this issue BOX & SPOON - September 2010 MONTHLY

Letter from Fr. Mark

September
2010
Newsletter for Stewards of Holy Anargyroi
Sts. Kosmas & Damianos Greek Orthodox Church Box & Spoon
Liturgical/Organization Calendar
for September 2010

Greek Fest

GOYA: Project Mexico

Vacation Church School

Youth News

Faith and Science: Contradictory or complementary

meanings? By Michael G. Houlis

Brothers of Christ?

Philoptochos Newsletter

It’s Football Season!

Autumn is by far my favorite season of the year: cooler temperatures, cessation of seasonal al-
lergies, back-to-school, and….FOOTBALL! My maternal grandfather was a high school biol-
ogy/physics teacher as well as the head football coach for over thirty years in a small north cen-
tral Kansas town. He was a tenacious competitor who demanded the near impossible from
every team and player he coached. His old-fashioned smash-mouthed style made him the win-
ningest coach in Osborne High School history, and in 1983 he won the class 3-A State Champi-
onship…an undefeated season. Needless to say, my family‟s life revolved around football, ex-
tra-curricular activities, and sports in general. We learned discipline, selflessness, teamwork,
compromise, and obedience on and off the playing field, and for this reason I will (and do) en-
courage sports participation in my own family. Therefore, I hope this provides the backdrop for
my ensuing challenging and perhaps even unsettling commentary…
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
There is an epidemic that is threatening the very foundation of our parishes in the U.S.; an epi-
holyanargyroi@gmail.com demic of misplaced good intentions, inverted priorities, and spiritual ignorance. For years now
http://www.holyanargyroi.org I have discerned a steady increase in the absence rate of our children in the Divine Liturgy on
(507) 282-1253 fax Sundays. A quick inquiry on my behalf revealed that an overwhelming number of our chil-
Permit No. 278
(507) 282-1529 phone dren are not in church on Sundays because they are participating in sporting events and
Rochester, MN
Rochester, MN 55902 other activities! This is a phenomenon that would have been unthinkable within Orthodoxy
just a few years ago, why this sudden and unprecedented change? I believe it is a result of good
U.S. Postage Paid 703 West Center Street

intentions which do not always provide the optimum results.

Non-Profit Org. Greek Orthodox Church
Holy Anargyroi/Sts. Kosmas & Damianos
Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross
Standing Committees – 2010
ICON OVERSIGHT TEAM
Diana Orbelo – Chair
Tia Maragos
Andru Peters
Fr. Mark Muñoz
BUDGET
Dan Jerghiuțǎ – Chair
Johnny Mangouras
Fr. Mark Muñoz
HOUSING
Johnny Mangouras – Chair
Ionel Dumitrascu
BUILDING
Ari Kolas – Chair
Dr. Nick Maragos
PHILOXENIA HOUSE
Chamaidi Belanger– Chair
Beth Lechner – Treasurer
AHEPA
John Sakellariou – President
Sam Kolas – Vice President
Brad Holman – Treasurer
George Margellos – Secretary
STEWARDSHIP
John Maragos – Chair
Ari Kolas
Johnny Mangouras
Angie Rustad
GREEK FESTIVAL
Dan Jerghiuțǎ – Chair
Steve Kereakos – Treasurer
Lorenda Jerghiuțǎ – Silent auction
Joe Ferrer – Set-up/Teardown
Tim Kelly – Outdoor Cooks
Johnny Mangouras – Marketing
Ari Kolas – Marketing
Penny Kolas – Pastries
Maria Thomas – Pastries
Denise Mangouras – Pastries
Presbytera Michele – Volunteers
Martha Voytovich – Market place
Andru Peters – Beverages
Mike Brekke – Beer Garden
Larissa Osfeld – Children Area
Mrs. Mangouras – Inside Kitchen
September 14th, 2010 Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance, granting our rulers to prevail over adversaries, and protecting Your commonwealth by Your Cross.
Liturgical and Organizational Calendar Philoptochos Newsletter September 2010
September 2010 We look forward to our upcoming church year for Philoptochos. The current officers will stand for the upcoming year:
Saturday September 4th Great Vespers 6pm Vice president – Ann Kolas, Secretary – Terri Mettler, Treasurer – Penny Kolas, & I will remain President. We will
Monday September 6th Labor Day - Office Closed have elections in May for the following two years.
Tuesday September 7th Vigil for Nativity of Theotokos Great Vespers We have all worked hard for our festival and did a great job. Now that the 2010 Festival is done, it‟s time to concentrate
on all the good works Philoptochos does throughout the year. I am very excited for our upcoming year.
Orthros; Divine Liturgy 5:30pm
We will have our annual First Day of Church School lunch on Sept 12th. We will not have a meeting before so Maria
Saturday September 11th Great Vespers 6pm Thomas, Penny Kolas and myself will plan it. We ask all Philoptochos members to come help us that Sunday.
Sunday September 12th Sunday School Resumes, Philoptochos Luncheon
Monday September 13th Adult Religious Education 6pm Our first meeting for the year will be Sept 19th. Our meeting are usually the second of every month, but because of the
Luncheon we moved it to the following Sunday. It will be after church in the Church school room.
Tuesday September 14th Elevation of Holy Cross, Orthros/Liturgy 8:30am
Every Philoptchos member should have been send an invitation for our Chicago Diocese Lunch on Sept 18 th in Chicago.
Wednesday September 15th Parish Council Meeting 7pm If you are interested in going please let me know. Hopefully we will have a few of us go together. I think it would be a
Saturday September 18th Great Vespers 6pm great experience and a chance to get to know some other Philoptochos members in other parishes.
Monday September 20th Adult Religious Education 6pm
Wednesday September 22nd Greek Fest Wrap Up Meeting 7pm Denise Mangouras
Philoptchos President
Saturday September 25th Great Vespers 6pm
Monday September 27th Adult Religious Education 6pm
Nativity of our most Holy Lady the
Parish council Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary
Dear Fellow Parishioners, September 8
A reminder of who the members of your parish council are for the 2010 year:
Tim Kelly, President; Johnny Mangouras, Vice President; Dan Jerghiuta, Treasurer; Andru According to the ancient tradition of the Church, the Theotokos was born of barren and aged parents, Joachim
Peters, Secretary; Ionel Dumitrascu; Nick Maragos; Diana Orbelo; Tia Maragos and Halina and Anna, about the year 16 or 17 before the birth of Christ. Joachim was descended from the royal line of
Woroncow. David, of the tribe of Judah. Anna was of the priestly tribe of Levi, a daughter of the priest Matthan and Mary,
his wife.
I write this during the Greek Festival. I am always amazed at how the efforts of a core group
of organizers and laborers make this event such a success. The fact that we need this fund
Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
raiser for our operating budget makes that effort very important to our continued financial
health, and unfortunately necessary to stay afloat. Thank God for these devoted individuals - Your birth, O Theotokos, brought joy to the
and please pray for their continued health and devotion to our church.
whole world, for from you dawned the sun of
We have struggled financially this summer to meet our obligations and pay our bills for this righteousness, Christ our God. Freeing us
wonderful church. We juggle to keep the operating account funded - having to borrow money
from the curse, He gave us His blessings.
from the Legacy fund to help us through this period of low stewardship contribution from the Abolishing death, He granted us eternal life.
parish. The festival will help, but please consider fulfilling your stewardship pledge at your
earliest opportunity.
Kontakion in the Fourth Tone
We respectfully ask that you keep the parish council in your prayers as we continue to ad-
dress the business of the church. If you have any suggestions or comments that you believe In your holy birth, Immaculate One, Joachim
would be of benefit to the operation of the church, please feel free to address any of the par- and Anna were rid of the shame of childless-
ish council with your ideas. Please gracefully consider an increase to your stewardship to ness; Adam and Eve of the corruption of
help us stop depending on AA and the Greek Fest to meet our operational needs. death. And so your people, free of the guilt of
their sins, celebrate crying: "The barren one
Thank you, gives birth to the Theotokos, who nourishes
Your Parish Council President our life."
Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross September 14th, 2010
Brothers of Christ?
Psalms 69: 8: “I became as a stranger to my brothers, and a foreigner to
the sons of my mother, for the zeal of your house has consumed me and
the mockery of those who mock you has fallen upon me”.
This verse –prophetically speaking- refers to Christ. Some use it, to say that
the mother of the Lord also had other sons. But which “mother” of the Lord
is it referring to? The following verse enlightens us:
Revelations 12:1-5: “ And a great sign appeared in the heavens: a
woman, surrounded by the sun and the moon beneath her feet and on
her head a crown of twelve stars…. and she bore a male child, who was
destined to shepherd all the nations with a rod of iron….”
This verse refers to the Church of Israel -Zion- which gave birth to Jesus
Christ through the Theotokos. It is very obvious then, that Psalm 69:8, does
not refer to Christ‟s fleshly brothers, but to his compatriots, who denied Him
and crucified Him, even though they were children of the same Church of
Israel.
Let‟s take a look at a few pieces of information regarding Joseph‟s relations:
Jacob, father of Joseph
Cleopas, brother of Joseph
Joseph, betrothed of Mary.
Jacob, Hosiah, Jude, Simon, Esther, Martha, Salome, some of these were
Joseph‟s children from a previous marriage. Some were children of Mary of
Cleopas (John 9:25), who was the wife of Joseph‟s brother, Cleopas.
According to the above verse, Mary of Cleopas is the „sister-in-law‟ of the Holy Mother, given that she is the wife of Joseph‟s brother.
Thus, her children - according to Hebrew custom - are considered „brothers‟ of Jesus, just as she is considered „the sister of His mother‟.
Let us now examine something more important: Does the Bible mention that the Holy Mother had no other children? Of course it
does!
In the prophecy that is found in Ezekiel 44:1-2, a prophetic reference is made of the Holy Mother: “and He turned me towards the direc-
tion of the outer portal of the sanctum that faces eastward, and it was sealed. And the Lord said to me: „this portal is sealed, it shall not
be opened, and no-one shall enter through it, for the Lord God of Israel shall enter through it, and it shall remain sealed.” There-
fore we ask: Through which portal did “the Lord God of Israel –Jesus Christ- come into this world, and that portal remained sealed,
through which none other passed through it?” Was it not the womb of the Holy Mother?
Also, in Proverbs 4:3, it says prophetically of Jesus: “ for I have remained the son of my Father, and the only-begotten in the presence of
my mother”. Even from this, it is obvious that the Theotokos had no other children! And these were not words uttered by Solomon in
reference to himself, because it is Christ who speaks here, who is the hypostatized Wisdom of God (e.g., 8:12-22). Furthermore, Solomon
wasn‟t the only-begotten child of his mother, as his mother Bethsheba had four children! (Chronicles I, 3:5). It is clearly referring to
Christ.
Christ Himself spoke about those who are His true brothers:
Matthew 12:46-50: “and while He was still talking to the crowds, behold, His mother and His brothers were standing outside seek-
ing to speak to Him; and someone said to Him: „behold, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak to
you‟. He replied, saying to him: „Who is my mother? And who are my brothers?‟ And extending His hand towards his disciples,
said: „behold, my mother and my brothers are those who do the will of my Father in heaven; they are my mother and my broth-
ers”
John 1:11: “He came to His own (people) and they did not accept Him. And to those who did accept Him, He gave them the au-
thority to become children of God.”
In the above verses, it is clearly apparent who Christ‟s true brothers are: those who do the will of God the Father. Now, the will of God the
Father is for our salvation; therefore, by bowing our necks in total obedience to the Divine Will on a daily basis, we effortlessly move to-
ward our salvation. We become, all at once, His brothers, sisters, mothers, daughters, and children of the most High God.
Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance, granting our rulers to prevail over adversaries, and protecting Your commonwealth by Your Cross.
Letter from Fr. Mark
<<from page 1>>
As I stated above, sporting activities can have an immensely positive effect on our children teaching them
many life lessons and affording them character building experiences. However, this important priority must
not overtake and supersede what our Saviour Jesus Christ revealed to Lazarus‟ sisters Martha and Mary, “…
one thing is needful…” (Luke 10:42) This one needful thing is to “sit at Jesus‟ feet and listen to His teach-
ing” which presupposes both physical and spiritual attendance. As parents we always want to do what‟s best
for our children and give them every tool and opportunity to grow into responsible, intelligent, well-rounded,
and successful adults. However, this is not the primary task of Orthodox parents. Our first and principal re-
sponsibility that God has entrusted to us is the salvation of our children, not their future success in this
“world”. “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction
of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4) "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom
of God belongs to such as these." (Mark 10:14)
Our children desperately need the Church from a young age as it provides the nourishment, healing, and
strength that will allow them to continue on their spiritual journey as adults. The Book of Proverbs states,
“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it” (22:6). This “training”
must occur consistently and firmly from the moment our children are baptized, if not how can we ensure that
when our children grow “old” they will have a viable and saving faith? I beg of us all to stop and truly con-
sider this crucial point: what is of utmost importance in the lives of our children…to be successful according
to the standards of this fallen world, or to experience salvation and eternity in Christ‟s Kingdom. If it is the
latter…let us re-evaluate our priorities and acquiesce to Christ‟s teaching, “seek first the Kingdom of God…”.
+Fr. Mark
__________________________________________________________________
Saint Silouan was born Simeon Ivanovich Antonov in 1866, of godly parents
who came from the village of Sovsk in the Tambov region. At the age of
twenty-seven he received the prayers of St. John of Kronstadt and came to the
monastic region of Greece called Mt. Athos where he became a monk at the
Russian monastery St. Panteleimon, and was given the new name Silouan. An
ardent ascetic, he received the grace of unceasing prayer and was granted to
see Christ. After long years of spiritual trial, he acquired great humility and
hesychia, inner stillness. He prayed and wept for the whole world as for him-
self, and he put the highest value on love for enemies. Thomas Merton has de-
scribed Silouan as “the most authentic monk of the twentieth century.” St Si-
louan reposed on September 11/24, 1938. His memory is celebrated on Sep-
tember 11/24.
Saint Silouan on Love
The soul cannot know peace unless she prays for her enemies. The soul that has learned of God‟s grace to
pray, feels love and compassion for every created thing, and in particular for mankind, for whom the Lord suf-
fered on the Cross, and His soul was heavy for every one of us.
The Lord taught me to love my enemies. Without the grace of God we cannot love our enemies. Only the Holy
Spirit teaches love, and then even devils arouse our pity because they have fallen from good, and lost humility
in God.
Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross September 14th, 2010
Dear Stewards and Friends,
We have done it again! After one year of planning the four days of hard work the 47th Greek Festival came to an end.
Early financial numbers look very good. The extra baking and the two-day silent auction helped increase the revenue.
I felt that the volunteer response was better this year, especially on Friday when we are usually short staffed. Many
people dedicated their entire weekend, working whole days in the heat (either in the sun or in the kitchen). I was im-
pressed how fast all the equipment was packed and stored after closing on Sunday - I think we broke all records.
I heard many wonderful comments from people who attended the Festival. Some come every year and love it. Some
came for the first time and could not believe we can pull out such a big event. All were impressed how our community
comes together and especially how many children are involved.
I want to thank everybody who planned, called, baked, drove, carried, sliced, cooked, served, counted,
cleaned, donated, sang, danced and everything else they have done to make the Festival happen. Enjoy your rest. We'll
soon start working again - the 48th Greek Festival is less than 12 months away!
Please mark in your calendar the days of August 26, 27 and
28, 2011 and plan to be here again next year!
Dan Jerghiuta
Festival Chair
Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance, granting our rulers to prevail over adversaries, and protecting Your commonwealth by Your Cross.
Faith and Science: Contradictory or complementary meanings?
By Michael G. Houlis
On the other hand, there have been very impor-
tant scientists who were also religious: Kep-
pler, Pascal, Newton, Leibnitz, Volta, Ampere,
Gauss, Carrell, Faraday, Maxwell, Pasteur,
Lister, Jung and so many others; all of them
were exceptional scientists and at the same
time people with deep religious faith. Their
science did not and does not negate their faith;
in fact, one could say that it complemented
it. This is because scientists examine with their
Science the natural and the empirical world,
throughout Time, while with their faith and
their prayers, they communicate with the “One
Who Is” – the personal, Triadic God – and from Him, they draw their courage in their lives and their work. When, in the
course of his observations and his research, a scientist realizes the grandeur of Nature as a creation of Divine Providence, he
does not necessarily have to respond with a display of conscience, crying out “How great are Your works, o Lord; You have
created everything with wisdom” (Psalms). In view of this, the English Physicist Paul Davis wrote: “The fact that the natural
laws of the universe have allowed the development of complex biological structures which have led to the appearance of con-
science, to me constitutes obvious proof that there is something in nature that surpasses us. I am convinced that behind the
miracle of the universe, there is a divinely-inspired plan”. (FOCUS magazine, as above)
The very significant scientist and studier of the human genome, Francis Collins, in his book “The Language of God” writes:
“The God of the Bible is also the God of the genome. He can be worshiped in the cathedral or in the laboratory." (http://
www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0702/voices.html) - Interview with John Horgan.
Furthermore, the English astronomer, prof. Smart, submitted the following thoughts: “When we study the Universe, we take
into account its size and its regularity and are thence led to acknowledging a Creative Power and a Cosmic Purpose, which
transcends all the boundaries of human comprehension.” (D.Kotsakis, “The astronomical Universe – Creation, or chance?”,
Zoe publications, 1983, page 108).
But even the great mathematician Einstein wrote: “Every researcher of nature is overcome by a kind of religious awe in the
presence of the order that prevails in nature, which cannot be a chance thing. The universe reveals to Man an unlimited supe-
rior intelligence.” (Ferdinand Krenzer, SYNOPSIS OF CATHOLIC FAITH, Spiritual Course Publications, p. 32-33).
The existence of the infinitely perfect God can in no way be proven by scientific means and much less can His essence be
made known, because if that were the case, Man would have been perfect, and God imperfect. God is not a cadaver laid out on
an operating table for forensic examination; He is a Persona – an actual, existent Persona – with Whom we can come in contact
and communicate. The inability to logically prove the existence of God does not mean that God does not exist. It only means
that our own intellect is not able to grasp the infinite God. Intellectual logic functions under the same laws and the same in-
frastructure as Nature. God, however, (as far as His Nature and His essence are concerned) is the “entirely Other”, when it
comes to our cosmic laws. He cannot be comprehended with only our ideological and scientific capabilities. A scientist - de-
vout or agnostic - but also every faithful Christian, can detect only the traces of His presence in the world; His Providence and
His energies in Creation (His “circum-essence”), but not His essence per se – that is, His unfathomable depth. God is not a
unit, an individual atop a throne in the sky. He is the source of life; He is the meaning of “being” per se, and He is not revealed
by anyone; instead, it is He who reveals Himself, through His uncreated energies, to the humble and the spiritually sound
(=with a cleansed heart), in response to their prayers and their worship, whereas the self-opinioned mind usually requires God
to adapt Himself to its own, personal theories, without that person displaying any humility whatsoever. This is how an autono-
mized and obscured mind is, when it cannot see God‟s things, because it is in a fallen state. Obversely, salvation is attained
through catharsis of the heart, through ascetic labor and the upholding of Christ‟s commandments, through Whom and in
Whose Persona God revealed Himself and ever reveals Himself to the world. Such is the experience of the Prophets, the Saints
and the Fathers of the Church. And we Christians know in our hearts that this is the truth and the path that orientates us to-
wards the personal, Triadic God. << continued in the October Edition >>
Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross September 14th, 2010 Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance, granting our rulers to prevail over adversaries, and protecting Your commonwealth by Your Cross.

Vacation Church School

Andru Peters Halina and Ray Ostfeldt Natasha Henderson
Angie and Pete Chafos Jackie and Gust Barbes Nereida Lekakis
Angie Rusted John Fibisan Penny and Ari Kolas
Ann and Nick Kolas John Maragos Philis Kapenis
Becki Coddington John Zahhos Rebecca Cheri
Brenda Closser Lexie and Aaron Biedermann Sadrul Jamali
Calli and Tim Kelly Lucia and Ionel Dumitrascu Sandy and Tom Kapellas
Catalina Norman Ludmila Vasiliev Soula Pampori
Chamaidi and Joel Belanger Mando Katselis Steve Davis
Connie and Nick Maragos Maria and George Thomas Steve Kereakos
Denise and Johnny Mangouras Mariana Gusanu Tia Maragos
Dilo Johnson Marion and George Zahhos Tina Sageotis
Esmeralda Mourikis Mariuca Jerghiuta Unknown donor of Evzones toy soldiers
George Kereakos Melissa and Tasos Psomas Unknown donor of Hanny‟s gift card
George and Catherine Murak Melissa Barbes Leimbeck Vicky and Jim Psomas
Glen Bickford Michele Zett
Gus Chafoulias Michelle and Jose Mattey

Andru Peters Halina and Ray Ostfeldt Natasha Henderson

Silent Auction Thank you! Angie and Pete Chafos Jackie and Gust Barbes Nereida Lekakis
Angie Rusted John Fibisan Penny and Ari Kolas
To all our fellow parishioners and Ann and Nick Kolas John Maragos Philis Kapenis
friends for their personal dona- Becki Coddington John Zahhos Rebecca Cheri
tions, for helping us gather dona- Brenda Closser Lexie and Aaron Biedermann Sadrul Jamali
Calli and Tim Kelly Lucia and Ionel Dumitrascu Sandy & Tom Kapellas
tions from businesses, and for vol-
Catalina Norman Ludmila Vasiliev Soula Pampori
unteering in the Silent Auction.. Chamaidi and Joel Belanger Mando Katselis Steve Davis
Your generosity is appreciated, and Connie and Nick Maragos Maria and George Thomas Steve Kereakos
helped to make the 10th Greek Fes- Denise and Johnny Mangouras Mariana Gusanu Tia Maragos
tival Silent Auction a tremendous Dilo Johnson Marion and George Zahhos Tina Sageotis
Esmeralda Mourikis Mariuca Jerghiuta Unknown donor of
success!
George Kereakos Melissa and Tasos Psomas Evzones toy soldiers
Loredana Jerghiuta George and Catherine Murak Melissa Barbes Leimbeck Unknown donor of
Glen Bickford Michele Zett Hanny‟s gift card
Silent Auction
Gus Chafoulias Michelle and Jose Mattey Vicky and Jim Psomas
Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross September 14th, 2010 Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance, granting our rulers to prevail over adversaries, and protecting Your commonwealth by Your Cross.

GOYA: PROJECT MEXICO

Project Mexico : Building hope for boys without families and families without homes

Holy Anargyroi‟s GOYAns, with their three Church School teachers, were blessed to have the opportunity to participate in Pro-
ject Mexico, an Orthodox mission committed to helping the poor, one family at a time, by building homes for those who would
otherwise have no roof over their heads nor solid ground beneath their feet when the rainy season hits in Mexico. Project Mexico
also operates St. Innocent Orphanage, where 20-25 abandoned boys are housed, fed, shown love, provided with an education, and
trained in the Orthodox Christian life.

Our group of 14 spent a difficult but exhilarating week in simple housing (exactly what we were building for the family), with no
electricity, a bath house with cold showers, and simple meals. The labor was challenging physically, but all were up to the task,
and the house was completed on schedule. We gained strength from each other and from the daily chapel services which lifted us
up. The family offered us a meal and a gift. We prayed together at the house-blessing service, and left an icon, a Bible, and the
life-changing experience of neighborly love. To return God‟s blessings, the family expressed their commitment to help out with
the next home built by Project Mexico.

The blessings we received were far greater than the home we were able to provide for Norma, Javier, and their family: The joy of
helping those in need in a meaningful way. The satisfaction of hard work done well. Gratitude for our own comparatively care-
free lives. The realization that there is much more to life when we strip ourselves away from our usual comforts and entertain-
ments, cell phones and computers, and focus on God and each other.

We send a heartfelt thanks to everyone, and especially to our Holy Anargyroi family, for supporting us with fundraising and with
prayer. God willing, this could be the first of many trips to come. For “…inasmuch as you did this to one of the least of these My
brethren, you did it to Me…” Matt 25:40