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Schedule:
Regular Schedule:
SaturdayVespers 5pm
Sunday Matins 9am
Sunday Liturgy 10am
2 Friday, Vespers, 7pm
3 Saturday, Raising of Lazarus, Liturgy 10am
HOLY WEEK:
4 Palm Sunday, Palm Liturgy and Breakfast. Bridegroom Matins, 5pm
5-6 Holy Monday & Tuesday, Presanctified Liturgy, 8am; Bridegroom Matins, 7pm
7 Holy Wednesday, Presanctified Liturgy, 8am; Matins with Holy Unction, 7pm
8 Holy Thursday, Vesperal Liturgy, 8am; Matins w/ Passion Gospels, 7pm
9 Holy Friday, Royal Hours 8am; Vespers 2pm; Matins w/Lamentations 7pm
10 Holy Saturday, Vesperal Divine Liturgy 10am;
Nocturnes 11pm
PASCHA
11 Pascha, Matins and Liturgy begins around Midnight.
Vespers with Gospel in many languages, Noon.
12 Bright Monday Liturgy, 9am
23 Friday, St George; Liturgy 9am
25 Sunday 1 year Memorial for Jim Zacharias.
Pascha: Can These Bones Live?
In the book of the Prophet Ezekiel, written in the 6th Century before Christ, God asks Ezekiel if the dead bones of the people of Israel could live. Ezekiel, answering with great intelligence, says, "O Lord God, you know." Then God asks Ezekiel to "prophesy to bones" that the Lord will bring them back to life. Ezekiel repeats this and he is given a vision of the bones being brought back to life. This vision was given to Ezekiel as a promise of life and hope.
Do we have this hope? Do we actually believe that God can change us, radically? Can we face death and the decline of our bodies through sickness and age, with hope? Do we focus desperately on our own health and physical pleasures? Do we let habits (eating, drinking, anger, impatience, gossip, etc.) cover over our anxieties, or do we confront these anxieties through prayer and fasting?
But before we can faithfully confront these things, we have to know what is our goal and our hope. St. Paul tells us what our hope is: "we shall all be changed, in a moment in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall all be changed. For this perishable nature must put on the imperishable, and this mortal nature must put on immortality... then shall come to pass the saying that is written, "Death is swallowed up in victory." "O death where is your victory? O death where is your sting?" The sting of death is sin.." "But thanks be to God who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:51ff)
Our goal is to peacefully and joyfully come to life in Christ. He has died in a human and mortal body, in order to raise us up in our own human bodies: bodies changed, made divine and immortal. Joining us in our human experience of death, Christ has brought the power of God into our experience of mortality. If we pray and seek Christ, yearning for his life, we shall come to victory with him over both death and sin. Then we say: Christ is risen!
Truly he is risen!
The Da Vinci Code
Parish Council Report
On Sunday, March 21st, we held our annual general meeting. This is an opportunity for all to hear what is happening in the parish and also to express their opinions.
Fr. Elijah indicated that the Sunday school is progressing nicely and they are keeping the students' interest by using art and singing projects combined with some question and answer sessions. The church building is now over 35 years old and thus we have to do more maintenance and this will continue. Nick Papagjorgi has been handling building maintenance issues. He has recently organized people to fix the kitchen drawers, installed a shelf for our guest book to free up some floor space, installed a valve to reduce the pressure at the water fountain and other smaller repairs. We still need some plumbing repairs and some major work on the front doors to see if we can make them last a little longer before we have to replace them; a major expense. If someone has those skills and can volunteer some time it would be greatly appreciated. We also reviewed the finances for 2003. We had operating income of about $103,000 and expenses of $114,000. Fortunately interest and dividend income of about $11,000 just about covered our deficit. About 60% of the income is covered by donations through pledges, candles, try and holiday donations. The balance is generated from hall rentals and fund raising. The fund raising that included the golf outing, raffles, flea market and dances totaled $28,000, which is the highest we have ever had.
Our assets have increased over the years, which is good, since this provides the interest and dividend income that we need to balance the budget. I suggested that we look at professionally managing the assets to maximize the return from our assets.
Lou Foundos,
Parish Council
President.
Pascha Homily of Saint John Chrysostom.
Is anyone devout and loves God? - let them enjoy this fair and shining festival.
Is anyone a grateful servant? - let them enter into the joy of his Lord.
Have any wearied themselves with fasting? - let them now enjoy their payment.
Has anyone laboured since the first hour?- let them today receive their due.
Did any come after the third hour? - let them feast with gratitude.
Did any arrive after sixth hour? - let them not hesitate, for there is no penalty.
Did any delay until after the ninth hour? - let them approach without hesitating.
Did any arrive only for the eleventh hour? - them not fear because of their lateness,
for the Lord is generous and receives the last as the first:
he gives rest to the worker of the eleventh hour as to those of the first.
He has pity on the latter, he cares for the former.
He gives to the one, he is generous to the other.
He accepts the work done, he welcomes the intention.
He honours the achievement, he praises the purpose.
Therefore all of you enter into the joy of our Lord:
first and last, enjoy your reward.
Rich and poor dance together.
Sober and slothful honour the day.
Fasters and non-fasters be glad today.
The table is full, all of you enjoy yourselves.
The calf is fatted let none go away hungry.
All of you enjoy the banquet of the faith.
All of you enjoy the richness of his goodness.
Let no one grieve at their poverty: for the kingdom for all has been revealed.
Let no one bewail their faults: for forgiveness has risen from the tomb.
Let no one fear death: for the Saviour's death has freed us. By enduring it he quenched it.
He who descended into Hades has despoiled Hades.
He embittered it when it tasted his flesh as Isaias proclaimed in prophecy,
'Death', he said, 'was embittered when it met you there below'.
Embittered, for it was destroyed.
Embittered, for it was mocked.
Embittered, for it was slain.
Embittered for it was wiped out.
Embittered, for it was bound fast.
It received a body, and came face to face with God.
It received earth, and met heaven.
It received what it saw, and fell through what it did not see.
Where, death, is your sting? Where Hades, is your victory?
Christ has risen and you are abolished!
Christ has risen and the demons have fallen!
Christ has risen, and Angels rejoice!
Christ has risen, and life has found freedom!
Christ has risen, and there is no corpse in the grave!
For Christ, being raised from the dead, has become the first fruits of those who sleep.
To him be Glory and might to the ages of ages. Amen.
Christ is Risen!
Truly He is Risen!
Church Activities This Last Month
A bunch of the Daughters of St. Nicholas helped set up a nice supper for the March 7th Vespers we hosted. Fr. Elijah, with occasional parishioners accompanying, also helped an Episcopalian priest (very dissatisfied with the state of that church) set up an Orthodox education program to bring his people closer to conversion to Orthodoxy. The Orthodox Church is THE CHURCH for all Christians, and for all the world. We must recognize this so that we take "missionary" responsibility, as its members, to bring its goodness to everyone through our love, good works, and willingness to share our faith with others.
A few people have taken the opportunity to receive cleansing through the Orthodox Sacrament of Confession. To those who have come, keep it up; to those who are still waiting or using tired and illogical excuses to avoid it, come! It is only for your good and the healing of your soul.
The parish meeting went well and a very large Parish Council was elected. Let us pray that the Parish Council does everything with calm words, and a sense of peace, prayer and deference to the will of God.
Sunday School Report
At least 12 students went to Confession this last month and learned about how good and healthy it is for us be cleansed of our sins by admitting them and receiving absolution. For all, this was a first Confession. Even some parents followed the kids' example! The students have been preparing for Holy Week and Pascha through hymns and lessons on the cross, and the resurrection. The children have prepared two beautiful "stain glass" crosses which are now displayed in front of the iconostasis. They will also decorate eggs with creatures that metamorphosize to show that God can change us.
There will be no Sunday School on Palm Sunday or Pascha. On Palm Sunday, the kids will carry the Palms at the end of Liturgy.
We want to thank Ronnie Kelapire for framing the icon the kids made of Christ as a youth.
Daughters Report
Spring is here and we are more than half way through Lent. The Lenten Supper in March with the visitors from other parishes for Vespers was just lovely. We had at least 60 people, including 10 of our members. I want to thank everyone who helped make special lenten dishes, helped set up and participate in the event. Please remember that April 9th is Good Friday, and we need people to help decorate the epitaphion in the morning. Please let me know if you will be able to help. We really need you. Pascha is April 11th, and on April 4th we will have our Palm Sunday Breakfast after Church. Please try to be there. Thank you all again for making this job so easy for me. God bless you, and may you have a joyous Pascha.
Thank You's
+ To all the ladies who helped make the Supper and set up for the Lenten Vespers with our other local Orthodox visitors.
+ To the few (Helen Pillary and Barbara Duggan) who have accompanied Fr. Elijah in visiting other local Orthodox Churches for the Lenten Vespers. Would that more people would come and enjoy this beautiful fellowship!
+ To all who have come to the Presanctified Liturgy, bringing food for potluck and participating in the lively discussions.
+ To those who have baked the Prosphora or "Meshe" this month: Christina Liolin, Larry Jance and Rebecca Luft.
+ To Ronnie Kelapire for framing the nice icon made by the Sunday School of Christ as a youth.
Coffee Hour
4/4 Palm Sunday Breakfast
4/11 Pascha
4/18 Barbara Duggan & Olimbi Nasi
4/25 Pauline Logore & Rebecca Luft
Usher Schedule
4/4 Nick Filis & Foti Kondili
4/11 Pascha: special arrangements
4/18 Robert Korra & Nick Papajorgji
4/25 Nasi Pavllo & Bill Peters
Calling All Altar Boys:
We need you for Pascha and for holy Friday night. If you want to serve, you must come on time. On occasion we do run out of robes, when many kids come. So be there on time, and you will be able to better participate. If you have never served before, you are welcome to try; the only condition is that you must be a baptized Orthodox Christian to serve.
Calling all Singers:
Join with the men who have been singing the Lamentations in Albanian at the Epitaphion on Holy Friday night. Women are welcome, too: many of the hymns are specifically written as the lamentations of the Virgin Mary and the other women at the tomb. If any would like to join Fr. Elijah in singing the other Lamentations in English, please speak to Fr. Elijah by Palm Sunday.
New Icon Exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
"Byzantium: Faith and Power (1261-1557)" March 23rd-July 4th, 2004. This exhibition is dedicated to Byzantine civilization and history. This exhibit starts with the period after the Roman Catholic monarchy established by the fratricidal 4th Crusade was ousted and the Byzantine government was restored. It shows how the Byzantine culture was informed by the faith of the Orthodox Church, and also Byzantine influence after the fall of Constantinople. There will be special talks and beautiful displays of historical icons done in traditional style. Please go and feast your eyes on what a glory and spiritual treasure real Orthodox iconography is.
Where does the Resurrection Lead Us?
St. Mark tells us that the women who first discovered the empty tomb were amazed “trembling and astonishment had come upon them.” The resurrection is hard to believe because death shocks us-even God seems to have no power over it-in our spiritually weak state.
St. Matthew proclaims to us that the Resurrection causes fear and joy. It causes fear to those who do not yearn for it, because it destroys the way the fallenworld works:guards cannot guard, the self-righteous cannot boast, and the authority and power based on fear crumbles. For those who seek life and freedom, the resurrection brings joy and the fear which comes with a sense that a surprising, deep and joyous change has occured in our sight.
St. John shows us that the Resurrection brings Jesus’ peaceful presence as the Word of God and his power to continually work with us and enliven us with the Spirit. He shows us both Mary Magdalene’s blindness through sadness and Thomas’ blindness because he does not share the other apostles’ communal, churchly experience of Christ’s risen body.
St. Luke calls us to be quietly and gently illumined by the scriptures (the Old Testament) which cause Christ’s presence to burn within us so that we might see him when we come to communion.
But where does all this lead? Simply to sit back and watch the Lord doing something for us as if he were as distant as someone on TV? No!
Jesus Christ has given us new hope of life so that we might pray with great longing for the fire and wind of God. These will propel and power us, as the ship of the Church, into the deep waters where our love for God and our neighbour draws every “fish,” or person, into the net of salvation. Every color, language, and background of humanity belongs to God and will be offered back to him if we act boldly, as the Church. This is Pentecost.
If we are not bold, the Holy Spirit tells us: “because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew you out of my mouth.”
(Rev. 3:16)
Schedule:
Sundays:
Matins, 9am
Divine Liturgy, 10am
Saturdays:
Vespers, 5pm
Special Events:
5/4
Vespers and Council Meeting with Bp. Nikon,
Vespers, 6:30pm.
Council Meeting, 7:30pm
5/5
Liturgy, Midfeast of Pentecost, 9am
5/20
Liturgy, Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ,
9am
5/21
Liturgy Sts. Helen and Constantine, 9am.
5/22
St. Nicholas Spring Dance, 7:30pm
at New Hyde Park Inn:
214 Jericho Turnpike, New Hyde Park.
The Orthodox Mission Teams In 2004 Consider this: especially college kids and younger people!
St. Augustine, FL -- Dare to Make a Difference in 2004! Orthodox Christians are needed to help make a difference in the world by applying to become a member of one of 13 OCMC Mission Teams in 2004. All those willing to share their faith, time and talents are being called to serve for 1 to 4 weeks this summer or fall. Those who answer the call will be following in the footsteps of the missionary saints by helping Orthodox communities in Alaska, Brazil, Guatemala, Ghana, India, Korea, Romania or Tanzania. Applications are now being accepted and space is limited. The Orthodox Christian Mission Center is offering many wonderful opportunities for those interested in construction/restoration projects combined with local evangelism efforts in Alaska, Brazil, Ghana and Korea. For those especially interested in working with children and youth there are opportunities in Romania, Guatemala and Tanzania. Orthodox volunteers with experience in construction, teaching, substance abuse counseling, health care, infant care and theological education, and all those with faith and enthusiasm are needed to apply.
ALASKA: In June 2004, the Mission Center will kick off its summer season by sending three Teams to Alaska. One Team will be a teaching team that will host youth camps and offer catechism in the Pribolof Islands, one of the most remote parts of Alaska. Another Mission Team will venture to Spruce Island to participate in much needed renovation work there. The third OCMC Mission Team to Alaska is a unique one-week dental care Team to Bethel on the Kuskokwim River. Dentists and dental assistants are needed to apply.
GHANA: In July, an OCMC construction/evangelism Mission Team will be off to Ghana, in West Africa, to work closely with local volunteers in building a church. Team members will also have the chance to assist in local evangelism efforts while in Ghana.
GUATEMALA: An incredible opportunity exists at the Hogar Rafael Ayau Orphanage in Guatemala in July. At this Orthodox orphanage an OCMC Mission Team will assist in classroom activities, provide youth outreach and interact with over 150 children.
TANZANIA: The Mission Center will also be sending two Teams to Tanzania in the Summer of 2004. One Team, traveling to four different villages, will offer evangelism, teaching and medical care within the diocese of Bukoba in July. Health care professionals are needed for this Team. The other Team to Tanzania will have the exciting opportunity of hosting a youth camp for approximately 200 youth in August.
KOREA:August 2004 marks the first ever OCMC Mission Team to Korea! This momentous Team will assist in the construction of an Orthodox community center in Chuncheon and be supporting the growth of Orthodoxy in an area where it is still relatively new.
ROMANIA: Also in August, an OCMC Mission Team will get the chance to go to Romania and work with abandoned babies at the Protection of the Theotokos Family Center. Team members will assist with infant care and provide staff-training in infant development and care. Those with experience in child-care and/or pro-life counseling are highly encouraged to apply.
Also to Romania in 2004, two valuable Teams are being planned to assist long-term missionary Floyd Frantz in substance abuse counseling programs. There is a very high rate of alcoholism in Romania and a great need exists for volunteers to help in this important work. Those with experience in substance abuse counseling or related fields are encouraged to apply for either the Team in March or in June.
INDIA: A unique OCMC Mission Team will travel to the Calcutta/Bengal region of India in September 2004. The Mission Center is seeking clergy, senior seminarians and theologians to serve as teachers alongside local clergy for this Team.
BRAZIL:The last OCMC Mission Team of 2004 will be sent in October to support the growth of the Orthodox Church in Brazil. This Team will offer outreach and catechism in several indigenous communities throughout the diocese, as well as participate in finishing work on a large wooden church.
For
more information & downloadable application forms please go to:
www.ocmc.org/teams. For any questions please contact the Mission
Center at: teams@ocmc.org, Tel: 1-877-GO-FORTH (463-6784) or (904)
829-5132.
Parish Council Report
April was a busy month, especially with the Pascha celebration. On Palm Sunday we had our traditional pancake breakfast hosted by the Daughters of St. Nicholas. Since our chief chef, Tina Peters, was visiting her daughter in Switzerland for the holidays, I would like to express a special thank you to Christina Liolin and Linda Foundos for stepping up to continue the tradition.
The Pascha services were on throughout the week with standing room only for Friday and Saturday night services. The church was especially crowded on Saturday evening, and the large crowd both downstairs and outside made it a real challenge. A special thanks to Ardian Mile and Damian Peters for preparing the sound system, even hooking up speakers outside, and the video system for Pascha. Also a big thanks to Nick Papagjorgi for organizing the people to man the candle stand and the ushers and all the men and woman who were more than willing toserve during this busy weekend. Petrika Troja was able to obtain a large van from a benefactor that allowed him to bring a large group from the Bronx. The alter boys and singers also deserve a word of thanks for their efforts. And finally a special thank you to all the ladies that did such a beautiful job decorating the epitaphion.
Fr. Elijah has made the decision to request a release from Bishop Nikon and make other plans for his and his family’s future. He has made several positive contributions to the parish and the services for which we will remember him. He will be with us until the end of June and we are consulting with Bishop Nikon for a new pastor for St. Nicholas. We thank Fr. Elijah for his service at St. Nicholas and wish him, Rebecca and Gabriel all the best for the future.
Lou Foundos,
Parish Council
President.
WISE SAYINGS OF MODERN SAINTS
“Don’t pressure your children. In your prayers say the things that you want to tell them. Children don’t listen through their ears, but only when divine grace comes to enlighten them, then they listen to the things we want to tell them. When you want to say something to your children, tell it to the Virgin Mary and she will bring it to pass. This prayer of yours will be like a spiritual caress which will embrace your children and will grab their attention. Sometimes we try to caress them and they react, though they never react against the spiritual caress.
Elder Porphyrios
“Neither should wealth impress you, nor honor, but always walk justly. Eat your bread with your honorable sweat and not through unjust means... Live honorably and humbly, and as much as possible extend your hands in Charity. Knock on the doors of the poor, the sick, the orphans. You should prefer the homes of the afflicted to the homes of the joyous. If you do good works, you will have a great reward from God.”
Fr. George of Drama
[quotes above are from Precious Vessels of the Holy Spirit,thepublisher can be reached at: www.protectingveil.com)
“There are two types of love in the world: one that take and one that gives. This is common to all types of love-not only towards man. Each person can love a friend, family, children, scholarship, art, motherland, one’s idea, oneself and even God-from either of these two points of view. Even those types of love which by common acknowledgement are of the highest category can carry this dual character...One can direct two ways of love toward God. One can see him as the heavenly protector of “mine” or our earthly desires and passions. The other love will humbly and sacrificially offer one’s own small soul into his hands. Other than the appellation-”love”-other than external similarities, these two expressions of love have nothing in common.” St. Maria Skobtsova(This quote is from her writings available on the web at: www.incommunion.org)
“The resurrection is life and a daily experience which we taste every time we approach the cross and carry it joyfully.” Fr.Pishoi Kamel
Byzantium: Faith and Power
This new exhibit (March 23rd-July 4th) at the Metropolitan Museum of Art is a wonderful display of Orthodox iconography and liturgical arts. The exhibit focuses on the last two centuries of the Byzantine (or Christian Roman) Empire. The exhibit also makes clear the influence that Byzantine art had on the Renaissance in the West. It also shows how in the declining years of the Empire’s power it also received some artistic influence from the West.
The icons in the exhibit are often exquisite, some of them with amazing detail and fine craftsmanship. Of particular note are a number of very tiny icons that are made with almost microscopic mosaic tiles set in wax. It boggles the mind to think of the artists working on them.
It is important for us to go and look at these icons. They are good examples of traditional Orthodox iconography. Unfortunately, what we have at St. Nicholas is not good, and is something of an impediment to our visual experience of good and true Orthodox theology.
Some good Orthodox websites:
www.oca.org (OCA website)
www.goarch.org (Greek Archdiocese of America)
www.orthodox.co.uk/arimathea.htm (music and spiritual writings)
www.anastasis.org.uk (Orthodox services and hymns)
www.holymyrrhbearers.com (monastery near NYC)
www.myriobiblos.gr (Greek website, much in English)
www.scoba.us (listing of Eastern Othodox Churches)
www.svots.edu (webpage of our premier US seminary)
www.new-ostrog.org (Canadian OCA monastery)
www.stnicholascenter.org (legends &facts about St.Nicholas)
St. Nicholas Community News
Church Activities this Last Month
The beginning of this month was dominated by the services of Holy Week and Pascha. The atmosphere was prayerful, but attendance seems to have dropped off a bit from the previous year. The Church was helped in many ways with the preparation for Pascha, many people volunteering for one activity or another (see the Thank You’s below).
Unfortunately, Fr. Elijah had to announce to the Church that he is leaving the parish to go back to the Midwest to focus on finishing up his Ph.D. We pray that the next priest that Bishop Nikon will choose and send to the parish will be able to further all the good things which were done under Fr. John and Fr. Elijah and even do other new and good things.
As a parish we must be ready and able to receive a new priest with eagerness to learn, to pray and humbly work together with him. It is especially imperative that all who take positions of leadership in the Church act humbly, wisely and with great support toward the priest.
Sunday School Report
The Sunday school engaged in two projects over the last three weeks of classes. The first project took two weeks. This project involved taking discarded cardboard and ripping or cutting pieces and forming a picture out of them with glue as adhesive and as texture, then painting it with gold paint, to make something like a low-relief sculpture. The whole point of the project was to take something scattered, like the pieces of cardboard, and to compare it to the disciples, scattered after Jesus’ death, and gathered by Christ in the Resurrection, which fills us with light.
The second project came out of one of the children’s questions (one which, if we think about it is not so obvious): “Who came first, Jesus or the Virgin Mary?” In other words: how could she be Jesus’ mother, yet coming into existence after him? These paradoxes are the core of what it really means to understand Orthodox theology. The kids dealt with this by discussing what is “eternity” and how Jesus is the “eternal” Son of God, and then related the idea of eternity to their own, “time-bound” lives by drawing the time-line of their days. Into this time-line they inserted a time for prayer and thanksgiving to the “eternal” God who is always there to help us and be with us.
Exams start May 23rd.
Daughters of St. Nicholas Report
April was a busy month with Easter services. The Daughters decorated the flowers for Good Friday. We only had six ladies participating, and it was very hard work for them. I would like to thank Viola, Helen Panajoti, Pauline, Gloria and also Olimbi and Rebecca. Next year I hope we will have more ladies to help. Palm Sunday was the Pancake Breakfast and the children had a special procession-they were wonderful. There were a lot of women helping with the setting up, making the batter and Mark and Nasi as our chefs for the day, to make the event a success. Now the next event is the Church dance in May and raffle as a fund-raiser for the church. I hope everyone had a blessed and joyous Pascha. Rosalie Zacharias
Thank You’s
+to all who worked on the Palm Sunday breakfast: Christina Liolin, Nasi Pavllo, Mark Papalexis, Linda Foundos, and others.
+to Ardian Mile and Damian Peters for preparing the sound and video system for Pascha.
+to the Prosphora (Meshe) bread makers: Christina Liolin, Rebecca Luft, Aida Bode, Viola Kallinikos, Premti Treska, Larry Jance and others.
+to the Altar boys who did such a good job on Holy Week and Pascha.
+to the singers, especially Helen Pillary and Jim Liolin for their work.
+to Andrea Topore for all his hours of set-up and cleaning.
+to the women who did the flowers: Viola Kallinikos, Pauline Logore, Gloria Sawyer, Olimbi Nasi, Helen Panajoti and Rebecca Luft. Also thanks to all who donated generously for the flowers.
+to all who ushered and took care of the candlestands.
+to Petrika Troja for driving a dangerously large bus to pick up people from the Bronx.
Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania, Holy Archdiocese of Tirana
An Offer with Special Significance: $600,000 for a church and a mosque in Kosovo
The burning of churches and mosques, does not promote justice and peace, and certainly neither progress. On the contrary, it is a return to times and practices which led the Balkans to stagnation, divisions and tragedies. Indeed, those who involve religion in the violence are essentially violating the spirit of religion. No matter how much one is in the right, he must respect the sanctity and the purpose of sacred places of worship. These should become centers of reconciliation and peace and not breeding-grounds for maintaining animosities. It is only with peaceful coexistence of the religious communities that genuine social progress can take place. This is the principal that we Christians and Muslims alike have adopted in Albania: to live together and to cooperate with each other in harmony. The sobriety of religious tolerance and courage of love must overcome the blind hatred that can only lead to an escalation of conflicts. In the 21st century, worldwide and particularly in the Balkan region, we are called -independent of the national or religious community, in which we were born- to work hard to coexist peacefully, with mutual respect and solidarity. With this conviction, the Orthodox Archdiocese of Tirana has made the following decision: We offer $600,000 -for the restoration of a church and a mosque in Kosovo, or the construction of a youth center there that will promote peaceful coexistence. This sum comes from the funds that, with great effort, we have raised for the construction of the Orthodox Cathedral in Tirana. It will be dispatched appropriately, so that it be used equitably, according to the special significance of this initiative.
+ Anastasios Archbishop of Tirana, Durres and All Albania, Tirana, 26.3.2004
There is no Coffee Hour or Ushers’ Schedule this month.
The Orthodox Post
Vol. 15 Issue 2 St. Nicholas Albanian Orthodox Church
February, 2005
A Message from Father David
I came to bless their home, or rather, I came so that somehow, through me, God would bless their home. Their home was beautiful, not because it was big or fancy, but because of the way they prepared for their priest. The Fathers say that, as an icon of Christ (in order to remind all that they too are icons of Christ), the priest must be prepared to receive the respect and also the abuse that Christ received. This family had offered their best to their priest and through him, to Christ: the best food (it kept coming!), the best wine, the best dessert.
I brought The Holy Water, blessed at Theophany, on the day we celebrated Jesus’ Baptism. Everyone in the home—children, grandmother, parents—was holding something, an icon of the Theotokos, a candle, the Epistle book, an icon of St. Nicholas. We lit candles and began to sing our prayer: Mir shiro, O Zot! Heal me, O God! Through all the effort I put into this blessing, through my prayers, through the prayers of our patron Saints and our Holy Angels, through the prayers of our priest and our bishop, Meshiro, O Zot!
And then I sprinkled Holy water throughout their home, on the walls that had received their tears and their laughter, on the doors that had opened to bitter words and to apologies, on the pictures of family they had left, or who had been taken from them, on their new wide screen t.v., on the tiles the husband had worked hard to put down, on the beds in which they laid their children each night, on the furniture that gave comfort to guests…
And then we drank this water filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus’ Baptismal water, water restored to its original purpose: to offer us communion with God who became flesh for us.
Then the Mother told me the story of her son’s baptism, years before in Albania (the daughter in law helped translate):
Back then it was illegal to be baptized. If the government found out, they would put you in jail. So I had our priest come and we baptized my son without anyone knowing it, in a tub in the house.
When we were finished, I took him to have his name registered. I changed his Christian name just a little bit, so that the authorities would not suspect he was a Christian. But the clerk said to me, “you cannot name him that, that is a Christian name!” “Christian name?” I responded. “No, I just like this name.” “Somehow,” the mother told me, “the clerk let me have this Christianized name. And that is how our son was baptized, how he got his name!”
They sent me off with warm coffee in their best portable cup, to warm me on my way home. As I drove off and watched their lighted windows become smaller, I remembered what Father Schmemann wrote, upon passing the windows of homes, that every home is like a Church., if even for a moment. Blessing this home opened my eyes to the presence of God in this family, in their love and hospitality, and their desire for Christ. Their home had become a Church.
+Fr. David
President's message
As we begin a New Year, we are filled with optimism that this will be a better year than last year. Although the Tsunami hit Southeast Asia last year, the full impact and devastation only became apparent in the beginning of the year. Not only did the US Government make a major financial pledge but also committed major military and other resources to help in the relief and rebuilding effort. The St. Nicholas community also did its share by gathering $850 from parishioners, $500 from the church funds and $300 from the Daughter’s of St. Nicholas. One of our major fund raisers is the icon presentation, done traditionally the first Sunday after Theophany, was held on January 11th. It was very successful and we had pledges of over $3900. For those of you that could not be there, you can still participate by making a donation honoring a specific Saint that may be important to your family.
Unfortunately, due to the blizzard, no services we held on Sunday, January 23rd. We apologize if we inconvenienced any one. Last but not least, we are starting the second half of the Church School program and I would like to encourage all the parents to make a special effort to bring your children.
Lou Foundos,
President
Parish Council Message
Memory Eternal!
Sunday, January 30th is the forty-day memorial for Alice “Elsie” Kasuli. May her memory be eternal!
On Sunday, January 30th, the Llupa’s remembered the birthday of their departed daughter, Anna Arba (1/21). May her memory be eternal!
Church School
After learning about their saints, moving into new classroom space, and presenting a Christmas pageant in the fall, the Sunday School teachers will be meeting soon with a professional Christian educator, who will help with new curricula, and who will be coming to speak to our parents about the importance of a Christian education. We are looking forward to an active spring for the Sunday School. The Sunday School teachers love to see your children, so please make every effort to attend each Sunday.
Prayers
Please give names to Fr. David if you would like someone to be remembered by the community in Church's prayers.
Thank You
To Alexandra Liolin, Barbara Duggan, and our Sunday School children, who presented us their Christmas Pageant on December 19th.
To Viola Kallinikos, Eli Troja and Christina Liolin, who have made bread for the Liturgy ("Meshe" or "Prosphora").
Daughters of St Nicholas_Message
The Daughters had a very busy December, first helping with the St. Nicholas Luncheon serving and cleaning up. This was immediately followed by the traditional Christmas Pancake Breakfast after the Pageant. Tina Peters did a great job again making her delicious pancakes and everyone enjoyed the day. The Daughters have made several contributions for Christmas to various organizations. After Christmas, the IOCC made an appeal for assistance in the tsunami disaster and the Daughters sent a check for $300 to aid the survivors.
The next meeting of the Daughters is February 14 after Liturgy. I hope to see all the ladies attend the meeting!
Youth Corner
SummerSummer comes by slowly day by
day you sit and work
just waiting for a break summer comes by slowly
but when it ends it seems like all your memories
for three months are rolled up in to one day.
Enea Topore
Copyright ©2005 Enea
Do you know a youth in our congregation who has written a short poem or song? We would love to see it!
