MAY 2015

Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ: CHRIST IS RISEN! ! Don’t hold grudges. It’s not Christian. It’s harmful to you and to everyone around you. Many people account grudges for an injustice of some sort done to them. Perhaps. But for the Orthodox Christian, it is not the event that matters so much as the Christian’s response to it. That is, the event (which procures the feeling of one to begrudge another) is out of our hands. No one can control what another will do. What we can control is our reaction to that event. What we can control is whether or not we hold a grudge. Nowhere in the scriptures nor in the lives of the saints do we hear of a righteous person, a holy person, holding a grudge. A righteous or holy person is someone we should all be trying to become. A righteous and holy person is one who is in communion with God, one who emulates Christ in thought, word, and deed, and one who transcends attacks by returning good for evil and peace for injustice. That is the point of being an Orthodox Christian; that we attempt to transcend the ways of the world (which are hallmarked by sin, suspicion, accusation, fear, jealously, greed and hatred) and attain a life of blessedness and peace that is adorned with forgiveness, love, joy, restraint and spiritual strength. When we hold grudges, it keeps us from reacting to a situation in a Christ-like manner. It permits us to ruminate over some perceived injustice. It clouds our thinking such that we cannot understand someone trying to apologize or attempting to be forgiven. Grudges keep us angry and lead us to hatred. Holding grudges teaches those around us, especially our children, to do the same, and to even hate, often without even knowing a reason why (as if a reason is an acceptable condition for hatred, which is always and completely false).Our risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has transcended the evil, the grudge, the injustice and hatred of the world by showing us love, and mercy and compassion. Stop grudges. Show mercy. Show compassion. Permeate all with your love. God Bless, Fr. Nick

President’s Message Christ is Risen! The Parish Council would like to congratulate Miss Irene Kitromelides for recently being accepted into the University of Michigan Medical School! I am a big advocate of promoting our young adults. During Father Nick’s 10-year anniversary celebration, I invited to the stage what I called the future leaders of our St. Nicholas Parish. My goal as President is to speak out and hopefully get my point across of how important it is to mentor our young adults and provide them with high self-esteem in becoming future leaders of our Church. The University of Michigan’s goal for their students is leadership, leadership and leadership. I don’t see why we cannot copy that same model. During our last Parish Council meeting that was held in April, we had the honor of having Mrs. Maria Hochendoner and her dad, Mr. Steve Melzian in attendance. Maria, in her free time, assembled two designs for our new front doors. The Parish Council discussed the two designs and decided to have Maria start making final drawings that we can show to the parish in conjunction with our fundraising campaign. At this time we are estimating the new doors will cost in the proximity of $17,000 (which includes labor to install the door). These doors will have tinted glass, which is a nice feature. We are all looking forward to our upcoming Greek Festival! It is less than one month away and we need everyone’s help to make it successful. Please visit the church website (www.stnickaa.org) and signup to volunteer. Thank you. In Christ, Chris Bilakos

Important Change to Cemetery Visits This Year This year, Fr. Nick is unable to offer Trisagion Prayers at the cemeteries on Monday, May 25, Memorial Day. Fr. Nick will visit the cemeteries following the Saturday of Souls service on Saturday, May 30, 2015 during the following times: Bethlehem Cemetery at noon Washtenong Cemetery at 2:00 pm Forest Hill Cemetery at 3:00 pm. FOR ALL OTHER VISITS, please call the office during regular business hours (Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm) to schedule a visit.

Church School Χριστός Ανέστη! Christ is Risen! April was a busy month for our Church School. Holy Week presented our Church School students the opportunity to attend and participate in Church Services that are an integral part of our preparation for the celebration of Great and Holy Pascha. On Saturday of Lazarus, April 4th we had our annual Church School Communion Brunch. Many of our Church School students attended the Divine Liturgy and received Holy Communion. After the service we had a hot Lenten meal in the Social Hall and then helped make the palm crosses for the Divine Liturgy on Palm Sunday. We thank Mr. Avraam Piniatoglou for preparing the Lenten meal. As is our tradition, on Holy Wednesday, April 8, 2015, the Church School participated in the 4 pm Holy Unction Service and had a Retreat immediately afterwards. The topic of this year’s retreat was Holy Chrismation. The presentation was divided into three 15 minute sessions: 1. Pentecost 2. How and when Holy Chrism is made 3. Where it is made and by whom The classes were arranged according to youth groups. GOYA was led by Deno Prokos and Artemis Alex. JOY was led by Dani Nadra and Ioanna Ioannou. HOPE was led by Eva Mikhail and Margarita Bekiares. We want to thank the teachers, Fr. Nick and Tony Mihalopoulos for making this year’s retreat a great success. The OCMC (Orthodox Christian Mission) coin collection concluded on April 19, 2015. We want to remind Church School students who have not yet turned in their coin boxes to please do so. Thank you to all the Church school students who participated in this important philanthropic mission of the Archdiocese. On behalf of our Church School, we would like to recognize the two finalists of our parish 2014 St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival, who went on to represent our parish on April 18, 2015 at the Junior and Senior Divisions of the Michigan District Oratorical Festival. Sam Radwanski was our Junior Division Finalist and Angelo G. Bairactaris was our Senior Division Finalist. Sam advanced to Junior Division Finalist at the District level and Angelo received an Honorable Mention at the District level. Sam will represent our parish on May 16, 2015 at the Junior Division of the Metropolis Finals of the Oratorical Festival. Congratulations to both! The exam period for our Church School has started and will end on May 17, 2015. We ask parents to please help our Church School students in grades 2-12 to download their exam from the Church School website: http://churchschool.stnickaa.org/academics/exams Also, please encourage our Church School students to complete their exams and turn them in by the May 17th deadline. A white box labeled “Church School Exams” is located on the table outside the Church office for students to place their exams. As a reminder, the purpose of the exams is to give an opportunity to our children to review what they have learned, to crystallize their knowledge and to affirm their faith on a solid Orthodox foundation. As Fr. Nick does every year, he will personally review all submitted exams and provide feedback and encouragement to each student.

Iconography – Becoming What We Behold Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen! What a wonderful time of year to experience the fullness of our Orthodox Faith. Throughout the Lenten period we had the opportunity to participate in a plethora of moving services which led us up to Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. All of our senses are in tune during the services. The smell of the incense raising our prayers up to God, the taste as we receive the precious Blood and Body of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, our sense of touch as we feel the Holy Unction on our face and hands, our ears filled with the sound of melodic hymns, and finally our eyes which can visualize the vibrant colors of our iconography. As we participate in these services, we can see many icons from Phase I which help us immerse our lives into the life of Christ. As we honor the Theotokos in the five Salutations to the Virgin Mary services, we look up at the beautiful icon of the Most Holy Theotokos enthroned and picture her life with Christ, the joy of His birth through the sorrow of His death. During Holy Week we celebrate the Bridegroom Services where we can visualize the humility of Christ as the Bridegroom. We see the humiliation that the God/Man Jesus had to endure, through the painful crown of thorns and the mocking by the soldiers; our God being belittled for the sake of His children. On Holy Thursday, we hear the moving Gospels which lead up to Christ’s crucifixion and death, and we sorrowfully venerate the icon of Christ crucified. We gaze our eyes toward the icon of the Apokathelosis- the taking down of Jesus from the cross. We see the emotion in the eyes of the Theotokos as she sees her only child dead. We learn of Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, who solemnly take Jesus down from the cross and the brave Myrrh-bearing women who came to anoint Jesus’ body and who were the first to announce Christ’s resurrection to the world. Finally at the culmination of the services at midnight we spread the light of Christ throughout the Church and proclaim the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. What an awesome experience. How much more are we able to experience our Church life with the aid of iconography. As we continue with Phase II-West we recognize those Saints who composed the beautiful hymns that we hear during our services. The hymns that are sung during Lent and Holy Week are particularly beautiful. Not only do these hymns bring flavor to our services, but they also bring a wealth of knowledge to the listener. From the heartfelt repentance of the harlot who anointed Jesus’ feet in the hymn of St. Kassiani, to the joyful cry of Christ is Risen sung by all as we exuberantly celebrate our Lord’s Resurrection, these hymns pour forth emotion which is grasped by all. Another focus in our Phase II-West iconography program is the five Sundays of Great Lent. Through iconography we learn about Saint Theodora who restored the Holy Icons to the Church, Saint Gregory Palamas who gained victory over heretical teachings, the Holy Cross which gives us life, Saint John Climacos who taught us the ways to ascend to a virtuous life of Christ, and finally Saint Mary of Egypt whose repentance led her to spiritual holiness. These five Sundays, aid us in obtaining the strength and the hope that is needed in our struggles which will lead us to Christ’s glorious Resurrection. (continued on next page)

(Iconography….continued from previous page)

Christ’s teachings, Resurrection, and the descent of the Holy Spirit led to the spread of the Gospel. Apostles spread the good news from a small area in the Middle East to every corner of the world. Despite persecutions, these Apostles persevered. They risked that which was earthly to spread to all people that which was most important, the news of the heavenly. In Phase II-West we commemorate those Saints who spread Christianity throughout the world. These include Saints such as Saint Patrick, Saint Innocent, the Holy Apostle Timothy and Saints Olga and Vladimir, Equal to the Apostles. Finally we cannot forget our Blessed Theotokos; she who held the uncontainable in her womb. She who bore God, nursed and taught Him, and then watched in anguish as her Son perished on the cross. She who is not only the mother of our God, but the mother of each and every one of us. She who is the Protectress of us all. The life of the Holy Virgin Mary is honored in Phase II-West. As we still bask in the glory of Christ’s Resurrection, please open your hearts and minds to the importance of the sponsorship of iconography in our beautiful church. Both whole and partial icon sponsorships are still available. There are many important icons of Saints that remained unsponsored. All of these Saints have a story of their struggles; struggles that they overcame to spread the Word of God to all nations, these holy men and women that understood the importance of Christ’s death and Resurrection in their lives and the lives of those everywhere. In Christ, Sophia Grias-Radwanski (on behalf of the Iconography Implementation Committee)

Thank you to the following individuals for their generous Easter donation and funds to decorate the Epitaphion with flowers and the church with Easter Lilies St. Nicholas Seniors, Daughters of Penelope Knossos, Artemis Alex, Perry and Deann Alex, George and Elizabeth Bairactaris, James and Mary Baldwin, Christopher and Margarita Bekiares, Olga Bekiares, Penny Bekiares, Nicholas Beltsos, William and Georgetta Boiciuk, George and Carol Bokas, Helen Botchen, Cerene Boudrie, Costas and Ioanna Boutsikakis, Michael and Natalie Challis, Marina Christos, George Contis and Ellene Tratras Contis, Steve and Faye Cotitsas, Tony and Clevie Daniels, Deborah Davis, George Demergis, George and Susan Dendrinos, Gregory and Alexis Dileo, James and Patricia Douglas, Antoni and Despina Eleftheriou, David and Sandy Engelke, Helen Evangelides, Angela Evangelinos, Gus and Mary Fernimos, Jack Fry, Helen Garkinos Helen Garris, Jacalen Garris, Steven and Stamatia Garris, Diane Geczi, Renaud and Nellie Guibert, Donnelly and Helen Hadden, Patrick and Mary Hays, Joe and Maria Hochendoner, Photios and Ioanna Ioannou, Barbara Joannides, Michael and Demaris Kasotakis, Christos and Perry Katsikas, Christos and Gigi Kitromelides, Costas and Sylvia Kleanthous, John and Helen Kokinakes Cynthia Kokkales, John and Helen Kolias ,Fr. Nick and Presvytera Kotsis, George and Lula Koutoulas, Nakos and Patricia Kovanis, Peter and Zorene Kussurelis, Spyro and Martha Lambros, Nicholas and Betty Lardas, Tom and Angie Letsos, Bessie Madias, Betty Manolakis, Maria Marc, Thano and Vicky Master, Brian and Andrea McRae, Stevan and Joy Melzian, Peter and Panagiota Metsovas, George and Barbara Millio, Elizabeth Mitropoulos, David and Demetra Mitropoulos-Rundus, Panagiota Murphy, Lindsay Palazzolo, Demos and Helen Panos, Lillian Pantos, George and Maria Papadoulis, George and Diane Papandreo, John and Persephone Pappas, Antonia Patrikakos, George and Dena Petropoulos, Demetrios and Vera Politis, Holly Polopolos, Georgia and Perry Porikos, Peter Poulos, David and Mary Price, James and Tula Prokos, Kurt and Sophia Radwanski, Vasilios Res, Zannis and Athina Res, Peter and Elizabeth Roopas, Mike and Cindy Rouman, John and Katerina Roumanis, Sam Roumanis Tom and Sophia Roumanis, Nick Roumel and Gail Altenburg, Elaine Rumman, Pauline Skinner, Elaine Spiliopoulos, Ekaterini Stamadianos, Nick and Helen Stamos, Vasiliki Stamoulis, James and Anna Stefanopoulou, Gordon and Thelma Steers, Craig and Hongyun Theros, Bob Tsarbopoulos, Harry Tselios, Tom and Doreen Tziahanas, Tommy and Maria Vaughn, John and Cheryl Venious, Julia Vile, Nickolas and Christina Vlahopoulos, Becky Vlisides, William and Cynthia Vlisides, Paraskevi Vogiatzi, Billy and Marguerita Yates, Zakhour and Androulla Youssef, Visitors to St. Nicholas

Stewardship Report April 12, 2015 Your commitment to the Stewardship Program of this parish is critical to our continued operation and ministries. For those who need to complete a 2013 pledge, please do so as soon as possible. You may find information and forms on Stewardship at www.stnickaa.org

Pledge Distribution 2015, 2014 and 2013 80 68 69

70

65 57

60

53 53 49

50 44

45

40

42 37

40 30

18%20%

39

22%21%

27 24 18 17

20 14 12%12%

20%

10

14%15%

12

20% 17%

6%

7%

6% 5%

0 $1 $250

$251 $500

$501 $750

$751 $1000

2015

$1001 $1,500

2014

2013

17

16

16% 12

13%

21%

14

$1,501 $2,000

7%

5% 7%

$2001 $3000

11

6%5% 3% more than $3,000

Philoptochos Χριστός Ανέστη! Christ is Risen! Our annual Palm Sunday Luncheon on April 5 was delightful. Thank you to all ladies who helped to set up, serve and clean up. A heartfelt thanks to the cook, Thano Masters and his helpers Costas Boutsikakis, Avraam Paniatoglou and John Roumanis. Our next meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 13 at 7:30 pm in the social hall. This is our birthday celebration month and I hope to see you all there and celebrate 70 plus years of our Philoptochos chapter. Also, this is an election year and elections for the new board will take place at this meeting. The June dinner meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 24, beginning at 6:30 pm, at Webber’s. Please note the change of date. More information will be mailed out soon.

The St. Nicholas community would like to recognize and thank Mrs. Ioanna Ioannou for 20 years of tireless efforts, dedication, love and service to our St. Nicholas Greek School . A luncheon will be held in her honor following the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, May 17th. All are invited to attend.

HOPE/JOY We look forward to seeing you at our next meeting: May 3rd, 12:30-2:00pm. Last meeting the children learned about the Sacrament of Ordination. Father explained to the children that this is the only sacrament that only men can participate in. Jesus chose men as his initial 12 disciples so the Church continues the tradition of allowing only men into the priesthood. He also stressed that women have important roles in the church. Father taught the children the 3 orders of Holy Ordination: the ordination of a deacon, a priest, and a bishop. Through the laying of hands by the bishop, the Holy Spirit comes down upon the deacon, priest, or bishop to ordain him as a clergy-member. The children ended the day by making a cross signifying the clergy’s dedication to God; they then had a blast on the playground before the rain set in. Next meeting both HOPE and JOY will join for an end of the year picnic. Father will be reviewing all seven of the sacraments on that day. Remember, increasing exposure to the Church early in your child’s life is an important step in the building and strengthening of their Orthodox Faith For more information contact: Sophia Grias-Radwanski [email protected], Eva [email protected], or Vasilia Tsilimingras- [email protected].

Outreach & Evangelism Our next Habitat for Humanity build date is May 16th. The work day is from 9:00am to 4:00pm. Please consider signing up for an entire day, or a partial day if you cannot commit to the entire time. Habitat for Humanity provides all the tools and safety gear, and they even provide on-the-job training for each project. Working on a build is a great way to learn home improvement skills. Participants will also likely have a chance to work beside some of the people who are buying the homes. It is a wonderful experience to get to know them, hear their stories, and help them to achieve home ownership. We will also unveil our 2015 Habitat for Humanity donor board in the near future. We have committed to raise $3,000.00 to help fund the renovations this year. Our donations will help to support the continuing work to revitalize neighborhoods and help families achieve a piece of the American Dream. Please consider giving some of your time or making a donation this year. Contact Robert Ashley if you would like to participate. The Outreach and Evangelism committee of the parish is also deeply concerned with tragedy that continues to unfold, particularly in the Middle East, against our Christian brethren. We will try our best and do what we are able to help our fellow Orthodox Christians in Syria and elsewhere who are suffering terribly from hatred and persecution. To do this, we first ask that we keep our brother and sister Christians in the Middle East in our personal and corporate prayers. Keep them in your minds and hearts. Second, we will support the IOCC in its efforts to raise funds to help those in need in the Middle East. Third, we will try to offer some programs and discussions on Christianity and its roots in the Middle East to better increase our knowledge and awareness of this issue. God bless, and may God bless, protect, and strengthen our fellow Christians in the Middle East.

Ya’ssoo Festival 2014 Ya’ssoo Greek Festival The Ya’ssoo Greek Festival is less than one month away!

Promote

the

Festival:

Promotional materials are available outside the church office. There are plenty of flyers, posters, bumper stickers, etc. Remind your relatives, friends, and co-workers about this year's dates. Also remember that Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are also great ways to inform your contacts with just one click! We look forward to seeing everyone at our festival!

Signup to Volunteer: We need everyone’s help! In order to ensure proper coverage in all areas at all times, we must have commitments to a specific day/time slot. Please signup online by visiting the church website (www.stnickaa.org) or after church services outside the social hall.

Become a Sponsor: If you would like to become a sponsor? Contact Georgia Porikos (734-320-1662 or [email protected]) or Elaine Spiliopoulos ([email protected])

Presell Raffle Tickets: Raffle tickets are available for presale. 1 for $5, 3 for $10 or 7 for $20. Contact Vasili Res at 734717-9642.

Grape Leaves: We need your help making grape leaves for the festival. Please join us on Saturday, May 23 from 9:00 am to 3 p.m. No experience is needed. The more people that show up, the faster we will be finished! Please come and donate your time, even if for only 23 hours…we need all of your help!

Kafenio Baking Schedule: All volunteers are welcome! No baking experience is needed. For more information, please contact the team leader, Ioanna Ioannou at (734) 996-0481 or Koula Pliakas at (734)-528-0920.

Samali: Team leaders, Ioanna / Koula Saturday, May 2 – 9 am to 10 pm Galaktoboureko: Team leader, Diane Papandreou (340-4834) Friday, May 8 – 4 pm to 10 pm Saturday, May 9 - 9:00 am to 10 pm Baklava Syrup: Team leader, Athina Res (662-6105) Monday, May 11 – 9 am to 10 pm Baklavas: Team leader, Tasia Goffas (913-1083) Friday, May 15 – 9 am to 10 pm Saturday, May 16 – 9 am to 5 pm Kourambiethes: Team leaders: Yianna at 944-9012, Katerina at 665-3254, Carol at 944-2271 Monday, May 18 – 9 am to 10pm Karithopita: Team leader, Stasi Webber (461-0439) Wednesday, June 3 - 9:00 am to 10 pm Rizogalo (Rice Pudding) and Loukoumathes: Team leaders, Dena Petropoulos at 761-4509 Vasso Panagoulias at 662-8075 Maria Smyrnis at 995-2806 Thursday, June 5 - 9:00 am to 10 pm St. Nicks Mix: Team leader, Athena Papageorgiou (663-2318) Thursday, Friday, Saturday (June 5, 6, 7) – 9 am

Ya’ssoo Greek Festival June 5, 6, 7

ANNOUNCEMENTS Vacation Church School: This program is geared for children in pre-K through 6th grade. This year it will take place Monday, June 15 to Friday, June 19, 8:30 am – 1:00 pm. We will discuss baptism, communion and marriage. Registration forms are available on the Church School website: http://churchschool.stnickaa.org For more information, please contact Katherine Phan at (734) 971-0813 [email protected] or Julie Skrettas at (734) 975-4211 or [email protected] Young Adult League (YAL) is starting back up. We meet twice a month on Thursday evenings at 7:00 pm. If you are 18-30 yrs. old and would like to be a part of YAL, please contact Anastasia Mitropoulos-Rundus at [email protected] for the most up to date information and details on how you can get involved! Rides to Church: If you, or anyone you know, needs a ride to church, please call the office during regular business hours (Monday-Friday, 9am to 3 pm). We will either send a fellow parishioner to pick you up, or call a cab for you. Also, St. Nicholas is compiling a list of individuals who would be interested in picking up fellow parishioners who do not have a ride to church. If you are interested in helping us in this very important ministry, please call the office. It is our hope that everyone who wants to come to St. Nicholas will be able, whether they can drive or not. Benevolence: Hunger is all around us, even here in Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County. Many times, we are asked to distribute food and toiletries to families who are hungry and in need. Please consider bringing non-perishable food items and toiletries and leaving them on the shelf in the exo-narthex. Thank you and God Bless You. Christ is Risen! The Daughters of Penelope would like to thank all the parishioners who supported our annual Tsoureki sale. We hope you enjoyed your Easter bread(s). Thank you again for helping support the charitable works of the Daughters of Penelope.

“Milestones” by Nicholas S. Stamos Χριστός Ανέστη! Christ is Risen! It is with great pride and pleasure to bring this report to the readers of “THE COMPASS.”

Karol Evangelides was nominated for the “2015 ATHLETE AWARD FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS/MICHIGAN.” The winner will be announced at the summer games at the end of May in Mt. Pleasant, MI. She will be carrying the Special Olympics flag at the opening ceremonies for the honor of being niminated. Win or not, Karol is always a winner in our book. The photos, from Kristi Haywood, are from Karol’s recent birthday on April 11 with Miss Michigan, and with some of her medals and momentos.

Nicholas Phan, son of Sem and Katherine Phan, performed in a solo recital, A Painted Tale, at Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 18 2015. A Painted Tale was a presentation from Nicholas’ third solo album, released on Avie Records in February 2015, by the same title. The selections are from early English masters and are arranged as a continuous ‘pastiche song cycle,’ telling the story of a young man who falls in love with a young woman, and the consequences of the heartbreak that follows. Nicholas was accompanied by Ann Marie Morgan on viola da gamba and Michael Leopold on lute and theorbo. A Painted Tale, by Nicholas Phan, is an Editor’s Choice recording in the April 2015 issue of GRAMOPHONE MAGAZINE.

Saints Constantine & Helen (Feastday celebrated May 21) Saint Constantine was the son of Constantius Chlorus and of the blessed Helen. He was born in 272, in Naissus of Dardania. In 306, when his father died, he was proclaimed successor to his throne. In 312, he marched into Italy, where, while at the head of his troops, he saw in the sky after midday, beneath the sun, a radiant pillar in the form of a cross with the words: "By this shalt thou conquer." The following night, our Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him in a dream and declared to him the power of the Cross and its significance. When he arose in the morning, he immediately ordered that a labarum be made (which is a banner or standard of victory over the enemy) in the form of a cross, and he inscribed on it the Name of Jesus Christ. Constantine entered Rome and fought rulers who persecuted those against the church. Christianity triumphed and idolatry was overthrown.

As for his holy mother Helen, she was a native of Bithynia, and a daughter of an inn-keeper. In spite of her humble birth, she married a Roman soldier, the then Roman general Constantius I Chlorus about 270. Constantine, her son became Constantine the Great. After her son had been victorious in battle and had made the Faith of Christ triumphant throughout the Roman Empire, she undertook, in her great piety, the hardships of a journey to Jerusalem in search of the cross. She was advanced in years by then. A temple to Aphrodite had been raised up by the Emperor Hadrian upon Golgotha, to defile and cover with oblivion the place where the saving Passion had been suffered. The venerable Helen had the statue of Aphrodite destroyed, and the earth removed, revealing the Tomb of our Lord, and three crosses. After this, Saint Helen, in her zeal to glorify Christ, erected churches in Jerusalem at the sites of the Crucifixion and Resurrection, in Bethlehem at the cave where our Saviour was born, another on the Mount of Olives and many others throughout the Holy Land, Cyprus, and elsewhere. Ο Μέγας Κωνσταντίνος γεννήθηκε το 274 μ.Χ. Πατέρας του ήταν ο Κωνστάντιος ο Α’ ο Χλωρός και μητέρα του η Ελένη από το Δρέπανο της Βιθυνίας. Ο Κωνσταντίνος σε ηλικία 18 ετών έγινε στρατιωτικός και χάρη στην ανδρεία του, προάχθηκε γρήγορα στα ανώτατα αξιώματα του στρατού. Ο Κύριος θέλοντας να τον βοηθήσει στον αγώνα του κατά του Μαξεντίου και του Λικίνιου, στη συνέχεια σχημάτισε στον ουρανό το σημείο του Σταυρού με την επιγραφή «Έν τούτω Νίκα», προσφέροντάς του ένα ισχυρότατο όπλο για να κατατροπώσει τους εχθρούς του. Με το χριστιανικό σταυροειδές λάβαρο με το ελληνικό μονόγραμμα «Έν τούτω νίκα», τελικά νίκησε τα στρατεύματα του Μαξεντίου και έπειτα του Λικινίου. Επίσης, ήταν ο πρώτος αυτοκράτορας που ευνόησε την Εκκλησία, μετά από τρεις αιώνες ανελέητου διωγμού. Μετέφερε την πρωτεύουσα του κράτους του στο αρχαίο βυζάντιο, και εκεί έκτισε την βασίλισσα των πόλεων, την Κωνσταντινούπολη. Λίγο πριν πεθάνει, ο Κωνσταντίνος αξιώθηκε και του Αγίου Βαπτίσματος, και αμέσως μετά είπε: «Νυν αληθει λογω μακαριον οιδ’ εμαυτον, νυν της αθανατου ζωης πεφαναι αξιον, νυν του θειου μετειληφεναι φωτος πεπιστευκα». Τώρα, δηλαδή, σύμφωνα με το λόγο της αληθείας, ξέρω ότι είμαι μακάριος, τώρα έχω γίνει άξιος της αθανάτου ζωής, τώρα έχω πιστέψει πως έλαβα το θείο φως. Εκοιμήθη σε ηλικία 63 ετών, την 21 Μαΐου 327. Η Ιστορία ονόμασε τον Κωνσταντίνο Μέγα και η Εκκλησία τον ανεκήρυξε Άγιο και Ισαπόστολο. Ο Κωνσταντίνος ενδιαφέρθηκε πολύ και για τα ιερά σεβάσματα των χριστιανών, για το λόγο αυτό απέστειλε στα Ιεροσόλυμα την μητέρα του, για να βρει τον Τίμιο Σταυρό. Μετά την εύρεσή του, η Αγία Ελένη, αφού διχοτόμησε τις κεραίες του δημιούργησε δύο Σταυρούς εκ των οποίων τον ένα μετέφερε στην Κωνσταντινούπολη. Η Αγία Ελένη ήταν αυτή η οποία έδωσε στον Μ. Κωνσταντίνο την πρέπουσα διαπαιδαγώγηση. Άλλωστε, και ο ίδιος την τίμησε, όταν στην μεγάλη πλατεία της Κωνσταντινούπολης έκτισε δύο στήλες, μία δική του και μία της Αγίας Ελένης, που έφερε την επιγραφή: «Είς Άγιος είς Κύριος Ιησούς Χριστός, είς δόξαν Θεού Πατρός, Αμήν». Η Αγία Ελένη βοήθησε να χτιστούν οι πρώτοι μεγάλοι ιεροί ναοί της Χριστιανοσύνης. Εκοιμήθη ειρηνικά το 327 μ.Χ. σε ηλικία 83 ετών.

Upcoming Events/Online Calendar http://www.stnickaa.org/Service%20Schedule/parish_calendar.htm

May 2015:

(no liturgy)

(9 am)

(9 am)

AHEPA Senior Recognition Day

(9 am)

Church Registry (If there are any mistakes or omissions, we apologize. Please contact the office so that we may correct it.)

Births 4-22-15

Baptisms 1-3-15 1-24-15 3-22-15 3-22-15 4-25-15 4-25-15

Magdalena, daughter of Robert and Andrea Ashley

Steven, son of Jana Staron - Nona: Kerri Dixon Vera, daughter of Steven & Alysia Dendrinos – Nono: Michael Dendrinos Alexander, son of Nektarios & Heather Georgiadis – Nono: Serafim Georgiadis Matthias, son of Nektarios & Heather Georgiadis – Nono: Serafim Georgiadis Stella, daughter of Athanasios & Amber Bardis – Nona: Christina Pagalos Luca, son of Cristian & Andreea Dersidan – Nonoi: Rada and Mihai Burzo

Chrismations 1-4-15 Jeffrey Stokes – Sponsor: Peter Petropoulos 3-29-15 Kaitlyn Collins-Theodore: Teresa Stokes

Weddings 5-2-15

Costa Poyiadji and Elizabeth Hancock – Koumbaro: Neo Poyiadji

Fallen Asleep in the Lord 1-1-15 Steven Nestor (Funeral: 1-6-15: Fairview Cemetery, Brighton) 2-2-15 Anne Hulce (Funeral: 2-6-15: Bethlehem Cemetery) 2-14-15 Amira Sabbagh (Funeral: 2-19-15: Dormition of the Mother of God cemetery, Rives Junction, MI) 2-22-15 Esther Rupas (Funeral: 2-26-15: Bethlehem Cemetery) 2-25-15 Christina Giouroukos (Funeral: 3-3-15: Bethlehem Cemetery)

ADVERTISING IN THE COMPASS If you would like to advertise in The Compass, please contact Demetra Mitropoulous-Rundus at the church office at 734-332-8200 or send an email to [email protected] RATES: Business Card $25.00/month Quarter Page

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Parish Ministries PARISH COUNCIL

JOY: Andrea Kahn HOPE: Dr. Sophia Grias-Radwanski, Vasilia Tsilimingras

President Chris Bilakos

GREEK SCHOOL: Ioanna Ioannou, Principal/Teacher

Vice-President Chris Webber

AHEPA: Costas Boutsikakis

Secretary Dr. Michael Kasotakis

DAUGHTERS OF PENELOPE: Perry Katsikas

Controller Patricia Douglas

OCF (UM Campus Ministry): Irene Kitromelides

Treasurer Christos Kitromelides Asst. Treasurer Elizabeth Mitropoulos Corresponding Secretary Christina Vlahopoulos Members: Robert J. Ashley Jr., Christopher A. Bekiares, George Kokales, Lambrini Lagos, George Michos, Eva Mikahil, Lana Panagoulia, Nicholas Stamos PSALTES: Zannis Res (Protopsaltis) ALTAR BOYS: Dani Nadra MUSIC MINISTRY: Dr. Jon Wardner, Teresa Stokes PHILOPTOCHOS: Vicky Masters ST. NICHOLAS SENIORS: Diane Geczi CHURCH SCHOOL: Katherine Phan, Dr. Photios Ioannou GOYA: Angelo G. Bairactaris OUTREACH & EVANGELISM:

HSA (UM Hellenic Student Association): Maria Pliakas YOUTH ENRICHMENT COMMITTEE: Sam Roumains, Dr. Anthony Kales BOOKSTORE: Aggeliki Evangelinos, Dr. Artemis Leontis, Joy Melzian, Dr. Sophia Roumanis

COMPASS EDITOR: Panagiota Stamoulis Kloumasis COMPASS COMMUNICATION: [email protected] CHURCH SECRETARY: Demetra Mitropoulos-Rundus Email: [email protected] PARISH PRIEST FR. NICOLAOS KOTSIS Email: [email protected] For emergencies: (734) 604-3214 If you would like to contribute to the content of The Compass please forward all communication to our email at: [email protected] by the 17th of each month. St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church reserves the right to edit, change or omit content as deemed appropriate.

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