ONLINE

RESOURCES

FOR

LENTEN

RECIPES

www.kalofagas.ca/2015/02/21/greek-lent-sarakosti-recipe-round-up/

www.dianekochilas.com/the-greek-lenten-table/

thegreekvegan.com/tag/orthodox-greek-lenten-meals/

www.mygreekdish.com/category/collections/traditional-greek-easter-lent-recipes/

www.kopiaste.org/2009//03/nistisimes-syntages-food-for-the-soul-lenten-recipes/

SAVE THE DATE

FOR THE

ANNUAL PHILOPTOCHOS

PLAKI DINNER

SUNDAY, APRIL 1, 2018

St. Nicholas greek orthodox church February 2018

Volume 46 Issue 2

THE CANON “Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance…”

Matthew 3:8

My Dear Spiritual Children,

In the hymns and services of the Triodion period and at the entrance of this holy season of

Great Lent, we are called to repentance. We are invited to come before God in the humility of

the Publican. We are beckoned to return to His dwelling and His compassionate embrace as

the Prodigal Son. We are confronted with the causes of our separation from god and our need

for His great mercy. It is truly a time of repentance as we prepare to commemorate and con-

template all that has been done for us through Christ our Lord.

This solemn and reflective journey is not one of despair. This is not a time of inconsolable

grief or deep anguish and anxiety. Holy and Great Lent is a time of spiritual renewal in which

repentance finds forgiveness and grace, engenders hope, strengthens our faith and leads us to

abundant and eternal life.

First, we know through the Gospel that genuine repentance receives forgiveness and grace.

The sincerity of the Publican expressed in his cry, “God, be merciful to me a sinner”, was recog-

nized by God, and his sins were forgiven. (Luke 18:13). John the Baptist preached “Repent, for

the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, calling people to prepare to receive the One who was com-

ing in grace and truth (Matthew 3:2). The Cross of our Lord is before us offering by the grace of

God a way to salvation through repentance.

Second, repentance nurtures hope. As the power of God’s grace transforms us, as we see

the blessedness of life restored to communion with Him, we experience the joy of hope. For the

Prodigal Son it was the journey to return to the house of his father, hoping that something better

awaited. At the beginning of this holy season our repentance leads us on the path of hope,

knowing that “hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our

hearts.” (Romans 5:5)

(Continued on page 3)

February 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

Seniors

5:00 pm

2 Presentation of

our Lord

Orthros 9:30

Divine Liturgy

10:15 am

3

4

Orthros 9:15

Divine Liturgy

10:00 am

5 6

AHEPA

6:30 PM

7 8

Parish Council

7:00 pm

9 10 Saturday

of the Souls

Orthros 9:30 am

Divine Lit 10:15

Apokreatiko

11

Orthros 9:15 am

Divine Liturgy

10:00 am

12 13

Philoptochos

7:00 pm

14

Valentines Day

15 16 17 Saturday of

the Souls

Orthros 9:30

Divine Liturgy

10:00 am

18

Orthros 9:15 am

Divine Liturgy

10:00 am

19

Great Lent

begins

Presidents Day

20

AHEPA

6:30 PM

21 22 23

Heretismi

7:00 pm

24 Saturday of

the Souls

Orthros 9:30

Divine Liturgy

10:15 am

25

Orthros 9:15 am

Divine Liturgy

10:00 am

26 27 28

11

COMMUNITY NEWS

(Due to an over sight in a past issue the following

information was omitted. – Please forgive the er-

ror)

Sympathy: Our deepest sympathy to Aneta Fine

and her family upon the death of her mother –

Vasiliki Ioannidis who fell asleep in the Lord on No-

vember 25, 2017

+May God rest her soul and grant peace and com-

fort to the family+

Congratulations to our new Parish Council:

Bill Tsardoulias – President

Doug Bowman- Vice President

Pamela Koutsaftis – Treasurer

Annie Peskiris – Secretary

Kris Kramp

Donna Miller

Kosta Antoniou

Vasilios Boumis

Beth Bowman.

May God give them the strength and wisdom to

lead His Church.

Seniors: Our next Seniors’ meeting will be held

here at the church on Thursday, February 1 at 5:00

p.m. (Please bring a side dish to share with our

meal.)

Coffee Hour:

February - Philoptochos

March – G.O.Y.A.

April – Seniors

May- Philoptochos

Thank you: I would like to thank everyone that

brought an item for my Mon’s 40Day Memorial.

Also, thank you to Philoptochos for their assis-

tance.

Aneta Fine and Family

Don’t forget to make your reservations for the

Apokriatiko Glendi which will be held on Satur-

day, February 10th

Ακολουθίες:

Η Υπαπαντή : 2 Φεβ. - Ορ.9:30 π.μ. Θ.Λ. 10:15

π.μ.

Ψυχοσάββατο: 10,17,24 Φεβ. – Ορ. 9:30 π.μ.

Θ.Λ 10:15 π.μ.

Α΄Χαιρετισμοί 23 Φεβ. 7:00 μ.μ.

3

Third, as through repentance we receive forgiveness and grace and our hearts are filled

with hope, our faith is strengthened. As we prepare to celebrate the fulfillment of God’s prom-

ise to defeat death, restore us to life, and led us to the Resurrection, our faith in Him grows.

Finally, in the sacred time of prayer and reflection, our repentance leads us to salvation.

Through repentance our eyes are opened, we turn from darkness to light so that we “may re-

ceive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in

Christ.” (Acts 26:18). Through the revelation of the absolute truth by Christ and his Cross and

Resurrection, we know where our repentance leads, and we know that ultimately we enter the

ineffable realm of a saved life with the perspective of eternity.

At the beginning of the Great Fast and Holy Lent, let us contemplate the power of repent-

ance and take this opportunity to examine our hearts and minds. Let us pray in humility seek-

ing the forgiveness and grace of God, returning to communion with Him. Let us find renewed

hope in the light, peace, and joy that comes from our Crucified and Risen Lord.

Kali Tessarakosti Καλή Τεσσαρκοστή!

Ιn Christ’s Love,

+ Fr. Michael

(Continued from page 1)

Don’t forget to fill out and return your

Stewardship Card

For 2018

The Sunday of Orthodoxy is the first Sun-

day of Great Lent. The dominant theme of this

Sunday sin 843 has been that of the victory of

the icons. In that year the Iconoclastic

(destroyers of icons) controversy, which had

raged on and off since 726, was finally laid to

rest, and icons and their veneration were re-

stored on the first Sunday in Lent. Ever since,

this Sunday has been commemorated as the

“Triumph of Orthodoxy.”

The Seventh Ecumenical Council dealt

predominantly with the controversy regarding

icons and their place in Orthodox worship. It

was convened in Nicaea in 787 by Empress

Irene at the request of Tarasios, Patriarch of

Constantinople. The Council was attended by

367 bishops.

Almost a century before this, the iconoclas-

tic controversy had once more shaken the

foundations of both Church and State in the

Byzantine Empire. Excessive religious re-

spect and the ascribed miracles to icons by

some members of society, approached the

point of worship (due only to God) and idola-

try. This instigated excesses at the other ex-

treme by which icons were completely taken

out of the liturgical life of the Church by the

iconoclasts. The Iconophiles (lovers of icons)

on the other-hand, believed that icons served

to preserve the doctrinal teachings of the

Church; they considered icons to be man’s

dynamic way of expressing the divine through

art and beauty.

The Council decided on a doctrine by

which icons should be venerated but not wor-

shipped. In answering the Empress ‘invitation

to the Council, Pope Hadrian replied with a

letter in which he also held the position of ex-

tending veneration to icons but not worship,

the last befitting only God.

The decree of the Council for restoring

icons to churches added an important clause

which still stands at the foundation of the ra-

tionale for using and venerating icons in the

Orthodox Church to this very day. “We define

that the holy icons, whether in color, mosaic,

or some other material, should be exhibited in

the holy churches of God, on the sacred ves-

sels and liturgical vestments, on the walls,

furnishings, and in houses and along the

roads, namely the icon of our Lord God and

Savior Jesus Christ, that of our Lady the The-

otokos, those of the venerable angels and

those of all saintly people. Whenever these

representations are contemplated, they will

cause those who look at them to commemo-

rate and love their prototype. We define also

that they should be kissed and that they are

an object of veneration and honor (timitiki

proskynisis), but not to real worship (latreia),

which is reserved for Him Who is the subject

of our faith and is proper for the divine nature.

The veneration accorded to an icon is in effect

transmitted to the prototype; he who vener-

ates the icon, venerated in it the reality for

which it stands.

A Regional Synod was called in Constanti-

nople in 843. Under Empress Theodora. The

veneration of icons was solemnly proclaimed

at the Ayia Sophia Cathedral. The Empress,

her son Michael III, Patriarch Methodios,

(Continued on page 5)

THE SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY

9

The Ladies Philoptochos So-

ciety is proud to share with you

the success of our recent Vasilo-

peta Luncheon. It was a success

not only in net profit but in the

collaboration of efforts of many

dedicated people. The support of

the parish on this cold wintry

weekend was great.

Fr. Michael led the prayer and

singing of the New Year’s Kalan-

da with the rhythm section of

our youth. What a wonderful op-

portunity to share another of our

great traditions.

We thank the efforts of Petros

and Elena Nicolaou, Dennis

Christo, Lee Koutsaftis, and

Bessie Aslanidis who worked

hard and sacrificed their time to

present this delicious meal along

with the dedicated Philoptochos

Membership.

We pray that St. Basil will bless

all with a happy and healthy New

Year.

Clean Monday-

Monday, February 19, 2018

6PM

Forgiveness Service

Followed by

A Lenten Potluck

Come begin the Lenten Journey

together at church with prayer and

love.

Bring a Lenten/Vegan dish to share.

We should focus on the path to Pascha

by seeking forgiveness and granting for-

giveness. After the service we will share

a meal and discuss a variety of topics.

Help each other with Lenten meal plan-

ning. Bring a copy of the recipes you

made.

5

monks and clergy came in procession and

restored the icons in their rightful place. The

day was called “Triumph of Orthodoxy.” Since

that time, this event is commemorated every

year with a special service on the first Sunday

of Great Lent, “The Sunday of Orthodoxy.”

(Continued from page 4)

Sunday of Orthodoxy

February 25, 2018

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church

Orthros: 9:15 a.m. D. Liturgy 10:00 a.m.

St. Mary Ukrainian Orthodox Church

St. George Serbian Orthodox Church

SS. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church

SS. Cyril and Methodius Orthodoxy Church

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church.

Following services a Lenten Luncheon will be served.

What better way to commemorate the First Sunday of

Great Lent- all Orthodox Christians of Lorain joined

together as one family in Christ.

Ψυχοσάββατο/ Saturday of the Souls

February 10, 17, 24

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7

The Sunday of Forgiveness is the last Sun-

day prior to the commencement of Great Lent.

During the pre-Lenten period, the services of

the Church include hymns from the Triodion, a

liturgical book that contain the services from

the Sunday of the publican and the Pharisee,

through Great and Holy Saturday. On the Sun-

day of Forgiveness the focus is placed on the

exile of Adam and Eve from the Garden of

Eden, an event that shows us how far we have

fallen in sin and separated ourselves from God.

At the onset of Great Lent and a period of in-

tense fasting, this Sunday reminds us of our

need for God’s forgiveness and guides our

hearts, minds and spiritual efforts on returning

to Him in repentance.

The Sunday of Forgiveness, the last of the

preparatory Sundays before Great Lent, has

two themes: It commemorates Adam’s expul-

sion from Paradise, and it accentuates our

need for forgiveness. There are obvious rea-

sons why these two things should be brought

to our attentions as we stand on the threshold

of Great Lent. One of the primary images in

the Triodion is that of the return to Paradise.

Lent is a time when we weep with Adam and

Eve before the closed gate of Eden, repenting

with them for the sins that have deprived us of

our free communion with God. But Lent is

also a time when we are preparing to celebrate

the saving event of Christ’s death and rising

which has reopened Paradise to us once more.

(Luke23:42). So sorrow for our exile in sins is

tempered by hope of our re-entry into Para-

dise.

The second theme, that of forgiveness, is

emphasized in the gospel reading for the this

Sunday (Matthew 6:14-21) and in the special

ceremony of mutual forgiveness at the end of

the Vespers on Sunday evening. Before we

enter the Lenten Fast, we are reminded that

there can be no true fast, no genuine repent-

ance, no reconciliation with God, unless we are

at the same time reconciled with one another.

A Fast without mutual love is the fast of de-

mons. We do not travel the road of Lent as

isolated individuals, but as members of a fami-

ly.

The Sunday of Forgiveness also directs us

to see that Great Lent is a journey of liberation

from our enslavement to sin. The Gospel les-

son sets the conditions for this liberation. The

first one is fasting- the refusal to accept the

desires and urges of our fallen nature as nor-

mal, the effort to free ourselves from the dicta-

torship of the flesh and matter over the spirit.

To be effective, however, our fast must not be

hypocritical, a “showing off”. We must “appear

not unto men to fast but to our Father who is in

secret.” (Matthew 6:16-17)

The second condition is forgiveness – “If

you forgive men their trespasses, your Heav-

enly Father will also forgive you.” (Matthew

6:14-15) The triumph of sin, the main sign of

its rule over the world is division, opposition,

separation, hatred. Therefore, the first break

through this fortress of sin is forgiveness- the

return to unity. To forgive is to put between me

and my enemy the radiant forgiveness of God

Himself. To forgive is to reject the hopeless

“dead-ends” of human relations and to refer

them to Christ. Forgiveness is truly a “breaking

through” of the Kingdom into this sinful and

fallen world.

THE SUNDAY OF FORGIVENESS