The Trophy-Bearer A monthly publication of Saint George Greek Orthodox Church

New Castle, Pennsylvania June & July 2019 Volume III, Issue 6&7

Holy New Hieromartyr Cyprian at Constantinople

July 5th

Holy Martyr Theophanes of Constantinople

June 8th

ΙΕΡΟΣ ΝΑΟΣ ΑΓΙΟΥ ΓΕΩΡΓΙΟΥ SAINT GEORGE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

315 W. Englewood Avenue - New Castle, PA 16105 Church: (724) 654–8521 - www.stgeorgenewcastle.org

Fr. Michael A. Gavrilos - Parish Priest FrMichael@stgeorgenewcastle.org

Parish Council Members President—Helen Ritchie

Vice-President—Artie Christou Treasurer—Nicholas Ligerakis Secretary—Deno Neofotistos

Josh Ballew Nik Foukas

Eric Karmecy

Service Times Please Check the Monthly Calendar for Services

Services Times—Unless Otherwise Noted Sunday Orthros 8:15 a.m. Sunday Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m. Mon-Sat Orthros & Divine Liturgy 8:30 a.m. Evening Services 6:00 p.m.

Confession: By Appointment

The Trophy-Bearer If you would like an article, or photos in The Trophy-Bearer, submit them electronically to

Fr. Michael (FrMichael@stgeorgenewcastle.org) no later than the 15th of the month.

“Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.” -James 5:14

If you or your loved one is sick, in the hospital, or need a priest, please contact Fr. Michael so that he will be able to visit them.

Fr. Michael’s Message Christ is in our Midst!

Throughout the Church year, you can almost always see a trend in attendance that happens

year in and year out. During the first few weeks of September, the attendance at Church is

decently high, and then October and November happen, and the numbers decrease. December comes

along and then the numbers seem to be about the same until Christmas time when there’s an increase,

and then they tend to fall back to the lower numbers. During Lent with all the extra services, the

numbers vary a little bit, but are still seemingly low. Then the feast of feasts happens, Pascha, and the

Church seems to be bursting at the seams. Then summer comes, and as the clergyman looks out into his

congregation, the number of congregants is very low. Numbers vary from church to church, however

every Church will have some type of cycle that happens every year, with little to no variance.

In our Orthodox Christian faith, we do not sit in a classroom Monday-Friday and from August

until June. Instead, we gather together every Sunday and hear the Gospel proclaimed during the Divine

Liturgy. We are in “The ‘school’ of Orthodoxy” from the time we are baptized until we die. One of the

major differences is the fact that our faith is not just something you listen to or learn, it is a 24/7

vocation. We do not get summers off, and we need to utilize what we learn every day, week, and year.

All too often we get into a routine and just seem to be going through the motions of life, and

unfortunately this includes our Church life.

While I was studying in seminary, I remember a priest visiting the school, and something he

said stuck with me. “Do not be a CEO! Some people want that, but being a CEO is not good!” Seeing

the confused look on most people’s faces, he explained further, “I am not talking about a Chief

Executive Officer. I am talking about a Christmas/Easter Only Orthodox Christian.” This has stuck

with me from the time I heard it, and I have used it in multiple sermons in my priesthood.

Starting from Pascha until the Apodosis of Pascha 40 days later, Orthodox Christians

throughout the entire world would greet each other with “Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!” It is a

constant reminder of our Risen Lord. It was a glorious 40 days, hearing this greeting over and over and

over again. The question that I asked my congregation after this Paschal period was, “How are we

going to greet each other the next 325 days of the year? Good morning, how are you? Or are we going

to continue with a Christ-centered greeting?”

We need to remember to keep Christ at the forefront and center of our lives at all times. One

way we can do this is to always greet each other with a Christian greeting. Let us continue the joy and

fervor we felt during Pascha, and carry it over throughout the year. Let us greet each other with “Christ

is in our midst!” and may it be a constant reminder that “He is and always shall be!”

With Love in Christ, Fr. Michael A. Gavrilos

Theophanes was born in the village of Zapanti, today's Kalovrisi, in Kalamata, to his pious parents Nicholas and Kyro. In the world he was known as Theodore and in his youth he travelled to Constantinople where he learned sewing under a harsh employer. At one point a group of Muslims persuaded him to become a Muslim, and for six years he learned Turkish and Arabic. In the course of his studies he remembered his Orthodox Faith, and began a process of repentance. The young and handsome Theodore sought a guide to lead him on the path of repentance and guide his soul towards salvation, and for this he found Metropolitan Gabriel Seviros of Philadelphia (1577-1616) in Venice. This holy hierarch taught, nurtured and encouraged Theodore, and tonsured him a monk giving him the name Theophanes. This strengthened him to return to his homeland to receive martyrdom for the completion of his repentance. In Constantinople he was unable to accomplish his martyric wishes, so he travelled to Athens. After three days of prayer Theophanes courageously appeared before the judge confessing Jesus Christ and renouncing Islam. Again not taken seriously he was told to leave. He tried again in Evia and Larissa, pleading to the judges to suffer on behalf of his renunciation. The harsh judge of Larissa had him whipped 600 times, which Theophanes received with gratitude and joy. After he was healed of his wounds, he left for Mount Athos. On Mount Athos he met virtuous monks and spiritual elders, where he received their advice and blessings. He settled at Vatopaidi Monastery where he met Hierodeacon Sinesios of Vatopaidi, who later wrote the biography and hymns of the Saint which is preserved at Vatopaidi. Empowered by his stay on Mount Athos, he travelled again to Constantinople to complete his intention for martyrdom. There he met the holy Euthymios, who prepared him to undergo martyrdom with a strong confession. He received Holy Communion, and after a compunctionate all-night vigil he proceeded with courage to the local judge. With all the strength of his soul he confessed Christ before the judge and renounced Islam. Enraged by this the judge sent him immediately to prison to think of the right punishment. While in prison the Saint was beat and kicked by the guards. The judge called for him again thinking he may have been drunk, but Theophanes spoke of how he sinned greatly in accepting Islam and rejoiced exceedingly on becoming a Christian again. The judge thus ordered that he be whipped 700 times and be imprisoned. During his second imprisonment the guards would mock him and put him under severe tortures. The Saint afterwards prayed for three hours, and after saying "amen" a great earthquake took place and the prison then became immersed in light, which brought great joy to his soul and he glorified God. The guards dropped at the feet of the Saint upon seeing this, begging forgiveness for what they did, and through the guidance of Theophanes some became Christians. Theophanes was brought before the leaders once again after all this, and the Saint went fearlessly. He rejected the enticement to renounce his Christian Faith for riches and power, and it was decided that he would be tortured horribly and be put to death. The Martyr was thus tied to a wooden pole and strips of skin were peeled from his chest and back. Putting him like this on a donkey, they showcased and humiliated him throughout the streets of Constantinople. They also put hooks through his body. Through this horrific torture and great suffering however, the Saint remained calm and was in sincere prayer. He thanked the Holy Trinity and prayed that he may be a cause for unbelievers to repent. After his prayer a white bird like a dove came upon him that descended from the sky. While he was filled with joy, the crowd was perplexed. Many Turks saw this and confessed that Christ was God as proclaimed and glorified by the Martyr. The dove remained with him for three hours, then went away. As darkness came, the Saint, like Christ, said "I thirst". The guards said that if he became a Muslim, then he would receive water. Theophanes responded that Christ has cooled him, and his thirst is for salvation. Through the night there was a thunder and lightening storm, all the while the Saint was immersed in light. The attending Turks were confessing Christianity as the true Faith as a result. This scared the executioners, since the people were calling out his innocence, so they took a sharp object and began to brutally scratch the Saint, taking out his eyes. From this the Saint gave up his spirit and his sacrifice was complete. After this the Christians payed the executioners to receive the body, and they also gathered up his blood. These became a source of miracles for the lame, the lepers, the possessed, and those who were sick for many years. The executioners eventually had a bad end and some became blind, mad, or drowned at sea. Some even repented. The martyrdom of the Saint is placed on June 8, 1559. These sources are based on the account by St. Nikodemos the Hagiorite. But P.B. Paschou places the martyrdom of the Saint in 1588 based on Codex 339 of the Metochion of the Holy Sepulchre in Constantinople and Codex 797 of the Holy Monastery of Vatopaidi, since his death in 1559 does not coincide with his meeting of Metropolitan Gabriel Seviros.

SOURCE: https://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2011/06/saint-theophanes-new-martyr-of.html

COVER ICON—Holy Martyr Theophanes of Constantinople June 8th

Cyprian (Kyprianos) was born in the village of Kletzos in the province of Litza and Agra-

pha in northern Greece, from devout Christian parents. After becoming a monk at a young age he

was made worthy of the holy priesthood. Upon being ordained, Father Cyprian went to the Holy

Mountain and lived in the Cell of Saint George near Koutloumousiou Monastery. There he culti-

vated the virtues and became an exemplary monk.

Meanwhile, the heart of Cyprian was inflamed for martyrdom. For this reason he left the

quietude and calm of his cell and departed for Thessaloniki, where he boldly preached Christ be-

fore the judge, urging those present to repudiate Islam and follow the path of Christ. Those pre-

sent thought him to be a lunatic, so they beat him up and kicked him out of the court.

The flame in his heart for martyrdom did not diminish from this, but rather increased.

Therefore Cyprian departed for Constantinople where he boldly entered the palace of the Grand

Vizier Kara Mustafa, to whom he preached the Christian faith. The Grand Vizier was surprised

by the words and boldness of Cyprian, so he in turn tried to persuade him to accept Islam. But he

failed. Hence Cyprian was sent to the mufti, to whom he preached the same message of salvation.

At a certain point the Grand Vizier lost patience with Cyprian, so he sentenced him to

death, and this sentence was gladly accepted by Cyprian. He was beheaded in the Phanar section

of Constantinople, the area in which the Ecumenical Patriarchate has been located since 1601.

In this way was the deep longing of Cyprian fulfilled, giving his life for the love of Jesus

Christ, in imitation of the saints, on Saturday, July 5th, in the year 1679. His martyrdom was rec-

orded by John Karyophyllis.

Apolytikion in the Third Tone

The divine eros for your Lord and the seeking after your martyrdom, commonly held the angels

and the faithful in awe, all-praised one; through asceticism and the great boldness of your confes-

sion and the spilling of your blood, athlete Cyprian, intercede to Christ God to save our souls.

Kontakion

Offspring of Koritsa of divine Eurytania, the support of Kletzos, the boast of Koutloumousiou, let

us bless Cyprian, the new Martyr and new ornament.

Megalynarion

Elect child of Koritsa, honorable and revered child of Agrapha that gives it rest, the divine digni-

ty of Koutloumousiou Monastery, Cyprian the New, we ever praise you.

SOURCE: https://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2015/07/saint-cyprian-new-hieromartyr-1679.html

COVER ICON—Holy New Hieromartyr Cyprian at Constatinople July 5th

June 2019

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 St. George Gyro Fest 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.

2

Sunday of the Blindman Orthros & Divine Liturgy

3 4

5:30 p.m. Vespers, Orthros, Divine Liturgy (Apodosis of Pascha)

5

Apodosis of Pascha 5:30 p.m. 9th Hour, Vespers, Orthros, (Holy Ascension)

6

Holy Ascension 8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy

7 8

9

Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council Orthros & Divine Liturgy

Parish Council Meeting

10 11 12 13 14 15

Saturday of Souls 8:00 a.m. Orthros, Divine Liturgy, Memorials

16

Holy Pentecost Orthros & Divine Liturgy (Great Vespers to immediately follow)

17

Monday of the Holy Spirit 8:00 a.m. Orthros & Divine Liturgy

18 19

Festival Baking—

Dolmades

20 21 22

23

All Saints Orthros & Divine Liturgy

24

25 26 27 28 29

Sts. Peter & Paul 8:00 a.m. Orthros & Divine Liturgy

30

Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles Orthros & Divine Liturgy

~~~ Apostles Fast ~~~ Apostles Fast ~~~ Apostles Fast ~~~

~~~ Summer Camp—Middle School Week (5th-7th Grades) ~~~

~~~ Summer Camp—Elementary Week (2nd-4th Grade) ~~~

~~~ Summer Camp—Junior High Week (7th-9th Grades) ~~~

July 2019 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2 3 4 5 6

7

3rd Sunday of Matthew Orthros & Divine Liturgy

8 9 10 11 12 13

14

Fathers of the 4th Ecumenical Council Orthros & Divine Liturgy

15 16 17 18 19 20

21

5th Sunday of Matthew Orthros, Divine Liturgy, & 1-Year Memorial for Fr. Photios

22 23 24 25 26 27

28

6th Sunday of Matthew Orthros & Divine Liturgy

29 30 31

~~~ Summer Camp—Junior High Week (7th-9th Grades) ~~~

~~~ Summer Camp—Senior High Week (10th-12th Grades) ~~~

~~~ Father Michael on Vacation~~~

~~~ Father Michael on Vacation~~~

~~~ Father Michael on Vacation~~~

Saint George Greek Orthodox Church 315 W. Englewood Avenue New Castle, PA 16105