Saint NicholasGreek Orthodox Church

15 Francis StreetPO Box 264

Jamestown, N.Y. 14702

716-483-0022Website: www.stnicholasjamestown.orgEmail: stnicholasjamestown@gmail.com

Live Your Orthodox Faith

November - December 2015

Christmas PlayDecember 6th after Divine Liturgy

Please notify Sabrina Piaschyk as soon as possible if your child wants to participate. Roles will be assigned and practice will start in a few weeks.

Christmas cookie donations would be greatly appreciated for coffee hour

St. Nicholas Orthodox Church Cordially Invites You to Our

PRSRT STDUS PostagePAIDJamestown, NY 14701Permit No. 336

Address Services Requested

Memorials for Sept - Oct 2015

In memory of Anthony MaranoMary Michos Riolo (deceased)Ted Cottillion

In memory of Ordella NoniLoretta Searls

In memory of Louis DimasLoretta SearlsHelen and Kenneth BrunerMary Michos Riolo (deceased)

In memory of Mary Michos Riolo

enitnatsnoC yrreTorresnE lehtE

Terry sihtenoJirtimiD anehtA

annoZ ynohtnAtrahkcoL leruaL

sreeB yraMelaH yraM

* Elizabeth and Mark Frederick

Bill and Eileen SarroLoretta SearlsVirginia Cummings

David and Andrea JonethisJohn Jonethis

Louise Pillittieri

Toula and John BechakasAthena ConstantineHelen and Kenneth Bruner

onamisuC olegnAsihtenoJ anehtA

Betty and Albert RaistrickJoanne and Anthony Vitello

llessaC leahciM dna )sihtenoJ( arabraBirtimiD leahciM dna nnA oJ

Lowell and Nancy Patricylimaf noskcirdneHsinafoehT enirehtaK

eldruH sreeB aniDnoillittoC deT

Memorials for Nov - Dec 2015

In memory of Mary Michos RioloToula and John BechakasAthena ConstantineHelen and Kenneth BrunerTerry ConstantineEthel EnserroBetty and Albert RaistrickJoanne and Anthony Vitello

In memory of Eleni CothalisNora Bitchakas, Pete Bitchakas, and Argery Cooke

In memory of Anthony MaranoMary Michos Riolo (deceased)

In memory of Ordella NoniLoretta Searls

In memory of Louis DimasLoretta SearlsHelen and Kenneth BrunerMary Michos Riolo (deceased)

In memory of Mary CotsonasNora Bitchakas, Pete Bitchakas, and Argery Cooke

* donation to Johnson Scholarship Fund

In memory of Mary CotsonasNora Bitchakas, Pete Bitchakas, and Argery Cooke

In memory of Eleni CothalisNora Bitchakas, Pete Bitchakas, and Argery Cooke

In memory of Asimo TriantafilouEvdoxia Tsitso

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We can say that the theme of this Newsletter is ANGELS. Here is why:

About thirty years ago, the Priest of Saint Nicholas Church—Father Nicholas Raphael of blessed mem-ory –informed the congregation at a general assembly meeting, that to complete the beautiful PantocratorIcon donated by the Theofilactidis family, Angels are needed to surround Christ. Theword”Pantocraton” means the “Lord God of all.” A pledge was made to fulfill this obligation sometimein the future.Athena Dimitri is a witness to this—Now, all these years later this pledge is to be fulfilled. This is anecessity because throughout the Bible and throughout our Divine Liturgy there are quotes pronouncingthat the Angels surrounded Christ at all times. Every complete Church has Angels around the Icon ofthe Pantocrator. Notice this picture from my pastChurch –St. John in Myrtle Beach. The Pantocratorwas just recently completed there also.

We must thank the Ladies Erene Philoptochos Societyfor fulfilling this pledge to God. It will be theirLegacy to Saint Nicholas Church. Throughout theyears, their fundraisers—along with giving necessaryitems to the Church—The chairs in the fellowshiphall, the movable chair going up and down thestairs—and much more; also to the charitable givingthey do every month, helping the poor, etc, they havesaved enough to gift the Angels to our Church. Thismajor event will take place starting November 2.There will be publicity on this from the Post Journal.Come and see this historic event taking place.

His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas has given hisblessings for this project and will formally bless itwhen he visits. Remembering that an OrthodoxChurch is to replicate the Heavens, we must continueto beautify our Church in every way possible.

In His Service,

Father George S. ZervosProistamenos

Statistics for 2015

Weddings - 1 Baptisms - 7 Funerals - 7

But the angel said to them,

“Do not be afraid...”-Luke 2:10 (NIV)

Answered PrayerI asked God for strength, that I might achieve;

I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey...

I asked for health, that I might do greater things;I was given infirmity, that I might do better things...

I asked for riches, that I might be happy;I was given poverty that I might be wise...

I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men;I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God...

I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life;I was given life, that I might enjoy all things...

I got nothing that I asked for - but everything I had hoped for.Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.

I am, among all men, most richly blessed.

- Source Unknown

I have called you by your name,

you are Mine.

When you pass through the waters

I will be with you, and through the

rivers they shall not overwhelm you;

when you walk through the fire

you shallnot be burned...

nor shall the flame kindle upon you.

For I am the Lord your God,

the Holy One of Israel, your Savior...

Isaiah 43:1-3

2015 Stewardship Report

As of October 23, 2015

Anderson, Greg & ChristinaAnderson, Tim & RachelBechakas, John & Toula

Bechakas, Michael & HeatherBechakas, Terry & Soultana

Beers, MaryBenchley, Andrew & SonjaBenchley, M&M AndrewBertrand, John & VictoriaBruner, Kenneth & Helen

Cheronis, James & ChristineChrist, James

Christ, Terry & JoanneConstantine, AthenaConstantine, TerryCoustenis, Virginia

Crandall, Brittany & ChadCretekos, KathrynCummings, Bryan

Ecker, Jim & KathyDeppas, Lou & Melissa

Dimas, George & DorothyDimitri, Athena B

Dimitri, John & JulianneDimitri, L. Michael

Enserro, E.Fanaritis, MagdaFeell, Theodora

Frederick, Elizabeth S.Gianas, Sophia

Hennas, AndrewHill, Louise

Jamesson, KalopeJohnson, Mark & SaraJaneKianos, Robert & Michelle

Kianos, VioletKum, D.

Kum, WendyLundmark, Jason

Marano, Maria & KimMatjoulis, John T.Michos, Alexandra

Michos, CristMichos, Elizabeth

Mignoli, ConstanceMorrison, Heath & Kathleen

Moumoulidis, Stamatia & ElpinikiNewburg, Elizabeth & Jerry

Noni, Ordella M.Panteli, Pantelis & Linda

Pappas, ElizabethPiaschyk, Damian

Psychos, ConstanceRaptis, James G & DemetraRigas, Constantine & Reba

Rigas, John & DorisRigas, MichaelRigas, Timothy

Riolo, Mary MichosRoss, Anna P.Ross, Ethel

Saines, JamesSearls, Robert & Loretta

Silo, John & BarbaraSingleton, Todd & AlexisSnell, William & Affroula

Spanos, George & Mary AnnSpero, Kathleen

Spiridon, Dean & LindaStanton, Dean & Maria

Theofilactidis, George & C. KathleenTsitso, Nicholas L.

Tsitso, SpiroTurner, Bill & Angie

VanGinhoven, Mary JaneVerleni, Nick P.

Voulgaris, Anthony & HelenZorich, Ronald & Voula

Weddings

Kypros Panteli and Allison Leigh Colbourne were wed on July 24, 2015 at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Buffalo

Crystal Newburg was wed to Jeffrey Roberts on October 17, 2015 at the Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox CHurch in Jamestown.

Congratulations and best wishes from your Saint Nicholas family. Na Zysonai!

Condolences

Our condolences to Joanne Christ on the death of her beloved mother Jennie Hall on October 14th.

Condolences to the family of Florida Presvytera Euphosyne (Irene) Mentis. Interment was October 9, 2015 in Wellsville, New York.

40 Day Blessings

Theofilactidis, baby boyAnderson, Sawyer, baby boy

Demetrius Piaschyk, baby boy

Baptisms

July 5, 2015, Demetrius Piaschyk Congratulations to the Godparents, Jim and Christine Cheronis

Upcoming Baptisms

Nov. 7, 2015, TheofilactidisDec. 5, 2015, Anderson

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Religious Education Basics Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Department of Religious Education PRAXIS Fall 2008

the Latin word currere, which means to run a course, like a racecourse or track. It refers to the path that one follows. In education, a curriculum is an entire course of study that one follows in order to achieve or acquire the objectives of the program. For example, if you were studying to become a physician, the entire program of medical school comprises the curriculum, including the academic courses, the study groups, the clinics, the labs, the internship and residency, and the manner of instruction. All of these elements transmit the knowledge and create the experiences that prepare some-

one to practice medicine. What happens in the en-tire life of the school or classroom comprises its curriculum. What hap-pens in one day of that life is just one episode in that curriculum. A textbook is just one dimension of that curriculum. Applying this to the Church, then, means that the life of the parish is the curriculum for teaching people what it means to be an Orthodox Christian. The curriculum of the par-ish is its life of worship, its social programs for its members, its service to the world, and its witness of the Orthodox Church and faith to others. All of these

together teach the Orthodox faith. So, if you were to read all of the books about Orthodox Christianity that you could find, but never attended the Divine Liturgy, participated in it, or received Holy Communion, your education would be defi-cient. The intentional programs of schooling, classes, lectures, Bible studies and so on are just one dimension of this curricu-lum. In a Sunday Church school program, the curriculum is what happens from the moment the students gather until they depart, which includes far more than the textbook used in class.

There could be many ways of stating the goal of edu-cation in the life of the Orthodox Church. In the mid-1980s, the Department of Religious Educa-tion of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese developed

the following statement: The purpose of Orthodox Christian Education (catechesis) is to help build up the Church, the Body of Christ, by nurturing every person in the life of person-al communion with the Holy Trinity (theosis), and thus, through this ministry, to bear joyful witness to God’s loving and redeeming work in the world. Being only one part of the total life of the Church, Christian edu-cation is effective in the context of living faith in the home and the lo-cal parish. Living faith is concretely expressed through all believ-ers—bishops, priests, parents, teachers, par-ish leaders, youth lead-ers, and all Orthodox Christians seeking to know and to live the new life in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Key Term: Curriculum

People often ask, “When will the curriculum be finished?” The glib answer would be, “When the student has learned ev-erything!” Really, the question points to how most of us have confused and conflated the term “curriculum” with “text-book.” Offices regularly say that they have produced a “new curriculum” on a topic. What they mean is a book, a resource guide, a program guide for an activity, or some other product with information or set of instructions for people to follow when working with a specific topic or audience. So what does “curriculum” really mean? It comes from

Why Do We Educate in the Church at All?

F or nearly four decades, Orthodox Christian religious educators have emphasized that Sunday Church school should not be held during the Divine Liturgy. In his classic book, Liturgy and Life, Fr. Alexander Schme-

mann writes, “It seems self-evident to me that to organize a so-called ‘Sunday School’ during the Divine Liturgy deeply contradicts the spirit of Ortho-doxy…Sunday is primarily a litur-gical day, and it should be church-centered and liturgy centered.” In agreement with Fr. Schmemann, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese since the 1970s has emphasized that children should attend as much of the Divine Liturgy as pos-sible and practical for the parish. We spend the bulk of our adult lives as Orthodox Christians in various worship settings—not in classes or other parish activities. The habit of attendance and par-ticipation in worship begins very early in life. A recent study from the Pew Forum on American Reli-gious Life reported that adults who had not formed the habit of regu-lar attendance in worship as chil-dren and teenagers (i.e., acquiring it from their parents) were more likely to drift away from the religion of their family later in life. Teachers play a large role in helping children understand the Divine Liturgy, the actions, the rituals, the words and, im-portantly, how to participate in the service. Classroom time should be set aside for questions and answers about that day’s

worship. To answer the questions, teachers should continue to learn as much as they can about the development, nature and meaning of Orthodox Byzantine worship. There are practical steps you can take right now. Use the following checklist as a guide to begin incorporating the Di-vine Liturgy in each of your classroom sessions:

students to attend the Divine Liturgy with their families?

importance of attending the Divine Liturgy from the time it starts, with “Blessed is the Kingdom . . .”?

participation in the Divine Liturgy?

attending the Divine Liturgy and participating in the service?

Epistle and Gospel lessons in your classes?

read the lessons together before the Liturgy and discuss them on the way home, especially in light of that day’s sermon?

prayers (or hymns) in class reflect the liturgical season, such as Great Lent or the feast day closest to the day of the class session?

those saints’ lives?

Live the Liturgy. Teach the Liturgy

This is the assurance we have in approaching God:

that if we ask anything acording to His will, He hears us.

1 John 5:14

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NOTICE OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY:

There will be a Parish General Assembly to be held in the Fellowship Hall on Sunday November 8, 2015 immediatelyfollowing the Divine Liturgy.

The purpose of the General Assembly is to review the year to date financials, approve a 2016 Budget and to nominate candidatesfor Parish Council, among other things. All stewards in good standing are strongly encouraged to attend. Please make every effort to be at this meeting, thank you!

Erene Society

Submitted by Athena Constatine, Pres.

On October 7th, We had our meeting at the Heritage Green Health Care Center, in honor of Virginia Cummings, who is a res-ident there, and a long time member of the Society. She was so happy to see all of us. Christina Anderson made the refreshmentsand the nursing home provided us with coffee. Thank you to all the members who attended this meeting and visit.

Donations for the month were given to the following: Mouth and Foot artists; Arthritis Foundation and to the ShrinersHospital for Children.

Plans were discussed for our coming Christmas Bazzar and luncheon to be held on Saturday December 12th in theFellowship Hall.

Our fall rummage and bake sale were a huge success. Thank you to all who donated especially to Christine Cheronis andAngie Turner who made us spinach pies and donated them.

Our latest project with the approval of Father George and the church board is to have six angels painted on the ceiling sur-rounding the painting of Jesus. We have seen pictures of other churches who had this done and it’s beautiful. The Erene Societywanted to donate something permanent and solely from us to the church. Father George contacted the iconographer and it will becompleted before the holidays.

Happy Holidays to you all from the Erene members!

Council Corner

This year our St. Nicholas Parish sent representatives to the bi-annual Detroit Metropolis Clergy-Laity Conference held in Troy,Michigan. Fr. George Zervos was joined by Council President Jim Cheronis and lay person Kathleen Morrison. It was a very wellattended event that included a number of lectures and seminars pertaining to the Orthodox faith and parish daily life. MetropolitanNicholas gave a very informative talk, including giving information on the highly anticipated Pan Orthodox Council set for sometime in 2016. He also said that he was appointed to work with our Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Constantinople, Turkey.

Fr. George was asked to address his fellow clergymen the day before the actual start of the Conference, whichwas an honor. The event was highlighted by a dinner banquet featuring Archbishop Demetrios of America.He addressed the group and later gave out achievement awards with Metropolitan Nicholas to two deservinglay people from each Detroit Metropolis parish. Our awardees were Spiro Tsitso and Athena Constantine.

Respectfully submitted byJim CheronisCouncil President

Bible study resumes in Church fellowship hall, Thursday, November 5th. Thank you.

W hat should our children know about the Faith by the time they are ‘X’ years old?” This ques-tion, which is often asked of religious educa-tors, is fueled by a number of influences:

• Schools have expectations that their students should reach certain milestones at various stages in their education. Schoolteachers are expected to prepare their students to meet those points in the course of the year, usually be-cause there will be some kind of test.

• Education itself is goal-oriented. Educational perfor-mance is measured by the acquisition of certain objec-tives. Teachers and students want to check their progress.

• Parents want to help their chil-dren in the learning process. Knowing the expectations and what the program hopes to ac-complish is beneficial.

The aim of education in the Orthodox Church is to nurture, instruct, and direct each member of the community of faith—the Church—in Christian living, or, as Orthodox writers typically call it, the life in Christ, so that each per-son grows “in the grace and knowl-edge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18) and become “a partaker of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). Alternately stated, the goal of catechesis is for each person to become an icon, a living image of God, a person who lives in continual fellowship—communion—with God, reflecting a particular way —the Christ-like way—of knowing and living in the world. (A. Vrame, The Educating Icon, 1999, p. 63). This vision of education involves acquiring information but also in-volves living according to the precepts of that information. Thus, an Orthodox Christian ought to be well-informed about the rich content of the Orthodox Tradition. Being able to name, to retell, to identify, to list, and more are dimensions of what it means “to know” one’s faith. A Church school pro-gram should be able to transmit these concepts to its students. But knowing the Faith also involves being able to appreciate its

content, to consider how it influences one’s life, to participate in it, and to respond to its call of commitment to faith in Jesus Christ and His Church. For example, what is the benefit of reciting the Lord’s Prayer in a classroom setting, and a teacher’s assessment that the student has memorized it, without praying the Lord’s Prayer at home and reflecting on the words them-selves? The real curriculum for learning the Orthodox Faith is the life of the Church as experienced in a dynamic, faith-filled par-ish. Our education in faith is a lifelong journey. The Depart-ment has created its textbook series with this in mind. Con-

cepts become more involved and the number of stories increase as the learner progresses. Our textbook series is not struc-tured such that it presents all of the information on a single topic at once, never to return to it. Instead, we revisit key topics, e.g., the Divine Liturgy, in an unfolding pattern of discovery for the learner These top-ics are presented in new ways based on the theme of the book and stu-dent’s maturity. We always hope for the best cisrcumstances—that child attends Church school faithfully, has a well-prepared teacher, and a family that is involved in the life of the Church, takes interest in the

learning process, and reinforces the concepts at home—but this “looping” of crucial topics helps fill any gaps that may occur. Yet no Church school curriculum can include or teach ev-erything. Any series of published textbooks is merely the first step of learning. Even in the best series, the authors, editors and publishers make choices about what they believe most valuable for learners to achieve in a certain timeframe. Of course, indi-vidual parishes and teachers add material, information (e.g., lives of saints and feast days) and activities that fit the needs of their parish’s students and ministries. Therefore, on our website, we have distilled our textbooks’ objectives, by grade level. Visit the “Resources for Supervisors” section of religioused.goarch.org for our specific answers to the perennial question: “What should my child learn in grade X?”

What Your Child Should Know

The Goals and Objectives ofEducation in the Orthodox Church

Anton C. Vrame

Religious Education Basics Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Department of Religious Education religioused.goarch.org

Dear Parents,

More than 2,000 years ago, Christ entered this world as a tiny baby. In many

ways, His birth wasn’t much different from that of our own babies. Christ was

bathed, swaddled, and likely given to his mother to nurse. People came to

celebrate his birth bringing gifts. On the eighth day He was given His name, and

on the fortieth day He was presented to the Temple. But His seemingly ordinary

entry into the world was actually quite extraordinary! He was born of a virgin—a gift

of love from our heavenly Father for the salvation of the world. He didn’t receive gifts of

cute outfits or toys, but gold, frankincense, and myrrh: gold a gift for a king, frankincense a

gift for God, and myrrh a gift for a man who is to die.

For to Us a Child is Born was created for young people in grades 6-9. The title, taken from the book of

Isaiah, is a prophecy of the extraordinary event. This guide is offered as a companion for you and your

family to use alongside the zine and as a way to bring the lessons of the feasts into your home. You can

download it from www.goarch.org/archdiocese/departments/religioused/christmas_guide. As we enter

into this season, we pray that this resource will help your family grow closer to our Lord and Savior. May

we all experience the joy of the Nativity so that we proclaim triumphantly: Christ is Born! Glorify Him!

With Love in Christ,

Center for Family Care

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

For Families with Older Children

Lord Jesus,You have come so many times to us and found

no resting place, forgive us for our overcrowded lives, our

vain haste and our preoccupation with self. Come again,

O Lord, and though our hearts are a jumble of voices, and

our minds overlaid with many fears, find a place however

humble, where You can begin to work Your wonder as You

create peace and joy within us. If in some hidden corner,

in some out-of the-way spot, we can clear away the clutter,

and shut out the noise and darkness, come be born again

in us, and we shall kneel in perfect peace with the wisest

and humblest of men.

Help us to enter into this Christmas Fast with humility, yet

with joy. And finally Lord, give us Christmas from within,

that we may share it from without, on all sides, all around

us, wherever there is need. God help us, every one, to share

the blessing of Jesus, in whose name we keep Christmas

holy. Amen.

(From Presbytera Emily Harakas and Fr. Anthony Coniaris, DailyMeditations and Prayer for the Christmas Advent Fast and Epiphany,

p. 11. © 2000, Light and Life Publishing. Used with permission.)

For Families with Younger Children

Lord, Our God as you entered into the world as a newborn

baby, enter also into our hearts so that we may prepare for

your glorious coming.

Help us to be still so we can hear the angels announce

your Nativity.

Help us to keep our eyes clear so we may follow the star

to your Son’s birth.

Help us to turn our minds, hearts, and whole bodies toward

you so that we may realize that the best gifts come from

above.

As You so loved the world that You gave us your only

begotten son, help us to share this love with family, friends,

enemies, and everyone we meet.

We ask this in your holy name Father, and the Son, and

the Holy Spirit now and forever and to the ages of ages.

Amen.

PRAYERS FOR THE NATIVITY FAST

FOR TO US A

Child Is BornPARENT GUIDE

He who measures

the heaven with the

span of His hand lies

in a manger a span’s

breadth; He whose

cupped hands contain

the sea is born in a

cave; His glory fills

the heavens and the

manger is filled with

His splendor....

—St. Ephraimthe Syrian

ADULT ORTHODOX EDUCATION

We’re pleased to announce that Adult Orthodox Education will resume in the fall. Classes will be held in the St. NicholasFellowship Hall one Sunday per month starting promptly at 9:15 a.m. Fr. George has given his blessing for this ministry whosepurpose is to educate the faithful in our beautiful Orthodox Way of life. Jimmy Cheronis will facilitate the classes, using a for-mat of lectures, selected podcasts and readings. Classes promise to be interesting and spiritually edifying, so please make everyeffort to attend! Scheduled dates include:

11/22/15 - The Power of Prayer (don’t miss this one)12/20/15 - Repentance & Confession: The Transformational Experience of God’s Forgiveness

Classes in 2016 are expected to be held every 3rd Sunday of the month.

Choir Corner

On October ll, the Choir hosted its annual Luncheon in honor of our Patron Saint, Romanos, the Melodist. We had a greatturn-out and thank Jerry Newburg for his delicious stuffed-chicken-breast entrée. The choir members brought side dishes ofrice pilaf, mashed potatoes, scalloped potatoes, salads, vegies, fruit salads, rolls and various desserts. Thank you one and all.On this day, also, music pins were distributed to all the choir members present for their service to the Church. Father Georgealso read a special prayer over us.

Beautiful pictures were taken throughout the event,but some members are missing from the pictures. JerryNewburg was cooking, Kathy Theo was away, andJoanne and Madison Christ were unwell as was ChristChristodoulos. We are making great use of our robes,thanks to Kalope Jamesson.

The choir has been diligently practicing for weeks forour performance at the lst Lutheran Church ofJamestown on Oct. 25th. As usual, we outdid ourselvesand received much applause and many compliments. Wesang a Cherubim Hymn, arranged by myself, incorporat-ing our regular Cherubim hymn with that of the compos-er Christos Kypros. The melody is so beautiful that youcannot get it out of your mind. We thank all those whocame to practices, the Newburgs for hosting a practice attheir home and all of you who attended the EcumenicalChoir event. We thank also, our fellow Albanian choirmembers—Nick Manno and Tom Getska , of St. Elias,for joinging us. There will be more pictures in the nextnewsletter.

The choir will be participating in theSunday School’ s Christmas pageant also.

- Presvytera Anne

At the First Lutheran Church’s Choir Festival October 25th

Pictured in our robes on the Solea are from left to right: Bottom row : Kathy Nieva, Presvytera Anne Zervos,

honorary member Helen Verleni, Father George, 2nd row: Angie Turner, Liz Newburg and Kathleen Morrison and Ashley Stanton.

3rd row: Basil Getz, Dean Stanton and James Cheronis.

September 2015:Bible BasicsSeptember 13: Sunday school begins

(Blessing)Nativity of the TheotokosElevation of the Holy CrossThe Falling Asleep of St. John the

Evangelist and Theologian

October 2015: Oratorical Festival IconographySunday of the Ecumenical councilThe Holy Protection of the Theotokos

November 2015: Old TestamentEntrance of the TheotokosNativity Fast beginsCreationEdenCain and AbelNoah’s ArkDavid and Goliath

December 2015:Old Testament“For Us a Child is Born”6: St. Nicholas day: Luncheon-

Children speak about St.Nicholas/Christmas Concert

Holy Nativity

January 2016:Old TestamentTheophany of our LordStewardship/Tower of

Babel/Abraham/Moses

February 2016:Our Life in the ChurchThe Presentation of our Lord Godparent BrunchScout SundayTriodion Begins: Passports beginPublican and PhariseeProdigal SonGreat and Holy Lent Begins

March 2016: Lessons:“Journey through Great Lent”St. Patrick’s Day 12th. Sunday school sponsored

coffee hour 13th.Saturday of SoulsMeatfare SundayForgiveness (Cheesefare) Sunday Sunday of OrthodoxyAnnunciation of the TheotokosSt Gregory Palamas

April 2016- Lessons: “Journey through Holy weekHoly CrossMary of Egypt23: Lazarus Saturday/Cross

making/Sweet breadbaking/Children’sconfession/breakfast

24: Palm Sunday/Bake SaleHoly Monday, Tuesday, Wednesay,

Thursday, Friday (MyroforaGirls)

May 20161: Great and Holy Pascha

(Easter Egg Hunt)Thomas SundayMyrrh-Bearing Women Mother’s dayNo Sunday School- Memorial day

Special Events:Graduation/ScholarshipsFestival FlowersPicnic

St Nicholas Orthodox Church

Church School Calendar 2015-2016

On Saturday, Oct. 24, Father George conducted Divine Liturgy at St. Stephens Church in Olean.As usual, attendance was great and wonderful conversations took place afterwards at the lovely

luncheon. We thank Betty Pappas for again organizing this event.

We attended religious lectures and seminars regardingchurch life. It was gratifying to see so many people fromvarious churches who also shared a love for our Orthodoxfaith. I spoke to all the clergy regarding the priest life.

The Metropolis philoptorhos hosted meetings also forphiloptorhos representatives from many churches.

Enclosed is an article page you might find interesting.Any of us three would be happy to answer any of yourquestions regarding the conference.

Congratulations Athena Constantine and Spiro Tsitso whowere recognized at this year’s Clergy-Laity Conference fortheir service to the church. To the right is a photo of BishopNicholas and Archbishop Demetrios presenting theirawards to Jim Cheronis & Fr. George.

On October 12, 2015, Spiro Tsitso was honored forhis many years of selfless service to St. Nicholasparish. He received a Certificate of Appreciationthat was issued by His Eminence ArchbishopDemetrios of America and His EminenceMetropolitan Nicholas of Detroit at the 2015 DetroitMetropolis Clergy Laity Conference in TroyMichigan. His family joined him to celebrate theaward. Pictured from left to right are his grand-daughter Kelsey Tsitso, grandson Christopher Tsitso,granddaughter Ashley Tsitso, Spiro Tsitso, son LouisTsitso, daughter Christine Tsitso, Fr. George Zervosand granddaughter Sara Tsitso. CongratulationsSpiro!

On October 12, 2015, Athena Constantine was alsohonored for her many years of selfless service to St.Nicholas parish. She received a Certificate ofAppreciation that was issued by His EminenceArchbishop Demetrios of America and HisEminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit at the2015 Detroit Metropolis Clergy Laity Conference inTroy Michigan. Her family joined her to celebratethe award. Pictured from left to right are Fr. GeorgeZervos, son in law Greg Anderson, AthenaConstantine, daughter Christina Anderson, grandsonJason Anderson, daughter in law Rachel Anderson,great granddaughter Raegan Anderson, grandsonTimothy Anderson, and great grandson SawyerAnderson. Congratulations Athena!

A Brief Synopsis of the Metropolis Clergy Laity Conference.

The Metropolis of Detroit Clergy-Laity Conference which we as a parish belong to was held in Detroit Michiganfrom September 29th-October 3rd.

James Ceronis, council president, Kathleen Morrison and I represented our beloved Saint Nicholas there.We met and talked with his eminence Nicholas though out those days and he spoke with all delegates. Archbishop

Demetrio’s was present October 1st & 2nd. He was the one who presented to us this year’s Saint Nicholas honorees acertificate/gift. Mrs. Athena Constantine president philoptorhos and Spiro Tetsos for their long time service to our com-munity.