St. George Greek Orthodox Church

30 East Forge Road - Media, PA 19063-4345 Telephone: 610-459-0366 FAX: 610-459-1015

Email: office@stgeorgemedia.org FrAnastasios@stgeorgemedia.org

Volume 32, Issue 7 Check the St. George website for the most up to date information August 2018

The Dormition of the Theotokos – August 15

The Feast of the Dormition of Our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary is celebrated on August 15 each year. The Feast commemorates the repose (dormition and in the Greek kimisis) or "falling-asleep" of the Mother of Jesus Christ, our Lord. The Feast also commemorates the translation or assumption into heaven of the body of the Theotokos. The Holy Scriptures tell us that when our Lord was dying on the Cross, He saw His mother and His disciple John and said to the Virgin Mary, "Woman, behold your son!" and to John, "Behold your mother!" From that hour, the Apostle took care of the Theotokos in his own home. At the time of her death, the disciples of our Lord who were preaching throughout the world returned to Jerusalem to see the Theotokos. Except for the Apostle Thomas, all of them including the Apostle Paul were gathered together at her bedside. At the moment of her death, Jesus Christ himself descended and carried her soul into heaven. Following her repose, the body of the Theotokos was taken in procession and laid in a tomb near the Garden of Gethsemane. When the Apostle Thomas arrived three days after her repose and desired to see her body, the tomb was found to be empty. The bodily assumption of the Theotokos was confirmed by the message of an angel and by her appearance to the Apostles. The Icon of the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos shows her on her deathbed surrounded by the Apostles. Christ is standing in the center looking at His mother. He is holding a small child clothed in white representing the soul of the Virgin Mary. With His golden garments, the angels above His head, and the mandorla surrounding Him, Christ is depicted in His divine glory. The posture of the Apostles direct attention toward the Theotokos. On the right Saint Peter censes the body of the Theotokos. On the left Saint Paul bows low in honor of her. To-gether with the Apostles are several bishops and women. The bishops traditionally represented are James, the brother of the Lord, Timothy, Heirotheus, and Dionysi-us the Areopagite. They are shown wearing episcopal vestments. The women are members of the church in Jerusalem. In front of the bed of the Theotokos is a candle that helps to form a central axis in the icon. Above the candle is the body of the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary. Standing over His mother is Christ hold-ing her most pure soul. Above Christ the gates of heaven stand open, ready to receive the Mother of God. This great Feast of the Church and the icon celebrates a fundamental teaching of our faith—the Resurrection of the body. In the case of the Theotokos, this has been accomplished by the divine will of God. Thus, this Feast is a feast of hope, hope in Resurrection and life eternal. Like those who gathered around the body of the Virgin Mary, we gather around our departed loved ones and commend their souls into the hands of Christ. As we remember those who have reposed in the faith before us and have passed on into the communion of the Saints, we prepare ourselves to one day be received into the new life of the age to come. We also affirm through this Feast as we journey toward our heavenly abode that the Mother of God intercedes for us. Through Christ she has become the mother of all of the children of God, embracing us with divine love.

ORTHROS 8:15 AM - LITURGY 9:30 AM WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2018

Holy Metropolis of New Jersey

His Eminence Metropolitan EVANGELOS +

St. George Greek Orthodox Church

Presiding Priest - Fr. Anastasios P. Bourantas, Protopresbyter

2018 Parish Council Officers Angelica Politarhos-Santora, President

Ernest Kollias, 1st Vice-President

Sonya Bohmann, 2nd Vice-President

Valentinos Kanellopoulos, Recording Secretary

Demetrios Psihalinos, Treasurer Drew M. Nayman, Financial Secretary

Demetrios Christoforatos, Assistant Financial Secretary

Members Speroula Fotiades-Alexander

George Fotiades

Peggy Galiatsatos

Filaretos Hanos

Constandean Lambardakis Nikolaos Liolios

Emmanouil Papadopoulos

Nikolaos Yiantsos

Organizations

Office Manager - Katherine B. Mudrick

Chanters - Michael Matekovic, Richard (Ryan) Stingle Choir - Stephanie Kalogredis, Director

Custodian - Russell Ehly

Accountant - George Kaffes

Philoptochos - Ai Mirophoroi – Diane P. Nayman, President

GOYA - Eleni Christou, GOYA President, Advisors: Dina Christou, Sissy Konstantopoulos

JOY/HOPE - Anthoula Psihalinos, Effie Lambardakis, Advisors

Sunday School Director - Patty Cakrides-Ryan, Sonya Bohmann

Bookstore - Presvytera Nicoletta Bourantas

GOYA Basketball - , Coach (boys), Coach, (girls)

Vacation Church School - Anthoula Psihalinos

Greek Folk Dance - (HOPE/JOY) Anthoula Psihalinos, Effie Lambardakis, (GOYA) Phil Voutsakis

Young Adult Leaders: Phil Voutsakis

Young at Heart (A Ministry for those 55 and over) - Diane Nayman, Bertha Tourlitis, Angie Santora

Aristotle Academy at St. George - Elias Pantelidis, Director, Alexander Kopatsis, President

Chion Society of St. Markella - Marco Tourlitis, President

AHEPA - Emmanouil Papadopoulos, President Daughters of Penelope - Dr. Frances Hourican, President

Parish Council Committee Chairpersons

Building Expansion - Nikolaos Yiantsos

Bylaws -

Executive Committee - Parish Council Officers and Past President

Facilities - George Fotiades, Nikolaos Liolios, Nikolaos Yiantsos, Demetrios Psihalinos, Constandean Lambardakis

Festival - Angelica Politarhos-Santora, Demetri Psihalinos, Nikolaos Yiantsos

Finance - Demetrios Psihalinos, Drew Nayman

Greek School - Demetrios Psihalinos

Hall Rental - Peggy Galiatsatos

IATV/Audio Visual - Nikolaos Yiantsos Personnel - Executive Committee

Stewardship - Drew Nayman

Web Master & Strategic Planning -

Youth Liaison - Sonya Bohmann

Golf Classic - Sonya Bohmann, Ernest Kollias

August 2018

Check the St. George Website for the most up to date information www.stgeorgemedia.org

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

St. George

Golf Classic

Monday,

Sept. 10th

St. George

Food

Festival

Sept. 27, 28,

29 & 30,

2018

St. George

Comedy

Night

Saturday,

Oct. 20th

1 Dormition Fast

Begins

Paraklesis

Service 7 pm

2

3 Paraklesis

Service 7 pm

4

5 10th Sunday of

Matthew

Forefeast of the

Holy

Transfiguration

6 Holy

Transfiguration

Orthros/Liturgy

8:15 am

Bring grapes

to be blessed Vacation Church School 10am-2pm

7 Vacation Church School 10am-2pm

Paraklesis

Service 7 pm

8 Vacation Church School 10am-2pm

Paraklesis

Service 7 pm

9 Vacation Church School 10am-2pm

Paraklesis

Service 7 pm

10 Vacation Church School 10am-2pm

Paraklesis

Service 7 pm

11

12 11th Sunday of

Matthew

13 Paraklesis

Service 7 pm

14 Forefeast of

Dormition of the

Theotokos

Vespers 7 pm

15 Dormition of the

Theotokos

Orthros/Liturgy

8:15 am

16 17 18

19

12th Sunday of

Matthew

20 21 22 23 24 25

26 13th Sunday of

Matthew

27 28 29 Beheading of

The Forerunner

St. John the

Baptist,

Orthros/Liturgy

8:15 am

30 31

Parish Council President Message

Dear St. George Parishioners:

Happy August to everyone!

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer vacation. As you know St. George never gets a vacation but is

joyful for everyone else being able to enjoy theirs. I know everyone will begin the process in the month of

August to prepare for the daily grind that will be starting in September.

I just wanted to highlight some of the things happening within our church. We have been doing a

thorough cleaning of the church and the facilities. Every organization was asked to make sure everything

they used and needed was put away safely in cabinets or closets, anything left out would be disposed of.

I hope all the organizations have done so. We have installed some new lighting in the hall and fixed the

floors in the back classroom areas.

We are still waiting for pricing of the “DOME” to repair or to replace. We have had many companies

come out some want to bid and many walk away. We hope to have a plan in place very soon.

We have begun the preparation of the food for the festival since we have changed the date for the first

time in many years. The new date is September 27-30, 2018. Every Monday the ladies and some men

have come to assist in these preparations. Anyone interested in helping please come, you will be

welcomed with open arms. St. George NEEDS You! Please attend the festival meetings. Anyone

interested in chairing a committee please call me, Demetri P., Nick Y., or Kathy directly. Please know

everyone’s knowledge is needed to make this event successful.

Please continue to enjoy the month of August. We'll see many of you again in September. Be safe and

well.

Have a Blessed Month,

Angie Santora-Politarhos

Parish Council President

ST GEORGE YOUTH DAY @ HERSERY PARK!

THIS MONTH AT THE BOOKSTORE

Stop by and visit the BOOKSTORE to purchase these featured books and many other Religious books, gifts, handmade jewelry and other helpful resources that are now available for purchase. The bookstore has many books for Great Lenten and is open during office hours and Sunday’s following Liturgy. Youth Book: “A Boy’s Journey to Sainthood - St. Paisios the Athonite By: Anna Iakovou, Illustrations by Christina Papatheou-Douligeri The saints of our Church, even the greatest elders and ascetics, were once children! On one summer day, in Konitsa of Epirus (Northern Greece), the young Arseny beheld the “Light of the world” with his own eyes. Over the years, this very child grew up to become the beloved saint we know today as St. Paisios the Athonite. In this book, children will learn about the life of St. Paisios through sweet and moving stories, filled with wisdom and joy. For children ages 5 to 12 Adult Book: “I Live Again: A Memoir of Ileana, Princess of Romania and Archduchess of Austria” By: Princess Ileana Ileana, Princess of Romania and Archduchess of Austria—who in later life became Mother Alexandra, founder of the Ortho-dox Monastery of the Transfiguration in Pennsylvania—wrote this memoir shortly after relocating to the US in the 1950s. It tells the story of a life full of suffering, tragedy, and exile, but all is suffused with the author's deep faith, hope, love, and even joy. This reprint includes additional material collected by the nuns of her monastery that sets the memoir in the context of Mother Alexandra's later life.

Sacramental Registry Baptism

* On Saturday, May 26, 2018, Sofia Amalia Forgia was baptized, Godparents - Ana Sinoimeri and Timothy Naum. * On Saturday, June 9, 2018, Angelina Rose Alexiadis was baptized, Godparent - George Alexiadis. * On Saturday, June 9, 2018, Gabriella Rose Alexiadis was baptized, Godparent - Harry Alexiadis.

Funeral * On Saturday, May 26, Stella (Stavroula) J. Yiannos, age 77. * On Friday, June 1, Mikael G. Mihalos, age 24. * On Tuesday, June 12, Lesvia Vlazakis, age 86. * On Tuesday, June 26, Alexander Hionis, age 81. Death * On July 14, Angelo Pipinos, age 87.

SUNDAY SCHOOL MESSAGE

Hope everyone is having a good summer.

August is a wonderful month to prepare us for the beginning of the ecclesiastical year. We fast, we pray, and we prepare ourselves for the year ahead.

We are looking ahead to an exciting Sunday School year. Please keep a look out for Open House Sunday where we will be registering the kids for the school year. As you are shopping for school supplies, please consider choosing a few for the Sunday School closets. We are always in need of Construction paper- all sizes and colors. Crayon, markers, child size scissors, pencils, glue sticks, pipe cleaners are always welcome.

Even though we do not have Sunday School in the summer, we love seeing all of the kids in church. Summer is a great opportunity to get them acclimated to being in church and learning more about our faith.

Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst”

Enjoy the rest of your summer, be safe and we are looking forward to September! In Christ, Sonya and Patty

Community Shelter Out-

reach

Our parish participates in serving dinner to the men at Safe Harbor Shelter in West Chester on the first Tuesday of each month. If you are familiar with the serving routine at the shelter you can sign up for one of the monthly dinners (prepare dinner and serve, either or both). If you are new to the program you can prepare the meal (enough for 24 adults) and come join us at the shelter to serve it. If you wish to make a donation, please make checks payable to St. George – earmarked for “Community Shelter Outreach.” The donations will be used to purchase food or supplies for the needs of the shelter residents. If you would like to sign up to prepare a meal and/or volunteer on a Tuesday, please email Effie Hionis at ehionis@hotmail.com or leave a message at the church office and I will get back to you.

Our parishioners always have such open hearts. We have had several requests for families who would like to participate at the shelter. Unfortunately, due to the circumstances of the residents, Safe Harbor does not permit anyone under the age of 12 to volunteer at the shel-ter. However, families with younger children are welcomed to prepare a meal or dessert for the residence as part of a gift of giving.

Thanks this month: We would like to thank Evan Andreadis for helping us serve dinner this month and Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Hartmann for their generous donation to the shelter. Future dates: 6/5/2018 - John and Peggy Galiatsatos and Family in memory of Ourania Galiatsatos 7/3/2018 - Mrs. Sophia Galiatsatos in memory of Ourania Galiatsatos 8/7/2018- - Marco Tourlitis and Family 9/4/2018 - Dionisi and Eleni Nikolis and Family 10/2/2018- Mrs. Fani Zikas and Family in memory of Constantin Zikas 11/6/2018 - open 12/4/2018 - open

PROSPHORA /ARTOCLASIA

Would you like to donate the Prosphora for a special feast day or your name day, they are available for purchase at $10.00 each. Please contact the church office for more details. Thank you.

Artoclasia is available for purchase to celebrate a name day or special occasion from the Philoptochos Society, 5 loaves for $50. Please contact the church office or any Philoptochos member to order. For all memorial services’ and Artoclasia we kindly ask that you also supply wine and oil for the Altar. Thank you.

Please remember, if you have already obtained a civil divorce, you must also receive an Ecclesiastical Divorce from the Church

This brief process is confidentially handled by the parish priest. You must complete this process in order to be in good standing with the Church, meaning that you may not partake in the Sacramental life of the Church, (example: being a sponsor at a wedding or baptism, receiving the Sacrament of Holy Communion and Holy Unction, serving on the Parish Council, voting at Parish Assemblies and entering into another marriage). Please consider your personal situation and be in good standing with the Church. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Fr. Anastasios directly.

Priest Discretionary Fund The Priest Discretionary Fund is used by the priest to assist those in need. Examples of how this fund is used includes, assisting the hungry and homeless, assist a parishioner in times of crisis, emergency and/or extreme financial need. The monies used to establish this Discretionary Fund will come from the generous donation of our parishioners and other anonymous donations of our community. If you have a question or a desire to con-tribute, please ask Father Anastasios about the use of the Discretionary Fund and how you can help.

Philoptochos Message

Hello St. George, Summer is fleeting and I am sure you are enjoying all the joys and benefits the season brings. Before long, vacations will be a memory. School and Greek School will resume, and the workings of St. George will be active once again. However, for the ladies of Philoptochos, the rigors of food preparation for the festival start-ed the in June. Each Monday at 7am the woman came and devoted their mornings to baking. Because the work load is heavy, we have had the help of men who, although they have business to run, and work to do, devoted a good portion of their time for the festival; this is long before the September dates of the actual festival in September. As I’ve said before, the festival is for St. George, and everyone is encouraged to come help for the preparation and baking. The Bid & Buy that everyone enjoys is also in the workings with preparation. All these events start long before one realizes it because of the enormous amount of work. Most of the ladies of Philoptochos have outside interests and workloads but continue to devote time and energy to projects. The Clergy/Laity was held in Boston in early July. Presvytera, although she had her own responsibilities at the convention, made time to attend several meetings as a representa-tive of Philoptochos. She will be speaking at our first meeting in September.

September 23rd after Liturgy is the first meeting of Philoptochos. I encourage you to attend and become a part of the legacy of ladies who strive to make St. George vibrant. Until that time, enjoy the remainder of the summer. In Philoptochos Love, Diane P Nayman President

SUNDAY SCHOOL GRADUATION &

RECOGNITION OF ALL 2018 GRADUATES

AHEPA#79 NEWS

Finally summer is here! The weather is hot. I hope everyone is enjoying the summer activities. Spend-ing time with the family on the beach is great. Going fishing with the kids is memorable for both par-ents and children.

I like to thank all of those that bought tickets for the 50/50 raffle. Proceeds will go towards the scholar-ships and other worthy charitable accomplishments.

We started again our fund raising this year for our Chapter’s scholarship fund. In May we gave 19 scholarships to the youth of our community. Again our Chapter gave the most scholarships in the state of PA. The need for funding is greater than ever. We always need help. If you can donate a full scholarship or money towards the scholarship fund, it would be greatly appreciated. It’s a great way to memorialize a loved one, too. Please reach out to us if you are inter-ested.

On June 19th will had our end of year dinner at a local restaurant. It was great to see many brothers. We also had the Chapter’s elections for next year’s officers. The Chapter’s officers for next year as follows:

2018-2019 AHEPA #79 Officers President - Manolis Papadopoulos

Vice President -Chris Christou Treasurer – George Kaffes Secretary – Edward Stasen

Board members: Rick Hogue, Bill Kalogredis, Art, Happas, Harry Lupia. Congratulations and best of luck to all the new officers and board members.

In September will have our 1st meeting for the year where we will plan how to support many good causes and our annual St. Patrick’s Celebration on March 9, 2019, mark your calendars and plan to join us.

By becoming a member you can support many good causes. Come and be part of something special. It doesn’t cost much, doesn’t require a lot of time, and the friendships you make will last forever all while doing good things! Manoli Papadopoulos AHEPA Chapter #79 President

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30 East Forge Road Media PA 19063

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Saint George Greek Orthodox Church 30 East Forge Road Media, PA 19063-4345

Rev. Fr. Anastasios Bourantas, Protopresbyter Return Service Requested

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