2015.05_boxandspoon

Monthly Newsletter for Stewards of

Holy Anargyroi Sts. Kosmas & Damianos Greek Orthodox Church Box & SpoonBox & Spoon

2015 Standing Committees PARISH COUNCIL Aaron Biedermann-President Halina Woroncow- Vice President Tim Kelly Angie Rustad Don Jenkins Erline Holman Robert Lytle Jacob Petersen Treasurer Ben Johnson STEWARDSHIP /OUTREACH John Maragos Chair Halina Woroncow ICONOGRAPHY Fr. Mark Muoz BUILDING Tim Kelly- Chair BUDGET Jacob Petersen Fr. Mark Muoz AUDIT Amy Franquiera PHILOXENIA HOUSE Brad Holman Chair ST, PHILOTHEI Trevor Hamlen Chaiir GREEK FESTIVAL Erline Holman John Mangouras Denise Mangouras

The Box & Spoon has been a collaborative publication since 2010 with submissions primarily from team leaders.

Design and Editing: John Maragos

Final Approvals:: Fr. Mark

I S S U E

M A Y 2 0 1 5

49

Why did the Holy Spirit descend after the Ascension?

But why did the Holy Spirit come to them,

not while Christ was present, nor even

immediately after his departure, but, whereas

Christ ascended on the fortieth day, the Spirit

descended when the day of Pentecost, that

is, the fiftieth, was fully come?(Acts 2:1)

And how was it, if the Spirit had not yet

come, that He said, Receive ye the Holy

Spirit? (John 20:22) In order to render them

capable and meet for the reception of Him.

For if Daniel fainted at the sight of an Angel

(Dan. 8:17), much more would these when

about to receive so great a grace. Either this

then is to be said, or else that Christ spoke of

what was to come, as if it came already; as

when He said, Tread ye upon serpents and

scorpions, and over all the power of the

devil. (Luke 10:19)

But why had the Holy Spirit not yet come? It

was fit that they should first be brought to

have a longing desire for that event, and so

receive the grace. For this reason Christ

Himself departed, and then the Spirit

descended. For had He Himself been there,

they would not have expected the Spirit so

earnestly as they did. On this account neither

did He come immediately after Christs

Ascension, but after eight or nine days. It is

the same with us also; for our desires towards

God are then most raised, when we stand in

need. Accordingly, John chose that time to

send his disciples to Christ when they were

likely to feel their need of Jesus, during his

own imprisonment. Besides, it was fit that our

nature should be seen in heaven, and that the

reconciliation should be perfected, and then

the Spirit should come, and the joy should be

unalloyed. For, if the Spirit being already

come, Christ had then departed, and the Spirit

remained; the consolation would not have

been so great as it was. For in fact they clung

to Him, and could not bear to part with Him;

wherefore also to comfort them He said, It is

expedient for you that I go away. (John

16:7)

On this account He also waits during those

intermediate days, that they might first

despond for awhile, and be made, as I said, to

feel their need of Him, and then reap a full and

unalloyed delight. But if the Spirit were

inferior to the Son, the consolation would not

have been adequate; and how could He have

said, It is expedient for you? For this

reason the greater matters of teaching were

reserved for the Spirit, that the disciples might

not imagine Him inferior.

Christ Is Risen from the dead, by death, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life. Holy Pascha, April 12th

Calendar for May 2015 Monday May 4th Orthodoxy 101 Class 6pm

Tues-Wed May 5-6th Retreat to St Iakovos Retreat Center & St. John

Chrysostomos Monastery

Thursday May 7th JOY Faith Night 5:30pm

Saturday May 9th GOYA Highway Cleanup 10am

Sunday May 10th Special General Assembly: New Fellowship Hall -

To discuss final approval. after liturgy

Wednesday May 13th Greek Fest Meeting 6pm

Sunday May 17th Sunday School Graduation & Picnic

Tuesday May 19th Leavetaking (Apodosis) of Pascha 7pm

Great Vespers, Orthros. Divine Liturgy

Wednesday May 20th Parish Council Meeting 6:30pm

Thursday May 21st Feast of the Ascension & SS. Konstantine and

Helen 8:30am

Orthros/Divine Liturgy

Thursday May 21st St. Philothei Project 6:00pm

Wednesday May 27th Philoxenia Meeting 6:00pm

Saturday May 30th Saturday of Souls 8:30am

Orthros/Divine Liturgy

Sunday May 31st Feast of Pentecost 8:30am

Orthros/Divine Liturgy/Kneeling Vespers

Special General Assembly Announcement!

Please be advised that all stewards in good financial and spiritual standing are encouraged to attend a Special General Assembly to be held after the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, May 10th.

The sole purpose of this meeting is to discuss the final approval of the Fellowship Hall/Educational Wing building project.

Christ our God, upon fulfilling Your dispensation for us, You ascended in Glory uniting the earthly with the heavenly Holy Ascension, May 21st

2015 Holy Week in Pictures!


2015 Holy Week in Pictures!


Holy Light from the Tomb of Christ in Jerusalem

The ceremony, which awes the souls of Christians, takes place in the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem.

The Holy Fire is the most renowned miracle in the world of Eastern Orthodoxy. It has taken place at the same time, in the same manner, in the same place every single year for centuries. No other miracle is known to occur so regularly and so steadily over time.

It happens in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, the holiest place on earth, where Christ was crucified, entombed, and where He finally rose from the dead.

Watch the Miracle here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opkMsjDmGjY

For more info on the miracle: http://www.holyfire.org/eng/


Youth Team Christ is Risen!

What a beautiful, spiritually edifying Lent and Holy Week we experienced this year! We hope you, too, are still bathed in the joy and light of our Lords glorious Resurrection!

Our youth were everywhere present and participated in many ways in the days preceding Pascha. They provided the backbone of the parish crew for our annual Lazarus Saturday cleaning day. They raised their palms high in procession on Palm Sunday. Our altar boys steadfastly served for hours on weekday nights to assist Father Mark in divine services.

Our GOYAns gathered to reflect on the Crucifixion on Holy Friday while our JOY girls prepared to assume their positions as myrrhbearers for the evening Lamentations. Our families worshipped together at the Anastasis and at Agapi Vespers. The parish family enjoyed a delicious lamb dinner together in the wee hours of Pascha, and later in the morning, we continued our tradition of an egg hunt and a Paschal Pinata in the Fellowship Hall the last to be enjoyed in that building. Next year, God willing, we will celebrate together in our new hall!

We are back to class, and are thankful to be able to finish out the Church School year in our old rooms. We will officially end the catechetical year on May 17th with Graduation after Divine Liturgy, and our Church School Family Picnic to follow. We have two seniors graduating this year we will miss you, Jacob Brekke and Lia Mangouras! You have an open invitation to join GOYA for class or an event anytime!

JOY will have their final Faith Night of the school year on Thursday, May 7th at 5:30 PM in the Church Library. The topic is: "Prophets of Faith". Please let Loredana know if your children will be able to attend.

GOYA will resume their work on the highway brigade on Saturday, May 9th, 10 am, at our usual location. Please plan on helping out as good stewards of our environment.

We wish you all Gods blessings as we await the first colorful blooms of Spring! See you in church!

In Christ, Your Youth Team Loredana Jerghiuta, Mike Brekke, and Halina Woroncow


Stewardship & Outreach LYRA concert a success!

PASCHA Publicity!

Thank you to those who were able to post flyers, contact newspapers, cook meals, clean floors, print materials, invite friends, produce programs, manage ticket sales, and come and enjoy the wonderful concert put on by LYRA!! Our estimate is an audience of about 80, when credit card sales and online presale are considered. We opened our doors to the public, offered a quality experience, and even made a donation to the church! :-)


2015 AHEPA Convention in Rochester!!

June 5th, 6th, 7th

Your Rochester AHEPANS welcome everyone to the annual AHEPA District Convention. This is a chance to meet people from around the upper Midwest and Minnesota, Iowa, the Dakotas, Missouri and Nebraska.

AHEPA is American Hellenic Education and Progressive Association. This organization has donated Millions of dollars through various scholarships and charitable giving. Locally the Rochester AHEPA was instrumental in the formation of

Holy Anargyroi Greek Orthodox Church in 1954. Click here for more information on AHEPA: http://ahepa.org/ahepa/

One of the main beneficiaries of this years convention is The Famed Saint Nicholas National Shrine at World Trade Center in New York City. AHEPA is one of the Main Donors of this worthy and inspiring project

at Ground Zero.



June 5th, 6th, 7th Friday, June 5th is a real great party starting at 6pm at the Rochester Civic Theatre. The Civic Theatre is renowned for their outdoor patio and great food and drink. Famed Culinary artist Johnny Mangouras will be serving Fresh lamb roasted slowly over the open fires. Gyros, Souvlakia and more! Great music, Ethnic dancing from The Greek Dancers of Minnesota and more Great entertainment! A great night on the patio for all ages!

Saturday, June 6th is the grand banquet. We will be honoring local and regional dignitaries. Randy Chapman Publisher of the Rochester Post Bulletin will be the keynote speaker. The Levendes Band will have Greek and American music & dancing all night! This is a family affair and all are invited!

AHEPA Rochester Convention website: http://www.rochestercvb.org/ahepa/

Pre-purchase tickets here: http://ahepaconv2015.weebly.com

Return this portion with check made payable to AHEPA to:

AHEPA 1508 Northern Valley Dr. NE

Rochester, MN 55906

Number Amount ADULTS: $95 in advance; $135 at door X ___________ = $__________

STUDENTS: (High school or college) $65 X ___________ = $__________ CHILDREN: $30 X ___________ = $__________ (Above prices include Friday night, Saturday night and Sunday events) SUBTOTAL: = $__________

Individual Events: Adult Student Child Number Amount Friday Night at Civic Theatre $30 $30 $15 X ___________ = $__________ Saturday Night Banquet $50 $40 $20 X ___________ = $__________ Sunday Lunch $20 $20 $10 X ___________ = $__________

SUBTOTAL: = $__________ CHECK TOTAL: = $__________ NAME: ____________________________



June 5th, 6th, 7th

CONVENTION AD BOOK Return this portion with ad copy AND check made payable to AHEPA to:

AHEPA 1508 Northern Valley Dr. NE

Rochester, MN 55906 AD SIZE PRICE FULL PAGE: $ 250 HALF PAGE: $ 150 QUARTER PAGE:$ 100 EIGHTH PAGE: $ 75

NAME: _____________________________ CHECK TOTAL: $__________


Philoptochos Society Christos Anesti!

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Firstly, I would like to thank all the Philoptochos Society members who came out in droves, like they always do, for the church during Holy Week. You are much like the hard working Myrrhbearing women who faithfully and obediently assisted Christ throughout His earthly ministry and were the first to hear the Good News of His Resurrection! May God bless all of you who work hard for the Lord and our parish with such love.

Thank you to Ann Kolas and Jackie Barbes for leading the Palm Sunday dinner. Thank you to George Yogi Kereakos for his traditional donation of the paying for the fish so more proceeds can go directly into our Philoptochos account. Thank you to all of you who attended the luncheon and gave a little extra. We raised $931. Thank God.

Philoptochos is sponsoring a trip to the Saint Iakovos Retreat Center and the Saint John Chrysostomos Monastery on May 5th and 6th. This is our parishs first trip of this kind as the Retreat Center has just been completed. If you are interested please see Calli or email [email protected]

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, May 12th at 6pm in the Church library.

On Saturday, May 16th; we have a walkathon, weather permitting, to raise funds for our many philanthropic charities. The proceeds from this event will go directly into our account so we can give it away to those in need. The cost of the walkathon is $10 per walker and there is a waiver to sign. Sign up is the morning of the walk (May 16) at 9:30am. We will meet at East Silver Lake Shelter and we will walk once around Silver Lake which is a little under 2 miles. The easy route allows for people of all ages to join the walk. Its a family affair and open to the public. Please come and support our Society. Thank you!

With sisterly love in CHRIST+ Calli Kelly, Philoptochos President

Philoptochos Walkathon Fundraiser

Saturday May 16th

East Silver Lake Shelter at 10am Please join us, weather permitting, as we walk once around Silver Lake (a little under 2 miles) to raise money for our many philanthropic charities. Cost is $10 per person, there is a waiver to sign and registration begins at the East Silver Lake Shelter on East Silver Lake Drive at 9:30am with the walk beginning at 10am.The event will be over by 11am, is open to all ages and the public. Please come, bring your family and friends and join us with a little exercise and fresh air while raising money for those in need. Thank you!


Mid Pentecost Spiritual Retreat 2015 St Iakovos Retreat Center and

St John Chrysostomos Monastery May 5th and 6th

Please consider joining us as our parish plans its 1st official retreat to the

newly constructed Metropolis Retreat Center. On Tuesday May 5th, we

will meet at church at 7:30am and travel to the retreat center in Wiscon-

sin. There we will have an afternoon Walk with the Saints, dinner, Ves-

pers Service, a presentation/discussion with Father Mark before early

lights out. Very early in the morning (about 3:30am) on Wednesday, May

6th, we will travel to the St John Chrysostomos Monastery for the Mid-

Pentecost with the nuns. We will tour the Monastery and have lunch be-

fore heading back to Rochester (arriving around 7pm). This is a Philopto-

chos sponsored retreat that is available to all men and women who would

like to participate in Orthodox fellowship. The cost is $100 per person.

To rsvp; please contact Calli or email [email protected]


MID-PENTECOST

SPIRITUAL RETREAT 2015:

ST. IAKOVOS RETREAT

CENTER & ST. JOHN

CHRYSOSTOMOS

MONASTERY- MAY 5TH-6TH

Please consider joining us as our parish plans its 1st official retreat to the newly constructed Metropolis

Retreat Center! We will meet at church on 7:30am Tues. May 5th and travel to the Retreat Center in

Wisconsin. There we will have afternoon Walk with the Saints, dinner, Vespers Service, and a

presentation/discussion with Fr. Mark before early lights out. Very early the next morning (around

3:30am) we will travel to the Monastery for Mid-Pentecost Divine Liturgy with the nuns. We will tour the

Monastery and have lunch then return to Rochester around 7pm. This is a Philoptochos sponsored retreat

that is available to all men and women who would like to participate in Orthodox fellowship. The cost is

$100 per person; to rsvp please contact Calli Kelly at [email protected]!

HOLY EQUAL TO THE APOSTLES and SAINTS CONSTANTINE & HELEN (MAY 21st)

This great and renowned sovereign of the Christians was the son of Constantius Chlorus (the ruler of the westernmost parts of the Roman empire), and of the blessed Helen. He was born in 272, in (according to some authorities) Naissus of Dardania, a city on the Hellespont. In 306, when his father died, he was proclaimed successor to his throne. In 312, on learning that Maxentius and Maximinus had joined forces against him, he marched into Italy, where, while at the head of his troops, he saw in the sky after midday, beneath the sun, a radiant pillar in the form of a cross with the words: "By this shalt thou conquer." The following night, our Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him in a dream and declared to him the power of the Cross and its significance. When he arose in the morning, he immediately ordered that a labarum be made (which is a banner or standard of victory over the enemy) in the form of a cross, and he inscribed on it the Name of Jesus Christ. On the 28th Of October, he attacked and mightily conquered Maxentius, who drowned in the Tiber River while fleeing. The following day, Constantine entered Rome in triumph and was

proclaimed Emperor of the West by the Senate, while Licinius, his brother-in-law, ruled in the East. But out of malice, Licinius later persecuted the Christians. Constantine fought him once and again, and utterly destroyed him in 324, and in this manner he became monarch over the West and the East. Under him and because of him all the persecutions against the Church ceased. Christianity triumphed and idolatry was overthrown. In 325 he gathered the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, which he himself personally addressed. In 324, in the ancient city of Byzantium, he laid the foundations of the new capital of his realm, and solemnly inaugurated it on May 11, 330, naming it after himself, Constantinople. Since the throne of the imperial rule was transferred thither from Rome, it was named New Rome, the inhabitants of its domain were called Romans, and it was considered the continuation of the Roman Empire. Falling ill near Nicomedia, he requested to receive divine Baptism, according to Eusebius (The Life of Constantine. Book IV, 61-62), and also according to Socrates and Sozomen; and when he had been deemed worthy of the Holy Mysteries, he reposed in 337, on May 21 or 22, the day of Pentecost, having lived sixty-five years, of which he ruled for thirty-one years. His remains were transferred to Constantinople and were deposed in the Church of the Holy Apostles, which had been built by him (see Homily XXVI on Second Corinthians by Saint John Chrysostom). As for his holy mother Helen, after her son had made the Faith of Christ triumphant throughout the Roman Empire, she undertook a journey to Jerusalem and found the Holy Cross on which our Lord was crucified (see Sept. 13 and 14). After this, Saint Helen, in her zeal to glorify Christ, erected churches in Jerusalem at the sites of the Crucifixion and Resurrection, in Bethlehem at the cave where our Saviour was born, another on the Mount of Olives whence He ascended into Heaven, and many others throughout the Holy Land, Cyprus, and elsewhere. She was proclaimed Augusta, her image was stamped upon golden coins, and two cities were named Helenopolis after her in Bithynia and in Palestine. Having been thus glorified for her piety, she departed to the Lord being about eighty years of age, according to some in the year 330, according to others, in 336.


SAVE THE DATE! Holy Land Pilgrimage

August 15th - 25th, 2016

It is with great joy and enthusiasm that I announce to you an extraordinary and unforgettable opportunity.

I will be leading a pilgrimage to the Holy Lands in August of 2016, and I would like to cordially invite you to be a part of this life changing spiritual journey! Our 10 day Pilgrimage will take in all the major sites in and around the holy city of Jerusalem, Judea and Galilee.

Imagine standing on the summit of the Mount of Olives where our Saviour ascended to His Father, wading the waters of the Jordan River where Christ was baptized, sailing on the Sea of Galilee where the Apostles fished, and finally worshipping in the sepulcher where Christ crushed death through His holy Resurrection. This, and more, awaits us all!

I have contracted an Israeli travel agency, Ami Travel, which has offices in Chicago as our trip coordinator. We have used the same agency twice before and had an incredible experience without any problems or concerns. I am again completely confident in their abilities to make our Pilgrimage safe, personal, and accommodating. I look forward to sharing this unique and treasured experience with all of you! More detailed information to follow.

Sincerely, Fr. Mark

2015.05_boxandspoon

Documents

holy spirit

reason christ

john maragos final approvals

mark i s s u e

stewards of holy anargyroi

need of jesus

tread ye

day of pentecost