1. - Voice of the Church

All Saints Greek Orthodox Church 601 W. McMurray Road J Canonsburg, PA 15317-2437

Office: (724) 745-5205 F FAX: (724) 746--0999 F Hall: (724) 745-2249

Volume 30 February 24, 2019 Number 8

Parish Web Sitewww.allsaintscbg.org

Fr. George L. Livanos, Proistamenosfrgeorge@allsaintscbg.org

Deacon George Athanasiougfa@allsaintscbg.org

Office Email Addressoffice@allsaintscbg.org

Dawn Mavrich

Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Our Mission Statement: to glorify our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through our words and actions

according to the Holy Traditions and sacred teachings of our Orthodox Christian faith.

SUNDAY OF THE PRODIGAL SON - February 24, 2019: Today we commemorate the First& Second Finding of the Venerable Head of John the Baptist; Romanos, Prince ofUglich; and Boswell, Abbot of Melrose Abbey. Sixth Orthros Gospel, Third Tone.

MEMORIAL PRAYER SERVICE: (page 93 in the new Liturgy Book) Today’s Memorial PrayerService is for the departed servants of God, Anthony Diakakis (1 yr.), by Katy Diakakis andFamily, and Kalliope Moniodes (5 yrs.) by her husband, Bill Monidoes, and Renie and Jim Pihiouand Family, Evelyn and Peter Pihiou, and Constance and Robert Voas. Eternal be theirmemory!

TRISAGION PRAYER SERVICE: Today’s Trisagion Prayer Service is offered by Kal, Harry andAngie Flaskos & Families, in memory of Maria (58 yrs.) and Antonios Flaskos (47 yrs.) andAnthony & Eleni Germanos, and Nick and Linda Germanos; and by George Condoleon andFamily, in memory of Father Callinicos Condoleon, Priest (50 yrs.). Eternal be their memory!

PRAYER CORNER: Your prayers are requested for God’s protection, and the renewed healthand healing of His Eminence Metropolitan Maximos, His Beatitude Met, Theodosius (O.C.A.), Ester Georgopoulos, Tammy Mantalis Achille, James Bails, Eleanor Elizabeth Gray, NormaJones, Mary Karras-Gardner, Elizabeth Kouklakis, Leah, Lorraine Mahramus, Lucille Mahramus,Mark Mallory, Baby Noah (Josh & Jess Peniazek), Ramona Perryman, Dolly Pihakis, Sean Rovers,Buzz Taylor, Sofia Teodorof, our Parish Shut-ins, the Armed Forces, those in Prison, who havelost a loved one, who are ill, suffering or in need, the leaders of our Church and country, andfor Mission ministries.

COFFEE HOUR: Today’s coffee hour is lovingly offered by Katy Diakakis and Family in memoryof Anthony Diakakis (1 yr.). Eternal be his memory!

WE WELCOME

THOSE WHO ARE VISITING TODAY!

It is our joy to share today’s Worship with you! Holy Communionis a Sacrament of our Faith and thus only Baptized and/orChrismated Orthodox Christians who are in Good Standing andhave spiritually prepared to receive are invited to come forwardfrom the middle aisle of the Nave with reverence and humility,

row by row, in a QUIET and ORDERLY fashion, and depart as directed. Please remain seated inyour pews until invited forward by a Council Member. If you are standing in the back of the Nave,please wait until all who are seated have gone forward and a Council Member invites youforward. In receiving Holy Communion, you should place the Cloth under your chin, recite your CHRISTIAN NAME, then wipe your mouth after receiving. Women: please remove any lipstickprior to Communing. Non Orthodox Christians are welcome to receive the Blessed Bread offeredat the end of the Liturgy.

Today’s Epistle Reading

St. Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians 4:6-15

The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord.Verse: Oh God, hear my cry.

BRETHREN, it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in ourhearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent powerbelongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed,but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also bemanifested in our bodies. For while we live we are always being given up to death forJesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is atwork in us, but life in you.

Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, "I believed, and so I spoke,"we too believe, and so we speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise usalso with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so thatas grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory ofGod.

...Faith is the most precious gift of life. It unites the person with God. Itsecures all the power of Divine Grace for him.

Saint John of Kronstadt

Today’s Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Prodigal SonThe Gospel According to Luke 15:11-32

THE Lord said this parable, "There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of themsaid to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me.' And hedivided his living between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had

and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living.And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be inwant. So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him intohis fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his belly with the pods that the swineate; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of myfather's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I willarise and go to my father, and I will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven andbefore you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hiredservants.' And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his fathersaw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said tohim, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be calledyour son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him;and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let useat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.'And they began to make merry. Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drewnear to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and askedwhat this meant. And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed thefatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.' But he was angry and refused to goin. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, 'Lo, these many years Ihave served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that Imight make merry with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured yourliving with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!' And he said to him, 'Son, you are alwayswith me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this yourbrother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'"

WORSHIP& EVENTS

TODAY: - GOYA Basketball Tournament

MONDAY: - Food Festival Cooking (Grape Leaves) - 9:00 a.m. to Noon- Outreach and Missions Ministry Meeting - 6:15 p.m.- Food Festival Ministry Meeting - 7:00 p.m.

TUESDAY: - Food Festival Cooking (Grape Leaves) - 9:00 a.m. - Noon- Food Festival Cooking (Grape Leaves) - 6:00 p.m.

WEDNESDAY: - Pan Orthodox Clergy Retreat/OCA (St. John the Baptist, NewKensington) - 10 a.m.

- Archangel Michael Prayer Study (St. Phanourios Chapel) - 6:30 p.m.

THURSDAY: - Gyro Thursday Lunch - 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

FRIDAY: - Kolliva-Making Class - 6:30 p.m.

SATURDAY: - Saturday of the Souls - 9:00 a.m.- Apokreatiko Glendi - 6:30 p.m.

NEXT SUNDAY: - Meatfare Sunday: Orthros & Divine Liturgy - 9:00 a.m.- Food Festival Cooking (Grape Leaves) - 11:30 a.m.- Pan Rhodian Meeting - 4:00 p.m.

ST. PHOTIOS AWARDS BANQUET: The St. Photios Awards Banquet will be held on Saturday, May 112019, at 4:00 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Pittsburgh in Cranberry. The cost is $85.00 foradults and $25.00 for children under 12. The deadline for reservations is April 19th. The Parish willreserve a Table or Two so please contact the Office before you purchase tickets so that we may all sittogether. Any questions should be directed to Mary Doreza (412-877-3415).

SCHEDULING COFFEE HOUR & USE OF KITCHEN: If you wish to host a Coffee Hour and/or use the HallKitchen YOU MUST EXCLUSIVELY CONTACT THE CHURCH OFFICE/DAWN and make thosearrangements. This will prevent us from having misunderstandings and conflicts in the future.

TODAY’S BULLETIN SPONSOR:

Kal, Harry and Angie Flaskos & Families, in memory of the departed servants of God, Maria (58 yrs.) and Antonios Flaskos (47 yrs.);

Anthony & Eleni Germanos; and Nick and Linda Germanos. and

Katy Diakakis and Family in memory of her husband, the departed servant of God, Anthony Diakakis.

Eternal be their memory!

Sunday, February 17, 2019 Donations

Building Fund: $20.00 Second Tray: $137.00Stewardship: $3,903.50 Candle Tray: $601.00Cash in Tray: $94.00 St. Phanourious: $45.00

NEW BROCHURE RACK: Through the generosity ofour Outreach and Missions Ministry the parish hasadded a new brochure rack in the outer narthex,produced by Ancient Faith Ministries. You will findpamphlets on many different topics and theOrthodox teaching, understandings and responses tothese issues. Please feel free to take those thatinterest you and encourage visitors to also take alook for something that may interest them.

AHEPA AND PAN-RHODIAN SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE: Applications for the AHEPADistrict and National Scholarships, as well as Pan-Rhodian Local and National Scholarships are nowavailable through Nick Scouloukas (724) 873-5752. Applications must be completed and post-markedas follows: AHEPA National is due by March 31st; AHEPA District by April 19th. The Pan-Rhodian LocalScholarship is due by June 30th and Pan-Rhodian National by July 15th. The applicant’s sponsor MUSTBE a paid up member of the corresponding Chapter through December 31, 2019.

BOOKSTORE: Please come and see our wonderful new items in our Bookstore. These items are theperfect gift for GREAT LENT, graduations, weddings, anniversaries, or any special occasion!

ÔÏ ÁÃÃÅËÌÁ ÔÇÓ ÇÌÅÑÁÓ ~ MESSAGE OF THE DAY

Ãéáôß ìíçìïíåýïõìå ôá ïíüìáôá óôéò ðñïóåõ÷Ýò.

Ìåñéêïß ñùôïýí ãéáôß ìíçìïíåýïõìå ôá ïíüìáôá ôùí êåêïéìçìÝíùí êáé ôùí æþíôùí óôéò ðñïóåõ÷Ýòðïõ êÜíïõìå ãé’ áõôïýò.

Ï Èåüò óáí ðáíôïãíþóôçò ðïõ åßíáé, äåí îÝñåé ôá ïíüìáôÜ ôïõò êáé ôéò áíÜãêåò ôïõò;

¼ìùò áõôïß ðïõ ìéëïýí êáé óêÝðôïíôáé Ýôóé, îå÷íïýí üôé ôçí ðñïóåõ÷Þ äåí ôçí êÜíïìå ãéá åíçìÝñùóçôïõ Èåïý. ÖõóéêÜ ï Èåüò äåí Ý÷åé áíÜãêç ôÝôïéáò åíçìåñþóåùò. ¢ëëç åßíáé ç óçìáóßá áõôÞò ôçòðñïóåõ÷Þò.

Ðñïóåõ÷üìåèá õðÝñ ôùí æþíôùí êáé ôùí ìåôáóôÜíôùí êáé ôïõò ìíçìïíåýïõìå ìå ôá ïíüìáôÜ ôïõò, ãéáíá äåßîïõìå, üôé ôïõò áãáðÜìå ìå üëç ìáò ôçí êáñäéÜ.

Äéüôé äåí åßìáóôå áðëþò óõããåíåßò Þ ößëïé Þ ãíùóôïß, áëëÜ «áëëÞëùí ìÝëç». ÌÝëç ôçò ÌßáòÅêêëçóßáò, ôïõ Åíüò Ìõóôéêïý Óþìáôïò ôïõ ×ñéóôïý.

ÕðÜñ÷åé ôåñÜóôéá äéáöïñÜ áíÜìåóá óôç ìç÷áíéêÞ êáé áðáèÞ ìíçìüíåõóç ôùí ïíïìÜôùí êáé óôçíïëïêÜñäéá ðñïóåõ÷Þ. Ôï Ýíá áðÝ÷åé áðü ôïí Üëëï, üóï ï ïõñáíüò áðü ôç ãç.

Ç ðñïóåõ÷Þ ðñÝðåé íá åßíáé åéëéêñéíÞò åêäÞëùóç áãÜðçò. Ç áãÜðç åßíáé ç ðñþôç êáé ìåãÜëç åíôïëÞ.Ãé’ áõôü ï Èåüò ôç äÝ÷åôáé. Êáé ãé’ áõôü ôçí ðåñéìÝíåé! Ç áãÜðç ãéá ôïõò æþíôåò êáé êåêïéìçìÝíïõòáäåëöïýò ìáò åßíáé ÷ñÝïò.

Ôï ðñþôï áðü üëá. ÊÜèå ëÝîç óôçí ðñïóåõ÷Þ, êÜèå ëÝîç ðïõ ðçãÜæåé áðü ôá âÜèç ôçò êáñäéÜò, Ý÷åéðïëëÞ äýíáìç: «Ðïëý éó÷ýåé äÝçóéò äéêáßïõ åíåñãïõìÝíç» (Éáê 5:16) ëÝãåé ç Áãßá ÃñáöÞ.

Êáé áí Ý÷åé ôüóç ìåãÜëç óçìáóßá ç ìíçìüíåõóç ôùí ïíïìÜôùí æþíôùí êáé êåêïéìçìÝíùí óåïðïéáäÞðïôå ðñïóåõ÷Þ, ðüóï ìåãáëýôåñç óçìáóßá êáé áîßá Ý÷åé, üôáí ìíçìïíåýïíôáé ôá ïíüìáôá óôçíéåñüôåñç ðñïóåõ÷Þ, óôç Èåßá Ëåéôïõñãßá;

Óôç Èåßá Ëåéôïõñãßá ï éåñÝáò åðéóöñáãßæåé ôç ìíçìüíåõóç ôùí ïíïìÜôùí æþíôùí êáé êåêïéìçìÝíùí ìåôá ëüãéá «Áðüðëõíïí, Êýñéå, ôá áìáñôÞìáôá ôùí åíèÜäå ìíçìïíåõèÝíôùí äïýëùí Óïõ ôù áßìáôß Óïõôù áãßù».

(Üãéïò ÉùÜííçò ôçò ÊñïóôÜíäçò. enorion.blogspot com)

**********

ÊáëçìÝñá.

Áðßóôåõôá ìåãÜëï äþñï ç äõíáôüôçôá ôïõ áíèñþðïõ íá ìðïñåß íá åðéêïéíùíåß êáé ìå ôïõò åäþ êáé ìåôïõò åêåß.

Áðïêáëýðôåé óôïí ßäéï ôïõ ôïí åáõôü, ôï áí êáé êáôÜ ðüóï áãáðÜ áëçèéíÜ åí ×ñéóôþ.

The Deacon: Who is he?

The Deaconate is the first step of the major orders of clergy in the Orthodox Church, following thebishop and the presbyter. The word deacon (in Greek äéÜêïíïò) means server and originally it referred toa person who waited on tables.

In the Orthodox Church, the diaconate is not just a step to priesthood, many deacons have nointention of ever becoming priests. The diaconate itself is a permanent office, as a position for full or parttime service to the work of the Church.

Originally deacons of the Church assisted the bishops in good deeds and works of charity. But atsome time in recent centuries the diaconate became an almost exclusive liturgical function where thedeacons only assist at the celebration of the Church services, helping in other areas like any otherknowledgeable member of the laity.

Sacramentally, all deacons are equal. However, they are ranked and serve by seniority accordingto the date of their ordination. Just as with bishops and presbyters, there are distinctions of administrativerank among deacons. A senior deacon of a cathedral or principal church may be awarded the titleprotodeacon and claim precedence when serving with other deacons. The chief deacon who is attachedto the person of a bishop is called an archdeacon. A deacon who is also a monastic is called a hierodeacon.

All higher clergy, priests and bishops, must first be ordained and serve as deacons. Because Christcame not to be served, but to serve, so, too, all those who receive the grace of the Holy Spirit to HolyOrders must, likewise, pass through their service as deacons.

Ordination:

A deacon’s ordination takes place after the consecration of the Holy Gifts during a HierarchicalDivine Liturgy, by virtue of the fact that he does not participate in the consecration himself. After beingled around the altar three times, he kneels on one knee at the altar to await the laying on of hands. Hisfirst liturgical act is the Litany prior to the reading of the Lords Prayer and the distribution of the Eucharist.

Deacons Vestments:

The vestments of the deacon are the sticharion, the orarion, and the epimanikia. All degrees ofclergy wear the sticharion. The sticharion is a long-sleeved tunic that reaches all the way to the ground.It reminds the wearer that the grace of the Holy Spirit covers him as with a garment of salvation and joy.For deacons, the sticharion has wide sleeves and is made of a heavier fabric than that of the priest andbishop, who wear their sticharia under other vestments.

The distinctive vestment of the deacon is the orarion. The orarion is a narrow band of material thatthe deacon wears wrapped around his body and draped over his left shoulder. It represents the grace ofthe Holy Spirit that in ordination anoints the deacon like oil. It is the principal vestment of the deacon andwithout it he cannot serve. When the deacon leads the people in prayers or invites them to attention heholds one end of his orarion in his right hand and raises it.

The final parts of a deacon’s vestments are the epimanika. The epimanikia are cuffs that are wornaround the wrists, tied by a long cord. These are also worn by the bishop and priest. They serve thepractical purpose of keeping the inner garments out of the way during the services. They also remind thewearer that he serves not by his own strength but with the help of God. Only those in major orders wearthe epimanika.

Duties:

The deacon ministers to the priest and bishop in the divine services. This includes:

1. Preaching the Gospel of Christ

2. Assisting in the celebration of the all of the Holy Mysteries of the Church

3. Reading from the Scriptures during the divine services (with the blessing of the presiding priestor bishop)

4. Keeping the decorum of the public worship, including calling people to attention at appropriatetimes

5. Other tasks related to Church life, with the blessing and direction of his priest or bishop.

In the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese a deacon is given the blessing of his bishop and parish priest todistribute the Eucharist to the faithful, from a second chalice at a regular liturgy where a priest is serving.

What a deacon does may depend on jurisdiction – some consider the diaconate as a short intervalbefore the priesthood – but, where permanency or longevity in the diaconate is prized, deacons will oftenhead educational programs and youth groups, perform hospital visitation, missionary work, and conductsocial welfare projects.

Deacons wear a cassock; this is done as a sign of his suppression of his own will and desires, and hiscanonical obedience to God, his bishop and the liturgical and canonical norms of the Church. Deacons arealso permitted to wear the exoraso. In jurisdictions that utilize clergy shirts, deacons are also permittedto wear a clergy shirt with collar.

During services, the deacon is usually vested in a sticharion with an orarion that hangs over the leftshoulder; with the exception of around the consecration of Communion, when the deacon will, forpracticality, arrange his sticharion like a subdeacon.

In addition, to complete his duties, the deacon is permitted to touch the Table of Oblation, the Altar,and to move through the Royal Doors.

The place of a deacon is to serve the community and to lead prayers. He must have the blessing of thepresiding priest or bishop to put on his vestments and serve. A deacon may not celebrate the sacramentsby himself; he may not give blessings; he may not consecrate the Holy Gifts.