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April 2016 ¨1645 Phillips Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32308 ¨ (850) 878-0747 ¨ Rev. Fr. Robert J. O’Loughlin¨ http://www.hmog.org
Reflecting on Our Cross and Sinfulness ~ A Message from Fr. Robert
Each one of us has a cross to bear in life. Therefore, looking at the Cross of Jesus can
strengthen our will for Christ in our lives. There is a story that you may have heard or
seen before about one very poor man that always complained to God that he had the most difficult cross to carry and he asked God to change it. One night an angel appeared
to him in a dream and took him to a room with many crosses of different sizes in it, with
each individually covered by a cloth. The poor man was allowed to pick any cross he
wanted but he could not uncover any before he made his choice. Looking around the
room this man could not decide which one would be easy enough for him to carry. Final-
ly, he found the smallest cross and uncovered it; there was written on this cross: "Poverty." As he was already poor, he himself had now picked the same cross he knew
how and was best able to carry. The lesson of this story is that God gives us the easiest
cross we can bear. We should be thankful for it because our cross reminds us of the way
to eternal salvation.
Great Lent is a test of faith and we are always making decisions which conform with the way of Christ or
counter to the way of Christ. Daily vigilance is necessary and requires alertness to the dangers of sin. Vigi-lance is a state of readiness to do battle with sin. Fasting and prayer keep the body and mind in a state of
readiness. Through confessing our sins and changing ourselves for the better, an inner transformation oc-
curs. The joy of forgiveness gives us new life in Christ. Great Lent re-opens the mind to the greatness of
God. It can encourage us on our way to reach salvation that we do not think only about our imperfections.
The Cross gives us hope that there is a light at the end of our journey made possible through Jesus’ death
and resurrection.
Our sinfulness is of primary interest during Great Lent. If we take this period seriously by fasting, praying
and increasing our attendance at the services, our sins will become more apparent to us. Exercising our
faith and making the best use of this time through serious prayer and fasting increases the benefits of Great
Lent and our lives can be transformed. Great Lent is an opportunity to contemplate the love of God and an
opportunity to think of the miracles, teachings and the love of Christ. We can benefit in reflecting about our relationship with Christ. An honest self-examination can reveal if we love the Lord our God with all our heart, all our soul and all our mind and if we love our neighbor as ourselves. (Matthew 22:37)
Great Lent is a period of time when we have to think about what is holding us back and preventing us from
following Christ fully. For some it may be anger that holds them back, for others it may be love of their
wealth, for other people it may be their laziness or pride. Our Orthodox Church asks us during this time not
only to think about our imperfections but also to begin our transformation into becoming a person suitable for the Kingdom of God.
Let us continue to look towards the Cross in strengthening our relationship with Christ and wishing you a
continued blessed Lenten journey,
Fr. Robert
Page 2
Schedule of Services for Holy Week and Pascha
April 24th - Palm Sunday: Orthros 9:30 a.m. and Liturgy 10:30 a.m. Luncheon to follow.
Palm Sunday Evening, Bridegroom Service: 6:00 p.m.
April 25th – Holy Monday: Pre-Sanctified Liturgy, 9:00 a.m.;
Bridegroom Service 6:00 p.m. April 26th – Holy Tuesday: Pre-Sanctified Liturgy, 9:00 a.m.;
Bridegroom Service 6:00 p.m. April 27th – Holy Wednesday: Pre-Sanctified Liturgy, 9:00 a.m.;
Holy Unction, 5:00 p.m. April 28th – Holy Thursday: Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, 9:00 a.m.;
Holy Passion Service, 7:00 p.m. April 29th – Holy Friday: Royal Hours, 9:00 a.m.;
Vespers - Taking Down from the Cross (Apocathelosis),
3:00 p.m.;
Lamentations Service, 7:00 p.m. April 30th – Holy and Great Saturday: Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, 9:00 a.m.;
Resurrectional Service, 11:00 p.m. May 1st – Holy and Great Pascha/Easter: Agape Service, 11:00 a.m.
Glendi to follow
Dear Parishioners,
March was another great month for our various min-istries in our Parish. We had another successful spa-ghetti dinner. The Philoptochos Family Fun Day was a good time. Everyone enjoyed the chili, hotdogs, and Bingo. In addition, AHEPA sponsored the celebration of Greek Independence Day. The pro-gram was very informative while the luncheon was delicious. Many thanks to our volunteers for all these wonderful events.
Have a blessed Lent, Catherine Branch
Our next ECHO Sundays are April 3
and May 8. Please drop off your non-
perishable food donations into the bins
located in the Hellenic Center and Patmos Hall.
If an emergency or special need should
arise, please contact Fr. Rob immedi-
ately at 850-559-8184.
Holy Friday Adorning the Kouvouklion
Holy Friday is the most solemn day of our liturgical calendar. Please join us
following the service of Royal Hours as we adorn the Tomb of Christ (Kouvouklion) with flowers. All are invited to come and help with the preparations. The Epitaphios (Christ’s Burial Icon or Holy Shroud) will be laid inside the Kou-vouklion at the afternoon service. Then, in the evening, our community will gather to sing the Lamentations and to join in a solemn procession at Holy Friday Night’s service.
*A light lunch will be available in Patmos Hall.
Mark your calendars for the
This year's Greek Food Festival is scheduled for
Friday, October 21st and Saturday, October 22nd.
Page 3
Cale
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April
2016
Page 4
Thanks to those who served on Youth Sunday: Greeters-Valeria Atayants and Anne Leftheris,
Epistle Reader-William Perrigan, Passing trays-Hunter Frankeberger and Lucas Hill.
Thanks GOYANs for cleaning the
Church at the March meeting.
Sat. April 23rd Lazarus Saturday
Pancake Breakfast
Sunday of Orthodoxy
Junior Division Valeria Atayants
Senior Division Alex Caspary
Elementary Division
Anastasia Atayants
Ivan Rabbath
Anna Atayants
Kristina Grigoryan
March Meeting on FSU Campus
Next Meeting April 14th
AHEPA News The AHEPA Patmos Chapter 317 is offering $300 scholarships to college bound graduating High
School Seniors that apply and qualify. Please pick up the form at the church office or see Mr. Papageorge. The deadline is Sunday, May 8, 2016.
Celebration of the
Annunciation of the Theotokos
and
Greek Independence Day
Page 5
PATRIARCHAL AND SYNODICAL ENCYCLICAL
ON THE CONVOCATION OF THE HOLY AND GREAT COUNCIL
OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCH
† B A R T H O L O M E W
Our holy Orthodox Church, adorned in purple and fine linen by the blood of her martyrs, the tears of her Saints, and the struggles and sacrifices of her confessors of faith, celebrates today her nameday. Following a century-long struggle, this day was appropriately identi-fied as the Sunday of Orthodoxy, marking the day in which truth shone and triumphed over falsehood through the veneration of holy
icons as the bearers of the personal presence and divine grace of the incarnate Son and Logos of God and of His saints. In this way, it was acknowledged and proclaimed for all time that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14), honoring and sanctifying
material creation and our body in order to render them partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter, 1:4), partakers in divine grace and life.
On the way to this great and salvific truth—which was attacked by those who refused to venerate holy icons—the triumph of truth over falsehood treaded along the same path followed by the Church from the beginning of her history, namely the truth of conciliarity. The
distinction between truth and falsehood—orthodoxy and heresy—is not always easily discernible. Even heretics believed, and continue to believe, that they possessed the truth; moreover, there will always be some who shall consider those who do not agree with their po-sition as “heretics.” The Orthodox Church, in this case, recognizes only one authority: the Council of her canonical hierarchs. Beyond a conciliar decision, the distinction between orthodoxy and heresy is not possible. The Church’s dogmas and holy canons bear the seal of
conciliarity. Orthodoxy is the conciliar Church.
The Orthodox Church has always emphasized this ecclesiological authority, and implements it faithfully on the local level. For centu-
ries, this has also occurred on an ecumenical or pan-orthodox level; however, for historical circumstances, it has been interrupted for quite some time. Today, we find ourselves in a position to officially announce from our ecumenical throne that, by the grace of God, and with the consent of all the Primates of the Holy Orthodox Churches, that we will realize a decision taken more than fifty years ago and convene the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church on the island of Crete on June 18-27, 2016. The Council shall begin its
work with a pan-Orthodox celebration of the Divine Liturgy in the Holy Church of Saint Menas, Heraklion, Crete, on the great and aus-picious Feast of Pentecost. Deliberations shall proceed at the Orthodox Academy in Kolymbari, Chania. Our Modesty shall preside over the Holy and Great Council, with the other Primates of Orthodox Churches at our side; other hierarchs shall participate as members of
the Council through the official delegation of these Churches.
The foremost and most important goal of this Pan-Orthodox Council shall be to teach that the Orthodox Church is the One, Holy, Cath-
olic and Apostolic Church, united in the Sacraments—especially in the Holy Eucharist, in the Orthodox faith, but also in conciliarity. To this end, ongoing planning for the Council has occurred through a series of Preparatory Committees and Pre-Conciliar Conferences,
ensuring the unanimous spirit of the Council’s decisions and that her message is conveyed in one voice and in one heart.
The issues—already delineated on a pan-orthodox level by the time the convocation of the Council was decided—that shall be reviewed by the Holy and Great Council primarily focus on matters relating to the internal operation and life of the Orthodox Church; for this
reason, they must be immediately resolved. Moreover, there are issues pertaining to the relations of Orthodoxy with the rest of the Christian world, as well as the mission of the Church in our time. We certainly recognize that the world awaits to hear the voice of the Orthodox Church on many pressing problems that humanity faces today. However, it was deemed necessary that the Orthodox Church should first settle internal matters before speaking to or addressing the world, which is still considered her obligation. The fact that
Orthodoxy will express its conciliarity on a global level after the passing of so many centuries constitutes a first and most decisive step
that, by the grace of God, is expected to lead to the convening of further Pan-Orthodox Councils, soon thereafter.
Beloved brethren and children in the Lord,
Great historic events are guided by the grace of God, Who, ultimately, is the Lord of History. We might sow and labor; however, only God multiplies (1 Cor. 3:8). The Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church indeed constitutes a historic event and we therefore place our hope in God for its realization. We call upon the Orthodox faithful in the world—clergy and laity—to pray to the Triune God
that He may crown this event with His blessings, fortifying His Church to the glory of His name. We live in critical times and the unity of the Church must serve as the example of unity for a humanity torn apart by divisions and conflicts. The success of the Holy and Great Council concerns every member of the Church, who are invited to share their interests thereon. The texts that have been agreed upon on a pan-orthodox level and which have been submitted to the Holy and Great Council have already been made publicly available
to every faithful of good will. These texts are not only intended to inform and update the faithful, but to also elicit their opinions and
expectations of the Holy and Great Council.
Having announced this to the plenitude of the Orthodox Church throughout the world on this auspicious day, we pray that the lord God bestow upon His Church and all of you His abundant grace and blessing, and to the world peace at all times in all ways (2 Thes.
3:16).
20 March, in the year of our Lord, 2016
† Bartholomew, Archbishop of Constantinople
Your fervent supplicant to God
Page 6
Philoptochos News
Email: hmogphil@comcast.net
also visit us on Facebook at Holy Mother of God Philoptochos Society of Tallahassee Florida
The following parishioners have submitted a stewardship form or monies as of March 23rd totaling $47,706. If you have any questions, please
contact the Parish Council Treasurer Glen Perrigan at pappaglen@gmail.com or (850) 294-2738.
Andris, Steve and Jackie
Andros, James
Angel, Dwight and Kimberly
Arbulu, Roberto and Marianne
Barkas, Chris and Patty
Belcher, Mark and Deborah
Branch, Harold and Catherine
Burmester, Mike and Rodomandi
Burrell, Mark and Bonnie
Butler, Jeff and Koulla Myers
Buzyna, George and Helen
Calamas, James
Camechis, Pat and Johnnie
Catsimpiris, George and Vicki
Costa, Barbara
Demetrelis, Elpis
Downing, Dorothy
Drzewiecki, Alexander and Meredith
Drzewiecki, Gary and Olibia
Enis, Carl and Angela Drzewiecki
Eudy, Michael & Lynette
Evans, Maryelen
Fetzko, Ronnie
Frankeberger, Gil and Margarita
Futch, Scott and Tiffany
Gavalas, Janet
Gavalas, Mike and Vicky
Gavalas, Victor and Mary
Gonatos, Michael and Cheryl
Gorb, Jorge and Carol
Hadoulis, Peter and Kathy
Harris, Larry and Christina
Ilin, Yuri and Larisa
Joanos, Emanuel and Laura
Joanos, Theo and Mary Anne
Joanos, Stamatia
Karas, Daniel
Katopodis, John and Evi
Kiger, Russell and Amber
Klonis, Nikolaos and Mary
Koikos, George and Karen
Koikos, Pete and Zografia
Langston, Sophia
Lapointe, Leonard and Corinne
Lockwood, Yvonne
Manias, Stelios
Markovich, Martin and Elizabeth
Mathes, George and Connie
Mathes, George and Katy
Mayernick, Fr. Paul and Presv. Joan
Mayernick, Nicholas and Rachel
McMillan, Norman and Cynthia
Michas, Andrew and Frances
Mookas, Tom and Debbie
Nolas, Billy and Julie
Nolas, Helen
Papageorge, Mike and Sally
Pappas, Nicholas A.
Parmer, Keith and Nia
O'Loughlin, Fr. Robert and Presv. Joy
Patronis, Johnnie & Mari
Perrigan, Glen and Dianne Pappachristou
Phipps, Jeffrey and Mary Mathes
Poulos, Andrew and Angie
Psikogios, Michael
Rabbath, Claude and Nina Biadulina
Reeves, Corinna
Richardson, John and Destin Stewart
Rozes, George and Anna
Speed, Ian
Stratis, Nick
Talantis, Kathleen
Valentine, Tom and Angela
Vlandis, John and Katherine C.
Vajagich, Morris
Vrynios, Pete and Jennifer
Webb, Dorothy Deanna
Worden, William and Stacy Keith
NEXT MEETING: SUNDAY, APRIL 10th - In Patmos Hall following Divine Liturgy and a Lenten Lunch will be provided
Annual Greek Dinner: May 13th - Baking Schedule:
April 5th 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm (Galatoboureko & Baklava)
April 9th 8:00 am until …….. (Kourambiedes, Pastistio, Spanakopita & Tiropitas)
Any and all help is much appreciated!
Scholarships for College Bound Students
We are looking forward to congratulating all of our graduating high school seniors this year and are encouraging them to apply for the
Philoptochos Scholarships that are worth $200. Requirements are college acceptance and a paper written on “What My Orthodox
Faith Means to Me”.
Family Fun Day
Page 7
Lilies for Pascha
If you would like to donate an Easter Lily plant ($15.00) in memory of a loved one, please complete the form that is located in the Narthex or church office and return to church office by Friday, April 22nd. The Reflections
and the weekly handout will list the names you submit of those to be memorialized.
EASTER EGG DYE will be available at the Pangari (Narthex) for $1.50/package.
Please bring your offering of red Easter eggs to the Resurrectional Service Saturday evening and place
eggs in the basket near the Church; 1-3 dozen is welcome so all attending the Resurrection Service and
the Agape Service will receive a blessed egg. Thank-you.
Saturday of Lazarus
Community Pancake
Breakfast (Hosted by GOYA)
Saturday, April 23rd
following Divine Liturgy at 9:00 a.m.
Palm-folding and fellowship
Pascha/Easter Glendi
Sunday, May 1st
Luncheon Following the
Agape Service
Easter Egg Hunt for children
Adults $15.00
Children & Students $8.00
Children under 10 no charge
Fish Luncheon following Liturgy
Adults $14.00
Children & Students $8.00
If your daughters, 1st thru 6th grades, are interested in being Myrrh-bearing girls, please let the church
office know by April 18th at 850-878-0747.
Easter Candy
It would be greatly appreciated if anyone would like to donate individually wrapped candy (non-chocolate) for the children’s Easter egg hunt. Please drop off at the church office.
Following the Resurrection Service please join us for the beginning of the
Pascha celebration in the Hellenic Center for some delicious Avgolemono Soup (egg-lemon) prepared by Richard Allen.
Holy Mother of God Greek Orthodox Church
1645 Phillips Road Tallahassee, Florida 32308
Return Service Requested
Palm Sunday
Celebrated
April 24th
Holy Mother of God Greek Orthodox Church
1645 Phillips Road Tallahassee, FL 32308
Office: 850-878-0747 Hall: 850-877-2501
Fr. Rob’s Cell: 850-559-8184
Website: www.hmog.org
Email Addresses:
Father Rob: fr.robert@comcast.net
Church Secretary: hmog@comcast.net
Secretary Hours: Mon./Wed./Fri. 9am-2pm
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