Forerunner July-August 2017 by St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church

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T HE F ORERUNNER V OLUME XXXIV

C HRISTIAN A THLETICS K INGDOM

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The classic image of the Christian as an athlete of Christ is a little overplayed card nowadays, in a culture obsessed with sports. I am personally partial for this analogy, but, if we push it too much, we may end up with a very simplistic view, as the priests become coaches, the church an arena, the church community a team and so on. We can get lost in sports metaphors and loose the genuine significance of our Christian life. What we do in Christ is beyond a sport, beyond a mere entertaining game, it’s about real life. For me, a true athlete is someone closer to the soldier that ran the first marathon, who did not complete an eight-week program of gradual endurance build up, nor ran it to overcome a midlife crisis, but he ran with a purpose, as he was asked to, and gave up all he had in order to fulfill his mission for his country.

S PECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST : 

Christian Athletics

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Parish Council Capsule

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Stewardship for 2017

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Youth Ministries News

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GOYA news

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Sermon on Dormition

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The Paraklesis Service

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What is a mandorla?

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Philoptochos News

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July-August Calendar

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I NSIDE THIS ISSUE :

C OUNCIL C APSULE We have had another Wonderful Pascha. Our church has been filled to the doors with beauty & devotion. I want to thank each member & organization who played a hand in making this Pascha a success along with Father Vasile, Deacon George, chanters, & choir for all their tireless work and devotion. This year’s Agape Dinner was one of the best anyone can remember. The Metropolitan Bishop Isaiah blessed us with his presence. We were grateful to have him here in our parish and I know he was very grateful for all of us and each group that took the time to make his visit special. I hope everyone has taken a moment to congratulate Deacon George on his recent ordination. We are all very proud of him and blessed to have someone as committed & devout in our parish.

C OUNCIL C APSULE

GOYA N EWS

Y OUTH M INISTRIES

P HILOPTOCHOS

MUSIC

M INISTRIES

C ALENDAR

Congratulations Deacon George! (Continued on page 2)

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As we continue to grow into the future we recognize the need for planning & preparation. Our planning committee is currently hard at work developing ideas for our facilities growth to keep up with and complement our growth spiritually & in attendance. Accomplishing

this will take the dedication of our whole community. The planning of this year’s festival has already begun. We will need volunteers to help make this festival a success. The more help we have the greater chance we have of attaining our goals for the growth of our community.

A GELESS W ONDERS C ONGRATULAT IONS TO

D EACON G EORGE FOR H IS RECENT O RDINATION ! A XIOS ! A XIOS ! A XIOS !

The Ageless Wonders will Please mark your calendars not meet in July. Time out! for these three days. The Philoptochos annual garage sale is Aug. 4th and 5th. They could use our help on Thurs., Aug. 3 to set up for the sale.

Festival baking will be starting sometime in August. Please consider giving some of your time to help with this.

In September we will have our pot luck and planning luncheon TBA. Have a great summer. Margaret

C HRISTIAN A THLETICS (C ONT .) (Continued from page 1)

Metropolitan Isaiah and Deacon George

I am not saying that there are no similarities between sports and our life in Christ, there are many, and I have them plenty of times in sermons and catechism before. We need however to make a distinction between the two. Let me be blunt: our life in Christ is not a sport. The Greeks have a great word to describe our life in Christ: askesis. Askesis could be translated as exercise, but not for fun, not to stay fit,

not to pass time, but is a purposeful exercise that builds us out of this world and prepares us for the Kingdom. Askesis is also not only for the monastics, for the hermit living in the lost caves of the earth, but askesis is for everyone that is serious about being saved. To me however, probably the most appropriate translation of askesis would be “struggle”. The first marathoner, in his supra-human effort of selfdenial, gave up his life to fulfill his mission. In the same

way, askesis is an exercise of renunciation to the world for a greater purpose: we give up a Sunday morning sleep-in for a Divine Liturgy, a burger for day of fasting, a party on a Saturday night for a Vesper service, our favorite song in the car for a few minutes of Jesus prayer and we can go on. Struggle means to give up the “fluff” and concentrate on the things that matter. Anyone can do that; you don’t need (Continued on page 3)

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monastic vows to show up in time for services. But the struggle does not stop here, the above are the “easy” things. The struggle also involves fighting against our inner sinful urges as each one of us deals with internal turmoil. Some struggle with alcohol, other with drugs, others with sexual temptations, others with envy, or pride, or gossip or depression. On a smaller or a larger scale, we all have to face these tendencies. Their nature is different in each one of us, but the struggle is common to all. The current trends in the culture tell us to let go of the struggle. That we are defined by our inner predispositions and we should accept them as part of who we are. Christianity, and particularly Orthodoxy, says the opposite. We are not defined by our sinful desires, but we are defined by the purpose of our creation, which is union with Christ. Our true nature is fully revealed in Christ, the new Adam, and our struggle is to grow more into what He is. This, however, is not an easy task and probably you know it by now. If we are serious and purposeful about our Christian life, the sinful desires are to be rejected, are to be chased

away and replaced with what is beneficial for our heavenly life. Therefore, the life of the Christian is against the world, not to condemn it, but to transform it into a better place, starting with one’s self. The transformation of man into Christ should transform and lift the fallen world, not the fallen world should bound down man to its fallen level. Keeping up this fight is hard, and many times requires a great deal of sacrifice. Not all choices for Christ are easy, but neither the easy way out is a good choice. Along the path of struggle we will fall many times, but in Christ we rise and we continue to run, walk or even crawl, we bite our lips and we keep moving ahead, never stopping. It is not our sinful tendencies that define us, but our ability to transform them in opportunities of growth and our perseverance to rise after each and every fall. Struggle may also mean learning to accept the things in our lives that are not in our control: pain, suffering, loss; these are all part of the fallen world in which we operate. There is no way to avoid them and the Christian struggle helps us be better prepared when they strike. By living a purposeful life towards the kingdom, we understand that any earthly suffering is temporary in nature and the healing of the soul will eventually lead to a complete refashioning of man:

body and soul. Living in the Communion of the Church, of the living and of the departed together, we learn that any separation is transitory and the Reunion we wait for will bring great joy to those who have gone through the pains of separation. The Christian selfdenial shows that every material loss is a gain, as we learn more and more to give up what is earthly and gather what is heavenly. What is in our control however is to keep up the struggle no matter what. A life without struggle is a life not worth living, as it would be nothing else but a capitulation to slothfulness, sinfulness and decay. Life is a struggle and the struggle is life. There is no way around it. We should accept it, embrace it and use it for our final benefit. It will be with us all our lives only ending with our entrance in the Kingdom. So let’s get to “work-out” our salvation through struggle, but not with sadness, but with joy and complete trust in the Lord, Who struggled Himself for our salvation, showing us first the way to conquer the Kingdom! Amen!

Phidippides, First Marathon Runner

LIFE WITHOUT STRUGGLE IS A LIFE NOT WORTH LIVING , AS IT WOULD BE NOTHING ELSE BUT A CAPITULATION TO SLOTHFULNESS , SINFULNESS AND DECAY . L IFE IS A STRUGGLE AND THE STRUGGLE IS LIFE .

St. George

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The base from which we serve as the Voice of Christ in a Changing World is the parish. A strong parish provides opportunities for sharing the Good News of Christ, and welcoming those that are searching for a spiritual home.

CHECK MAILED TO THE CHURCH IS MUCH MORE MEANINGFUL WHEN ACCOMPANIED BY YOUR PRESENCE , BY YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE , BY YOUR PRAYERS , AND BY YOUR COMMITMENT .

The parish also provides a place for worship, community and education in the faith. To be stewards of the Gospel, we need to be stewards of our parish. This requires the vision and inspiration to see the parish, not as it is, but as it could be. We are called to offer ourselves and our treasure to make our local church all that it can be. Our Parish has ministry programs in the areas of Youth (our vibrant GOYA ministry, Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Camp Emanuel, Regional Retreats), Seniors (our beautiful Ageless Wonders), Outreach (through our generous and dedicated Philoptochos organization, our annual Greek Festival, our Inquirers program, our websites and social media presence), Wor-

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ship (Choir, Chanters, Acolytes) and so much more. With your involvement these ministries are thriving, but, without your participation, they wither and die. We ask you wholeheartedly to come, join and support these worthy ministries so our Christian voice may be heard inside and outside our parish. Giving to His Church, your Church, is a way to thank God for His

grace and generosity. The most important question is “How can I thank God for my many blessings?” I invite you to be participate in the in our 2017 Saint John’s Stewardship Program. You have the opportunity to make our commitment to our Church and give thanks for God’s many blessings. Before completing your Stewardship Commitment Card, please give prayerful consideration to the commitment you are making. A check mailed to the church is much more meaningful when accompanied by your

presence, by your willingness to serve, by your prayers, and by your commitment. Giving is not a substitute for commitment – it is an expression of your commitment and an expression of thanks for the many blessings in your life. Stewardship is an opportunity to examine our priorities and values, to express out thankfulness, to give of ourselves and to grow in grace. It allows us to participate in the work of God. Our hope is to build a culture at St. John's that emulates the kingdom of God with abundance, joy, peace, and love along with a welcoming environment. We want you to be a part of that environment. I pray that all of you will participate in our 2017 Stewardship Program and be engaged in many of our parish programs and ministries. With paternal Blessings for 2017, In Christ, Fr. Vasile Tudora

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required for your pledge to be valid and your commitment allows us to plan our budget for An Active, Annual Comthe coming year which includes mitment many items such as heating, air conditioning, electric, water, An Orthodox Christian Stewpaper, supplies, cleaning supard is an active participant in plies, landscaping, building rethe life of the Church. The pairs..(and many more items)! parish encourages all who acPlease keep in mind that your cept the Orthodox Faith to stewardship contribution is kept become practicing Stewards. in the strictest of confidence. Each year the Steward is exDuring the course of a year, pected to carefully review his people’s circumstances change. or her personal circumstances Your stewardship is valued beand make a commitment of cause it is made out of your love time, talent, and treasure to for God and His Church. Please support the Parish and her do not be concerned if you are Ministries, which in turn support the National Ministries of unable to meet your stewardour Archdiocese, Metropolises, ship commitment! Simply conand institutions. Some people tact the Church Office or the Stewardship Committee memwant to know “Why must I ber and the amount can be indicate an amount for my fichanged. nancial pledge?” An amount is

Stewardship: A Way of Life they have been blessed. Stewardship is the foundation for belonging to St. John the Baptist and providing support for its many ministries and activities. Orthodox Christian Stewardship is also a way of life, which acknowledges accountability, reverence, and responsibility before God. A primary goal of Stewardship is to promote spiritual growth and strengthen faith. Becoming a Steward begins when we believe in God, to whom we give our love, loyalty and trust and act on those beliefs. As Stewards, we affirm that every aspect of our lives comes as a gift from Him. Stewardship calls on the faithful to cheerfully offer back to God a portion of the gifts with which

S OME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT ! God’s Part / Our Part. 1 Chronicles 29:11-12 “Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Be faithful with what we are given. The word that best describes our part is “steward.” A steward is a manager of someone else’s possessions. The Lord has given us the authority to be

stewards. Our responsibility as stewards can be summed up in one word – faithfulness – regardless of how much He has entrusted to us. 1 Corinthians 4:2 “…It is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” Ownership or stewardship? The Lord owns all our possessions. He created all things in the first six days, and He never transferred the ownership of His creation to people. Recognizing God’s ownership is crucial in allowing Jesus Christ to become the Lord of our money and possessions. Deuteronomy 10:14b “Heaven is the LORD’s . . . the earth also,

with all that therein is.” Psalm 50:10-12 “Every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills . . . the wild beasts of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fullness thereof.” Recognizing God’s ownership. If we are going to be genuine followers of Christ, we must transfer ownership of our possessions to the Lord. We must give up claim to ownership of all that we have. Luke 14:33 “…Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.”

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H OMILY O N T HE D ORMITION By St. Luke of Simferopol

St. Luke of Simferopol

WANT ALL OF YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHY THE DEATH OF THE M OST H OLY T HEOTOKOS AND V IRGIN M ARY IS CALLED “D ORMITION ”.

Each of us is tormented with the question: what will happen to us and what awaits us after death? A sure answer to this question we cannot find by ourselves. But Holy Scripture, and first of all the word of our Lord Jesus Christ, reveals the secret to us. It is also revealed by the apolytikion and kontakion of this great feast of the Dormition of the Most-Holy Theotokos, along with the church hymns that we chant at this feast. I want all of you to understand why the death of the Most-Holy Theotokos and Virgin Mary is called “Dormition”. The great apostle John the Theologian, in the 20th chapter of the Revelation speaks of the first and second death. The first death, which alone is inescapable to all men, also awaits the saints and righteous ones. But the second, the fearsome and eternal death, awaits the great and unrepentant sinners, who denied the love and the righteousness of God and are condemned to eternity in communion with the devil and his angels. In the Gospel of the same great apostle and evangelist John the Theologian, we read the words of Christ, which are very closely associated with those written in the Revelation:

Dormition of the Theotokos

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life. He does not

come into judgment, but has passed from death to life” (John 5:24). Do you hear this, do you understand this? I think that this probably strikes you as strange, that all those who are obedient to the word of Christ and believe in the Heavenly Father Who sent Him passes immediately after death to eternal life. There is no reason to judge those who have living faith in God and who follow his commandments. And to the great twelve apostles, our Lord Jesus Christ said: “Amen, I say to you that you who follow Me, in the age to come, when the Son of Man sits upon His throne of glory, you will also sit upon twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matthew 19:28). The Apostles of Christ will be judges and condemners during the Terrible Judgment of God, and of course, we are totally unable to imagine the Most-Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary being judged, along with the Baptist of the Lord John, the great Prophets of God, Elias and Enoch whom God took to Heaven alive, all the countless mass of martyrs of Christ, the holy hierarchs and wonderworkers who were glorified by God, foremost being St. Nicholas, archbishop of Myra of Lycia. We are unable to pass the

thought from our minds that they would be judged, they who heard from the mouth of Christ: “The kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21). In those great strugglers of Christ, as if in precious temples, dwelt the Holy Spirit. And while they were alive on earth, they were in close communion with God, for thus Christ said: “If anyone loves me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” (John 14:23) The Most-Holy Virgin Mary was the spotless temple of the Savior in which dwelt the Holy Spirit, and from her most-holy womb the Son of God received His human body, He Who descended from the Heavens. Because of this, bodily death is not death, but a dormition, in other words, an immediate passage from the Kingdom of God within to the Kingdom of the Heavens and to eternal life. Something new just came to mind. In one of the previous sermons, I told you that we have every reason to believe that the body of the MostHoly Theotokos, through the power of God, remained incorrupt and ascended to the heavens. The kontakion of the great feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos tells us this: “Neither the grave nor death (Continued on page 7)

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H OMILY O N T HE D ORMITION (CONT) (Continued from page 6)

could contain the Theotokos, the unshakable hope, ever vigilant in intercession and protection. As Mother of life, He who dwelt in the evervirginal womb transposed her to life.” Note that it says: “Neither the grave nor death could contain her”. Think of that, as we remember Holy Scripture writes regarding the death of the greatest prophet of the Old Testement, Moses, in the 34th chapter of the book of Deuteronomy, that he died according to the word of God on Mount Nebo, and was buried in the land of Moab.

The grave of this great prophet must have been a place of pilgrimage for the whole people of Israel. However in the Bible we read that: “No one knows of his tomb until the current day” (Deuteronomy 34:6). However, at the Transfiguration of the Lord on Mount Tabor, Moses appeared to his Lord and Master, Jesus, together with the Prophet Elias, who was seized alive into heaven. I think that it would not be a sin to say that the body of the great Moses, as the body of the Most-Holy Theotokos, remained incorrupt. Because of this his tomb is unknown.

Let us think, brothers and sisters, about the blessed Dormition of the Most-Holy Virgin Mary and remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ: “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life” (John 5:24). May God also make us sinners worthy to experience this great joy, through the joy and love for man of our Lord Jesus Christ, to Whom belong all glory and dominion, with His beginningless Father and His All-Holy Spirit, unto the ages. Amen.

T HE M ANDORLA — A FORGOTTEN S YMBOL An ancient symbol, the mandorla is the most concise way to express Christ’s majesty, glory and divinity in holy icons. It is found surrounding Jesus Christ in icons of His Resurrection, Transfiguration, Ascension, the Dormition, and of Christ in Glory. As with much of the symbolism in Icons, it reveals a straightforward truth, whilst at the same time containing layers of hidden meaning. Mandorla is Italian for “almond”, and describes the most common shape of mandorlas, though circular or star-shaped mandorlas are also seen. Also known as

a vesica piscis, the oval shape formed by the overlap of two circles as they approach each other.

of Aaron’s rod, which blossomed forth not only flowers, but almonds (Numbers 17:8)

To associate this shape with Jesus Christ, Who unties the earthly and heavenly spheres seems natural. However, the almond itself lends much symbolic meaning to the mandorla of light which surrounds Christ. The almond tree is the first plant to flower in Greece, sometimes as early as midJanurary, and as such is a symbol of new life and fertility. Ancient Greek myths also link almonds, and the almond-shape, with new life; yet preceding all these in time, and succeeding them in importance, is the story

The Transfiguration The mandorla, representing Christ’s glory, is an iconographic depiction of light. This is most obvious in icons of the Transfiguration, where the mandorla is used to image the countenance of Christ before His disciples on Mt. Tabor, which was “white and glistening”: And it came to pass about eight days after… He took Peter and John and James, and went up onto a mountain to pray. And as (Continued on page 11)

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TRULY , I SAY TO YOU , WHOEVER HEARS M Y WORD AND BELIEVES H IM WHO SENT M E HAS ETERNAL LIFE . H E DOES NOT COME INTO JUDGMENT , BUT HAS PASSED FROM DEATH TO LIFE ” (J OHN

5:24).

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Youth Ministries did not hold a spring planning session in March, but we managed to keep things running smoothly throughout the busy Lenten/Pascha season - thanks to everyone’s help! Melissa Barnes did a great job coordinating (and herding!) the young girls who served as Myrofores on Good Friday. Athena Russo, as always, planned a terrific Easter egg hunt for our kids. Thank you so much, Melissa and Athena! We had a very successful luminary project, headed by Khanh Moutafis and her team of volunteers from the Keller band. Thank you to all parishioners who supported this effort. Money raised by Youth Ministries goes to all youth-related activities at St. John’s, including the Oratorical Festival, Camp Emmanuel, the Dance Troupe and High School/College graduation gifts and celebration. As most of you know, Alex Shah received the highest rank at the Metropolis round of the Oratorical Festival/senior division. Alex went on to represent St. John’s and the rest of the diocese at the final round in Boston in June. The high school graduation luncheon was held Sunday, April 30. We congratulate our five seniors: Athena Adaska, Alex Genovezos, Vassi Gianitsos, Demi Pursley and Maria Tudora. Athena graduates from Southlake Carroll and will attend the University of Oklahoma.

Alex graduates from Trinity and will attend TCC and later transfer to UTA. Vassi graduates from Flower Mound HS and will go to the University of Texas at Austin. Demi graduates from Grapevine High and will attend the University of Arkansas. Maria graduates from Lamar High School in Arlington and will go to University of Texas Dallas. Youth Ministries would like to congratulate Maria Tudora, who is the winner of the 2017 Philoptochos Scholarship. Maria has been very active in our parish since arriving here 10 years ago this summer. She has been in GOYA, served as GOYA president, organized last fall’s blood drive, designed GOYA T-shirts for their fundraisers, danced with the St. John’s Dance Troupe, assisted with VBS, participated in the Oratorical Festival, Camp Emmanuel and last year attended Ionian Village. Bravo, Maria - you are a terrific role model for our kids! The Church School Graduation/End-of-Year Picnic was held May 21. The kids had a blast and enjoyed the water slide/bouncy house - especially once we hooked up the water! We had seven campers attend Camp Emmanuel in June. Luca Tudora and Christian Eftimie attended the senior session, June 11-17. Josie Ivanov, Lexie Eftimie, Noah Ellis and Matei Tudora attended the junior session June 18-24. Many thanks to Ian Rehmet for accompanying the junior

group and serving as an advisor for both sessions. St. John’s Vacation Bible School was held June 6-9. We learned about the North American Saints and utilized the Ancient Faith video series, Be the Bee, to learn about prayer and fasting. GOYANs Vivian Geil and Maria Tudora were a great help, as were our junior advisors Sophia Johnson, Josie Ivanov, Haley and Ethan Hodges, Noah Ellis and Matei Tudora. Joanie Ruppel taught the kids some wonderful hymns and songs, and included a trip to the choir loft. Georgia Papaliodis showed the kids (and attending parents) how to make koliva. Fr. Vasile joined us for lessons in the church. We finished our week with a splash day. All in all, we had about 25 children and could not have done it without the help of our parents - many thanks to Khanh Moutafis, Lynn Peters, Sandra Geil, Toni Hodges, Katherine Johnson, Steve and Elaina Zabak, Ruba Maayeh, Cristina Popa, Theresa Alexander, Ashley Oliver and Veronica Fisher. Youth Ministries will hold our fall planning session on Sunday, Aug 20 following services. All those interested in the youth-related activities of St. John’s are welcome to attend. God bless. Harriet Blake Youth Ministries Coordinator

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PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS Summer Greetings! We have a new Executive Board as of Sunday, June 25th. The elected Board for the next two years: Liz Strong,Connie Sarros,

Margo Yiantsou, Esther Petersak, Joanie Ruppel, Veronica Fisher, Margaret Chokas, Maria Kerbow, Chrysanthi Andromalos, and Gail Poriotis. Many thanks to these ladies for pledging their time and commitment to our St. Irene Philoptochos!

Here are some upcoming dates to keep in mind: Wed. July 5, 2017 Sandwich Making Wed. August 2, 2017 Sandwich Making Fri. & Sat. August 4th and 5th Garage Sale We will be encouraging and seeking help to get ready for the Garage Sale and will be asking folks to help work those two dates to support a successful Sale and major fundraiser.

P HILOPTOCHO

We look forward to the Fall and will begin planning a fabulous Taverna Night. We will have many opportunities for you ladies and gentlemen to volunteer.

S HAS A NEW E XECUTIVE B OARD AS OF S UNDAY , J UNE 25 TH .

Veronica Fisher St. Irene Philoptochos

C HURCH S CHOOL Summer is here! We had a fabulous VBS this year. Many thanks to Harriet Blake and her group of volunteers!

9/10 ---Meet the Teacher & Burgers and Brats Lunch

Here are some upcoming dates that you may want to mark on your calendar:

Have a great remainder of your Summer.

9/17 ---First Day of Church School

Veronica Fisher Church School Coordinator

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207 H IGH S CHOOL G RADUATES Athena Adaska - graduating from Southlake Carroll. Going to University of Oklahoma, where she will probably study business marketing and minor in communications. Was in Marching Band at Southlake Carroll - specifically, drum line all throughout high school, two years on cymbals and two years on snare. National Honor society. Part of Pals - a mentoring program with the elementary schools. Has played piano since age 4. Danced with St. John’s Dance Troupe

2017 H IGH S CHOOL S ENIORS

Alex Genovezos

Alex Genovezos - graduating from Trinity High School. Going to TCC, then transferring to UTA. He will be studying engineering. In high school, studied computer aided design or CAD. Helped tutor fellow classmates. Alex was in marching band, playing trombone. Our senior altar boy, has been huge part of St. John’s including GOYA basketball, dance troupe and was the first of our St. John’s students to attend Camp Emmanuel and the youngest to participate in the Oratorical Festival. He plans to attend Ionian Village this summer. Vassi Gianitsos - graduating from Flower Mound High School. Going to University of Texas/Austin. National Honor Society, AP scholar with honors, Math Honor Society, VP of Spanish Honors Society; Key Club Community Service club; math mentor with FN Cubed; Been on the FM track team throughout high school; four years in cross country (3

on Varsity, captain varsity 2

Nationals in two weeks in Florida. When she’s not performing herself, she coaches gymnastics for ages 5-8. GOYA basketball and St. John’s Dance Troupe. Maria Tudora - graduating from Arlington Lamar HS. Going to University of Texas at Dallas where she will study biology. She is the winner of

years); four years in track (2 years as Captain) Also danced w/ St. John’s Dance Troupe and participated in the GOYA basketball tournament. Demi Pursley - graduating from Grapevine High School. Going to University of Arkansas where she plans to major in communications and minor in business. Gymnastics queen - started at age 4. In fact, she just returned from state this morning at 3am where she was named Vault champion

for the state of Texas. She also placed 4th all around for state. Demi will go to

the 2017 Philoptochos Scholarship. Very active since arriving at St. John’s 10 years ago: GOYA president, myrophore, Oratorical Festival, St. John’s Dance Troupe, GOYA basketball, many retreats and Camp Emmanuel. Attended Ionian Village last summer. Initiated the blood drive last fall conducted by GOYA.

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A Paraklesis (Greek: Παρά κλησις, or Supplicatory Canon in the Orthodox Christian Church is a service of supplication for the welfare of the living. It is addressed to a specific Saint or to the Most Holy Theotokos whose intercessions are sought through the chanting of the supplicatory canon together with psalms, hymns, and ekteniae (litanies). The most popular Paraklesis is that in which the sup-

plicatory canon and other hymns are addressed to the Most Holy Theotokos (the Mother of God). There are two forms of this service: the Small Paraklesis (composed by Theosterictus the Monk in the 9th century), and the Great Paraklesis (composed by Emperor Theodore II Laskaris in the 13th century). During the majority of the year, only the Small Paraklesis to the Theotokos is chanted. However, during the Dormition Fast (August 1—14, inclusive), the Typikon

[citation needed] prescribes that the Small and Great Paraklesis be chanted on alternate evenings, according to the following regulations: If August 1st falls on a Monday through Friday, the cycle begins with the Small Paraklesis. If August 1st falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the cycle begins with the Great Paraklesis. On the eves of Sundays (i.e., Saturday nights) and on the eve of the Transfiguration (the night of August 5) the Paraklesis is omitted.

T HE M ANDORLA ( CONT ) (Continued from page 7)

He prayed, the appearance of His countenance was altered, and His raiment was white and glistening. And behold, there talked with Him two men, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep. And when they were awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him. (St. Luke’s Gospel) However, it is also true that the mandorla is used to reveal the glory which is beyond vision. This is why the mandorla is also found surrounding Jesus in Icons of the Ascension, and also surrounding the Holy Spirit which descended upon Jesus in the form of a dove at His bap-

tism. In both these cases, the mandorla is not showing something which was seen directly, but represents the glory and majesty beyond what was physically witnessed by the gathered crowds. This is also what is described in the Transfiguration on Mt. Tabor, Luke going on to write: While he thus spoke, there came a cloud and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered into the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, “THIS IS MY BELOVED SON. HEAR HIM!” This “cloud”, clearly paralleling the cloud Moses entered in order to converse with God, is also represented by the mandorla. It is at the heart of God’s revelation to the Jews first, and then Chris-

tians: it is impossible to comprehend God. But to know God, to encounter and converse with Him, and to fully experience Him is possible. It happens through entering this “cloud of unknowing”. What Scripture cannot express in words, Icons capture in the mandorla; yet what we can experience of God’s glory goes beyond even images. This is why the mandorla surrounding Christ usually shows concentric bands of shading which get darker toward the centre, rather than lighter. We must pass through stages of what seem like increasing mystery and unknowing, in order to encounter Jesus Christ. Text found here

W HAT S CRIPTURE CANNOT EXPRESS IN WORDS , I CONS CAPTURE IN THE MANDORLA

T HE F ORERUNNER

P AGE 12 T HE S LEEPING B ROTHER

Some old men went to Abba Poemen and asked, “If we see brothers sleeping during the common prayer, should we wake them?” Abba Poemen answered, “If I see my brother sleeping, I put his head on my knees and let him rest.” Then one old man spoke up, “And how do you explain yourself before God?” Abba Poemen replied, “I say to God: You have said, ‘First take the beam out of your own eye and then you will be able to remove the splinter from the eye of your brother.'”

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1st Sunday: Alex Genovezos, Caleb Ellis, Luca Tudora, Matei Tudora

THE

MEETINGS EVERY W EDNESDAY AFTER P RE S ANCTIFIED

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C ATECHISM 2016-2017 COMING TO AN E ND !

Our Catechism / Faith Enrichment will start again in September every Sunday after Divine Liturgy You can join at any time, everyone is welcome! Don't forget our Parish Library is now open. Also check-out our New Bookstore in the hall

A COLYTE S CHEDULE

J OIN OUR B OOK AND S OUP FOR S OUL

PARISH W EBSITE AND S OCIAL MEDIA

U SHER S CHEDULE 1st Sunday: Cecilia Junell 2nd Sunday: Michael Eftimie / Michael Poriotis 3rd Sunday: Jeremy Ellis / Mike Strong 4th Sunday: Angela Cline / Connie Rafailides 5th Sunday: Larry Leeders / Michael Poriotis

C OFFEE H OUR D UTIES SETUP Arrange pastries/food in a desirable manner on the appropriate tables in the parish hall. You are responsible for making the coffee. Make two pots: one regular, one decaf. Plug in be-

2nd Sunday: Dimitri Rodgers, Alex Shah, Chris Eftimie, Joseph Berca, Noah Ellis 3rd Sunday: Alex Genovezos, Caleb Ellis, Luca Tudora, Matei Tudora 4th Sunday: Noah Ellis, Alex Shah, Chris Eftimie, Dimitri Rodgers 5th Sunday: Matei Tudora, Alex Genovezos, Alex Shah, Luca Tudora fore going into church. The instructions are in the kitchen. Prepare a tray with sugar, creamer, sugar substitute, mixing straws, a few spoons. Set with trash bucket. Put donation basket out with appropriate sign.

C OFFEE H OUR H OST

As you probably know already , we have recently switched to a new Coffee hour system where every family will host a coffee hour per year. Please see Connie Rafailedes or Michael Strong to schedule Your Sunday.

CLEAN UP Wash all dishes soiled, including coffee pots. Return sugar tray to kitchen and replenish it. Wash off hall tables and kitchen counters. Thank-You

V OLUME XXXIV

N UMBER 03

P AGE 13

S T . J OHN ’ S C HOIR N EWS —C OME AND S ING W ITH U S . Though the choir is on vacation for the month of July we would welcome new voices. If you are interested in singing with the choir please talk to Kirsten Shah or one of the other choir members. The membership of the choir is a cross section of the membership of our church. Some members have lifted their voices in song for decades while others have just begun to sing this spring. There are as many reasons for singing with the choir as there are choir members. This is Vivian's perspective in her own words. "I like singing in the church choir because it helps me to be more attentive in church and in school. Since I started

singing with the choir I have been able to better understand the liturgy. I have a better understanding of the symbolism of the parts of the service and the meaning behind the hymns even though we sing them in Greek. I enjoyed the music classes in elementary school and missed them when I chose to play viola with the orchestra and did not have room in my class schedule for choir. Singing with the church choir allowed me do do something I love and is one way I can make a gift of my talent. I started singing with other kids in second or third grade with Miss Joanie. We learned the basic melodies of songs like and sang some of the

verses with the adult choir. All of the adults in the choir have been very encouraging and have helped me develop my voice - when I was young I was able to sing with a strong voice but as I got older I found it harder to sing like that. With the help and suggestions from the other members of the choir I was confident enough to sing with strength again.I hope to be able to pass on that gift of encouragement to other younger members of the choir; to continue with the same service given to me.

W HAT IS THE O CTOECHOS ? The Octoechos (Greek: Ὀκτώηχ ος; Slavonic: Oktoikh, or Osmoglasnik)—literally, the book "of the Eight Tones"—contains an eight-week cycle, providing texts to be chanted for every day at Vespers, Matins, the Divine Liturgy, Compline and (on Sundays) the Midnight Office. Each week begins a new mode (Greek: ἤχος, échos) or tone (Slavonic: глáсъ, glás' ), and within that mode texts are provided for each day of the week. The new mode begins with Saturday night Vespers.

term Paraklētikē (Greek: Παρα κλητική) can be used to describe the complete volume. The word Paraklētikē comes from the Greek parakalein (παρακαλείν), meaning, "to supplicate" (the more penitential texts are found on weekdays).

In addition to the standard melodies provided by the eight modes, there are also several "special melodies" (Greek: Idiomelon, Slavonic: Samoglasen), and the "pattern melodies" (Greek: prosomoia, SlaSometimes the word "Octoechos" vonic: podobny) which are based will be used to describe a briefer upon them. Each of these bevolume that contains only the longs to one of the tones and will texts for the Sunday services. To be indicated in the superscription distinguish the full version from introducing some of the hymns the briefer one, the in the Octoechos and

other liturgical books. The cycle of the Octoechos is a part of the Paschal cycle (moveable cycle) of the church year; that is to say, it is dependent upon the date of Pascha (Easter). During Bright Week (Easter Week), one of the eight tones is used each day of the week (excluding the Seventh or "Grave" Tone). Then, beginning on Thomas Sunday (the Sunday after Pascha), the First Tone is used for the entire week, and the cycle continues uninterrupted, one tone per week, until Palm Sunday of the following year.

WILL SING TO THE LORD AS LONG AS I LIVE ; I WILL SING PRAISE TO MY G OD WHILE I HAVE MY BEING .

P SALM 104:33

St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church July 2017 SUN

MON

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

SAT 1 Cosmas & Damian Unmercen. Constantine, Martyr of Cyprus

Strict Fast Wine/Oil Allowed

Vespers 5pm

2 4th Sunday of Matthew 8:30 am Orthros 9:30 am Divine Liturgy (Byzantine Chant) Deposition of Robe Of he Theotokos in Vlachermae

9 5th. Sunday of Matthew 8:30 am Orthros 9:30 am Divine Liturgy Pancratios, Bishop of Sicily Dionysios The Orator

Athanasios of Mount Athos Lampadus the Wonderworker

Sisoes the Great Archippus, Philemon, Onesimus

Thomas of Maleon Kyriaki the Great Martyr

Prokopios the Great Martyr Theophilios the Myrrhbearer

Independence Day Hyacinth of Caesarea Anatolios, Pat. Of Constan.

Andrew of Crete Martha, mother Symeon (Stylite)

Vespers 5pm Paraklesis (Pantanassa) 6 pm UMG Sandwich Making

10 45 Martyrs Nikopolis, Armenia Martyr Apollonios

Euphemia the Great Martyr Olga, Equal-to-the-Apostles

Proklos & Hilarios of Ancyra Michael Maleinus

13 Synaxis of Archangel Gabriel Stephanos of Savvas Monastery

14 Aquila of the 70 Joseph the Confessor

Athenogenes of Heracleopolis Julia Of Carthage

23 7th. Sunday of Matthew 8:30 am Orthros 9:30 am Divine Liturgy Phocas, Bishop of Sinope Ezekiel the Prophet

Marina of Antioch Veronika & Speratos the Martyrs

Silas & Silvanos of the 70 Julitta of Caesaria

Macrina, sister of St. Basil Dios, Abbot of Antioch

Elias the Prophet

Vigil 6 pm

Divine Liturgy 6am

Symeon the Fool for Christ Parthenios, Bishop of Arta

Mary Magdalene, Myrrhbearer Markella of Chios

Vespers 6pm

Orthros 8am Divine Liturgy 8am

24 Christina the Great Martyr Athenagoras the Apologist

8th. Sunday of Matthew 8:30 am Orthros 9:30 am Divine Liturgy

Emilianos of Bulgaria Paul, Thea and Oulalentine

Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles

Vespers 5pm

Paraklesis 6 pm

Sunday of the Holy Fathers 8:30 am Orthros 9:30 am Divine Liturgy

Forefeast of the Precious Cross Joseph of Arimathea

Dormition of Anna, mother of Theotokos Olympias the Deaconess

Hermolaos & his Companions Paraskevi of Rome

Panteleimon the Great Martyr Nicholas of Novgorod

Prochoros, Nicanor, Timon Irene of Chrysovalantou

Kallinikos of Asia Minor Theodore and her Children

Vespers 6 pm

Divine Liturgy 6am

St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church August 2017 SUN

MON

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

SAT

Strict Fast Wine/Oil

Great Paraklesis

Small Paraklesis

Great Paraklesis

Procession of the Cross Seven Maccabees, Eleazar

Relics of Stephen the Protomartyr Theodore of Dardanelles

Issacius, Dalmatus, & Faustus, Salome the Myrrhbearer

Seven Holy Youths of Ephesus

Paraklesis 6 pm

Paraklesis 6 pm UMG Sandwich Making

Paraklesis 6 pm

Dormition Feast Begins Small Paraklesis

Allowed Fish Allowed Fast Free

HOLY TRANSFIGURATION

Small Paraklesis

Great Paraklesis

Small Paraklesis

Great Paraklesis

Small Paraklesis

Emilian, Bishop of Cyzikos Myron the Wonderworker

Matthias, Apostle of the 70 Anthony of Alexandria

Lawrence, Archdeacon of Rome Chitus of Athens, Bishop of Rome

Paraklesis 6 pm

Divine Liturgy 6am Paraklesis 6 pm

16 Translation of the Image of Christ Diomedes of Tarsus

8:30 am Orthos 9:30 am Divine Liturgy (Byzantine Chant) Transfiguration of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Paraklesis 6 pm

Dometios of Persia & Disciples Nikanor the Wonderworker Paraklesis 6 pm

10th. Sunday of Matthew

Forefeast of the Dormition Micha the Prophet

8:30 am Orthos 9:30 am Divine Liturgy Apodosis of the Transfiguration Maximos the Confessor

20 11th. Sunday of Matthew 8:30 am Orthos 9:30 am Divine Liturgy

Vigil 6 pm

Dormition of the Theotokos

Agathonikos & his companions Martyr Anthusa

Vespers 5:00 pm

Photios & Aniketos of Nicomedea 12 Soldier-martyrs of Crete

Paraklesis 6 pm

Vespers 5:00 pm

Myron of Cyzicus, Straton, Philip, Eutychian, Cyprian

Floros & Lauros of Illyria John & George, Pat. Of Constan.

Andrew & his 2,593 soldiers Timothy, Agapius and Thecla

Vespers 5:00 pm

Divine Liturgy 6am

Thaddeus of he 70 Bassa & her sons

Euplus, Archdeacon of Cantania Niphon, Pat. Of Constantinople

Forefeast of the Transfiguration Eusygnius the Martyr of Antioch

23 Apodosis of the Dormition Ireneaus, Bishop of Lyons

Eutyches the Hieromartyr Kosmas of Aetolia

Return of body of Bartholomew Titus of the 70

Adrian, Natalia & 33 Companions Righteous Joseph

Samuel the Prophet Lukios the Counselor Paraklesis 6 pm

27 12th. Sunday of Matthew 8:30 am Orthos 9:30 am Divine Liturgy Poimen the Great Phanourios the Great Martyr

Cultural Buffet Fundraiser

Vespers 5:00 pm

Moses the Black of Scete Diomedes & Laurence

Beheading of the Forerunner Theodora of Thessaloniki

Alexander, John & Paul, New Patriarchs of Constantinople

Honorable Sash of Theotokos Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage

Vigil 6 pm

Divine Liturgy 6am

Paraklesis 6 pm

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THE FORERUNNER

Vol. XXXIV No. 03 July-August 2017

The Holy Martyr and Deacon Lawrence, August 10