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DECEMBER 2013
Retired Clergy
Photos courtesy of Fr. Nicholas Soteropoulos
(Top) Retired priests with Archbishop Demetrios at the end of the hierarchal Divine liturgy. (Above) The Archbishop, Joel McEachen and Fr. Nicholas C. Soteropoulos award Fr. Constantine Raptis the RCA’s 50-plus Year Certificate and Pin.
Retired Clergy Hold 25th Anniversary Reunion FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Archdiocese Retired Clergy Association (RCA) celebrated the 25th anniversary of its founding with a weekend of activities centered at St. Demetrios Church, Nov. 16–17. More than 40 priests attended, along with other retirees and presbyteres who live in South Florida. Archbishop Demetrios, presided at a great vespers service and at the hierarchical Divine Liturgy with RCA board members participating. His Eminence spoke about dedication and service to the Church of our retired clergy and elevated Fr. Joel McEachen, president of the RCA, to the rank of Protopresbyter. At a luncheon, Leadership 100 Executive Director Paulette Poulos spoke about the organization’s support of the RCA. Other speakers included Evangeline Scurtis of the National Philoptochos; Dr. Cary
Limberakis, representing the Archons; and Fr. Nicholas Anctil, Archdiocese Presbyters’ Council president. The RCA was founded in South Florida by such active priests as Frs. John C. Zanetos, Demosthenes Mekras, Emmanual Bouyoucas, Dean Timothy Andrews and George Papadeas who in 1988 felt that retired clergy should have an organization to keep in touch and communicate with each other, and to encourage and enable retired priests to continue to serve their church. Fr. Nicholas Vieron soon accepted the position of editor of the EPISTLE newsletter which he held for 17 years. The EPISTLE continues monthly publication to this day and is sent to retired priests, widowed presbyteres, and supporters of the RCA with news, photos, and helpful advice for retirees, especially Medicare and health news.
Direct Archdiocesan District Church Musicians Hold 29th Annual Conference u u from page 25 dral, Eleftheria Brewster and Sophia Niarchos of Holy Resurrection chanted at the Orthros with Archangel Michael’s Protopsaltis Andreas Modinos and Dr. Efstratios Demertzis, former protopsaltis at St. Paul’s. He was the first-elected president of the Federation. Following the Divine Liturgy, Fr. Strouzas, Fr. Nikolas and Mrs. Dounelis presented awards and certificates to the following: ‘Choir Member 60 Years of Service’ to Joanna Rigas of Assumption, Port Jefferson, 60 Years’ Service Award; to Helga Gajdjis of Sts Catherine & George, Astoria; ‘Choir Member of the Year 20122013’ ‘Choir Director 25 Years of Service’ to Georgia Kaufman of Archangel Michael, Port Washington, ‘Federation Scholarship for 2013’ to Maria Zoulis of Holy Trinity, New Rochelle, NY; ‘Patriarch Athenagoras I Medallion’ for Distinguished Metropolis Service to Nicholas Pappas of Archangel Michael, Port Washington, and ‘The Archbishop Iakovos Distinguished Service
Award’ to Constantine Gajdjis, in recognition of his 50+ years as choir director/ organist at Sts. Catherine & George, Astoria, N.Y.. A group photo taken with Fr. Dennis, Fr. Nikolas, Federation Officers: President Anna Dounelis, Vice President Vasso Patrikis, Treasurer Irini Kapareliotis, Recording Secretary Fay Pavlidis, Corresponding Secretary Peggy Stilianos, Youth Music Liaison Georgia Kaufman, and the Conference choir was followed by a delightful reception provided by the Philoptochos. Each annual conference offers church musicians from across our metropolis opportunities for fellowship, fun and learning where they renew old friendships and make new friends. Everyone returns to his or her parish with a renewed commitment and enthusiasm to serve the Lord. Days after the conference, one choir member’s comment spoke volumes, ...”I am still basking in the glow of this year’s annual conference and looking forward to next year.”
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