied as he stood before the
High Priests. The Kataskarion will never be removed and will
remain on the Altar for as long as the Church remains stand-
ing. During this time, Psalm 131 was read. Once completed,
Archbishop Demetrios said, “Glory to You our God unto ages of
ages.” He washed his hands and covered the Altar Table with
a brighter and more elaborate cover which symbolizes the
glory of God, and proceeded to place the other holy articles
on the Altar Table. First he placed the Corporal (Antiminsion);
Archbishop Demetrios blessed the faithful and offered ad-
on top of this was placed the Gospel Book, representing the
ditional prayers for the Altar Table. After this, Archbishop
teachings of Christ, followed by the Tabernacle (Artophorion),
Demetrios and Bishop Andonios removed the Savana, which
in which the Body and Blood of our Lord was placed and is re-
were presented to the Ladies Philoptochos to be cut up into
served for Communion of the sick. The Artophorion is symbol-
small pieces and given to each person in attendance as a keep-
ic of the presence of our Lord. Finally, the candlesticks were
sake. The Divine Liturgy continued from this point forward.
placed last and represent the light of Christ that shines forth.
Once the Altar has been consecrated, sanctified and adorned
with all its furnishings, the Altar and the entire Church were
censed with incense. Archbishop Demetrios and Bishop An-
donios then anointed the four walls of the Church and the
Holy Icons, and made the sign of the Cross on them with Holy
Chrism. This act symbolized the sanctification of all creation
with the grace of Christ.
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