NON PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID COLUMBIA, SC PERMIT 617 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED 1931 Sumter Street C o l u m b i a, S C 2 9 2 0 1 H O L Y TRI NI TY GR E E K O R THO DO X CH U R C H Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church 1931 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29201 803-252-6758 (phone) 803-254-6197 (fax) N O V E M B E R MONTHLY MESSAGE The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple By Sergei V. Bulgakov When the Most Holy Virgin became three years old, her parents, true to their vow to the Lord to dedicate their child (refer to Sept. 9) to Him, in procession with young maidens "adorned with the beauty of virtues" "with lamps in their hands" and accompanied by relatives and acquaintances, "with gladness" solemnly led their Most-pure Daughter into the Jerusalem Temple "to be brought up in divine grace" "before the Lord." Though at that time the Most Holy Virgin, as expressed in church hymns, was yet "three years old in the body" she was already "many years in the spirit", although still "a child in the flesh she was already perfect in soul". She looked at the Temple of the Lord as a paradisiacal dwelling of the glory of God, as the most cultivated haven, for which Her soul thirsted more than the home of her parents, and is why she entered into the Temple majestically and rejoicing. The Holy Virgin was put on the first step of the Temple and to the surprise of everyone, with no one supporting her, being encouraged by the spirit of love for God, climbed firmly up the fifteen 2 0 1 4 steps of the Temple. Invisible angels of God surrounded her and served her. Embraced with priestly delight, the high priest Zechariah, "having blessed, receives" "the holy young Child" "with rejoicing, as the dwelling place of God", and according to a special revelation of God, entered into the Holy of Holies where only the high priest entered once a year. Not only all the participants in this celebration were amazed, but also "the angels were amazed seeing the Most Pure as Virgin entering with glory into the Holy of Holies". Having left their daughter in the temple, Saints Joachim and Anna returned home, rejoicing and thanking God, who granted them the fulfillment of their vow to Him. The Holy Young Child, living in the temple,* spent all her time in prayer, reading the word of God and thinking about God. She occupied half her time with her own needlework, especially loving to prepare clothes dedicated to serving in the Temple; which she fulfilled while growing up, and occupied the other half with works of charity at the Temple, serving the needy, the crippled and the infirm, which tradition says to whom she also gave all her food, herself eating only the “most glorious bread from heaven”, brought to her by the angels”, and “conversing with them”. Living at the Temple and devoting all her time to pious occupations, the Most Holy Virgin was continued on next page continually in soul and body, in mind and heart, in thought and desire before the all-seeing, omniscient Lord God and His almighty will, having formed in herself a living and firm faith in the word of the Lord, a fervent love for the Lord and for neighbor, an all-perfect fidelity to the will of God, the deepest humility and meekness, inscrutable patience and obedience to the word of the Lord. "Succeeding in wisdom and grace", she surpassed the high sincere qualities of those her age," as St. John of Damascus teaches, "presenting herself as a paradigm of the best and purest life in comparison with others". self to God, having made a sacred vow to virginity forever. She became the first virgin in the world, because in the Old Testament up to her time there was still no example that a maiden forever remained unmarried and preferred virginity to matrimony. When the time had come for the Most Holy Virgin, according to the then existing custom, to leave the sacred dwelling of her pious formation and like other maidens to marry, she, "rich in goodness and purity of soul", declared to the high priest and to the priests her vow and with their advice and consent, for the protection of virginity, at that time being 11 years old, was betrothed to her In the early years of her life she lost relative, the aged righteous Joseph, and her parents. After their death, she all moved from the Temple into his house the more turned to the One God with which was in Nazareth. all her soul, and with all the desires of a pure heart and singularly sought Him In continuing her life the Most Holy out for joy and consolation. Together Virgin Mary, as St. Ambrose of Milan with her growth and strengthening in attests, "was virgin not only in the spirit, she also grew in asceticism in flesh, but also in the spirit, restrained her way of life. With diligence she ex- in her heart, divinely wise in her panded her meditation about God and words, not hurried in her speech, through prayer she ascended from chaste in her conversations, offended power to power, and the gifts of the no one, wished everyone good, and did Holy Spirit grew in her. The "All-holy not shun the poor, and did not ridicule Spirit has sanctified all things, her anyone. Her visage was the paradigm dwelling inside the Temple, and eating of internal perfection; all day long she the heavenly food", "that she may be- fasted. Sleep was betrayed only by the come the divine Throne of the Master demand of need, but also as her body of all, His bridal chamber, His resting- rested, her spirit was awake, repeating place, and His dwelling filled with in dreams something read or reflecting light", and "become the dwelling place about some intention not fulfilled, or of Him who was begotten of the Father on some new plans. She left the house without change before all ages, for the only for church, and then only travelsalvation of our souls". As though ing with close relatives. However, alemulating her heavenly companions in though she was outside the house acpurity and in the foreknowledge of her companied by others, she was the best great destination, she firmly decided to protection for herself. Others protected be a Virgin forever and, when she only her person, but she observed the reached her maturity, she wedded her- customs by herself". LEADERSHIP STAFF The Reverend Father Michael Platanis, Protopresbyter 2014 Parish Council: Chris Manos, President, Peter Postal, Vice President, Drew Theodore, Treasurer, Jane Schwantes, Secretary, Tommy Billas, Elizabeth Chiarel, James Leventis, Robert Lewis, Mike Psillos, Nick Pournaras, Elizabeth Render, Nick Stefan, and Lee Tsiantis. Donna Ackmann, Office Administrator Michael Hart, Financial Administrator Despina Houlis, Choir Director Michael Payne, Custodian Maria Shelley, Director of Ministries www.holytrinitysc.com (website) [email protected] (e-mail) CELEBRATING OVER 75 YEARS 1936 - 2014 DECEMBER GENERAL CALENDAR AND SERVICES Wednesday, December 3 5:30 PM - Paraclesis Wednesday, December 24 9:00 AM - Great Hours and Vespers 8:00 PM - Orthros and Divine Liturgy Thursday, December 4 Barbara the Great Martyr 9:30 AM - Divine Liturgy Saturday, December 27 No Great Vespers Saturday, December 6 St. Nicholas the Wonderworker 9:30 AM - Divine Liturgy 6:00 PM - Great Vespers Sunday, December 7 8:45 AM - Orthros 10:00 AM - Divine Liturgy Sunday school Parish Council Elections Tuesday, December 9 7:30 AM - Fellowship Breakfast Conception of Theotokos 9:30 AM - Divine Liturgy Wednesday, December 105:30 PM - Paraclesis Friday, December 12 Spyridon the Wonderworker 9:30 AM - Divine Liturgy Saturday, December 13 6:00 PM - Great Vespers Sunday, December 148:45 AM - Orthros 10:00 AM - Divine Liturgy Sunday school Monday, December 15 Eleutherios, Bishop Illyria 9:30 AM - Divine Liturgy Tuesday, December 16 5:30 PM - Parish Council Wednesday, December 17 5:30 PM - Paraclesis Saturday, December 20 6:00 PM - Great Vespers Sunday, December 21 8:45 AM - Orthros 10:00 AM - Divine Liturgy Sunday school Sunday, December 28 8:45 AM - Orthros 10:00 AM - Divine Liturgy No Sunday school NOTE: This schedule is subject to change. Please consult the December bulletin for final dates and times. Weekly updates can be found online at holytrinitysc.com. In the church hymns for this day the Most Holy Virgin "is piously praised", as "the most pure virgin", "more honorable and more glorious than the hosts on high", "the preaching of the prophets, the glory of the apostles, the praise of the martyrs, and the renewal of all those born on earth", "the bridal chamber of God the Word", "the dwelling place of the King of All", "the Mother of God", "our glory and salvation". Appealing on this present "joyful day" to "the assembly of the faithful" to this praise of the Most Holy Virgin, the Holy Church together with those present "on this all honorable feast" the example the Saints Joachim and Anna teaches us to fulfill pious vows. And the deeply instructive example of the upbringing of the Most Holy Virgin explains to us our duties to our children that we must as early as possible take them to the temple of God more often, to accustom them to the full complement of prayers at home, teaching them in the law of the Lord, particularly in their growth to properly use their time to develop in them love for their neighbor and diligence to inspire obedience in them to the church rules (Ustav), and to waken and strengthen in them the spirit of piety and the fear of God. The beginning of the establishment of this feast of the Entry of the EverVirgin Mary into the Temple is not known with complete accuracy. Saint Gregory of Nyssa (IV Century) first mentioned it. In the IX century St. Gregory of Nicomedia composed the stichera, which we now sing on this feast. * On the outside in front of the Jerusalem Temple there were about 30 stone apartments, separate one from another, large and beautiful; on them were other apartments, and on those a third (as stories); in all there were 90 apartments, with everyone having a pleasant residence. In these apartments there were rooms for various persons: separately the maidens who lived there during the time they were dedicated to the services to God; separately widows lived there, promising God to keep the premises clean until their death; separately men, called supervisors, in the image of unmarried monks resided there. There were also other apartments for the comfort of pilgrims and strangers who came from a distance for worship in the Temple. All of them served the Lord in the Temple and had their livelihood from the church estates. The Most Holy Child Mary was lodged at the Jerusalem Temple in the apartments where the maidens lived. OUR NEWS ETERNAL MEMORY: Sotiris Fikas - September 18, 2014 Mary Mandanis - September 20, 2014 BAPTISMS: 10/5 - Casiana Isabella - daughter of Gabriel and Mihaela Span Sponsors - Adrian and Mihaela Gutu 10/11 - Konstantinos - son of Theodoros and Karen Deligiannidis Sponsors - Athanasios and Caroline Mallis 10/18 - Fatima Maria - daughter of Christopher and Jenny Kauffman - Sponsor - Jacquelyn Kauffman appeal to every responsible organization and every person of good will – beyond any support through perpetual and persistent prayer – to assist with material and humanitarian resources so that these innocent victims may no longer endure hunger, suffering, and death. It is our wholehearted hope and fervent prayer that the God of love – worshipped by Jews, Christians and Muslims alike – may prevail over the false idols of fanaticism and prejudice. May the compassionate Lord grant peace to all. +++++++++ WEDDINGS: 9/28 - Alexander Rothman and Meghan Fields The Power of Prayer and Fasting By St. Nikolai Velimirovich Thank you to the following people who have volunteered to host coffee hour after liturgy for November. "This kind can come out by nothing, but prayer and fasting" (Mark 9:29) November 2 November 9 November 16 November 23 November 30 This is the saving prescription of the greatest Physician of human souls. This is the remedy tried and proved. Another remedy for lunacy, there is not. What kind of sickness is that? That is the presence and dominance of an evil spirit in a man, a dangerous evil spirit who labors to eventually destroy the body and soul of man. The boy whom our Lord freed from an evil spirit; this evil spirit that had hurled him at times in the fire, at Stewardship Luncheon St. Katherine’s Luncheon Andrianna Pigeon and Cynthia Johnson Daughters of Penelope Eleni Taylor an Valena Neary WELCOME COMMITTEE November 2 Carol Pitman and Gerry Smoak November 9 Margie Malone and Anita Rickman November 16 Mary Bellios and Maria Taylor November 23 Rebekah Metropol and Susan Zourzoukis November 30 Jeannie Hart and Sheri Manos times in the water just in order to destroy him. As long as a man only philosophizes about God he is weak and completely helpless against the evil spirit. The evil spirit ridicules the feeble sophistry of the world. But, as soon as a man begins to fast and to pray to God, the evil spirit becomes filled with indescribable fear. In no way can the evil spirit tolerate the aroma of prayer and fasting. The sweet-smelling aroma chokes him and weakens him to utter exhaustion. In a man who only philosophizes about faith, there is spacious room in him for the demons. But in a man who sincerely begins to pray to God and to fast with patience and hope, for the demon it becomes narrow and constricted and he must flee from such a man. Against certain bodily ills there exists only one remedy. Against the greatest ill of the soul, demonism, there exists two remedies, which must be utilized at one and the same time: fasting and prayer. The apostles and saints fasted and prayed to God. That is why they were so powerful against evil spirits. O gracious Jesus, our Physician and Helper in all miseries, strengthen us by the power of Your Holy Spirit that we may be able to adhere to Your saving precepts concerning fasting and prayer for the sake of our salvation and the salvation of our fellow men. Amen. Statement By His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew On The Present Violence In Iraq The recent wave of violence against innocent families and children in Iraq has rendered the world shocked and horrified. We will not remain indifferent or silent before such irrational persecution, cultural intolerance and appalling loss of life, especially when it is caused by religious hatred and racial hostility. elty of adherents to one religion can never be defended by cowardly and falsely invoking another religion. Such brutal acts are categorically unacceptable and unjustifiable before both God and humankind. Violence never is pacified by violence, and hatred is only overcome by tolerance. Knowing that true and lasting peace only comes to pass through genuine encounter and dialogue, we call upon religious leaders and political authorities in this wounded region to promote conversation to resolve dispute, and to support peaceful means to overcome conflict. The targeting of tens of thousands of Christians (including Arameans, Chaldeans, and Assyrians) and ot he r r el i gi ou s m i nori t i es (including Turkmens, Yazidis, and Kurds) can never be justified in the We implore the same of all leaders name of any religious creed or in other parts of the world, especonviction. cially in Gaza and Israel, in order that those conflicts, too, may not What we are witnessing before our further escalate at the expense of eyes in Iraq is the uprooting not more human life. It is precisely for simply of a religious minority – in this reason that, at the invitation of this case the Yazidis, whose very Pope Francis, we gathered in existence is being threatened – but Rome for an interfaith summit of of an entire civilization. The vic- peace with Presidents Peres and timization and extermination of Abbas last June. women and children, as well as of the elderly and disabled, for any The situation in Iraq is especially reason whatsoever – much more so critical. The humanitarian predicain the supposed name of religious ment is more urgent than ever. conviction – is a repudiation of our Our response must be immediate own future. Such calamity and cru- and tangible. Therefore, we Adult Choir - Practices are Thursday nights from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Contact Despina Houlis before practice in order that a meeting can be arranged at [email protected] or leave a message at 803-957-2212 to sign up. Bible Study - Exploring the Gospel of John on Wednesday, November 5. Just after Paraclesis, join us in the church at 6:15 PM as we dive into Chapters 1-5 in the Gospel of John. Tuesday Morning Breakfast & Books weekly at 7:30 AM - 8:30 AM. Philoptochos Sunday, November 9 - St. Katherine’s Luncheon Saluting our Veterans Parish Council Sunday, November 2 - Stewardship Luncheon Tuesday, November 18 - Parish Council Meeting Sunday, November 2 - Sprinkles! Sugar!! Frosting galore!!! Join us for “Cookies and Cards” during the coffee hour/ luncheon. Immediately following Sunday School, all K-6th grade youth are invited to design a special card and then decorate their own holiday sugar cookie to enjoy. The cards will later be sent out to those who are homebound, ill, or otherwise need to know that they are loved and remembered, and OUR CHILDREN will make it possible. This way, they can make something special for someone in need AND eat a delicious treat as well! November 19 - Youth Wednesday with Father Michael! Remember, this event only occurs once a month. Although we all have busy schedules, this is a unique opportunity for your children to spend some quality time with Father Michael - and we will feed them too! Immediately following Paraclesis (which starts at 5:30 pm), parents are invited to drop off their children at 6:15 pm with Fr. Michael in the parish hall. Please return to pick up children by 7:15 pm. November 5 and 12 - Join JUNIOR CHOIR - Rehearsal begins at 5:45 PM in the upstairs choir room of the fellowship hall; all youth in grades 1 - 6 are invited to come ready to sing. In addition to their regularly scheduled performances, the Junior Choir will be an important part of the Consecration Celebration this year. Children practice during Paraclesis (5:30 pm on Wednesdays) to give parents a chance to focus on praying and worship in church. HARBISON HIKE At the Saw Mill Site and Train Creating Leaf Rubbings Sunday, November 2 - Tacky Gift Exchange during coffee hour/luncheon. From now until November, be on the lookout to find the tackiest, cheapest, most obnoxious and ugly thing you can buy for $5 or less! All GOYA aged youth (grades 712) are invited to participate. Bring your WRAPPED tacky gift and we will exchange these with one another to see who has the most...um...creative taste imaginable! We could all use a good laugh... November 26 - Youth Wednesday with Father Michael continues! All YOUTH in Grades 7 - 12 should attend. Although we all have very busy schedules, this event only occurs once a month. Please consider arriving for Paraclesis worship at 5:30 pm. As soon as the service is finished around 6:15 pm, teens are invited to meet with Fr. Michael in the parish hall to enjoy pizza, a brief lesson, and to have some fun! This is your teen’s chance to get to know Father Michael, ask him questions, share what is important, and decide how they want GOYA to grow. Parents, this is YOUR chance to have an hour to yourselves knowing that your teen is growing in good hands! The meeting wraps up by 7:45 pm. HDF - dance practices will be held on several Wednesday evenings and Sundays (exact dates TBD and will be provided by Kelli Pournaras) from November through January. Please note that practices will not conflict with other youth related events. HDF competition will be January 16-18, 2015. A look ahead to December… Dec. 7 - Community Christmas Celebration: Junior Choir Concert and Nativity Pageant Dec. 5 - 7 - GOYA St. Stephen’s Advent (Diakonia Center) Dec. 21 - HDF Luncheon Dec. 27 - 30 - GOYA Winter Youth Rally 2014 REVENUE AS OF September 30, 2014 PLEDGES RECEIVED NON PLEDGES 2013 PLEDGES CANDLES Other Total Income $260,595.00 14,476.00 4,574.00 23,524.57 9,251.77 $312,421.34 Expenses through September $396,009.65 Deficit through September 83,588.31 Daughters of Penelope Veterans’ Food Drive November 1 - December 1 The Daughters of Penelope need your help for our Christmas project to benefit our nation's heroes at the VA here in Columbia. We have done this for several years and have been informed there is an even greater need this year than in the past. We are asking our wonderfully generous parishioners for the whole month of November to support us by donating food items to replicate a Christmas dinner. Items needed include: cans of green beans, onion rings, cream of mushroom soup, gravy, and sweet potatoes, boxes of stuffing mix, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, cake mixes, brownie mixes, or any other non -perishable. We enclose everything needed for a holiday dinner plus a gift card from a local grocery store so that the recipients can purchase a turkey or ham to make their dining experience complete. If you are short of time and want us to shop for you, we will accept cash or checks made out to the Daughters of Penelope, and we will do the rest. There will be a box in the coffee room with the label DOP for your convenience. The last day for donations will be Monday, December 1, 2014. We appreciate anything and everything you can donate to our priceless service men and women. The need is huge. Many have had several deployments and came back with many problems. Please, please let us show them our appreciation for their service. Christ said "whatever we do for others, we do for Him." We were told no one in this area pays it forward like we do. Everyone should be so proud of our community. May God bless you all! GOYA Canoe Trip 2014 – We braved the Congaree and no one fell in! NOVEMBER 2014 Sun Mon Tue PANGARI DUTY: November 2 - Drew Theodore and Mike Psillos November 9 - Mike Psillos and Jane Schwantes November 16 - Jane Schwantes and Elizabeth Chiarel 2 5th Sunday of Luke 3 Orthros: 8:45 AM Liturgy: 10:00 AM Sunday School Wed 7th Sunday of Luke Orthros: 8:45 AM Liturgy: 10:00 AM 4 11 Breakfast & Books 7:30 AM Sunday School 16 Apostle Matthew 17 Sunday School 23 9th Sunday of Luke Orthros: 8:45 AM Liturgy: 10:00 AM Sunday School 30 Apostle Andrew Orthros: 8:45 AM Liturgy: 10:00 AM No Sunday School 18 Breakfast & Books 7:30 AM Orthros: 8:45 AM Liturgy: 10:00 AM 24 5 6 Great Vespers 6:00 PM 7 Paraclesis - 5:30 PM Junior Choir - 5:45 PM Bible Study - 6:15 PM 13 Paraclesis - 5:30 PM St. John Chrysostom Divine Liturgy 9:30 AM Junior Choir - 5:45 PM Adult Choir - 6:00 PM 19 20 Paraclesis - 5:30 PM Parish Council 5:30 PM Breakfast & Books - 7:30 AM St. Katherine the Great Martyr Divine Liturgy 9:30 AM 26 14 Adult Choir - 6:00 PM 27 8 No Great Vespers Archangel Michael Awards, Atlanta, GA Adult Choir - 6:00 PM 12 JOY Youth Wednesday 6:15 PM 25 Sat 1 Breakfast & Books 7:30 AM 10 Fri November 23 - Elizabeth Chiarel and Peter Postal November 30 - Peter Postal and James Leventis GOYA - Gift Exchange JOY - Cards & Cookies 9 Thu 15 Great Vespers 6:00 PM 21 22 Entrance of the Theotokos Divine Liturgy 9:30 AM Great Vespers 6:00 PM 28 29 No Paraclesis No Great Vespers GOYA Youth Wednesday 6:15 PM Nativity fast begins November 15 Fish allowed
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