St. George Greek Orthodox Church

30 East Forge Road - Media, PA 19063-4345 Telephone: 610-459-0366 FAX: 610-459-1015

Email: office@stgeorgemedia.org FrAnastasios@stgeorgemedia.org

Volume 34, Issue 6 Check the St. George website for the most up to date information June 2020

THE TWELVE APOSTLES—JUNE 30th

Simon, Peter - Born in Bethsaida in Galilee, he was a fisherman and was named by Jesus Christ "Cephas" (in Greek, Pe ter), and called to be a fisher of men, an Apostle. In all lists of the Twelve he is named first, and belonged to the inner group of Apostles. He was present at the Transfiguration and at the Agony of Christ. When he professed his belief that Jesus is the Christ, the Lord promised that "Thou art Peter and on this rock will I build My Church," meaning on the rock of faith in the Savior. Peter's confession of faith was soon followed by a sharp rebuke from the Lord. Peter said that he would never leave his Lord, and was answered by the prediction of his triple denial, which later took place. Later, Peter made reparation for his triple denial by a triple protestation of love.

Andrew - A disciple of John the Baptist, Andrew heard him refer to Jesus as the Lamb of God. Andrew asked for an audience and saw Jesus for a day, then proclaimed, "We have found the Messiah," in itself a creed and confession for the Christian faith. He brought his brother, Simon -Peter, to Christ. Although not one of the inner circle, he played the first role in several events which are recorded. Eusebius in his Church History states that Andrew later went to Scythia. According to tradition he was martyred at Patras, Greece, crucified on an X-shaped cross, which since has become known as St. Andrew's Cross.

James (The Greater) - He was the son of Zebedee. He, with his elder brother John and with Peter, constituted the privileged group - the inner circle of the disciples. James was present at the Transfig-uration and the Agony in Gethsemane. His zeal was ardent and he and his brother were named by the Lord "Boanerges," which means "sons of thunder." James was beheaded by Herod Agrippa I in A. D. 44, the first of the Twelve to suffer martyrdom.

John - He was one of the inner circle with Peter and James. The son of Zebedee, he and his brother James were named the "sons of thunder." John is the author of the fourth Gospel, the Book of Revela-tion and three Catholic Epistles. He was imprisoned with Peter and later appeared in the Sanhedrin. John also was sent with Peter to Samaria, where they prayed that the converts might receive the Holy Spirit. In Jerusalem, he was present at the Council of the Apostles.

Philip - He is the Apostle from Bethsaida who obeyed the call of Jesus and led Nathanael to Christ. At the feeding of the 5,000 people, Jesus said to Philip to buy bread, and Philip answered Him, "Two hun-dred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little." The Apostle Philip preached the Gospel in Asia and suffered crucifixion, according to tradition. Bartholomew - His name is patronymic, meaning "son of Tolmai." Sometimes he is identified with Nathanael whom Philip led to Christ. According to the historian Eusebius, when Pantainus of Alexan-dria visited India between A.D. 150 and 200, he found there the Gospel according to Matthew left be-hind by Bartholomew, one of the Apostles. According to tradition, Bartholomew was flayed to death at Albanapolis in Armenia.

Matthew - He was the evangelist who was a Jew and a tax-collector referred to as Levi before he was called by Christ, Whom be followed. He is the author of the First Gospel. In his genealogy of Jesus Christ, he emphasizes the Lord's human nature and origin. Therefore, in Chris-tian symbolism, Matthew has been represented by the figure of man (cf. Rev 4:7). The icon of Matthew in the Orthodox Church is to be found in one of the four triangles which are formed by the arches connected to the dome of the Church.

Thomas - He was called the Twin. On the way to Bethany he offered to die with Jesus. Thomas doubted the resurrection of Christ unless he were to touch the wounds of the Risen Lord, but later confessed his faith in Him: "My Lord and My God" - the first to confess so explicitly the Lord's divinity.

James (The Lesser) - He was the son of Alphaeus. Was he the Lord's relative? This is doubted. Was he James the younger (or the "lesser," Matt. 15:40)? There are insufficient reasons to establish this either. Nothing is known of him.

Simon - He was called Cananaean and Zealot, two terms of the same Hebrew word. According to the Apocryphal "Passion of Simon and Jude," both of them preached and underwent martyrdom in Persia. In the New Testament, Simon, one of the brethren of the Lord, was Iden-tified with Simon the Apostle.

Jude - He is the Apostle referred to in the Gospel as "Judas of James", "Judas not the Iscariot". He also is known as Thaddaeus or Lebbacus. Jude was the brother of James (or the son of James RV), the "brethren of the Lord" - the Lord's relative. Jude is the author of the Epistle of Jude.

Judas Iscariot - A selected Apostle, one of the Twelve, he betrayed Christ to the Jewish Sanhedrin - the supreme council and highest court of justice in Jerusalem - and kissed the Lord at the time of the arrest. He later committed suicide. The title "Iscariot," meaning in Hebrew "man of Kerioth," a place in South Palestine, implies that Judas was from Judea. He was the only one from there, whereas the other Apostles were from Galilee. After his suicide the Apostles elected Matthias to replace him as one of the Twelve Apostle.

Holy Metropolis of New Jersey

His Eminence Metropolitan EVANGELOS +

St. George Greek Orthodox Church

Presiding Priest - Fr. Anastasios P. Bourantas, Protopresbyter

2020 Parish Council Members Demetrios Psihalinos, President

Angelica Politarhos-Santora, 1st Vice-President

Constandean Lambardakis, 2nd Vice-President

Demetrios Christoforatos, Treasurer

Filaretos Hanos, Financial Secretary Drew M. Nayman, Assistant Financial Secretary

Sonya Bohmann, Secretary

Speroula Fotiades-Alexander

Athanasios Arsenlis

Christos Christou Paraskevi Galiatsatos

Steve Kanteliotis

Nikolaos Liolios

Emmanuel Papadopoulos

Constantina Vasques

Organizations

Office Manager - Katherine B. Mudrick

Chanters - Michael Matekovic, Anastasios Lazaridis

Choir - Stephanie Kalogredis, Director

Custodian - Accountant - George Kaffes

Philoptochos - Ai Mirophoroi – Paraskevi Galiatsatos, President

GOYA - Fotini Gouliaberis, Christina Konstantopoulos, GOYA Presidents, Coordinator: Anthoula Psihalinos

JOY/HOPE - Anthoula Psihalinos, Advisor

Sunday School Director - Sonya Bohmann, Director

Bookstore - Presvytera Nicoletta Bourantas

GOYA Basketball - George Apostolopoulos, Demetrios Psihalinos Coaches (boys), Constantina Vazques,

Demetrios Christoforatos Coaches, (girls)

Basketball Liasion - Demetrios Christoforatos

Vacation Church School - Anthoula Psihalinos

Greek Folk Dance - (HOPE) Daisy Diavastis, Madeline Psihalinos (JOY) Anthoula Psihalinos, Fotini Gouliaberis

(Assistant) (GOYA) Phil Voutsakis

Young Adult Leaders: Phil Voutsakis

Aristotle Academy at St. George - Elias Pantelidis, Director, Alexander Kopatsis, President Chion Society of St. Markella - Marco Tourlitis, President

AHEPA - Emmanuel Papadopoulos, President

Daughters of Penelope - Vicki Wilson, President

Parish Council Committee Chairpersons Building Expansion - Constandean Lambardakis, Demetrios Psihalinos, Demetrios Christoforatos, Nikolaos Yiantsos

Bylaws - Peter Dionisos Executive Committee - Parish Council Officers and Past President

Facilities - Nikolaos Liolios, Demetrios Christoforatos, Constandean Lambardakis, Christos Christou,

Nikolaos Yiantsos, Athanasios Arsenlis

Festival - Angelica Politarhos-Santora, Demetrios Psihalinos, Nikolaos Yiantsos, Constandean Lambardakis,

Paraskevi Galiatsatos, Filaretos Hanos, Demetrios Christoforatos

Finance - Demetrios Christoforatos, Filaretos Hanos, Drew M. Nayman, Peter Dionisos, Constandean Lambardakis

Greek School - Constandean Lambardakis

Hall Rental - Paraskevi Galiatsatos

IATV/Audio Visual - Constandean Lambardakis, Nikolaos Yiantsos

Personnel - Executive Committee

Stewardship - Drew M. Nayman

Web Master & Strategic Planning - Constandean Lambardakis

Youth Liaison - Sonya Bohmann, Constandean Lambardakis

Golf Classic - Demetrios Christoforatos, Filaretos Hanos, Steve Kanteliotis, Constandean Lambardakis Honorary Pangari Captain: Judge Kenneth N. Miller

June 2020

Check the St. George Website for the most up to date information www.stgeorgemedia.org

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4 5 6 Saturday of Souls

Liturgy 9:00 am

7 Holy Pentecost

Orthros 8:15 am

followed by Liturgy

8 9 10 11 12 13

14 All Saints

Orthros 8:15am

followed by Liturgy

15 Apostles Fast Begins

16 17 18 19 20

21 2nd Sunday of

Matthew

Orthros 8:15 am

followed by Liturgy

Happy Father’s Day!

22 23 24

25 26 27

28 3rd Sunday of

Matthew

Orthros 8:15 am

followed by Liturgy

29 30

THIS MONTH AT THE BOOKSTORE

Stop by and visit the BOOKSTORE to purchase these featured books and many other Religious books, gifts, hand-made jewelry and other helpful resources that are now available for purchase. The bookstore is open during office hours and Sunday’s following Liturgy.

GRADUATE BOOK “Game Plan: Practical Wisdom for the College Experience” By: Syler Thomas Going to college brings a time of discovery. Are you ready for what lies ahead? How will you fare going to college – leaving behind the safety of home, community, and church? How will you keep your faith in college? Drawing on their own experiences and years of ministry to young men and women during this transition of going to college, Nic and Syler provide a game plan you can follow to survive and thrive, to live out your faith in college. “Game Plan has the potential to equip our college students (and soon to be college students) with an anchored, informed, buoyant love for God that can breathe through every corner of their lives.” -Mark DeVries, president of Youth Ministry Architects and author of Sustainable Youth Ministry “This wise, straight-talking book offers much practical advice on the many challenges that Christian students face when they step onto the university campus. I highly recommend it.” -Paul Copan, Professor and Pledger Family Chair of Philosophy and Ethics, Palm Beach Atlan-tic University “Get this book into the hands of your college bound students and children! Too many students go off to college unprepared to face the spiritual, moral, intellectual and practical challenges they will face and I see the negative effects in their lives on campus. With practical wisdom and real life stories, this book hits all the big topics a young student needs to not just survive college but mature and grow a dynamic Christian walk.” -R. Shannon Marion, National Field Director, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship “For every student headed to college, this is a must-read. Gibson and Thomas have written a practical, spiritual, time-ly book that addresses real concerns of those who are continuing their education at a college or university, secular or faith-based.” -Bishop Larry M. Goodpaster, President, Council of Bishops, The United Methodist Church

ADULTS BOOK “A Patristic Treasury: Early Church Wisdom for Today” By: James R. Payton, Jr. The writings of the Church Fathers are regularly lauded but rarely read, partly because their sheer volume is so daunting. Yet they constitute the "first story" of the Christian faith, built upon its apos-tolic foundation, which we ignore at our peril. Patristic scholar James Payton has made the Fathers easily accessible by selecting passages that are devotionally stimulating, doctrinally thought-provoking, or epigrammatically striking. With his help, the average Christian can find stimulation, comfort, challenge, and inspiration in the Church Fathers.

PROSPHORA /ARTOCLASIA

Would you like to donate the Prosphora for a special feast day or your name day, they are available for purchase at $10.00 each. Please contact the church office for more details. Thank you. Artoclasia is available for purchase to celebrate a name day or special occasion from the Philoptochos Society, 5 loaves for $50. Please contact the church office or any Philoptochos member to order. For all memorial services and Artoclasia, we kindly ask that you also supply wine and oil for the Altar. Thank you.

SUNDAY SCHOOL

What a different experience this year has been. It is not what any of us expected and not what any of us would have chosen. As parents, our children have missed being around their church friends, and in their Sunday School classes. As Teachers, we have missed sharing our faith with all the students.

To the graduating Seniors - Congratulations! You have worked so very hard for this moment. Relish it, embrace it for what it is, not what it was not able to be. We are so proud of you and know you will accomplish great things. Keep your faith first and everything else will follow.

To our returning students. We can’t wait to have you back in classes again, we are looking forward to seeing you and sharing another year with you.

We will have a “new normal” regarding church services. We would love to see you over the summer, please plan to attend whenever possible.

Stay Safe, Stay Well, and Stay Faithful.

In Christ,

Your St. George Media Sunday School Team

PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS

Hello Everyone,

As a new month begins, and as we move forward toward the reopening of St. George, I want to share a few things with you.

The ladies of Philoptochos have been still serving the community during this crisis.

We contacted local restaurants in the area who are members of our church community who agreed to prepare and deliver meals for the staff of two local hospitals.

Riddle Hospital was the recipient of 55 lunches and Chester County Hospital the recipient of 25 full dinners. These hospitals requested the meals, and we complied. All meals had to be wrapped sepa-rately and served individually. The meals were received with heartfelt thanks.

On June 2nd our Philoptochos will be serving the Safe Harbor Shelter in West Chester. We contacted another member of our community who has a restaurant and they will take care of 25 dinners. Again complying with regulations.

We have been calling members of our St. George and making sure everyone is safe.

I leave you with all positive wishes from the wonderful ladies we call Philoptochos.

In Christ’s Name

Paraskevi (Peggy) Galiatsatos, Philoptochos President

Sacramental Registry Funerals * On Wednesday, May 20, Nickolas Jekogian, age 102.

Priest Discretionary Fund The Priest Discretionary Fund is used by the priest to assist those in need. Examples of how this fund is used includes, assisting the hungry and homeless, assist a parishioner in times of crisis, emergency and/or extreme financial need. The monies used to establish this Discretionary Fund will come from the generous donation of our parishioners and other anonymous donations of our community. If you have a question or a desire to contribute, please ask Father Anastasios about the use of the Discretionary Fund and how you can help.

Please remember, if you have already obtained a civil divorce, you must also receive an Ecclesiastical Divorce from the Church

This brief process is confidentially handled by the parish priest. You must complete this process in order to be in good standing with the Church, meaning that you may not partake in the Sacramental life of the Church, (example: being a sponsor at a wedding or baptism, receiving the Sacrament of Holy Communion and Holy Unction, serving on the Parish Council, voting at Parish Assemblies and entering into another marriage). Please consider your personal situation and be in good standing with the Church. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Fr. Anastasios directly.

Community Shelter Outreach

Thank you to all who have shown an interest in our parish’s Safe Harbor Shelter Ministry. Due to the restrictions of COVID – 19, we have not been able to serve dinner as we did before. For the month of May, we provided 24 individually packed Lasagna Dinners, complete with salad, vegetable, bread and dessert. For June, the Ladies Philoptochos Society is making arrangements to provide the individual dinners to the residents. Many thanks to the Ladies Philoptochos whose generosity is very much appreciated. The residents were schedule to be back in the shelter by

May 19, 2020 but the dinners will be dropped off. We will not be serving until restrictions are lifted. If you are interested in providing 24 individually packed dinners for the shelter, please email me at Ehio-nis@hotmail.com or contact the church office.

June 2 - Ladies Philoptochos July 7 - Aug 4 -

DAUGHTERS OF PENELOPE #246 NEWS

Dear St. George Community:

Hope everyone is holding up during this quarantine, so far. It seems that in June things are going to ease up a little.

As many of you know by now, due to the pandemic many events are being rescheduled. Our Hat Party which was rescheduled for the fall is being moved again to May 22, 2021 at the Springfield Country Club. So, hold on to that date ladies!

On our District/Nat’l news, the convention in Disney World has been cancelled for the AHEPA family. Locally, our district lodge continues to work feverishly to help regionally, and they have made donations to the following food banks across the state of PA.

Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Central Pennsylvania Food Bank Serving Harrisburg and Williams Port Areas and Philabundance, Delaware Valley’s largest hunger relief organization for a total of $900.

Do you want to feel connected, do great work and have fun, too? Please consider joining us – we’d love to have you!

We hope and pray that everyone stays healthy and safe!

Yours in Christ, Vicki Wilson, President Daughters of Penelope Laodice Chapter #246

Dear St. George Parishioners:

You can now make electronic payments for stewardship, trays, Easter flowers, candles, memorials, or anything else you wish to make a contribution to and it will be tracked to your St. George account. Please go to the links below:

http://www.venmo.com/StGeorgeMedia https://stgeorgemediapa.square.site/

Please light at candle for each scheduled service at the links listed.

St. George thanks you for your continued support.

ADVERTISING SPACE AVAILABLE

CALL THE CHURCH OFFICE 610-459-0366

Hollywood Grill 1811 Concord Pike

Wilmington, DE 19803 302-655-1348

Open Daily 6am to 11pm

Serving Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Late Night Fare

Great Place for Brunch!

DR. TED TOURLITIS, CHIROPRACTOR

Saint George Greek Orthodox Church 30 East Forge Road Media, PA 19063-4345

Rev. Fr. Anastasios Bourantas, Protopresbyter Return Service Requested

NON-PROFIT ORG.

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

PERMIT NO. 435 MEDIA, PA 19063

Bulletin emailed June 2, 2020

Removal of the Relics of Theodore the Commander - June 8

The holy Martyr Theodore was from Euchaita of Galatia and dwelt in Heraclea of Pontus. He was a re-

nowned commander in the military, and the report came to the Emperor Licinius that he was a Chris-

tian and abominated the idols. Licinius therefore sent certain men to him from Nicomedia, to honor

him and ask him to appear before him. Through them, however, Saint Theodore sent back a message

that it was necessary for various reasons, that Licinius come to Heraclea. Li-

cinius, seeing in this a hope of turning Saint Theodore away from Christ did

as was asked of him.

When the Emperor came to Heraclea, Saint Theodore met him with honor,

and the Emperor in turn gave Theodore his hand, believing that through him

he would be able to draw the Christians to the worship of his idols. Seated

upon his throne in the midst of the people, he publicly bade Theodore offer

sacrifice to the gods. But Theodore asked that the emperor entrust him with

the most venerable of his gods, those of gold and silver, that he might take

them home and himself attend upon them that evening, promising that the

following day he would honor them in public. The Emperor, filled with joy at

these tidings, gave command that Theodore's request be fulfilled.

When the Saint had taken the idols home, he broke them in pieces and distrib-

uted the gold and silver to the poor by night. The next day a centurion named Maxentius told Licinius

that he had seen a pauper pass by carrying the head of Artemis. Saint Theodore, far from repenting of

this, confessed Christ boldly. Licinius, in an uncontainable fury, had the Saint put to many torments,

then crucified. While upon the cross, the holy Martyr was further tormented -- his privy parts were cut

off, he was shot with arrows, his eyes were put out, and he was left on the cross to die. The next day

Licinius sent men to take his corpse and cast it into the sea; but they found the Saint alive and perfectly

whole. Through this, many believed in Christ. Seeing his own men turning to Christ, and the city in an

uproar, Licinius had Theodore beheaded, about the year 320. The Saint's holy relics were returned to

his ancestral home on June 8.