Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church

8210 Cypress Lake Drive Fort Myers, Florida 33919 Metropolis

of Atlanta

TO:

Current Resident or

MORE INFORMATION TO COME!

VOICE THE

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church

July & August 2015

Falling asleep of the virgin mary

August 15th

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church 8210 Cypress Lake Drive ~ Fort Myers, Florida 33919-5116

Ch. Phone: (239) 481-2099 Fax: (239)-481-0504 email: officeagoc@gmail.com Fr. Dean’s cell: (239) 322-7553 email: revfrdean@gmail.com

www.annunciation.fl.goarch.org Office Hours: Monday-Friday ~ 9:30 am-3 pm

Administrative Assistant: Kelsie Gregware

MINISTRIES

GOYA Heidi Kubiak– Advisor

Sunday School Mary Sue Gladis

Ladies Philoptochos Ginny Amend, President

Bookstore Virginia Headley Dr. Theodor Bonstedt DANCE TROUPE Georgia Kline ____________

Organizations: Hellenic American Social Club of S.W. FL Barbara Dionysopoulos, President

VISIT US ON FACEBOOK

Annunciation GOC Fort Myers

July & August VOICE 2015

PARISH COUNCIL

Rev. Fr. Dean Nastos, Proistamenos

Fr. Deacon John Howard _________________________

Executive Officers:

Nick Karras President

Maria Mourgis Vice-President

Virginia Headley Treasurer

Michael Peceri Assistant Treasurer

Heidi Kubiak Secretary

Board Members:

Tom Haley Les Haynes Pat Kemp Mikes Maillakakis Marilyn Necak Jon Shannon

Council Committees:

Stewardship Pat Kemp

Welcome/Ushering Effie Kapetan All Council Members

Festival Jen-Hope Belis

Car Raffle Nick Karras Stella Karras _____________________________

VOICE Editor Fr. Dean Nastos

Altar Don Headley

Choir Adam Krotov, Co-Director John Nychis, Co-Director Heidi Kubiak, Organist

Chantor Theo Palis - Head Chantor Virginia Headley - Asst. Chantor

Prosphoro Polly Margaritis:(239) 634-6460

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Our 4th decade of service to our community.

239-542-4733

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Tax, Wills & Trusts,

Probate, Real Estate Law

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information about our qualifications and experience.

10/01/2015 3

From the Desk of Our Proistamenos... JULY & AUGUST 2015

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, The birth of the Christian Church appeared in history not simply to bring fulfillment to Old Testament prophecy or a new worship of God, but as a new organized community of God’s people. The mission of the Church is to bring all humanity to salvation. God established the Church as a new paradise, a new planting of the garden of God, His sacred vineyard. The Church’s purpose as God’s vineyard is to bring redemption and sanctification to those who accept God’s only-begotten Son as Lord and Savior. The earthly life of Jesus Christ, His death on the Cross and His glorious Resurrection, introduced into humanity the true life that is capable of miraculous gifts. These gifts are available to the members of the Body of Christ “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27). This verse is familiar to us since we chant it at every Baptism, the Sacrament that initiates us into God’s family, His Church. All those who believe, accept, and commit their total life to Christ are saved. We are incorporated into His Body and are fed continuously by His Divine Grace through the Holy Sacraments of His Church. As a new planting of God’s garden, the Church takes the place of the old world and teaches Her members new ways to relate to all people. Christ has inspired us and His love motivates us to “love one another” (John 13:34). Let us continue this example here at our beloved Annunciation Parish. The month of August is a time of prayer and sacrifice. We begin the month with the Fast of the Falling Asleep of the Theotokos (August 1 -14). During this holy season we are reminded of the great example of the life of the Virgin Mary and Mother of God. Her obedience, love, and commitment to her faith in our Heavenly Father brought salvation in Jesus Christ to all humankind. During this season of prayer and fasting, we the faithful have an opportunity to ask the Theotokos to intercede in our behalf. The beautiful hymns of the Supplication Services (Paraklesis) call us to come before Her “most earnestly” so that we might be strengthened in our faith. She, as a loving and compassionate mother, offers hope and support to all who believe in Her Son, the Redeemer of humankind. I pray that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, through the intercessions of the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, bless you. In Christ’s Service,

Fr. Dean

A Message from the President , Nick Karras

Fellow Parishioners & Friends, As the dog days of summer approach, vacation time is here. Summer holidays like the 4th of July and Labor Day as well as all the hurricane storms are also approaching. But, the most important is the Dormition of our Lady Theotokos, the falling asleep of our Lord's Mother which is celebrated on August 15. Following Divine Liturgy on Sunday August 16, we will have a luncheon feast. Please call the church office today at 239-481-2099 to reserve your seat. Please make every effort to attend and to celebrate this special day with the entire Annunciation family.

The completion of our classroom project is at hand. Some small issues have held us up, but they should be resolved very soon. Plans are in the works for our sign, dome and painting of the church building to match the classroom and office building.

Of course our church finances are always an obstacle. With positive and energetic attitudes through-out the year, we will all work together as a family in harmony to achieve our dreams and goals and do God's work for our Annunciation parish.

Please continue to attend church and support our Annunciation church in any possible way all year long. Our community needs all your hard work, talent, positive ideas, love and support to continue to grow and succeed.

Upon returning from the Metropolis Clergy-Laity Convention, we will all hopefully bring back many helpful information that will benefit our community. In Christ's Service,

Nick Karras Parish Council President

Billy Koupelis Winner of Philoptochos Scholarship 2015

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“Know that the Lord works wonders for his faithful.”

--From Psalm 4, translated from Greek

In November 2013 we began a campaign to raise the funds necessary to construct the classroom/office/hall complex which has become a reality. However, there is still much to be done but we lack the funds to complete the project. Critical items requiring funding now to finish the project are as follows:

1. Kitchenette for the new hall 2. Overhead walkway coverage between the current courtyard and the new building. 3. Wrought iron gate to the new building to match the current courtyard gate. 4. Repaint the Church to match the new building. 5. New driveway lighting and building uplighting. 6. Construction of a street monument signage.

To complete these projects the Building Fund would need an infusion of approximately $47,000 now. There are two critical sources of funding these items to finish the project. You all are aware of the 2nd basket passed each Sunday. I applaud members of our Parish for their giving each Sunday but with the amounts collected each month it would take two and one-half years to accumulate the $47,000 to fund projects needed now. Many of our Parishioners have pledged support for the Building Fund over a period of five years and as that money is collected it is added to the building fund. However, we need the $47,000 now.

Here are the ways you can help your Church complete the projects outlined above now.

1. Volunteer to fund one of the projects listed above. 2. Make a generous gift to the Building Fund. 3. If you have made a five-year pledge fulfill it now. 4. Substantially increase your contributions to the 2nd basket.

I’ve heard many Parishioners complain that they are always the subjects of pleas for financial support for Stewardship, various Ministry fund raising projects and last but not least my pleas for support of the Building Fund. I’m sure I speak for Father Dean, the Chairpersons of our Ministries and myself when I say we don’t enjoy asking. But where else can we turn for support? When you are next in the Church, having coffee, or attending a social function in the hall the facilities you now enjoy were paid for by those who have gone before us. We all have pledged to complete the next phase of facilities for those who will come after us. It is our responsibility to step up to the challenge as members of this Parish have done so in the past.

PLEASE HELP US COMPLETE THE JOB!

Building Capital Campaign by Michael B. Peceri

The Feast of the Transfiguration

What Does the Bible Say? A Steward, according to the Bible, is one

who manages the gifts entrusted to him by God for his welfare and for the perpet-uation of the Lord’s work.

Our money and possessions are not ours, but on loan. When we give to the Church we return to God, the Owner, His rightful portion. The more we are given, the more will be expected of us.

Christ Multiplies Our Gifts Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, sent

His Disciples into the crowd to ask that they give what they could for the benefit

of all. May we be encouraged, knowing that He will bless our efforts and multiply our own gifts today, just as He did that day, making our individual sacrifice.

Scriptures on Stewardship

Return to God His own Gifts: “No one

shall appear before the Lord empty-handed, but each of you with as much as he can give, in proportion to the blessings which he Lord, God has bestowed on you.” (Deut. 16:10, 16-17)

Stewardship by Patricia Kemp

This refers to the fact of Christ’s appearing in glory while still on earth. It is related in the first three Gospels (Matthew 17:1-13, Mark 9:2-13, Luke 9:28-36), and is also alluded to in the II Epistle of Peter 1:16-18. The vision of Christ transfigured was witnessed by Sts. Peter, James, and John, and is described by the evangelists with striking agreement as to its main outline. By tradition, the transfiguration took place on Mount Tabor, but many scholars prefer Mount Hermon, and some even the Mount of Olives. The event was interpreted as the attestation of the Jewish Law and Prophets to the Messiahship of Christ, since both Moses and Elijah appeared at the time of the Transfiguration right and left of Christ. The event was also a Di-vine proclamation of Christ’s Sonship and a foreshadowing of His future glory. The feast of the Transfiguration originated in the Eastern Church. It was first a local and unofficial feast, but it became widely adopted before the year 1000. From there it was introduced to the West, but it did not become a general observance until the middle of the 15th century. Feast day, August 6.

TROPARION (Seventh Tone)

O Christ our God, at the time of your Transfiguration on the Mount, You showed your disciples as much of your glory as they could hold. Through the prayers of the Mother of

God, let your eternal light shine also upon us sinners. O Giver of Light, glory to You!

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08/01/2015

05/01/2016

BONDED CBC125950 INSURED

06/01/2015

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ANNUNCIATION GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

2015 STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM PLEDGES

This listing contains the names of those Stewards of the Church who have signed the, blue, pledge cards for 2015. Pledge cards are available in the Church Narthex or Church office. If you feel your name has been omitted please contact: Kelsie Gregware, Administrative Assistant in the Church Office (481-2099) Virginia Headley, Parish Council Treasurer or Pat Kemp, Stewardship Committee Chairman.

Nicholas & Varvara Alexiou

John & Ashley Aloizakis

Rev. Albert & Ginny Amend

James & Jodi Anderson

James & Katie Avtges

Anastasios & Darlene Bairaktaris

Dr. Andrew & Jen-Hope Belis

Athena Belis

Laura Bialy Angelo Bitsis

Golfo Bitsis

George & Tracie Blake

Joseph Boisvert

Stephen & Ana Lucia Bonstedt

Dr. Theodor & Dorothy Bonstedt

Robert & Helene Boucher

Tina Brassel

Robert & Brenda Burandt

George & Elaine Chakonas

Donald & Irene Cheek

Penny Churchman

Leonard & Lois Colagrossi

George Comas

Evelyn P. Condoleon

Angelo & Anastasia Constan

George & Georgia Copulos

Katerina Coumbos

Katherine Del Monico

Johanna DiMartino

Constantinos & Barbara

Dionysopoulos

John & Caren Dopoulos

Frances Drakos

Ted Drakos & Anne Hansen

Dan & Teri Edwards

Kosta Eliopoulos

Robert & Aileen Fenton

Athena Fisk

Anastasia Frangakis

Helen Gallian

Evagelos & Niki Georgatos

Kostantinos Georgiou

Joyce Gladis

Mary Sue Gladis

Maria Gorrell

John & Elaine Green

Athanasios & Nicoletta Gritzalis

Thomas & Marlene Haley

Danny & Ann Halvatzis

Patricia Pavis Hanseck & Ronald Hanseck

Ed & Mimi Hardgrove

Richard & Matia Hawks

Les & Emily Haynes

Donald & Virginia Headley

Jaron & Jessica Henkel

Peter Hernandez & Poly Mavridou

George & Willena Heropoulos

James & Bess Hord

Dcn. John & Lanette Howard

Demetria Hughes

Alexander & Hope Hunter

Richard & Cheryl Johnson

Catherine Jokich

Eleni Kaklis

James & Theresa Kalogridis

William & Helen Kaltsas

George & Dorothy Kantarze

Effie Kapetan

Jimmy & Despina Karras

Joanna Karras & Andrew Pastrikos

Nick & Stella Karras

Apostolos Karydas

Bill & Sophia Katsaris

Marianthi Kazakos

Richard & Barbara Keene

Patricia Kemp

Mary & Dub Kendrick

Panos Klentzeris

Irene Kleopas

Rich & Georgia Kline

Presb. Aspasia Kontinos

Dr. George & Joyce Kopidakis

Konstantinos & Marie Kostouros

Ann Kotsalis

Nicholas & Mary Koukos

Theo & Nancy Koupelis

Continued on Next Page

STEWARDSHIP DATA

Michael & Christine Kouvelis

Ann Kratsios

Adam & Sandra Krotov

Joseph & Heidi Kubiak

Doug & Tina Kucera

Antonia Kurtis

Cynthia Kyriacou

John Lampiris

Emanuel & Rana Levenderis

Theodore & Cleta Lizas

Thomas Loughney

Dino & Jennifer Magas

Jimmy & Valerie Magas

Mikes & Minna Mailakakis

Steven & Jennifer Maillakakis

Stravos & Francine Maillakakis

Theo & Mary Makrynakis

Maria Makrynakis & Leonardo Guinto

Helen Mamukari

Anthony & Marie Mankus

Robert & Sophia Mankus

Paul & Jeannie Manos

Pauline Margaritis

Dr. Paul & Pana Mastros

Ellen Matic

Victoria Matic

S. Charles & Lenore C. Mattoff

Helen Messerotes

Marilena Midgley

Terry & Faneromeni Miller

Allen & Phyllis Mino-Sheppard

George & Maria Mourgis

Fr. Dean & Pres. Carolyn Nastos

Marilyn & Bertha Necak

Steve & Crystal Nelson

Manoli & Nomiki Neskes

Thomas & Celeste Niarchos

Frieda Nicholas

Donald & Dorothea Nicholson

George & Helen Nicolaidis

John Nychis

Rich & Carol Palatine

Theo & Margaret Palis

Joe & Donna Paolina

Basil & Linda Pappas

Cora Linda Pappas

Presvytera Evangeline Pappas

John & Amelia Pappas

Phillip & Petronia Pappas

Michael B. Peceri

William & Phyllis Photinos

Hrisovalantis & Kaliopi Pilatos

John & Ottilie Pistolis

John & Bernadette Poulos

Pauline Poulos

Patricia Reardon

Gary & Lyudmyla Robinson

Helen V. Rogers

Albert & Darlene Romanosky

Tony & Cathy Rubinski

John & Olympia Ruppe

Mitchell & Christina Samuels

Jamie & Anastasia Scime

Jon & Roman Shannon

Roger & Maria Shields

John & Joanie Simon

George Skaff

Helen A. Sotiropoulos

Bessie Spiridakis

Spero Stergiotis

Thomas & Pamela Strikis

Cornelia Talabac

James & Theresa Thomas

William & Katherine Thomas

Michael R. Thomas, Jr.

John & Corgette Troutman

Effie Vlahos

James & Vanthea Vouros

Jack & Angie Weaver

Artemis Welsh

William & Andrea Wolfe

Marion Zachariades

Total Stewardship Pledged: $126,631(as of June 21st, 2015)

How many possible Stewards: 313

Total # of Stewards Pledged: 166

2015 Stewardship Goal: $200,000

Total amount given (recorded): $72,414 (as of June 21st, 2015)

Some of this is charged to Stewardship but given by Parishioners who have not signed Pledge Cards.

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08/01/2015 08/01/2015

08/01/2015

Hours 9am — 5pm

Mon - Fri 9am —12pm Sat

17620 Rockefeller Circle Fort Myers, FL 33967

(239) - 284-0688

08/01/2015

10/01/2015

YOUR AD CAN BE HERE!!!!

Contact the Office or see Stella Karras for more details!

01/01/2016

08/01/2015

10/01/2015 9

Sunday School News by Mary-Sue Gladis The school year ended with a yummy ice cream social - Thank You to Tina Kucera and Olympia Ruppe for organizing the end-of-the-year celebration!! Awards and gifts were given to each student. Sunday School teachers received a thank you gift from Jen-Hope, who is hanging up her ‘Director’ sign. Thank you to Jen-Hope for your hard work and dedication to our Annunciation Youth! We look forward to seeing you as a “Floater-Assistant”!

Mark your calendars for Sunday, September 20th! We will be having a “Back to Sunday School Bar-b-que” immediately following Divine Liturgy. Details will follow, but plans are in the works for a fun-filled afternoon!

Parents and students are encouraged to watch their emails in early August for the 2015-2016 registra-tion forms and handbooks.

A Sunday School teacher meeting and training session will be scheduled for August. Please watch the weekly bulletin and your email.

We are looking for volunteers who will help with Sunday School as full-time or part-time teachers, Floater-Assistants, activity leaders, refreshment coordinator, pageant coordinators, or community service coordinators. Please contact Mary Sue Gladis, marys828@comcast, or Fr. Dean, 239-481-2099, if you would like to be involved with our youth. Have a great summer! More to come in August!!

Hospital Visitations

Not only is the spiritual health of our members important but also their physical health. When a member enters into the Hospital it is important that Fr. Dean be notified. If a member himself/herself is entering the Hospital (at least over night), he/she should contact Fr. Dean beforehand if they know the day they will be entering. If a family member is entering the Hospital (at least over night), another family member should contact Fr. Dean beforehand if they know the day they will be entering. Obviously, in the case of an emergency, Fr. Dean should be notified immediately. Hospitals today no longer notify the Parish when a member enters into the Hospital. So, if someone is in the Hospital and Fr. Dean is NOT notified, don’t blame him for not coming to see that member. Remember, Fr. Dean’s ESP has been down for years.

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05/01/2016

06/01/2015

03/01/2016

14131 Metropolis Ave., Ste. 104

Fort Myers, FL 33912 Near Gulf Coast Hospital

Phone (239) 332-4099

10/01/2015

03/01/2016

KITTY’S BEAUTY SALON

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239-466-0231

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07/01/2016

Mother’s Day Luncheon

A Brief Explanation of the Koimisis Feast as Taken from the Icon

At the time of her death, so it is believed, the Mother of God was living in the house of St. John on Mount Zion. The twelve were preaching the Gospel in different parts of the world; but so that they might see the Virgin once again before her death, all of them except Thomas were carried miraculously on clouds to the Holy City. Besides the Twelve, the Apostle Paul, together with the bishops Dionysios the Areopagite, Hierotheos, and Timothy, were also present at her bedside: along with three of the myrrh bearers. As they stood round her, the Holy Virgin commended her spirit into the keeping of her Son and God: and He Himself descended from heaven and took her soul up with Him in His arms; (the soul appears as a small child wrapped in swaddling in the icon). Led by Peter, the apostles sang funeral hymns in her honour, and carried her body down the valley of Cedron, close to Gethsemane, where she was laid in a tomb specially prepared for her. The Jews tried to interrupt the funeral procession, one of them even attempting to upset the bier; his hands were cut off by an angel. Thomas arrived on the third day after the burial. Since he was anxious to look for a last time on the Theotokos, the apostles opened the tomb — and found it empty.

The Orthodox Tradition is clear and unwa-

vering in regard to the fact that the Holy Virgin underwent, as did her Son, a physical death, but her body like His — was afterwards raised from the dead and she was taken up into heaven, in her body as well as in her soul. She has passed beyond death and judgement, and lives wholly in the Age to Come. The resurrection of the Body which all Christians await, has in her case been anticipated and is already an accomplished fact. That does not mean, however, that she is dissociated from the rest of humanity and placed in a wholly different category; for we all hope to share one day in that same glory of the Resurrection of the Body which she enjoys even now.

Indeed, so far from being separated, Our Lady remains always most intimately linked to mankind — linked through her urgent and unceas-ing intercession on our behalf. ‘Lady, behold thy Son... Behold thy mother’ (John 19:26-27). The Church has long seen, in these words of Our Lord from the Cross, the giving to Mary of a universal motherhood; she is mother not to John only, but to all the children of God. Dwelling in heaven with Jesus, her care as mother remains undiminished, and embraces the universe.

Thank you to Paul and Jeannie Manos, Bob and Sophie Mankus, Charlie and Lenore Mattoff and Sonya Anderson who hosted and prepared the Mother's Day Italian Luncheon. The profits will go towards the outside street sign, which is Fr. Dean's 1st wish list item.

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Flowers for Sun. of the Samaritan Woman Icon–

May 10th Donated by Athena Fisk in memory of her son Steven Fisk.

Flowers for Ascension Icon - May 21st

Donated by Michael & Helen Atsas in honor of all the Kostas’ & Helen’s in our parish.

Flowers for All Saints Icon – June 7th

Donated by Michael & Helen Atsas in memory of Nomikos Skandaliaris & John Atsas.

Flowers for SS. Peter & Paul Icon – June 28th

Donated by Paul & Jeannie Manos.

Flowers for Prophet Elias Icon – July 20th

Donated by Spero Stergiotis in memory of Ruth & Helen Stergiotis.

Flowers always add beauty to whatever they adorn. It has always been a tradition among our Orthodox Churches to decorate Holy Icons with flowers when the Feast Day is being celebrat-ed.

Please contact the Church Office and donate towards the flowers you would like as soon as possible. As always, this will be done on a first come, first serve basis. The names of those who donate the flowers will be listed in the “VOICE” Newsletter the month after the Feast Day is celebrated. Thank you for your support in this project and may our Lord continue to bless you. Please make your check payable to: ANNUNCIATION CHURCH

Flowers for Holy Apostles Icon – June 30th $45.00

Flowers for SS. Kosmas & Damian Icon – July 5th $45.00

Flowers for St. Euphemia Icon – July 12th $45.00

Flowers for St. Marina Icon – July 19th $45.00

Flowers for Prophet Elias Icon – July 20th $45.00

Flowers for St. Paraskevi Icon – July 26th $45.00

Flowers for St. Solomone Icon – Aug. 2nd $45.00

Flowers for Transfiguration Icon – Aug. 6th $45.00

Flowers for Theotokos Icon – Aug. 7th $45.00

Flowers for Theotokos Icon – Aug. 12th $45.00

Flowers for Falling Asleep of Theotokos Icon – Aug. 15th $45.00

Flowers for Beheading of St. John the Baptist Icon – Aug. 30th $45.00

2015 Flowers for Feast Day Icons

Donated 2015 Flowers for Feast Day Icons

Ladies Philoptochos Society by Ginny Amend, President

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St. Mary Magdalene

The doctrine of equal rights for women is not a twentieth century concept, but had its beginning with Jesus of Nazareth who accept-ed Mary Magdalene into His confidence and recognized her as being on equal footing with the Apostles. Such was the status of Mary Mag-dalene, who was privileged to walk beside our Savior, that she was bestowed with the title of “Isapostolos,” “equal to the Apostles,” a title of which few are aware. This ignorance of the true Mary Magdalene resulted from conflicting and misleading facts about her life, which di-minished the true greatness of a woman who was favored by God to the extent that she had the confidence and companionship of Jesus Christ Himself.

The popular misconception that Mary Magdalene was a fallen woman stemmed from accounts of Western Christendom. It was as-sumed that since Mary came from Magdala, a city as notorious as Sodom and Gomorrah, she was of ill-repute and was later cleansed of her mnay sins by the Lord. On the contrary, the Evangelist Luke depicted her as the stricken woman whom Jesus healed by removing seven demons from within her. Be that as it may, it is universally known that following her confron-tation with the Lord she rose to become His

close friend and devoted follower.

What woman, fallen or not, would not have traded placed with Mary Magdalene to be near him who died to save the world, to be the woman who agonized at His trial, wept at His crucifixion, and glorified in His Resurrection? What greater honor than to be at the tomb of Christ and to speak to him (John 20: 1-18)? What Christian woman would not wish herself a Mary Magdalene to know the excitement of accompanying St. John the Theologian after the Ascension of Christ?

The Biblical account of Mary Magda-lene, like any passage from Scripture, must be read more than once, for in it will be found in-spiration for Christian women who can identi-fy with Mary. Aside from the Apostles them-selves, none of our saints shared Mary’s joy in being in Jesus’ company. Other saints who were born as a later time did share an intimacy with the Lord while they were on earth, but Mary was alive when Jesus walked the earth.

How long Mary Magdalene lived after the death of Christ is not known, but what is certain is that she died in Ephesos where she had gone with St. John the Theologian. She was buried at the entrance to a cave where Chris-tians had sought refuge. In the year A.D. 890 through painstaking research under the direc-tion of Emperor Leo, the remains of Mary Mag-dalene were located, removed from the en-trance of the cave and were transferred to the capital city of Constantinople. Her remains were buried in a chapel where the remains of Lazaros are also said to be buried.

Accorded the honor of being one of the Myrrh-bearing Women of the New Testament, Mary Magdalene was further honored with the grand title of “Isapostolos,” a solemn tribute to a woman who had brought glory to all women of faith.

The Gospels

The Greek word commonly used for Gospel is evanghelion. In the New Testament it means the glad news of salvation, first brought to earth by the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, and afterward delivered by the Apostles by word of mouth to the world. To-ward the end of the first century or the be-ginning of taining “the glad news,” and their authors were called “evangelists.” The word Gospel is from the Angel Saxon godspel, an abbreviated form of the good-spell, which means “good tidings.”

From the earliest period of ecclesiasti-cal history only four Gospels were recog-nized as inspired and canonical. They con-tain the Gospel in four forms, those of St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke and St. John, which are historically accepted by the Church and chronologically sanctioned by tradition.

The Gospel readings contained in this book are not in chronological order. They have been selected by the Official Orthodox

Church and assigned to be read on each Sun-day of the year during Divine Liturgy. The Sunday Gospels is an anthology of passages compiled from all four Gospels for the edifi-cation of the faithful. The order of the Sun-day Gospel readings is arranged by the Patri-archate of Constantinople and sent to all the Orthodox Churched around the world. They are read in the following order: St. John’s Gospel is read from Easter Sunday until the Sunday of Pentecost, with the exception of the Sunday of Myrrh-Bearers. On that Sun-day the Gospel according to St. Mark is read.

St. Matthew’s Gospel is read for sev-enteen consecutive Sundays after Pentecost.

St. Luke’s Gospel is read from the first Sunday after the Elevation of the Cross through the Sunday of the Prodigal son.

St. Mark’s Gospel is read on the Sun-days between those assigned for Matthew’s and Luke’s Gospel. It is also read on five Sundays during Holy Lent.

FYI...

WHY DO YOU CALL YOURSELVES “ORTHODOX”?

The word orthodox was coined by the ancient Christian Fathers of the Church, the name is traditionally given to the Christian writers in the first centuries of Christian history. Orthodox is a combination of two Greek words, orthos and doxa.

Orthos means “straight” or “correct.” (It is also found in the word “orthopedics,” which in the original Greek means “the correct education of children.”) Doxa means at oneand the same time “glory,” “worship” and “doctrine.” So the word orthodox signifies both “proper worship” and “correct doctrine.”

The Orthodox Church today is identical to the undivided Church in ancient times. The Protestant Reformer Martin Luther once remarked that he believed the pure Faith of primitive Christianity is to be found in the Orthodox Church.

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Hellenic-American Social Club of S.W. Florida, Inc. By Ann Constan

Yes, summer has arrived in Southwest Florida, but due to popular demand, our Hellenic Club is not on the usual summer hiatus, but is continu-ing informal activities and get-togethers. On June 23rd we met for an informal meeting and lunch at the Lighthouse Restaurant. What a won-derful time – over 30 members and friends at-tended! We missed our ‘snowbird’ members on this fun day.

During the meeting, President Barbara Diony-sopoulos reviewed additional outings planned for the summer, which will include a day boat trip on the Key West Express in July, and a day bus trip to the famous Aquarium in St. Peters-burg, with a side stop at St. Armand’s Circle. De-tails will be announced once exact dates are set, so please watch for more information in your Sunday Church Bulletins, as well as future Club newsletters coming your way.

Barbara also briefly reviewed the special events planned for the upcoming 2015-2016 winter sea-son. This will include more day trips, special dinners, and guest speakers at several of our meetings. Due to many requests, we are tenta-tively planning a repeat bus trip to Tarpon Springs in November. So many other specials have been planned by our Board that space does not allow to mention them all. Information and details will be announced in future issues of The Voice, Sunday Bulletins and Club newsletters. If you are not a member of the Hellenic-American

Club yet, be sure to join our group to enjoy a fun upcoming season.

The Hellenic-American Club is a social club for people to meet and make lasting friendships. Our annual dues of $20 per year are used to de-fray the costs of venue and refreshments at meet-ings, subsidize certain costs to members for out-ings, compensate speakers and contribute to charitable organizations. HOWEVER, because we are now at the mid-point of the current year’s activities, a special dues rate of only $10 per per-son is being offered until the end of 2015. For information, please contact our President, Barba-ra Dionysopoulos (239-267-2014), or speak with any of our Board members.

Please remember to contribute food staples and canned goods for our Food Pantry for the needy. These can be delivered to our Community Center and deposited in the large box indicated – at the back of the Center. Thank you in advance.

GOYA by Heidi Kubiak

2015 PASCHA REFLECTIONS by Fr. Dean I would like to thank everyone for making Holy Week and Pascha with you

such a joyous event. Being here with all of you made me feel blessed by your

presence at each of the services. Holy Week and Pascha is a time for reflection

for each of us as we walk with our Lord during His final week on earth and

rejoice with the news that He is Risen! I would especially like to thank Mr.

Nick Karras, our Parish Council President for all his support. I would also

like to thank all the Parish Council members for their dedication during the

week for ushering at each service. I would like to thank Mrs. Ginny Amend,

our Philoptochos Ladies Society President and all the Philoptochos members

for their support during the entire week by meeting the various special needs.

I would like to thank our Head Chanter, Mr. Theo Palis and Mrs. Virginia

Headley for their offering of their chanting talent the entire week. I would like

to thank Mr. Don Headley and all our wonderful Altar Boys for their service

in the Altar the entire week. I would like to thank Mr. Adam Krotov, Heidi

Kubiak and the entire Choir for their singing of the hymns during the entire

week. I would like to thank Mrs. Leah Collier for preparing our Pascha

Glendi along with all the helpers. I would like to thank Mrs. Mary Sue Gladis

for organizing the youth readers during the entire week. I would like to thank

our Youth Readers who did a great job reading throughout the week – Evan

Georgatos, Katerina Hernandez, Nathan Shannon & Victoria Todd. I

would like to thank Mrs. Olympia Ruppe for organizing the Myrrhbearing

girls who served on Good Friday Night. I would like to thank Mrs. Olympia

Ruppe & Mrs. Jen-Hope Belis for putting the Easter Egg Hunt together for

our children. I would like to thank Mrs. Darlene Romanosky for organizing

everyone who dyed the red eggs. I would like to thank Costa & Barbara

Dionysopoulos for planning the Pancake Breakfast. I would like to thank

everyone who decorated the Kouvouklion (the wooden tomb) on Good Friday. I

would like to thank everyone who made the Palm Crosses, especially all the

children, which were used for Palm Sunday. I thank our Deacon John for his

support which made this Holy Week go very smoothly. I am extremely

thankful and blessed to have Presvytera Carolyn at my side not only not but

over the last 30 years. Her constant sharing and giving has been one of the

greatest sources of my ability to do what I do as a Priest. Without her

presence in my life I do not know how I could continue to serve as I do. There

are many others who I probably have missed mentioning here and for that I

truly apologize and ask for your forgiveness. Remember though that we all do

our best in order to serve our Lord and His Church. May our Risen Lord

continue to bless and guide us all.

CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!

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Hope & Joy Happenings

The Lord told him that the next day Elijah would stand in His presence. There was a strong wind that crushed the rocks of the mountain, than an earthquake, and a fire, but the Lord was not in them. The Lord was in “a gentle breeze” (3 Kings 19:12). He revealed to the prophet, that He would preserve seven thousand faithful servants who had not worshipped Baal.

Later, the Lord commanded Elijah to anoint Elisha in prophetic service. Because of his fiery zeal for the Glory of God the Prophet Elijah was taken up alive into Heaven in a fiery chariot. The Prophet Elisha received Elijah’s mantle, and a double portion of his prophetic spirit.

According to the Tradition of Holy Church, the Prophet Elijah will be the Forerunner of the Dread Second Coming of Christ. He will proclaim the truth of Christ, urge all to repentance, and will be slain by the Antichrist. This will be a sign of the end of the world.

The life of the holy Prophet Elijah is recorded in the Old Testament books (3 Kings; 4 Kings; Si-rach/Ecclesiastes 48:1-15; 1 Maccabees 2: 58). At the time of the Transfiguration, the Prophet Elijah con-versed with the Savior upon Mount Tabor (Mt. 17:3; Mark 9:4; Luke 9:30). Orthodox Christians of all times, and in all places, have venerated the Prophet Elijah for centu-ries. The first church in Russia, built at Kiev under Prince Igor, was named for the Prophet Elijah. After her baptism St. Olga (July 14) built a temple of the holy Prophet Elijah in his native region, at the vil-lage of Vibuta.

In iconography the Prophet Elijah is depicted ascending to Heaven in a fiery chariot, surrounded with flames, and harnessed to four winged horses. We pray to him for deliverance from drought, and to ask for seasonable weather.

Family Night Baseball Game at the Hammond Stadium. Everyone cheering on the Miracles Baseball Team and having a wonderful time as a community.

The Holy Prophet Elijah is one of the great-est of the prophets and the first dedicated to virgin-ity in the Old Testament. He was born in Tishba of Gilead into the Levite tribe 900 years before the In-carnation of the Word God.

St. Epiphanius of Cyprus gives the follow-ing account about the birth of the Prophet Elijah: “When Elijah was born, his father Sobach saw in a vision angels of God around him. They swaddled him with fire and fed him with flames.”

The name Elijah (the Lord’s strength) given to the infant defined his whole life. From the years of his youth he dedicated himself to the One God, settled in the wilderness and spent his whole lofe in strict fasting, meditation and prayer. Called to pro-phetic service, which put him in conflict with the Israelite king Ahab, the prophet became a fiery zealot of true faith and piety.

During this time the Israelite nation had fall-en away from the faith of their Fathers, they aban-doned the One God and worshipped pagan idols, the worship of which was introduced by the impi-ous king Jereboam. Jezebel, the wife of king Ahab, was devoted to idol worship. She persuaded her husband to build a temple to the pagan god Baal, which led many Israelites away from the worship of the true God. Beholding the ruin of his nation, the Prophet Elijah began to denounce King Ahab for impiety, and exhorted him to repent and turn to the God of Israel. The king would not listen to him. The Prophet Elijah then declared to him, that as punish-ment there would be neither rain nor dew upon the ground, and the drought would cease only by his prayer. Indeed, the word of Elijah was a torch (Eccles.48:1) The heavens were closed for three and a half years, and there was drought and famine throughout all the land.

During this time of tribulation, the Lord sent him to a cave beyond Jordan. There he was miracu-lously fed by ravens. When the stream Horath dried up, the Lord sent the Prophet Elijah to Sarephta to a poor widow, a Sidonian Gentile who suffered to-gether with her children, awaiting death by starva-tion. At the request of the prophet, she prepared him a bread with the last measure of flour and the remainder of the oil. Through the prayer of the Prophet Elijah, flour and oil were not depleted in

the home of the widow for the duration of the fam-ine. By the power of his prayer the prophet also performed another miracle: he raised the dead son of the widow.

After the end of three years of drought the Merciful Lord sent the prophet to appear before King Ahab, and promised to send rain upon the earth. The Prophet Elijah told the king to order all of Israel to gather upon Mount Carmel, and also the priests of Baal. When the nation had gathered, the Prophet Elijah proposed that two sacrificial altars be built: one for the priests of Baal, and the other for the Prophet Elijah who served the True God.

The Prophet Elijah told them to call on their gods to consume the sacrificial animals with fire, and he would call on his. Whichever was first to send fire on the sacrifice would be acknowledged as the true God. The prophets of Baal called out to their idol from morning till evening, but the heav-ens were silent. Towards evening the holy Prophet Elijah built his sacrificial altar from twelve stones, the number of the tribes of Israel. He placed the sac-rifice upon the wood, gave orders to dig a ditch around the altar and commanded that the sacrifice and the wood be soaked with water. When the ditch had filled with water, the prophet turned to God in prayer. Through the prayer of the prophet fire came down from heaven and consumed the sac-rifice, the wood, and even the water. The people fell down to the ground, crying out: “Truly, the Lord is God!” Then the Prophet Elijah had all the pagan-priests of Baal put to death, and he began to pray for rain. Through his prayer the heavens opened and an abundant rain fell, soaking the parched earth.

King Ahab acknowledged his error and re-pented of his sins, but his wife Jezebel threatened to kill the prophet of God. The Prophet Elijah fled into the Kingdom of Judea and, grieving over his failure to eradicate idol worship, he asked God to let him die. An angel of the Lord came before him, strengthened him with food and commanded him to go upon a long journey. The Prophet Elijah trav-eled for forty days and nights and, having arrived at Mount Horeb, he settled in a cave.

Prophet Elias (Elijah) July 20th

Continued on next page...

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Baptisms in May & June

Congratulations to the newest soldiers in Christ at their baptisms recently.

Pictured Above: Penelope Henkel daughter of Jaron & Jessica Henkel

Pictured Above: Nomiki Pilatos daughter of Hrisovalantis & Kaliopi Pilatos

Pictured on the Left: Nicholas Nara son of Tyler & Alexandra Nara

17

AXIOS! Fr. Dean's 30th Anniversary to the Priesthood

Pictured in Bottom Left Corner: Fr. Dean and Pres. Carolyn with their sons

Charles and Chris.

Pictured Above: The Parish Council with Fr. Dean who planned the secret Anniversary Brunch.

Brothers and Sisters in Christ - I would like to thank all of the Ministries of our Parish and individuals who honored me on my 30th Anniversary of my Ordination to the Priesthood. It was truly a surprise and wonderful, positive celebration with our whole Annunciation family and friends in attendance. The food, the dancing and the gifts were truly a blessing to me and my family. The atmosphere was an expression of joy and celebration that I will never forget. My family and I are thankful to be here in Fort Myers, Florida with the Annunciation Parish Family.

Yours Paternally,

Fr. Dean J. Nastos

Pictured to the Left: All the Ministries presented Fr. Dean with gifts in honor of his 30th Anniversary. Our Dance Troupe gave the gift of a dance show with Fr. Dean's favor-ite Greek Dance the Tsamiko.