Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, New Rochelle, New York 2015 Parish Directory and April and MayTrinitarian

10 Mill Road, New Rochelle, New York 10804 Phone:914-235-6100 Fax: 914-235-0708 www.holytrinity-nr.church Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH 10 MILL ROAD, NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK 10804 – (914) 235-6100 Fax # (914) 235-0708 [email protected] www.holytrinity-nr.church PRIEST: Rev. Nicholas Anctil EMERGENCY PHONE: Cell # (914) 522-6732 ASSOCIATE PRIEST: Rev. Sami Baroody

OFFICE MANAGER : Gigi Longo OFFICE and RENTALS: Mat. Robyn Hatrak 2015 PARISH COUNCIL MEMBERS

PRESIDENT: Dino Yotides VICE PRESIDENT: George Manolakis TREASURER: Art Prifti SECRETARY: Jon Kohilakis Gregory N. Apostle, John Copulos, Marios Damianides, Thomas Dushas, Bill Gianaris, Evan Graf, Cynthia Herzegovitch, Dennis Kouloumbis, George Kourakos, Helen Morik, Ron Nicholas, Joseph Pantginis, Cornelia Pappas, Nikolaos Skubas, George P. Williams, James Zafiros Honorary Members: John Daskos, Philip Koutsis, Nicos C. Los, Nicholas Lyras, and Zachary Marantis SCHOOLS Greek School: E. Romoudi Sunday School: E. Pappas, Director COMMITTEES Archdiocese Liaison : Executive Board Parliamentarian: B. Gianaris, N. Lyras Capital Projects: G. Williams, G. Manolakis, D. Yotides, G. Kondos Rental Liaison: J. Dos Santos, J. Copulos Choir Liaison : H. Morik, J. Copulos Scholarships: N. Skubas, H. Morik, A. Prifti Compensation: G. Kourakos, E. Graf, A. Prifti Senior Citizen: D. Kouloumbis, G. Apostle Dinner Dance: C. Pappas, D. Yotides, J. Pantginis Stewardship: D. Yotides, H. Morik Auction: M. Damianides Sunday School: C. Herzegovitch Easter Feast: P. Constantinides, P. Koutsis Youth: J. Dos Santos, C. Herzegovitch, N. Skubas Elections: G. Kourakos Audit: M. Damianides, A. Prifti Board of Elections: D. Soukas, E. Zoulis Festival: G. Manolakis, C. Papademetriou, J. Dos Santos Finance & Banking: M. Damianides, E. Graf E. Louros , A. Prifti, G. Kourakos, G. Kondos, M. Zannelli Greek School: J. Kohilakis Festival Raffle: E. Graf, B. Gianaris, N. Skubas, G. Apostle Gym: B. Gianaris, N. Skubas Landscaping: G. Apostle, J. Karagandis, C. Canelos Insurance: M. Damianides, G. Hatjygeorge Web Design & Maintenance: A. Prifti, N. Dallaris Maintenance:G.Williams, G. Manolakis, J.Copulos, D. Kouloumbis Journal: A. Soukas, Fr. N. Anctil, D. Yotides, G. Longo Narthex: G. Manolakis, D. Kouloumbis, G. Kourakos Agape: J. Kohilakis, D. Kouloumbis, J. Daskos, T. Dushas Office: J. Dos Santos, A. Prifti Philoptochos Liason: C. Pappas, H. Morik

ORGANIZATIONS Greek School Director: E. Romoudi Philoptochos: M. Sirras AHEPA: J. Keane Young at Heart: C. Canelos Library: C. Canelos Sr. Choir: H. Hiotakis Greek School PTA: T. Maravegias Sr. Organist: S. Papaioannou Cub Scouts: K. Kingsley-Mulder Jr. Choir: G. Mavrovitis Boy Scout: D. Kerwick Psaltis: A. Lampousis, J. Pantginis Brownies: H. Dallaris, H. & M. Fotiadis “Mommy & Me” S. Resvanis Girl Scouts: H. Dallaris, H. & M. Fotiadis, T. Pinou GOYA: F. Cossifos A. Cossifos Youth Division Basketball A: P. Sinis, D. Varsou JOY: M. Fotiadis Youth Division Basketball B : J. Resvanis, D. Varsou HOPE: S. Eng, S. Vissas JV Division Basketball: C. Papademetriou YAL: M. Graf, M. Zoulis Varsity Division Basketball: B. Gianaris, E. Ziogas Mr. & Mrs. Club: M. Kohilakis Senior Division Basketball: C.J. Kanelopoulos Festival Volunteers: M. Scaros-Mercado, E. Primavera JV & Varsity Volleyball: C. Herzegovitch, R. Verdina Westchester Co. Greek Orchestra: T. Kokkalos The TRINITARIAN is a publication of HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH and is published on the 1st of every other month approximately 6 times per year. Deadline for each publication is the 8 th of the previous month. EDITORS: Mat. Robyn Hatrak, Gigi Longo, Fr. Nicholas Anctil

Pastor's Message My Dear Fellow Parishioners, Christ is Risen. Χριστός Ανέστη! I always look forward to greeting you in this special edition of the Trinitarian. This Bluebook edition is special to me personally because it lists our entire parish as one body and Community. This body is formed as a result of your dedication to our Holy Orthodox Faith, your love for our Greek Language and Hellenic Culture. The commitment of your time, talents and treasures has allowed Holy Trinity to continue her ministry here in Westchester County. Each one of you has played a role, large or small, in the ministries that make our 600 family parish truly a Community. I greet you with a grateful heart today and wish to share with you some of the accomplishments that have happened since last year's Bluebook. We have completed the purchase of the property adjacent to our parking lot on North Avenue and have taken down the dwelling and ancillary buildings. The property has been filled with clean soil and seeded for future use. We are hoping to dedicate the property on Pentecost Sunday with a "Family Picnic" on the site. Stay tuned for details! We have also completed the iconography project which included restoration of the Pantokratora as well as the Deisis icon in the Narthex. Along with at project we successfully replaced the cushions in the pews and thank all the families who donated and participated in that very tedious project. Our final goal with this restoration will be the replacement and installation of proper lighting in the church. We are almost at the end of completion with PHASE I of the Renovation/Restoration project in the School Building and Social Hall. The carpeting project is complete in the Social Hall (new carpeting will soon be installed in the foyer and hallways). The roof is at about 90% completion and the HVAC system in the Social Hall is in progress....slow as it may be. Both of the last two mentioned projects were hindered by several serious issues as we mentioned at the General Assembly in November. We are working diligently to solve them. The roof will be complete as soon as the cold weather breaks, and the HVAC system along with the kitchen roof will be tackled next. PHASE II will be underway soon with the replacement of the underground water drainage systems, restoration of the Church Front Doors and hardware, Narthex and center aisle floor replacement, a security system, water retainage wells, parking lot replacement and new air handlers for the Church. These are crucial infrastructure repairs due to the age of the buildings. We hope to meet our anticipated PHASE II fundraising and completion of projects by December of this year. Please take a moment and discuss this Project with your family. And finally, may I say, even with all the above going on, we were able to meet our Stewardship goals for the most part for 2014. The Stewardship Program keeps the parish ministries, programs and salaries afloat throughout the year. So, as you see, I greet you with a grateful heart, hoping that God continues to bless our Parish in the present year with the ability to bring forth and spread our precious Orthodox Faith and our rich Heritage, Language and Culture for generations to come!

What is an Assyrian Christian? With the horrific stories still coming out of the Middle East about the sufferings of the Christian community there, and the news about Assyrian Christians, some of you might be asking questions about their identity. Again, there is much more to say about this and the history of the Middle East can get complicated (and most of us are not well schooled about the history in that part of the world), but this gives a general picture. Christianity was established and was blossoming in Mesopotamia (in general, today’s Iraq, Syria, and southern Turkey) by the mid-second century AD. The Persians conquered the territory, thus separating this Christian community from the other parts of the Roman (Byzantine) Empire. Under pressure from the Persian rulers and to avoid suspicion about their loyalties, the Church there was forced to separate itself from the Church associated with the Byzantine Empire. The Assyrians became an independent Christian community, with its own head called a Catholicos and Patriarch. As a result Assyrian Christianity developed independently from the rest of the Church. The Assyrians accepted the theology of Theodore of Mopsuestia and Nestorius and their teachings about Christ. The Assyrians were not present for the Third Ecumenical Council (at Ephesus) that condemned Nestorianism. After the Council many followers of Nestorius were expelled from the Byzantine Empire and were sent into Persia. As a result, some people still refer to the Assyrian Church as a “Nestorian Church” although the Church itself asks not to be called this. To this day, the Assyrian Churches still only formally recognize the first two Ecumenical Councils but through dialogue with other Christians they have concluded that they do recognize the Christology of the Fourth Ecumenical Council (Chalcedon, 451). The church flourished for many centuries, even after the Muslim conquests in the 7th century. It sent missionaries to China and India. The Church, though, was almost totally destroyed by the 14th century. In the sixteenth century, a group of Assyrians united with the Roman Catholic Church under the name of Chaldean Catholic Church. Thus, to this day, there are two distinct groups of Assyrian Christians: the Assyrian Christian Church of the East (http://news.assyrianchurch.org/) and the Chaldean Catholic Church (http:// www.chaldeansonline.org/church.html). Jumping ahead, the Assyrian Christian community was nearly wiped out during the First World War by the Turkish government. Those who escaped persecution moved to Iraq, which was under control of the British after the War (remember that the borders of Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and most of the Middle East were established after World War I). Eventually, the Assyrian Christian Church established itself in the United States and its global headquarters in the suburbs of Chicago. In 1994, the Assyrian Church and the Roman Catholic Church signed agreements on issues of theology, establishing an international consultation. This also led to better relations between the Assyrian Church and the Chaldean Church. The Assyrian Church has its own liturgy, usually celebrated in Syriac, following the Anaphora of Addai and Mari, a rite that traces its origins to the third century. According to Fr. Ron Roberson’s, “Officially the church adheres to extreme Antiochian christological terminology, according to which in Christ there are two natures and two qnoma (a Syriac term with no Greek equivalent that refers to an individual but never personalized concrete nature) in one person.” The Assyrian Church is not in communion with any other Christian Church. Anton C. Vrame, Ph.D. Director

Department of Religious Education Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

For more information about the Christian communities in the Middle East Philip Jenkins book, The Lost History of Christianity: The Thousand-Year Golden Age of the Church in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia is excellent. Ron Roberson, Guide to the Christian East, (http://www.cnewa.org/default.aspx?ID=1&pagetypeID=9&sitecode=HQ&pageno=1). Fr. Roberson works for the US Conference of Catholic Bishops and studies Eastern Christianity for the Conference. And a new book Gerard Russel, Heirs to Forgotten Kingdoms: Journeys into the Disappearing Religions of the Middle East. Getting good reviews. I just received my copy, but this text looks at various religious communities, not just Christian, in the region. For the agreed statements between Oriental and Eastern Orthodox Churches, see, Restoring the Unity in Faith: The Orthodox-Oriental Theological Dialogue (Holy Cross Press, 2007).

Ladies Philoptochos Society Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society

Philoptochos Membership Drive Dear Philoptochos Sisters and friends of Philoptochos. Thank you for becoming a member of our Philoptochos Chapter and for supporting the oldest charitable organization of the Greek Orthodox Church. With your generosity and fellowship, our chapter has been able to positively influence the lives of many people in need in our community and beyond. The 2015 membership drive is in full swing! At this time, we have 136 paid members and our goal is to reach 200 members. We can do it! Please consider joining or renewing your membership today and be part of a vibrant philanthropic organization that supports those in need in the world around us. There is a place for everyone! Please contact Liz Zoulis at: 914.659.7006 (c) or e-mail: [email protected] With your membership to our Philoptochos Chapter, you are also a member of National Philoptochos and the Direct Archdiocesan District (DAD): - $15 of your dues are sent to National Philoptochos and $6 are sent to DAD. The National by-laws state that there are three types of memberships in the Parish Chapter: • Full-Membership: Women of the Greek Orthodox faith - 18 years or older - are eligible • Associated & Supporting Membership: Men of Orthodox faith may be supporting members without the right to vote. • Honorary Membership: Honorary membership may be bestowed upon any person who has distinguished herself by service to the Ladies Philoptochos.

Philoptochos Easter Market

Dear Fellow Parishioners, As chair of our 2015 Easter Market, I would like to wish everyone Xristos Anesti and to thank everyone who has helped us this year with the Philoptohos Easter Market. We thank all the volunteers, everyone who made contributions and all who purchased the products sold. Please know all the hard work and every effort will go towards worthwhile causes. Xronia Polla! Ellen Constantinides

For the 5 page application, please go to http://www.htgocnr.org/ministries/ahepa/

Greek Afternoon School

EVANGELIA ROMOUDI SCHOOL DIRECTOR/PRINCIPAL

March 2015 Dear Parents and Friends, On behalf of the Greek School PTA, We would like to extend our deepest appreciation and gratitude to our Greek school parents for attending and supporting our annual Apokriatiko Fundraiser. Thank you to our beloved Fr. Nick, the Parish Council and our generous donors for always supporting us. Thank you to our dedicated director, Evangelia Romoudi and our wonderful teachers for running such a successful program. Lastly, a special thank you to our faculty, staff, class mothers and our special group of volunteers, Penny Costakos, Louisa Kostalos, Sofia Sinaheris and Eva Kokkalas. As my daughter, Ellena, gets ready to graduate Greek school, it has been my pleasure to serve on our PTA board for over a decade and to be your President. I’ve been blessed to have a wonderful PTA board that has worked tirelessly with me and will always be grateful for all their love and support. It’s with a warm smile but a heavy heart that I say good-bye and wish you all the best of luck during the remainder of your Greek school experience. With Warmest Regards,

Toula Maravegias PTA President

Attention All J.O.Y. Kids!

JOY Gym Night Friday, May 8th 6:30pm—8pm Saturday, May 23rd & J.O.Y. (4th to 7th grade)

Sunday May 24th, Olympics

Please Save the Date

Pentacost Family Picnic May 31st 2015 On the ‘New’ Property Details to Follow...

Attention All

GOYAns!!!

8th to 12th grade

**Upcoming GOYA Activities** (April & May)

GOYA MEETING DATES - WEDNESDAYS, 7:00pm April 15th, May 6th, June 10th LET’S GET COOKING - MONDAYS, 7:00pm April 20th, May 18th, June 15th GOYA OLYMPICS Friday May 22nd through Sunday, May 24th Contact Felicia with any questions at [email protected] or [email protected]

The Hellenic Society of Iona College is having their

Annual Iona College Greek Night at Holy Trinity Church, New Rochelle on

May 2nd, 2015

Students and Alumni of Iona College are invited to Attend. Please call me for details. 914-235-6100

We would like to extend an invitation to honor your graduate at our

June 7th, 2015 AHEPA Graduate Luncheon which will be held after Sunday Church Services in our Social Hall. Please RSVP by Thursday, June 4th to [email protected] or call the church office at 914235-6100. Many thanks and congratulations to all of your hard work!

Attention High School and College Graduates The Summer Edition of the Trinitarian is always dedicated to the Graduates of our Community. Please submit your name, address, parents names and college you are planning on attending or graduating from to our office along with a recent graduation photo for us to print proudly for all to enjoy. Please submit all these items by May 10th. Kindly email photos to [email protected].

Holy Trinity Library Many of us think about Lent primarily in terms of fasting. That is proper and all to the good, of course, but Lent also affords us a time for learning about and reflecting upon our beliefs and how to live them. Our library contains many resources for such study, and we urge you to make use of it. We will have the Holy Week-Easter book available for sale in the narthex on Palm Sunday and during Holy Week. Every family should own a copy of this special book translated by the late Fr. George Papadeas. The following are recent donations by our parishioners: Donated by AHEPA Greek Americans: Struggle and Success Donated in memory of Eugenia Nicolau by Presbytera Kay Kyriakos God’s Wisdom for Little Boys: Character-Building Fun from Proverbs God’s Wisdom for Little Girls: Virtues and Fun from Proverbs Donated by Nilkolas and Louiza Kinas My Baptism (children’s) The Saint and His Bees (children’s) Donated by Stacy Raptis in memory of Gerasimos Augoustatos Orthodox Christians in America: A Short History Journey to the Kingdom: An Insider’s Look at the Liturgy and Beliefs of the Eastern Orthodox Church Donated by Ellen and Peter Constantinides in memory of Sophia and Theophilos Fokides The Eagle Has Two Faces: Journeys through Byzantine Europe The Struggle for Greece, 1941-1949

WISH LIST A Hunger for God: The Sacred Discipline of Fasting in the Orthodox Church $12.00 Living without Hypocrisy: Spiritual Counsels of the Holy Elders of Optina $19.00 The Watchful Mind: Teachings on the Prayer of the Heart $22.00 Thirty Steps to Heaven: The Ladder of Divine Ascent for All Walks of Life $15.00 Words for Our Time: The Spiritual Words of St. Matthew the Poor $17.00 The Peloponnesian War $19.00 After Thermopylae: The Oath of Plataea and the End of the Graeco-Persian Wars $22.00 The Miracle of the Red Egg (children’s) $20.00 God Gave Us Easter (children’s) $10 The library committee wishes everyone Kali Anastasi, and we look forward to seeing everyone during Holy Week in our recently adorned, beautiful church.

YOUNG AT HEART The Young at Heart held its monthly meeting on March 12th, after the March 5th meeting was re-scheduled due to snow. A delicious lenten lunch was served by Manos Louros followed by donated desserts. Our next meeting will be on Thursday, April 2nd at 11:00am. Father Nick was the speaker of the day. He gave an interesting talk to the group about customs and traditions that are important to the Orthodox church, including matters of etiquette and good taste. On Mother’s Day, May 10th, there will be and artoclasia for the Young at Heart and senior members of Holy Trinity church. Following the service, we will again host the agape hour. Donations of desserts are appreciated. We were pleased to hear that the Prophet Elias Church of Yonkers will reciprocate with the Young at Heart on any future trips and events. Our spring event this year will be a bus trip to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York city on May 28th. Departure is at 9:30am. Included in the tour is a three course lunch at Le Rivage, a family-owned French restaurant. Reservations are required. Price is $119. If interested, call Cleo Canelos at (914) 686-3005.

We remember “yesterday” ~ We are living “today” ~ We must plan for “tomorrow”

“…What would you like your legacy to be?” Please consider including

The Holy Trinity Foundation in your estate planning For more information please contact Fr. Nicholas (914) 235 - 6100

WESTCHESTER HOSPITALS NY Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital 55 Palmer Avenue Bronxville, NY (914) 787-1000 Montefiore Mt. Vernon Hospital 105 Stevens Avenue Mt. Vernon, NY (914) 664-8000 Northern Westchester Hospital 400 East Main Street Mt. Kisco, NY (914) 666-1200 Phelps Memorial Hospital 701 North Broadway Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591 (914) 366-3000

St . John’s Riverside Hospital 967 North Broadway Yonkers, NY (914) 964-4444 Montefiore New Rochelle Hospital 16 Guion Place New Rochelle, NY (914) 632-5000 White Plains Hospital Davis Avenue at East Post Road White Plains, NY 10601 (914) 681-0600 Westchester Medical Center 100 Woods Road Valhalla, NY10595 (914) 493-7000

LOCAL GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCHES Zoodohos Peghe Church 3573 Bruckner Boulevard Bronx, NY 10461 (718) 823-2030 Rev. Sylvester D. Berberis Church of Our Saviour 2195 Westchester Avenue East Rye, NY 10580 (914) 967-2838 Rev. Elias Villis

Prophet Elias Church 15 LeRoy Avenue Yonkers, NY 10705 (914) 963-3638 Rev. Nicholas J. Pilavas Taxiarchal Chapel St. Michael’s Home 3 Lehman Terrace Yonkers, NY 10705 (914) 476-3374

MOVABLE ECCLESIASTICAL DATES This five-year chart has the dates of Feast Days and Fasting Days which are determined annually on the basis of the date of Holy Pascha (Easter). This ecclesiastical cycle begins with the first day of the Triodian and ends with the Sunday of All Saints, a total of eighteen weeks.

What is a Coptic Christian? With the horrific news of the behading of 21 Coptic Christians the other day, some people might be wondering what is a Coptic Christian? Naturally, there is more that could be said about this topic, but.... To understand this we’ll have to get technical with terminology and look back in history. First, the technical terms. As most Greek Orthodox will know, we consider ourselves part of the Eastern Orthodox Christian family of Greeks, Russians, Arabs, Serbs, etc. Our liturgy and practices were rooted deeply in the Byzantine world. Coptic Christianity is part of the Oriental Orthodox family, which also includes Armenians, Ethiopians and others. In particular, Coptic is the ancient term for Egypt. Other term for the Oriental Orthodox Churches is “non-Chalcedonian.” Another term, derogatory in nature is Monophysite. This points to the history question. Again, as you are probably aware, the Eastern Orthodox Church recognizes Seven Councils as “Ecumenical.” The Oriental Orthodox Churches recognize only the first three Councils as Ecumenical. The Oriental Orthodox Churches did not accept the decree of the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD that proclaimed Jesus Christ as one person (hypostasis) in two natures (physis), “unconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably.” Because of language issues, the Oriental Orthodox believed that Jesus had just one nature. This led to a schism between those who accepted the Fourth Council (the Byzantine Church) and those who didn’t (the Oriental Church). As a result the Oriental Orthodox were called Monophysite, although now this is seen as derogatory. To understand the theological issues, you should study the period between the Third (Ephesus) and Fourth Ecumenical councils. In the 1960s, scholars and leaders of the two Churches began meeting quietly and began to study the theological issues and the history that led to the divide. After a short time, the two Churches were able to say that each “believed the apostolic faith.” Since, the two families of Churches have been working steadily to restore communion between them. Because of the positive work of the last fifty years to restore communion, in the United States, many Ethopioan and Eritrean Orthodox Christians attend Eastern Orthodox parishes although they are now opening parishes of their own. Some Coptic students have attended Eastern Orthodox seminaries, such as Holy Cross and St. Vladimir's. Coptics and Armenians have their own parishes. In general, there is a good relationship between the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Churches. The Coptic Church traces its beginnings to the work of St. Mark in Egypt. The Coptic Church recognizes the same sacraments as the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Coptics recite the same Creed as the Eastern Orthodox. The main Liturgy of the Coptic Church is attributed to St. Basil, but it is different than the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great celebrated by the Eastern Orthodox. In Egypt, Coptic Christians make up about 10% of the population. The Church is growing quite fast in the United States in the last two decades, largely as Coptics have fled Egypt. The United States the Oriental Orthodox Churces created a group similar to the old Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA), the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches (SCOOCh). The Coptic Church is led from Cairo, Egypt, by Pope Tawadaros II. Anton C. Vrame, Ph.D. Director Department of Religious Education Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

PASTORAL GUIDLINES CHURCH POSITIONS REGARDING THE SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE Rev. Dr. Stanley S. Harakas Archbishop Iakovos Professor of Orthodox Theology, Emeritus, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology The Sanctity of Human Life A major and overarching concern of the Church arises with its commitment to the God-given sanctity of human life. Some of the developments of the biological manipulation of human life, though promising and amazing therapeutic achievements, may also be understood as undermining respect for the integrity of human existence. Others may be seen as providing new means of healing human illness. Discerning the difference is the challenge the Church faces in developing its teaching on these newly appearing issues. Human Life The Church’s teaching about human life is based on Holy Tradition, including the Scriptures as a primary resource and the ongoing teaching and interpretation of the Orthodox Faith. Life is a gift of God in the formation of the created world. All life is precious, but human life is uniquely created by God in the “image and likeness of God.”Human life as such deserves deep respect and individual human beings are to be treated in accordance with their inherent human dignity. Thus, racism, unjust prejudicial treatment of men and women, genocide, forms of sexual exploitation, domestic violence, child abuse, rape, theft or destruction of private property, deceptions and deceit, environmental plunder and other such unethical behaviors violate the human dignity of others. Human life as a gift of God should be respected. Some specific issues are the following: Donation of Organs Although nothing in the Orthodox tradition requires the faithful to donate their organs to others, nevertheless, this practice may be considered an act of love, and as such is encouraged. The decision to donate a duplicate organ, such as a kidney, while the donor is living, requires much consideration and should be made in consultation with medical professionals and one’s Spiritual Father. The donation of an organ from a deceased person is also an act of love that offers the recipient a longer, fuller life. Such donations are acceptable if the deceased donor had willed

such action, or if surviving relatives permit it providing that it was in harmony with the desires of the deceased. Such actions can be approved as an expression of love and the self-determination of the donor. In all cases, respect for the body of the donor should be maintained. Organ transplants should never be commercialized nor coerced nor take place without proper consent, nor place in jeopardy the identity of the donor or recipient, through, for example, the use of animal organs. The death of the donor should never be hastened in order to harvest organs for transplantation to another person. Cremation Because the Orthodox Faith affirms the fundamental goodness of creation, it understands the body to be an integral part of the human person and the temple of the Holy Spirit, and expects the resurrection of the dead. The Church considers cremation to be the deliberate desecration and destruction of what God has made and ordained for us. The Church instead insists that the body be buried so that the natural physical process of decomposition may take place. The Church does not grant funerals, either in the sanctuary, or at the funeral home, or at any other place, to persons who have chosen to be cremated. Additionally, memorial services with kolyva (boiled wheat) are not allowed in such instances, in as much as the similarity between the “kernel of wheat” and the “body” has been intentionally destroyed. Medical Developments and the Church With high frequency, new developments in the area of the life sciences appear in our technologically advanced culture. The Church welcomes efforts and innovations that contribute to the healing of human diseases. Yet, many of these advances raise moral questions. Some of the Church’s responses to these developments are based on older issues for which the Church has clear and unambiguous guidelines. Other responses are not so evident.

PASTORAL GUIDLINES Thus, many of these developments pose challenges to Orthodox Christian spiritual concerns and moral values. In numerous cases, the Church is still in the process of clarifying its response. The following serve to indicate the general positions and direction of thought in the Orthodox Church: Sexuality The Orthodox Church recognizes marriage as the only moral and spiritually appropriate context for sexual relations. Thus, all other forms of sexual activity such as fornication, adultery, homosexuality, lesbianism, pornography, all forms of prostitution, and similar forms of behavior are sins and as such are inappropriate for the Orthodox Christian. Marriage is only conducted and recognized in the Orthodox Church as taking place between a man and a woman. Same-sex marriages are a contradiction in terms. The Orthodox Church does not allow for same-sex marriages. Abortion The Church from the very beginning of existence has sought to protect “the life in the womb” and has considered abortion as a form of murder in its theology and canons. Orthodox Christians are admonished not to encourage women to have abortions, nor to assist in the

committing of abortion. Those who perform abortions and those who seek them are committing an immoral deed, and are called to repentance. Suicide Suicide, the taking of one’s own life, is self-murder and as such, a sin. More importantly, it may be evidence of a lack of faith in our loving, forgiving, sustaining God. If a person has committed suicide as a result of a belief that such an action is rationally or ethically defensible, the Orthodox Church denies that person a Church funeral, because such beliefs and actions separate a person from the community of faith. The Church shows compassion, however, on those who have taken their own life as a result of mental illness or severe emotional stress, when a condition of impaired rationality can be verified by a physician. Autopsy When a person dies for reasons that are uncertain, a qualified medical examiner may, with the permission of the next of kin, perform an autopsy to determine the cause of death. In some states, this is required by law. In all cases, however, the Orthodox Church expects that the body of the deceased be treated with respect and dignity.

PARISH STATISTICS OF HOLY TRINITY CHURCH 2007 Number of Baptisms: Number of Chrismations: Total Number of Weddings: Both Greek Orthodox: Inter-Christian: Total Number of Divorces: Both Greek Orthodox: Inter-Christian: Total Number of Funerals:

32 6 15 3 12 0 0 0 21

2008

2009

2010

2011

26 9 17 4 13 0 0 0 25

34 3 12 3 9 0 0 0 20

21 4 17 6 11 1 0 1 23

37 6 13 2 11 2 0 2 17

2012 21 5 8 3 5 0 0 0 32

2013

2014

39 1 14 6 8 2 0 2 28

22 2 14 3 11 3 0 3 26

PASTORAL GUIDLINES INSTRUCTIONS for WEDDINGS, DIVORCES, BAPTISMS, FUNERALS and MEMORIALS WEDDINGS For the union of a man and woman to be recognized as sacramentally valid by the Orthodox Church, the following conditions must be met:

to a parish under the jurisdiction of a bishop who is not in communion with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, or who, if married, has not had his or her marriage blessed by the Orthodox Church, or, if divorced, has not received an ecclesiastical divorce, cannot be a sponsor. NonOrthodox persons may be members of the wedding party, but may not exchange the rings or crowns.

1. The Sacrament of Matrimony must be celebrated by an Orthodox Priest of a canonical Orthodox jurisdiction, according to the liturgical tradition of the Orthodox Days When Marriage Is Not Permitted Church, in a canonical Orthodox Church, and with the authorization of the Archbishop or Metropolitan. Marriages are not performed on fast days or during fasting seasons or on the feasts of the Church, specifically: 2. Before requesting permission from the Archbishop or September 14 (Exaltation of the Holy Cross), December his Metropolitan to perform the marriage, a Priest must 13-25 (Nativity), January 5 and 6 (Theophany), Great Lent verify that: a) neither of the parties in question is already and Holy Week, Pascha (Easter), Pentecost, August 1-15 married to another person, either in this country or (Dormition Fast and Feast), and August 29 (Beheading of elsewhere; b) the parties in question are not related to St. John the Baptist). Exceptions can only be made with each other to a degree that would constitute an the permission of the respective hierarch. impediment; c) if either or both parties are widowed, they have presented the death certificate(s) of the deceased Inter-Christian Marriages spouse(s); d) if either or both of the parties have been It is a fact that, the more a couple has in common, the previously married in the Orthodox Church, they have more likely they are to live together in peace and concord. obtained ecclesiastical as well as civil divorce(s); e) the Shared faith and traditions spare couples and their party or parties who are members of a parish other than children, as well as their extended families, many serious the one in which the marriage is to be performed have problems, and help to strengthen the bonds between provided a certificate declaring them to be members in them. Even so, the Orthodox Church will bless marriages good standing with that parish for the current year; and f) between Orthodox and non-Orthodox partners, provided a civil marriage license has been obtained from civil that: authorities. 1. The non-Orthodox partner is a Christian who has 3. No person may marry more than three times in the been baptized, in water, in the Name of the Father Church, with permission for a third marriage granted only and the Son and the Holy Spirit; and with extreme oikonomia. 2. The couple should be willing to baptize their children in the Orthodox Church and raise and nurture them in 4. In cases involving the marriage of Orthodox and nonaccordance with the Orthodox Faith. Orthodox Christians, the latter must have been baptized, in water, in the Name of the Father and the Son and the A baptized Orthodox Christian whose wedding has not Holy Spirit. The Church cannot bless the marriage of an been blessed by the Orthodox Church is no longer in Orthodox Christian to a non-Christian. good standing with the Church, and may not receive the 5. The Sponsor (koumbaros or koumbara) must provide a Sacraments of the Church, including Holy Communion, or current certificate of membership proving him or her to be become a Sponsor of an Orthodox Marriage, Baptism or an Orthodox Christian in good standing with the Church. A Chrismation. person who does not belong to a parish, or who belongs

PASTORAL GUIDLINES A non-Orthodox Christian who marries an Orthodox Christian does not thereby become a member of the Orthodox Church, and may not receive the Sacraments, including Holy Communion, or be buried by the Church, serve on the Parish Council, or vote in parish assemblies or elections. To participate in the Church’s life, one must be received into the Church by the Sacrament of Baptism or, in the case of persons baptized with water in the Holy Trinity, following a period of instruction, by Chrismation.

District or Metropolis. The petition must include the names and surnames of the husband and wife, the wife’s surname prior to marriage, their addresses, the name of the priest who performed the wedding, and the date and place of the wedding. The petitioner must be a member of the parish through which he or she is petitioning for divorce. Orthodox Christians of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese who have obtained a civil divorce but not an ecclesiastical divorce may not participate in any sacraments of the Church or serve on the Parish Council, Archdiocesan District Council, Metropolis Inter-religious Marriages Council or Archdiocesan Council until they have been Canonical and theological reasons preclude the granted a divorce by the Church. Orthodox Church from performing the Sacrament of Marriage for couples where one partner is Orthodox and BAPTISMS the other partner is a non-Christian. As such, Orthodox A person who wishes to sponsor a candidate for Baptism Christians choosing to enter such marriages fall out of or Chrismation must be an Orthodox Christian in good good standing with their Church and are unable to standing and a supporting member of an Orthodox actively participate in the life of the Church. While this parish. A person may not serve as a godparent if the stance may seem confusing and rigid, it is guided by the Church has not blessed his or her marriage or, if civilly Orthodox Church’s love and concern for its member’s divorced, he or she has not been granted an religious and spiritual well-being. ecclesiastical divorce, or for any other reason he or she Prohibited Marriages is not in communion with the Orthodox Church. The following types of relationships constitute impediments to marriage: 1. Parents with their own children, grandchildren or great -grandchildren. 2. Brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law. 3. Uncles and aunts with nieces and nephews. 4. First cousins with each other. 5. Foster parents with foster children or foster children with the children of foster parents. 6. Godparents with godchildren or godparents with the parents of their godchildren. DIVORCE The parish priest must exert every effort to reconcile the couple and avert a divorce. However, should he fail to bring about a reconciliation, after a civil divorce has been obtained, he will transmit the petition of the party seeking the ecclesiastical divorce, together with the decree of the civil divorce, to the Spiritual Court of the Archdiocesan

Baptisms may not be performed during Holy Week or on any of the Great Feastdays of the Lord. FUNERALS Funeral services are permitted on any day of the year, except for Sundays and Holy Friday, unless permission is granted by the Archbishop or Metropolitan. MEMORIALS Memorial services may not be chanted from the Saturday of Lazarus through the Sunday of Thomas, on any Feastday of the Lord or any Feastday of the Theotokos.

PASTORAL GUIDLINES

6. Holy Apostles’ Fast (from the Monday after All Saints’ Day through June 28, inclusive);

FASTING Just as there are times for feasting, there are also times set aside for fasting. During these periods, certain foods are prohibited. These are, in order of frequency of prohibition, meat (including poultry), dairy products, fish, olive oil and wine. Fruits, vegetables, grains and shellfish are permitted throughout the year. Of course, the Orthodox Church never reduces the practice of fasting to a legalistic observance of dietary rules. Fasting, that is not accompanied by intensified prayer and acts of charity, inevitably becomes a source of pride. The Church also recognizes that not everyone can fast to the same degree, and assumes that individual Christians will observe the fast prescribed for them by their Spiritual Fathers. The following are fasting days and seasons:

7. Fast for the Dormition of the Mother of God (August 114, excluding August 6, on which fish, wine and olive oil are permitted); 8. Beheading of St. John the Baptist (August 29), 9. Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 14);and 10. Nativity Lent (November 15-December 24, although fish, wine and olive oil are permitted, except on Wednesdays and Fridays, until December 17). The following are fasting days on which fish, wine and olive oil are permitted: 1. The Feast of the Annunciation (March 25, unless it falls outside the Great Lent, in which case all foods are permitted);

2. Palm Sunday; 1. All Wednesdays and Fridays, except for those noted 3. The Feast of the Transfiguration (August 6);and below; 4. The Feast of the Entry into the Temple of the Mother of 2. The day before the Feast of Theophany (January 5); God (November 21). 3. Cheesefare Week (the last week before the Great On the following days, all foods are permitted: Lent, during which meat and fish are prohibited, but dairy products are permitted even on Wednesday and Friday); 1. The first week of the Triodion, from the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee through the Sunday of the 4. Great Lent (from Clean Monday through the Friday Prodigal Son, including Wednesday and Friday; before Lazarus Saturday, olive oil and wine are permitted 2. Diakainisimos (or Bright) Week, following the Sunday on weekends); of Pascha, 5. Great and Holy Week (note that Great and Holy 3. The week following Pentecost; and Saturday is a day of strict fasting, during which the 4. From the Feast of the Nativity of the Lord (December faithful abstain from olive oil and wine), 25) through January 4.

New Stewards

Anna Antoniou

Maria Karadimos

Ariana Baudouin

Demetra E. Manessis

Alexandra Doupis

Gus Manessis

Eugenia Haddad

C. Julia Maxwell

Mary Sideris Cristina Skamangas Georgia P. Tambakos

Memorial Donations Gerard Anctil Mr. & Mrs. Francis Keenan Mary Dos Santos Helen Hiotakis (Toward Holy Trinity Foundation) Sappho Papaioannou (Toward Holy Trinity Foundation) Dr. James B. Gabriel Dr. & Mrs. Peter Allan Elizabeth Gabriel James B. Gabriel Jr. Nancy Gabriel

Constantine & Mary Solomos Panayotis Stavropoulos Betty R. Heller Christina Grimaldis & Family Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Kennedy Michael Janos Diana & Rita Romeo Helen Tsigrikes Arthur & Janet Romeo Mr. & Mrs. Samir Farkouh Michael C. Hiotis (Toward the Restoration of the Maria Karidis Mr. & Mrs. Dino Yotides Pantocrator Icon) Rita Kraut & James McGinness Paul & Julie Lotakis Mr. & Mrs. Michael Zoulis Peter Tsigrikes (Toward the Restoration of Theodora Tsolia Pantocrator Icon) Kristine T. Kingsley

Catherine Moutevellis Nicholas & Maria Zoulis Mr. & Mrs. Fred Carpene Mr. & Mrs. Michael Zoulis James Gallas Presv. Kay Kyriakos & Family Mr. & Mrs. Leonidas (Toward the - (Toward the Kallerges Restoration of the Restoration of Pantocrator Icon) Pantocrator Icon) Tony Poulis Dr. Urania T. Poulis-Avery George Gonis Mr. & Mrs. Denis Moussouris Philip Rokkas Mr. & Mrs. Cosmas Rokkas Bayard Graf Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Keane Koula Sosangelis – Mr. & Mrs. John Koltis Presv. Kay Kyriakos & Family - (Toward the Restoration of the Pantocrator Icon)

Donations

Mr. & Mrs. John Copulos – (To Axion Estin) Georgia P. Tambakos

Holy Trinity

Schedule of Sacraments & Social Events Calendar

APRIL Sunday, April 19th Saturday, April 25th

2:00 p.m. 11:00 a.m. 3:30 p.m.

Baptism – Child of Julian Fatovic and Maria Karadimos Baptism – Child of Jason and Jessica Wooten Baptism – Child of Drs. Tasios Vakkas and Sonia Varlamos

5:00 p.m. 11:00 a.m. 12:30 p.m. 12:30 p.m. 1:00 p.m.

Wedding – John Vogiatjis and Kati D. Madouros Baptism – Child of Anthony Fico and Stella Parashis Baptism – Child of Brian and Eugenia Haddad Baptism – Child of James and Denise Gerontzos Baptism – Child of George and Rachel Rahanis

Saturday, June 27th Sunday, June 28th

12:30 p.m. 3:00 p.m. 11:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m.

Baptism – Child of Mario and Sophia Piccolino Baptism – Child of Craig and Despina Molson Baptism – Child of Albert and Stephanie Jenicek Baptism – Child of Alex Soures and Roxana Ramos Baptism – Child of Constantine and Ismini Dimopoulos Wedding – Peter Georgiopoulos and Christina Kyriakos Wedding – Peter Lerchen and Cristina Skamangas

JULY Thursday, July 2nd Saturday, July 11th Thursday, July 23rd

5:30 p.m. 4:00 p.m. 12 Noon

Wedding – Katy Byron and Patrick Poats Wedding – Chris Zervoudis and Eleni Pappas Wedding - Ron Latz and Ariana Baudouin

MAY Saturday, May 2nd Saturday, May 9th Sunday, May 17th Sunday, May 24th JUNE Sunday, June 7th Saturday, June 13th Saturday, June 20th

SEPTEMBER Saturday, September 5th 3:00 p.m.

Wedding – Cameron Mengel and Anna Antoniou

OCTOBER Saturday, October 3rd

3:00 p.m.

Wedding – Joseph Aceto and Alexandra Doupis

NOVEMBER Saturday, November 28th 4:00 p.m.

Wedding – Michael Omanoff and Julia Maxwell

DECEMBER Saturday, December 12th 3:30 p.m.

Wedding – Dominic Sciame and Gena Skoufalos

Holy Trinity Sacraments Baptisms February 21st February 22nd

March 7

th

The child of Gus and Bernadette Manessis was baptized and named Andrew Christ by his godparent, Demetra Eleni Manessis. The child of James and Sarah Maxwell was baptized and named Sophia Elizabeth by her godparent, Thomas Maxwell.

NA SAS ZISOUN We welcome into our Community a newly Baptized Adult: Katherine Anne Byron Her Godparent: Stella Paiz CONGRATULATIONS

Funerals st

January 31 March 13th

Helen Tsigrikes John A. Kiamos

MAY THEIR SOULS REST IN PEACE

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