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GREEK ORTHODOX COMMUNITY & PARISH

OF PROPHET ELIAS NORWOOD & EASTERN

SUBURBS INC.

87 BEULAH RD. NORWOOD SA 5067 P.O. BOX 277, KENT TOWN SA 5071
ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO THE HON. SECRETARY

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: 8362 4139 . 8431 7789 . 0412 710 037

21-10-12
29 . 1422

WEEKLY MAGAZINE

THE WORD OF GOD

PHONES: 8362 4139 H. 8431 7789 M. 0412 710 037

DATE 21-10-12
YEAR 29TH NUMBER 1422
WEB PAGE: WWW.PROPHETELIAS.ORG.AU
ONLINE MAGAZINE & RADIO PROGRAM: WWW.PROPHETELIAS.BLOGSPOT.COM
EMAIL: PROPHETELIAS@ESC.NET.AU

(. 1,11-19) 21 2012
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6th SUNDAY OF LUKE (Gal. 1,11-19) October 21st 2012

At every Holy service, every miracle, at every fervent prayer, we see the
intervention and action of Holy Grace. Every time that Holy Grace is in action we
have one of Gods Sacraments, therefore we can say that the sacraments of our
Church are innumerable. Within these there are the seven great Sacraments
that are found in Holy Scripture, which play a significant role in the lives of faithful
Christians.

Firstly we have the Sacrament of Baptism, followed by the

Sacrament of Chrismation.

These two Sacraments allow us to progress to the

third Sacrament called Confession. Following the advice of our Confessor we

then approach the Holy Chalice to commune with the fourth and greatest of all
the Sacraments, Holy Communion.

The four Sacraments that we have just

discussed are essential; this means that if someone does not live these four
Sacraments of our Church, then they are not Orthodox Christians. It does not
matter what this person considers himself to be, or what others tell him that he is,
they are in discord with Christ, the teachings of the Apostles and the Church
Fathers, and live in schism and heresy. As far as the first two Sacraments go, all
of us who were baptised as young children did not have to make the smallest
effort since it was our parents and God-parents who took the responsibility.
Through our Baptism the Church dresses us with Christ, and with Chrismation
she gives us the Gifts of the Holy Spirit which becomes the guard over our five
gates our senses- so that the cunning one cannot enter our hearts. However,
when it comes to Holy Confession and Holy Communion it becomes a personal
decision and action. Of our own accord we sin and fall into the mud sinfulness,
so it is on our own we are invited to cleanse ourselves with the waters of
Repentance and Confession. Following this our spiritual father and Confessor will
give us instructions on how and when we are able to commune the Precious
Body and Blood of Christ our Lord.

We can often see an un-Orthodox disorder amongst Orthodox Christians when it

comes to Confession and Holy Communion. Even though this sounds like an
oxymoron it is reality. We see people Commune whenever they want without
consulting their spiritual father, others are in such a state of spiritual insensitivity,
that not only do they not go to Confession themselves but they deprive their
children of it and also convince others to take their catastrophic stance.
Why then does this paradoxical and un-Orthodox phenomenon arise? The
question is very simple, and the answer is equally simple: It is because people
are spiritually weak. It is certain that this person would wish to be freed from the
remorse that weighs him down. Surely he would wish to live free, without fear
and uncertainty etc. And certainly he would want at the end of this temporary life
to enter Paradise and not Hell. Yet unfortunately, spiritually hungry as he is, he
does not have the strength to resist the bonds of the devil who has bound him
hand and foot and is using him to do his deeds. The devil has bound him with the
thick chains of embarrassment, even though while he was sinning he was
completely shameless. He has bound him with the steel chains of egoism, even
though when he is sinning is brought lower than the lowest animal. He bound
him with chains of injustice. the sad demonic feeling that holds him captive as
the blessed Elder Porphyrios would say. With what strength then can this poor
person break free from these chains and kneel under the Petrihilion of his
spiritual father to receive forgiveness? Brethren, today we have seen a spiritual
giant who broke gigantic chains of egoism, embarrassment, and injustice as
though they were just cotton threads; The man who confessed not privately with
his spiritual father, but in public in front of everybody. And who is this giant? It is
the Apostle Paul. Paul, in front of everybody, exposed his dark past because in
this way he would feel humility even more so. He was the sinful Saul. What did
he say in his public confession? For you have heard of my former conduct in
Judaism, how I persecuted the Church of God beyond measure and tried to

destroy it. And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my

own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. In
other words- dont look at me now that I speak about Christ with great zeal and
make great sacrifices to spread the truth of His gospel. I was once a persecutor
of Christ and the Christians that followed Him. My conduct against Christ and my
hatred toward him was worse than that of all of my contemporaries. I, Paul, was
gripped by the stubborn adherence to the customs of my forefathers more so
than any others. I tried to by every means available to me to destroy the Church
of God and fanatically I wanted to advance the Jewish customs and preserve the
letter of Mosaic Law. Brethren do you see the humility? Without embarrassment
and concern for how others would take what he had to say, Paul confessed his
antichristian conduct before he learnt the truth about Christ. He unfolds his dark
past in front of the Galatians through his letter, and to all Christians through the
ages up to today. Paul does not attempt to justify his actions by saying that his
parents were to blame, or that it was due to the antichristian behaviour of others,
or Mosaic Law, or the famous Rabbis that he learned from. He takes all of the
blame himself.Todays Orthodox Christians are called by the Lord to confess to
Him, in the presence of only their spiritual father, who will listen, advise, and read
the prayer of forgiveness over them.

Why do they not go to Confession?

Unfortunately their weakness and unwillingness to take part in the sacrament of

Confession exposes them as spiritual dwarfs and slaves of the cunning one.

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News from our Commjunity-Parish

Baptisms
Last Saturday 13th October, the baptism of John took place in our Church. The
godmother was Mrs Despina Panatsos.

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The same afternoon, the baptism of the daughter of Mr Leon and Mrs Nikolitsa
Efthivoulos was held in our Church. The godfather Mr Panagiotis Lambropoulos
gave her the name Eleni.
May the parents and godparents rejoice in the newly-baptized and have strength
and enlightenment from God to raise them with the love of Christ and according
to the commandments of God.

Church Services
Tomorrow Monday 22nd October Day of the Seven Youth Saints of Ephesus, St
Averkios of Hieropolis and St Glykeria, Matins and Divine Liturgy 8am 9.30am.

Divine Liturgy of Apostle James

The Apostle James Brother of God was the first Bishop of Jerusalem and was
ordained by Christ Himself. He wrote the service in Hebrew according to the
directions of the Lord. Having as model the divine service which Christ celebrated
at the Last Supper, James composed the Divine Liturgy with psalms, prayers,
hymns, petitions, offertory, special prayers, and readings. The Divine Liturgy of St
James which is celebrated in our Church has been published from the ancient
codes and is completely genuine as the contemporary Fathers tell us. The Divine
Liturgy of Chrysostomos and Basil the Great are based on that of James. Even
the prayers of the holy vestments come from the time of James. The service was
celebrated daily and people took Communion from the hands of James. The
Panagia took Communion from the hands of James for about eleven years, until
she fell asleep. The Apostle James the Just, as he is known, was Bishop for 29
years. It is the Divine Liturgy of St James that we shall celebrate in our Church
this Tuesday 23rd October Day of St James, 7.30am 10 am approx.. As the
Priest officiating at this service faces the people, it will be conducted on the
Solea, not inside the Iero. This is a spiritual opportunity for people who love the
services to come and participate in the first Divine Liturgy of Christianity and also
receive the Holy Sacrament.

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This coming Friday Day of the Great Martyr St Demetrios the Myrrhflowing,
Matins and Divine Liturgy with artoklasia, 8 am 10 am.

Divine Liturgy in English

Saturday evening 27th October, Divine Liturgy in English, 6pm 7pm. This is a
spiritual opportunity for everyone, especially for those who have difficulty in
understanding Greek.

28 OCTOBER 1940 DOXOLOGY SERVICE - SUNDAY 28 OCTOBER 2012

Every year, as these historic days for the freedom of our Fatherland approach,
we are filled with feelings of patriotism. Our thoughts focus on the honourable
witness of the patriotic feeling of Greeks around the globe: every Greek, that is,
who does not allow the place where he lives to change his faith in God and his
love for his mother Greece. Alas for those Greeks who sell their religious and
national consciousness, who have forgotten history, who heed not the sacrifices
of our heroic ancestors. Woe to the peoples who do heed not the ceaseless
knock of our indebtedness for unity of mind and soul; who do not hear the
insistent witness of history for the necessity of peace and love amongst peoples.
Our Church continues through the centuries to hold fast the lit beacon of struggle
which is first and foremost the beacon of freedom and martyrdom. The Church
raises it now in our tumultuous days, empowering and enlightening mankind in
our wretched and nightmarish darkness. Every year, we celebrate mankinds
yearning for freedom. This is the message which as free Greeks, like the
swallows which herald spring, like proud champions of freedom, we are obliged
to pass on to the next generation. This year, the 28th October celebrations,
including the official Doxology Service, fall on the actual day of the anniversary.
Next Sunday 28th October, the Doxology for the National Anniversary of 1940
44 will be held in our Church. All students are required to assemble in the
Community Hall at the rear of the church at 9.30am. Would students please
come dressed in our national colours or the national costumes provided by our

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Community-Parish. Some time prior to the end of the Divine Liturgy, the students
of our Greek School, holding flags and dressed in our national colours of blue
and white or in the national costumes of our Community-Parish, will come into
church, accompanied by the teaching staff. Following the Divine Liturgy, a short
Doxology service will be held to commemorate this special occasion. Afterwards,
the children will go to the Hall where lunch will be waiting for them, free-ofcharge. After receiving antidoro, the congregation will also go to the hall for lunch
- $15 per serve while the children perform Greek dances, sing Greek songs and
recite poems and speeches. This is an opportunity for parents, grandparents and
children to show practically that, though the years pass, no-one and nothing can
extinguish the flame of freedom. Your lively and enthusiastic presence, the flagbedecked Church, the Greek flag itself, our national dress, together with the
National Anthem, patriotic poems and songs, create a beautiful atmosphere,
which the children will remember forever. We look forward to you joining us.

Festival of the Great and Glorious Archangels

With the help of the Most Gracvious God, Thursday 8th November this year
marks 53 years since the first Divine Liturgy of our blessed Community-Parish.
Our Festival at Prophet Elias is well-known throughout Adelaide.
Wednesday Eve of the Holy Archangels, Great Vespers, 6 pm.
Thursday 8th November Day of the Holy Archangels and all the Holy and Bodiless
Powers, Matins and Divine Liturgy with artoklasia and procession of the Holy Icon
of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel in the grounds, 8am 11am. Afterwards,
lunch prepared by the Executive Committee and Philoptohos; as usual, no
entrance-ticket, a basket of love will circulate for your contribution. We look
forward to seeing you there.

Annual General Meeting of the Philoptohos

Today Sunday 21ST October at 3 pm, the Annual General Meeting of our
Philoptohos will take place in our Community Centre Hall. If you do not know

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what the important role of the Philoptohos entails, come and learn more today.
The first to taste the sweet fruits of their labour are the members of the
Philoptohos themselves, as they offer their services with a glad heart. The
Church appeals to all ladies in our Parish to take part and allow the heroines who
have been serving our Parish faithfully for the last almost fifty years to take a little
rest. We look forward to welcoming you.

Meeting of the Festival Committee 2013

Tomorrow Monday 22nd October, the first meeting of the members of the
organizing committee for the Norwood Greek Festival will be held in the Prophet
Elias Community Centre at 7pm. Since many new people have expressed their
desire to help in the organizing, please come to this meeting. The central
committee welcomes all ideas for the better presentation of the Festival.

Bible Study
Last Wednesday, we had the opportunity to discuss the God-Man nature of
Christ. This Wednesday, we shall study the Unity of Natures. Discussions are in
English, with Greek as required. The studies are suitable for all, especially those
who have not attended catechism. Groups meet in the rooms of our Community
Centre every Wednesday evening 7pm - 8pm.

Donations for the Air-conditioning system

Donations for the air-conditioning system continue to come and we thank
everyone for their various amounts and those who promise to pay little by little.
The members of the Executive Committee take heart from your financial support
of the needs of our Parish.