ST. ATHANASIOS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΟΣ ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ ΑΓΙΟΥ ΑΘΑΝΑΣΙΟΥ

T H E G O O D N E WS 51 Paramus Road, Paramus, New Jersey 07652

Tel: 201-368-8881 - Fax: 201-368-9195 - Emergency Tel: 201-925-6994

www.stathanasiosnj.org email: info@stathanasiosnj.org

OFFICE HOURS: Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Dear Parishioners,

“Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight the paths of our God”.

(Isaiah 40:3)

Every Great Feast of the Orthodox Church is preceded by a period

of preparation. One of the longest and richest period is the Nativity

Fast. But what does it mean to prepare? For many, the preparation for

Christmas is hectic-shopping for presents, making decorations, mailing

cards, attending Christmas parties, and so forth. But in the midst of

this mad rush, where is our spiritual preparation?

The Church invites us to prepare for Christmas through fasting,

prayer and worship with the hymns of the season. But these hymns are

not just songs of praise; they are rich with profound biblical references.

This is especially true of the hymns that dominate the entire season of

Christmas the Katavasias of Christmas. Through them the Church in-

vites us to study the Old Testament, for one theme that unmistakably

permeates is how the Nativity of Jesus fulfills the Old Testament proph-

ecies about the Birth of the Messiah. Thus the Church’s liturgical life

fulfills a twofold purpose: to worship and adore Christ, “Who for us

men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate

of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man” (Nicene

Creed); and to rediscover and contemplate the Divine revelation in the

Old and New Testaments.

Another way in which we Orthodox Christians prepare for the

Feast of the Nativity is through fasting. Being a forty-day period, is

sometimes referred to as “Lent,” not far different from the Great Lent

that precedes Pascha. Similarly, Christmas is sometimes referred to in

our service books as “Pascha”, and it has also been described as the

“Winter Pascha”. While the Nativity fast is not as strict as the fast of

Great Lent, the principle of fasting is the same: we prepare ourselves

physically and spiritually for the coming Feast by simplifying our lives,

curbing our appetites, and controlling our desires in order to increase

our charity, intensify our prayer, and train ourselves to “fight the good

fight” (1 Tim. 6:12), which is the battle with our passions.

VOLUME 15, ISSUE 9 Dec 2016 / Jan 2017

Rev. Protopresbyter Anargyros Stavropoulos Ieratikos Proestamenos

Parish Council 2016 President: Peter Paizis

Vice President: Andy Hios

2nd V. President: Demetr ios Xan-

thos

Treasurer: Tony Emmanouilidis

Secretary: Othon Katechis

Vasilios Fikaris

Jason Fink

Nick Gagis

George Glavas

Panagiotis Karounos

Emmanuel Kavrakis

John Kyriakakis

Gus Panagiotopoulos

George Siamboulis

Chuck J. Tsocanos

Chuck K. Tsocanos

Dean Tomaras

Paul Venizelos

As with Great Lent, so too with the Nativity Fast, the approaching feast is prepared for not only by

abstinence, but also through the profound meaning of the biblical readings and the hymns (contained in

the hymnbooks known as the Menaia for November and December) that we hear in Church during this

season.

Because the main focus of Christmas Fast is our preparation for the Nativity –the Incarnation of

the Son of God-the hymns for the season are shot through with references and allusions to the Old Tes-

tament: the Church’s preparation over the centuries for the advent of the messianic Kingdom, which

came in the person of Jesus Christ, the long awaited Messiah. It would therefore be no exaggeration to

say that Advent is one great Bible study that sheds light on the meaning of the Old Testament as a

preparation for the New. It is certainly no coincidence that so many Old Testament prophets are com-

memorated during this period.

Christmas Fast therefore signifies the Church’s journey throughout the ages-its preparation for the

coming of Christ into the world. Every Lent, we are called to participate in the Church’s journey from

expectation to fulfillment , from preparation to joy. Thus the Church’s services do not speak of Christ-

mas as a mere historic event that occurred some two thousand years ago, but as something that is real

and present here and now: “Today the Virgin comes to the cave”; “Today the Virgin gives birth”;

“Today, Heaven and Earth have been made one”.

It is this “today” of the Church-the “today” of God that traverses the centuries-which gives full

meaning to Christmas Fast and to every Feast and season of the Orthodox Church.

We are to prepare with faith and works, with contemplation and action, with prayer and charity.

We must increase our talent of race and not neglect the virtues God has given us (Matt. 25:14-30). If

our joy is not a truly spiritual joy that softens our hearts and wakes us up from our spiritual slumber,

then it is the joy of the world and not of Christ.

It is not enough to celebrate Christmas. We need to be changed and shaped by what we are cele-

brating. If our spiritual life is no better in spite of all our praying, fasting, and Church services, then we

have not yet begun to fully respond to the significance of Christmas Lent and of the Nativity.

The Church’s invitation to prepare for the Nativity is above all a command to us to open the gates

of repentance, that Christ may enter our very being and be born anew in our hearts, and to offer our vir-

tues to the newborn King. Instead of gold, we offer charity; instead of frankincense, prayer; instead of

myrrh, repentance. Then, like the song of the angels and the adoration of the shepherds, our worship

will be pure and our love without pretense.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

With love in Christ,

Fr. Anargyros

Αγαπητοί μου Χριστιανοί,

Ο Άγιος Λουκάς ο Ευαγγελιστής, μας λέει τα εξής, με απλά λόγια για τη Γέννηση

του Χριστού μας: «Λίγοι βοσκοί βρισκόντουσαν στα χωράφια και φύλαγαν τα πρόβατά

τους εκείνη τη νύχτα. Και ξαφνικά, ο άγγελος του Θεού παρουσιάσθη μπροστά τους, και

ένα ουράνιο φώς ξεχύθηκε από τους ουρανούς και εφώτισε την πλαγιά του βουνού, και

οι τσοπάνηδες εφοβήθηκαν. Και ο άγγελος τους είπε να μην φοβηθούν, γιατί έχει

σπουδαία νέα να τους πεί: Εγενήθηκε ο Σωτήρας του κόσμου. Είναι ο Χριστός, τρέξτε

στην Βηθλεέμ, εκεί θα βρείτε το θείο Βρέφος μέσα σε σπάργανα, και αυτό θα αποδείξει,

ότι σας λέγω πραγματικά την αλήθεια».

Την ίδια ιερή στιγμή χιλιάδες αγγέλων ακούσθησαν να ψάλλουν το όνομα του Αγίου

Θεού λέγοντας: «Δόξα στον Ύψιστο Θεό, στη γη ήρθε ειρήνη, ο Χριστός».

Ιερή και άγια στιγμή, γεμάτη ομορφιά και ουράνια χάρη. Στιγμές ευλογημένες που

ακούστηκαν τα παρήγορα αυτά λόγια, το μήνυμα το χαρμόσυνο του ουρανού, της

ειρήνης του κόσμου. Αγαπητοί μου τριγύρω μας, το αίμα εξακολουθεί να χύνεται στις

γωνιές της γης, η πείνα θερίζει χιλιάδες κόσμου, το κακό βασιλεύει και η αδιαφορία

αυξάνει. Ζούμε σε άσχημες ημέρες, γεμάτες φόβο και αγωνία για το αύριο, και δεν

γνωρίζουμε ακόμη αν οι πλούσιοι και ισχυροί της γης θελήσουν να ακούσουν αυτό το

μεγάλο άγγελμα των αγγέλων να λύσουν τα μεγάλα και δύσκολα προβλήματα με

κουβέντα και αλληλοσεβασμό, με τιμιότητα και ειλικρίνεια, για μια παντοτεινή ειρήνη

σε τούτο τον ταλαίπωρο και ψυχικά χρεωκοπημένο κόσμο.

Το γλυκό αυτό άγγελμα του Θεού, ας γίνει και για μας αιτία χαράς, προσευχής και

ευχαριστίας. Χαράς, γιατί εγεννήθη ο Χριστός να μας δείξη τον ίσιο δρόμο για την

σωτηρία μας. Προσευχής, γιατί πρέπει να γονατίσουμε και να προσευχηθούμε, ώστε ο

Κύριος να αλλάξη να μυαλά και τις σκέψεις των μεγάλων, για να οδηγήσουν την

ανθρωπότητα στην πρόοδο, την αγάπη και την αδελφοσύνη και όχι στον πόλεμο και την

φωτιά. Ευχαριστίας, γιατί ο Θεός μας έχει δώσει τόσα αγαθά και ευλογίες.

Αγαπητοί μου, όλοι μαζί ας ψάλλουμε μια φορά ακόμη τον ύμνο: «Χριστός γεννάται

δοξάσατε... και επι γης ειρήνη, εν ανθρώποις ευδοκία»

Ευχόμεθα Ευλογημένα Χριστούγεννα σε όλους.

Με αγάπη Χριστού,

Πατήρ Ανάργυρος

Η ΓΕΝΝΗΣΗ ΤΟΥ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥ

Τα Χριστούγεννα δεν είναι μόνο η αφετηρία της Χριστιανικής πίστης, έιναι και η

αρχή θεϊκών πράξεων από τη ζωή του Χριστού ώς τα Πάθη και την Ανάσταση, που

κατέγραψαν οι Απόστολοι και δίδαξαν οι Ευαγγελιστές, για να χαράξουν τη νέα πορεία

της ανθρωπότητας.

Ο ερχομός του Χριστού στον κόσμο, έφερε την αγάπη και τη δύναμη του Θεού στη γη

μας. Ο Θεός που δε λυπήθηκε να προσφέρει τον Υιό Του για την σωτηρία των

ανθρώπων, θα ήταν από τη γέννηση του Χριστού και μετά, ο Θεός στη διάθεση κάθε

ανθρώπου.

Πιστεύουμε ότι η γέννηση του Χριστού, είναι η μεγαλύτερη χαρά, αγάπη και δύναμη

που ήρθε στην ανθρωπότητα. Ο γεννημένος από την Παρθένο Μαρία, Σωτήρας Χριστός

είναι ο μόνος που μπορεί να σώσει τον άνθρωπο, να λύσει τα προβλήματά του, να

ικανοποιήσει τις ανάγκες του, να θεραπεύσει τις αρρώστιες του και να κάνει τα αδύνατα

δυνατά. Στη σημερινή εποχή που είναι οργανωμένη πολυσύνθετα και καταστρεπτικά,

ζούμε συνειδητά ή ασυνείδητα μια συνεχή σταθερή και δυναμική διάβρωση του

εσωτερικού κόσμου του ανθρώπου. Ποτέ ο άνθρωπος δεν ήταν τόσο ανήμπορος να

διευθύνει τον εαυτό του. Η αφθονία των αγαθών, οι ανέσεις ή οι επιδιώξεις για να

αποκτήσεις περισσότερα και προπαντός, οι επιθυμίες για πράγματα υπερβολικά, που

δεν ικανοποιούνται από την διαρκή απληστία των υλιστικών προκλήσεων. Ο άνθρωπος

και στις δύο περιπτώσεις, στην αφθονία και στην αγχωτική επιθυμία για υπρβολή, ζει το

ίδιο δυστυχισμένος και νευρικός.

Στην απελπιστική αυτή κατάσταση του σύγχρονου ανθρώπου, τα Χριστούγεννα, η

γέννηση του Μοναδικού Σωτήρα, Του είναι η μόνη λύση.

Ο Ιησούς Χριστός δεν ήλθε για να ιδρύσει μια θρησκεία ή για να μεταρρυθμίσει τον

τότε κόσμο. Ήρθε με μοναδικό σκοπό να αλλάξει ριζικά τη ζωή του ανθρώπου. Το

μαρτύριο του Χριστού πάνω στο Σταυρό, το αίμα που έχυσε για τον άνθρωπο, δεν ήταν

πράξεις που θα χάριζαν στον κόσμο μια καλύτερη ζωή, αλλά ήταν πράξεις απαραίτητες,

σύμφωνα με τη θεία αγάπη και δικαιοσύνη για μια καινούργια ζωή. Την ολοκληρωτικά

αυτή νέα ζωή, που χαρίζει ο Ιησούς Χριστός σε κάθε έναν, που ειλικρινά μετανοεί και

ζητάει με πίστη τη Σωτηρία του, οι Πατέρες της εκκλησίας, μας την παρουσιάζουν με

πολλά και διαφορετικά ονόματα. Την αποκαλούν «ανάπλαση, αποκατάσταση,

ανόρθωση, αναμόρφωση, ανακαίνιση, αναγέννηση, νέα και αληθινή ζωή.»

Η γέννηση του Θεανθρώπου στον κόσμο, είναι και για μας, μια ευκαιρία τη χρονιά

αυτή να αρχίσουμε μια καινούργια ζωή, αναγνωρίζοντας, ομολογώντας και ζητώντας με

πίστη να έρθει στη ζωή μας ο Χριστός και να μας χαρίσει την εσωτερική γαλήνη, το φως

της πίστης και την πανανθρώπινη αγάπη και ειρήνη.

ΚΑΛΑ ΚΑΙ ΕΥΛΟΓΗΜΕΝΑ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥΓΕΝΝΑ!

GREETINGS! Fr. Anargyros, Fr. John, the President of the Parish Council and its members,

President of the Philoptochos and its members, PTO President and its members,

the teachers of the Greek and Sunday Church Schools and the entire staff of St.

Athanasios Parish wish everyone….MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY

NEW YEAR!!

ΕΥΧΕΣ

Ο πατήρ Ανάργυρος, ο πατήρ Ιωάννης, ο πρόεδρος και τα μέλη του

Εκκλησιαστικού Συμβουλίου, η πρόεδρος και τα μέλη της Φιλοπτώχου

Αδελφότητος, η πρόεδρος καί τα μέλη τού Συλλόγου Γονέων καί

Διδασκάλων, οι Διδάσκαλοι των Σχολείων Ελληνικού και Κατηχητικού

και ολόκληρο το προσωπικό της ενορίας του Αγίου Αθανασίου,

εύχονται σε όλους....

ΚΑΛΑ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥΓΕΝΝΑ ΚΑΙ ΕΥΤΥΧΙΣΜΕΝΟ ΤΟ ΝΕΟ ΕΤΟΣ

ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥΓΕΝΝΙΑΤΙΚΟ ΠΡΟΓΡΑΜΜΑ Την Κυριακή 18 Δεκεμβρίου, οι μαθητές του Κατηχητικού και

του Ελληνικού Σχολείου θα παρουσιάσουν το Χριστουγεννιάτικο

Πρόγραμμα της Γεννήσεως του Χριστού μας, μετά την Θεία

Λειτουργία.

CHRISTMAS PROGRAM On Sunday, December 18th, our Sunday Church School and

Greek School will present the Annual Christmas Pageant. Please

come and watch the children of our community in this special

presentation of the Nativity of Christ

ΓΙΑΤΙ ΔΕΝ ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑΖΟΜΑΣΤΕ

Έχω πένθος:

Παράξενη δικαιολογία αυτή. Και όμως υπάρχουν Χριστιανοί που έχουν

μήνες, χρόνο, η και χρόνια να εκκλησιαστούν,με την δικαιολογία ότι έχουν

πένθος.

Πώς να πάω; Τι θα πεί ο κόσμος πού θα με δεί;

Αυτό αδέλφια μου είναι καθαρή πρόληψη και δεισιδαιμονία. Είναι μεγάλη

αμαρτία. Μα ακριβώς επειδή έχουμε πένθος πρέπει να εκκλησιαζόμαστε πιό

τακτικά. Ἐχουμε ανάγκη τον εκκλησιασμό. Εκεί στον ναό θα

προσευχηθούμε, θα παρηγορηθούμε, θα ηρεμήσουμε, θ ξεκουραστούμε

σωματικά και ψυχικά. Εδώ ταιριάζουν τα λόγια της Αγίας Γραφής: «Δεύτε

πρός με πάντες οι κοπιώντες και πεφορτισμένοι κ αγώ αναπαύσω υμάς».

Όσοι είστε κουρασμένοι, ταλαιπωρημένοι, βασανισμένοι, ελάτε κοντά μου

να σας ξεκουράσω, να σας αναπαύσω.

Έχει μεγάλη ανάγκη ο κεκοιμημένος μας από τις προσευχές μας. Θα

πάμε τα δώρα μας στον ναό. Το πρόσφορο, το νάμα, το λιβάνι, το λαδάκι

μας. Θα μνημονεύσει ο ιερέας στην προσκομιδή, θα βγάλει μερίδα για τους

κεκοιμημένους. Οι ψυχές ξεκουράζονται, βρίσκουν χαρά. Και ειδικά όταν

κοινωνείς κατά περιόδους: Στα τρίμηνα, εξάμηνα, 40ήμερα, χρόνο,

συναπαντήματα. Χαίρονται οι ψυχές όταν παίρνουμε το σώμα και το αίμα

του Χριστού.

Αγαπητοί μου, Οι άνθρωποί μας μας περιμένουν στον ναό, και εμείς

απουσιάζουμε. Το ξέρετε πόσο λυπούνται, πόσο στεναχωρούνται οι ψυχές με

την απουσία μας από τον ναό; Λέμε ότι αγαπούμε τον άνθρωπο που έφυγε

από κοντά μας. Αν πραγματικά και ειλικρινά τον αγαπούσαμε, δεν θα

λείπαμε ούτε μία Κυριακή από την εκκλησία.

The 2nd Annual St. Athanasios Golf Outing, hosted by the Parish Council Paramus Golf & Country Club on Monday, Oct 17th, 2016.

The Golf Outing had an impressive roster of 123 Golfers playing on a perfect 80* day full of warm sunshine and colorful foliage. The buzz and excitement was definitely back in the air as golfers arrived and registered for the 2nd annual. They received welcome bags and a hearty brunch inside the clubhouse. Also during this time a challenging putting contest was held on the put-ting green, surrounded by St. Athanasios custom tee-signs promot-ing our champion sponsors. Before embarking on the links to play in the tournament there was an opening prayer from Father Anar-gyros and welcoming words by Golf Outing Chairman, Jason Fink. On the golf course there were many fun contest's and prizes to be won. To name a couple a brand new 2017 Chevy Corvet (Donated by: Paramus Chevrolet). A three day all expenses paid golf vacation to Pebble Beach in California with 5* hotel accom-modations. The golf vacation was won by Marcello Petruzzella of Venture Realtors. Congratulations to Marcello on an absolutely amazing golf shot!!! Once the Golfers finished their day of fun and friendship on the course it was off to St. Athanasios for the Awards Dinner & Tricky Tray. The gymnasium was filled with 200 guests. There were high-quality gifts for golfers and all demographics alike. During the cocktail hour, the guests enjoyed drinks & h'ordourves while they purchased tickets for the Tricky Tray and participated in silent auctions. The guests then all made their way to the dinner tables and the ceremonies began with an opening prayer from Father Anargyros. Additional-ly, there were welcoming words from Peter Paizis (Parish Council President), Nick Gagis (Co-Chairman) & Jason Fink (Chairman). Food was generously donated by our faithful parishoners. Mike Siderias of the Subur-ban Diner and George Chrissikos of MBH & Chrissikos Foods. Food was also generously donated by John Amoratis of Bacari Grill and Peter Hadjiyerou of Greek Taverna. After dinner the prizes for the contest winners at the golf course were given out. Congratulations to Mike Siderias and the Suburban Dinner group who won the tournament's low score. Live Auctions began and gen-erous donors won Golf Outing foursomes to various Private Country Clubs, a Maserati to drive for the week-end and a beautiful oil golf painting by Chrysoula Lile. Next the Tricky Tray prizes were drawn followed by the 50/50. The 2nd Annual St. Athanasios Golf Outing was a tremendous success only made possible by our Spon-sors, Food Donors, Gift Donors, Volunteers and Golfers. The golf outing committee extends a great thank you for their generosity and continued support. We eagerly await our 3rd annual golf outing to be held on Mon-day, October 16th 2017.

PARISH COUNCIL

Dear Parishioners, Greetings! We hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving surrounded by family, friends, health, love and the spirit of Christ. Below is an update of our recent and upcoming activities: We held our Fashion Show November 10th at the Venetian, we had excellent attendance, and it was a great success. A general round of thanks to all of those who donated cash or gifts to offset the costs of this event, as well as the Committee of Ladies who ran and worked the event. The charity that we have selected to be the recipient of our 50/50 was Center for Food Action of New Jersey and we are proud to say that the 50% of the proceeds of the 50/50 was $1,570 which will go to-wards assisting all of our neighbors in need. The Center for Food Action organization provides emer-gency food, rental and utility assistance to our neighbors in need and helps over 1000 families during Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. We have also contacted two local food pantry’s and have plans in 2017 to further assist the Center for Food Action with 500 weekend food packs for children who go hungry on weekends, and plan to serve dinner to a local food pantry in the Spring. We are having Loukoumades sale planned for Sunday December 4, which will benefit our Kitchen Re-furbishment project. Philoptochos has so far collected over $16,000 to assist with this project. Our ladies of Philoptochos once again will be visiting St. Michael’s Home of the Elderly along with all the other organizations of our community, on Tuesday December 29th. As part of our tradition, gifts will be given out to all the residents and we all going to participate with the singing the Christmas Car-rols. We are looking forward to hosting the children/residence of St. Basil’s Academy for our Vasilopita cutting and breakfast January 8, 2017. The proceeds from the breakfast as well as the passing of the tray will benefit St. Basil Academy. Preparations are underway for the reception of the feast day of our Patron St. Athanasios. The Great Vespers is January 17th and St. Athanasios Feast Day is January 18th. Reception will be hosted after services on both days by St. Irene Philoptochos. All parishioners and their friends are invited to attend this celebration to honor the Patron Saint of our Parish. Thank you again for your continuous support! I wish each and every one of you and your families a Blessed Christmas and Happy and Healthy New Year! With love in Christ, Vasiliki Panagopoulos President

PHILOPTOCHOS

Dear Parents, We give thanks to God for another successful opening of the Sunday Church School year. We are very happy to have a new Sunday school teacher for the second grade, Miss Marika Dugan, and would like to welcome her to our Sunday school team. Our students, Little Angels through High School seniors, have had a busy fall season and are engaged in addition to covering the curriculum, in many different Church school activities, including the An-nual Plant Sale and the Thanksgiving Food Drive. We would like to thank the chairladies for these two events, Mrs. Lillian Dugan for coordinating the Plant Sale and Mrs. Maria Salemme for coordinating the Thanksgiving Food Drive. In addition, we have been very fortunate to start the preparations for the Oratorical Festival early with the guidance and invaluable input of Mrs. Cleo Yiannitsades, the chair of this year’s oratorical. We are in the pro-cess of preparing for our Annual Christmas Retreat. The theme for this year’s retreat will be The Power of Prayer. Please continue to promote your children’s participation in our events and also every Sunday during the fami-ly worship, as our children look up and model our behavior and actions. Let’s all try to bring our children to church on time as it is an important step to teaching them about our faith. We appreciate all the help and guidance we have been receiving from you and we are looking forward to hearing more from you and implementing your recommendations. The following are the upcoming Sunday Church School Events: Christmas Lenten Retreat December 10th Christmas Play Program December 18st

Celebration of Epiphany January 6th Godparent Sunday February 5th

In preparation of the celebration of Christmas it is important that we prepare ourselves spiritually and we keep in mind the true reason for this celebration, which is nothing but the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Sunday Church School Staff wishes everyone a blessed and spiritually enriching Christmas Season and Joy-ous New Year! Respectfully,

Eliana Antoniou, Ph.D. Sunday School Director

GODPARENT / GODCHILD SUNDAY February 5th

On Sunday, February 5th. Church Sunday School will be hosting Godparent Sunday. In-

vitations will be prepared for each child to send to their respective Godparent. This is a

special day for Godchildren and Godparents to gather with family and friends for worship

and fellowship. There will be a brunch following the Divine Liturgy. Additional infor-

mation will be forthcoming.

SUNDAY CHURCH SCHOOL

Αγαπητοί Ενορίτες,

Οι μαθητές του Ελληνικού μας σχολείου παρουσίασαν την Δευτέρα 24 Οκτωβρίου ένα ωραιότατο εορταστικὀ πρόγραμμα με θεατρικά, τραγούδια και ποιήματα, επ’ευκαιρία της εορτής της 28ης Οκτωβρίου. Ντυμένοι όλοι ομοιόμορφα με τα γελέκα και τα φέσια που δώρισε ο Σύλλογος Γονέων και Διδασκάλων, με την χαρά και τον ενθουσιασμό ζωγραφισμένα στα πρόσωπά τους, δημιούργησαν αισθήματα συγκίνησης και πατριωτικού ενθουσιασμού στους παρευρισκομένους. Αυτός είναι και ο ρόλος που παίζουν οι εθνικές μας γιορτές , και που αποτελοὐν μέρος του εκπαιδευτικού μας προγράμματος. Να θυμίζουν και να τιμούν τις θυσίες και τον ηρωισμό των πεσόντων, για την ελευθερία της πατρίδας μας. ΠΟΛΛΑ ΣΥΓΧΑΡΗΤΗΡΙΑ στα παιδιά μας!!!!!!!

Παρακαλοὐμε να σημειώσετε τις κάτωθι ημερομηνίες: • Την Κυριακή 18 Δεκεμβρίου, οι μαθητές του Κατηχητικού και του Ελληνικού σχολείου θα παρουσιάσουν το Χριστουγεννιάτικο πρόγραμμα της κοινότητας μας, και παρακαλείσθε όλοι οι γονείς να φέρετε τα παιδιά σας στην εκκλησία, την ημέρα αυτή.Ε ἰναι μία υπέροχη παρουσίαση, και όλοι μικροί και μεγάλοι, την απολαμβάνουμε πολὐ. • Το Σάββατο το βράδυ στις 28 Ιανουαρίου, θα εορτασθεί η Ημέρα Των Τριών Ιεραρχών- στην εκκλησία του Αγίου Ιωἀννη του Θεολόγου στο Τεναφλάι, με την συμμετοχή διαφόρων εκκλησιών. Είναι μία εκδήλωση που οργανώνει η Μητρόπολη της Νέας Ιερσέης με παρουσιάσεις τραγουδιών, θεατρικών, ομιλιών και ποιημάτων. Μία ξεχωριστή γιορτή , που τιμά τα Ελληνικά σχολεία της Νέας Ιερσέης. • Την Κυριακή 29 Ιανουαρἰου την Ημέρα των Τριών Ιεραρχών-Ημέρα των Γραμμάτων—του Ελληνικού και Κατηχητικού σχολείου μας, και όλοι οι μαθητές πρέπει να είναι ΠΑΡΟΝΤΕΣ. Η γιορτή μας περιλαμβάνει αφηγήσεις, ποιήματα, και τραγούδια.

GREEK SCHOOL NEWS Dear Parishioners, On the 24th of October, our Greek school celebrated our ethnic celebration -the 28th of October, in the community hall. It was a wonderful event. All our students were dressed in ethnic costumes that the PTO donated, and were filled with enthusiasm and joy! Patriotic songs, poems and skits were per-formed, while the guests were applauding proudly every student. The 28th of October celebration, is one of the most significant days of the history of Greece, and it’s our duty to remember it, and pay a tribute to our heroes. I like to congratulate all the students for their performance, as well as the PTO committee for their help and support!

Please mark these days in your calendars: • On the 20th of December, the Sunday Church School and the Greek school will present the Christmas Pageant after the divine liturgy. It is a wonderful presentation and we urge every family to attend. • On Saturday January 28th, you are invited to attend an event organized by the Metropolis of New Jer-sey at St. John the Theologian, in honor of the Three Hierarchs and the “Letters Day”. The event fea-tures poetry recitals, songs, theatrical skits, from various schools of the Metropolis. • On Sunday January 29th, the students of the Sunday church school, and the Greek school, will present a program dedicated to the Three Hierarchs. All students must be present! We are here to assist you with any questions, concerns, regarding our Greek school. Respectfully Sophia Stamatiou Principal

GREEK SCHOOL

Dear Parishioners,

Greetings from the PTO! We hope that all are having a great school year thus far. We have be-

gun fundraising this year to help with the renovations of our Church's kitchen and bathrooms. Our

spanakopita sale was our first fundraiser that proved to be both fun and profitable! We thank all of our

St. Athanasios families for supporting us! We had a wonderful turnout of Greek school parents who

came to help prepare the trays and all of the ingredients were donated by our generous families! We

ask that our families continue to support all our events/ fundraisers during the year.

We thank all of the parents who came to back to school night! It was such a pleasure getting to

meet new faces and greet you all! The PTO encourages all parents to continue to outreach us with any

questions or concerns.

Our OXI day celebration was wonderful and our children did a phenomenal job! It was a very

proud moment for us to see our children wearing the traditional vests and hats that we fundraised for

last year. May they continue to be worn with pride in all of our special occasions!

Our PTO meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month @5pm in our gym. As always

all parents are encouraged to attend and share ideas!

Here are some of the upcoming events for December and January :

December

11th- coffee hour and bake sale

14th- koulourakia making during Greek school

18th- Sunday school and Greek school pageant

21stGreek school Christmas program

26th- no school

28th- no school

January

4th- Classes resume

18th- St Athanasios day--school is OPEN

22nd- coffee hour

29th- Three Hierarchs Program

On behalf of the PTO, I would like to wish all of your families a Merry Christmas and a glorious New

Year! ! KALA XRISTOUGENNA KAI KALI XRONIA!

Warmest regards

Rhoda Repousis

PTO President

P.T.O

Dear Parishioners,

The Christmas Season is an important part of our life as Greek Orthodox Christians. It is

the time when we commemorate the birth of Lord and the time when we are most aware of the

importance of being kind to our fellow man.

For the St. Athanasios GOYA, the Christmas season is a wonderful time to be together.

Our GOYA kicked off the season with the Bridges Retreat at Tenafly. In the true spirit of the

season, the GOYAns participated in a Lenten retreat and then prepared sandwich lunches to be

distributed to the needy in Newark.

St. Athanasios was buzzing with activity as we prepared ourselves and our Church for the

Christmas celebration. We attended the Lenten Retreat and rehearsed for the Christmas play.

Our older GOYAns volunteered their time at Eva’s Soup Kitchen in Paterson and our group

also visited St. Michael’s home for the aged.

The GOYAns also had the opportunity to attend the Christmas dance hosted by Toms Riv-

er, as well as the volleyball/basketball playoffs. We were very proud of the way our GOYAns

conducted themselves with maturity and sportsmanship. They truly represented our Commu-

nity in a great light.

Looking ahead to February, the GOYAns will be focusing on the Beefsteak Dinner to be

held on February 11th and to the Sights and Sounds competition in the first weekend of March.

We look forward to supporting our kids at these events and invite the Community to join us.

With Love in Christ,

The GOYA Advisors

G.O.Y.A.

IN MEMORIAM It has become an accepted practice that at the death of a family member, the family requests that donations in memory of the departed, be made to St. Athanasios Church. This month, we wish to thank:

IN MEMORY OF GERASIMOS TSONGAS Mr. & Mrs. Pantelis Callias Mr. & Mrs. T. Emmanoulidis Mr. & Mrs. John Kesoglou Mr. & Mrs. Jimmy Kourgelis Mr. & Mrs. John Kourgelis Mr. & Mrs. Michael Kougelis Mr. & Mrs. John Kiriakakis Mrs. Eugenia Varias IN MEMORY OF THERESA ANASTASOPOULOS Mr. & Mrs. T. Emmanoulidis Mr. & Mrs. E. Exarchos Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Gerogiou Mr. John Gerard Mr. & Mrs. John Kourkoulakos Mrs. Toula Langas The Lowell School Ms. Michelle Marmarinos Mrs. Stella Megariotis Ms. Claire Melissas & Family Mr. & Mrs. Eugene Mortensen Mrs. Vaso Panagopoulos Mr. Ernesto Shiling Ms. Kathie Terodemos Theodorakos Associates Mr. & Mrs. George Tierney Mr. & Mrs. George Vathianakis Mr. & Mrs. George Xanthos Mr. & Mrs. A. Zaharopoulos IN MEMORY OF HELEN VERNIERI Mrs. Sylvia Kleister

Mrs. Stella Megariotis IN MEMORY OF BASIL ALEXOUDIS Mr. & Mrs. George Archontides IN MEMORY OF ELEANOR ROUMEL Mr. & Mrs. Chris Chucalas Mr. & Mrs. Evengelos Exarchos Mr. & Mrs. A. Gouliamos Mr. & Mrs. N. Haralambakis Ms. Anastasia Kontarakis Mr. & Mrs. John Kyriakakis Mrs. Eugenia Varias IN MEMORY OF MARIA KOPANOU Mr. & Mrs. T. Emmanoulidis Mr. & Mrs. Jimmy Kourgelis Mr. & Mrs. John Kourgelis Mr. & Mrs. Michael Kougelis Mrs. Vasilia Mereos IN MEMORY OF CONNIE CARAVOULIAS Mrs. Katina Agaliotis Mr. & Mrs. Alec Alexiades Mrs. Maria Andruilli Mr. & Mrs. George Barkouras Mr. & Mrs. John Boyas Mr. & Mrs. Chris Chucalas Ms. Michelle Connahan Dr. & Mrs. T. Constandelis Mr. Michael Dimitrelis Mr. & Mrs. T. Emmanouilidis

Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Feiker Mr. & Mrs. Frank Finke Mr. & Mrs. Foukas Gavlak School Mrs. Zoi Geanopulos Mr. & Mrs. Athanase Gouliamos Mrs. Helen Hasterlis Ms. Maria Hasterlis Jefferson School Mrs. Fotini Joannidis Mr. & Mrs. Alex Kalivas Mr. & Mrs. Tom Kasiotis Mrs. Helen Koehler Mr. & Mrs. Randy Moore Mrs. Vaso Panagopoulos Mr. & Mrs. Menelaos Pavlou St. Irene Philoptochos Mr. & Mrs. John Psomas Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Rothschild Mrs. Margie Russo Ms.Kalliope Terodemos University Respiratory Zisel & Megas Families

MAY THEIR MEMORY BE ETERNAL

Above represents donations made from 9/16-11/18/16

BAPTISMS September 25th - Steven Petros (Efstathios), son of Natalia and Petros Lembesis.

The Godfather was Damon Kamvosoulis

October 1st - Lea Rose (Eleni), and Nikos Panayiotis (Nikolaos), children of Jeanette and Savas Santamuris. The Godmother was Maria Martinelli

October 15th - Yiannis (John), son of Anna and Emmanuel Kavrakis. The God parents were George and Ellainy Christopoulos.

October 22nd - Valentina Nicole (Valentina Nikoleta), daughter of Aphrodite and Salvatore Gendusa. The Godparents were Antonio & Eftihia Tzoumas

October 23rd - George, Son of Eleftheria and Kyriakos Mangafas. The Godmother was Vasilia Tsoukalis

November 10th - Nikolas Ariston (Nikolaos), son of Tara and Nick Tsagouris. The Godmother was Constance Contos Xantos

November 12th - Brooklyn Faith (Aggeliki), daughter of Amanda and George Siderias. The Godfather was Joseph Siderias

November 20th - Marina Petra (Marina), daughter of Despina and Peter Anastasopoulos. The Godmother was Katherine Sideratos

November 26th - Nicholas, son of Katina and Pantelis Genouzos. The Godfather was Nicholas Parais

November 27th - Maria, daughter of Helen and Nicholas Constandelis. The Godparents were Kosta and Bobbie Alestas

NA SAS ZISOUN!

WEDDINGS October 16th - Alexa Rodriguez and Chris Chucala

The Koubara was Catherine Sarno

October 30th - Tina Tanya Silvestro and Loucas Georgiou The Koubaroi were Anna and Vincent Schiraldi

November 10th - Tara Lynn McKenna and Nick Tsagouris. The Koubaro was Emmanuael Kavrakis

NA ZISETE!

FUNERALS September 3rd - Gerasimos Tsongas

September 16th - Constantine Fotopoulos September 30th - Mary Frangos September 30th - Helen Vernieri

October 3rd - Theresa (Trisoevgenia) Anastasopoulos October 4th - Eleanor (Panagiota) Roumel

October 13th - Constance Caravoulias November 5th - Basil Alexoudis

November 18th - Evangelia Livitsanos November 18th - Theodora Fakazis

OUR DEEPEST SYMAPTHIES TO THE FAMILIES

ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥΓΕΝΝΙΑΤΙΚΗ ΚΑΡΤΑ: Για την συμμετοχή σας στην ετήσια

Χριστουγεννιάτικη Κάρτα του 2016,

παρακαλούμε συμπληρώσατε την φόρμα

και μαζί με το δώρο σας, στήλετε αυτήν

στο Γραφείο μας μέχρι 4 Δεκεμβρίου.

ΛΟΥΛΟΥΔΙΑ ΓΙΑ ΣΤΟΛΙΣΜΟ: Εάν θέλετε να δώσετε χρήματα για την

αγορά λουλουδιών προς στολισμό της

Εκκλησίας μας για τα Χριστούγεννα η για

τον στολισμό των εικόνων για την εορτή

του Αγίου Αθανασίου, παρακαλούμε να

επικοινωνήσετε με το γραφείο της

Εκκλησίας μας.

ΑΠΟΦΗΚΗ ΤΡΟΦΙΜΩΝ: Η Εκκλησία μας παρέχει τρόφιμα σε

οικογένειες που έχουν ανάγκη. Ζητούμε

συσκευασμένα τρόφιμα, επί καθημερινής.

Βάσεως. Το νέο ενοριακό αυτό

πρόγραμμα θα συνεχίση μόνο με την

βοήθεια σας. Θά θέλαμε να

ευχαριστήσουμε όλους τους δωριτές, με

τα τρόφιμα για την ημέρα των

Ευχαριστιών. Η γενναιοδωρία τους προς

τους συνανθρώπους μας που βρίσκονται

σε υλική ανάγκη είναι αποτέλεσμα της

αγάπης τους προς τον Κύριο και Θεό μας.

ΚΟΨΙΜΟ ΒΑΣΙΛΟΠΙΤΑΣ: Το κόψιμο της Κοινοτικής Βασιλόπιττας.

θα γίνει την Κυριακή 8 Ιανουαρίου 2017

αμέσως μετά την Θεία Λειτουργία.

Παρακαλούμε όλους τους ενορίτες και

φίλους να παραβρεθούν στο κόψιμο της

Βασιλόπιττας.

ΑΓΙΑΣΜΟΣ ΟΙΚΩΝ: Ο πατήρ Ανάργυρος θα αγιάζει σπίτια

την εβδομάδα μετά τά Θεοφάνεια. Εάν

θέλετε να έλθει να αγιάσει και το δικό

σας σπίτι, παρακαλείσθε να

επικοινωνήσετε με το γραφείο της

Εκκλησίας μας.

CHRISTMAS CARD & APPEAL:

Express your wishes for the Christmas Sea-

son to all parishioners and friends through

the community Christmas Card. Donation

for having your family included in the card

is $20. Please submit your completed form

with your check. The deadline is December

4th. We also kindly ask that you do not for-

get the church in your Christmas gift list.

Please send your Christmas gift for the Par-

ish to the Church Office.

FLOWERS FOR CHRISTMAS /

ST. ATHANASIOS:

If anyone is interested in donating towards

the purchase of poinsettias for Christmas or

flowers for the adornment of the icons for

the Feast Day of St. Athanasios, please

contact the Church office.

COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY We wish to thank all our parishioners and

friends of St. Athanasios for remembering

our Food Pantry for Thanksgiving. Our

Food Pantry helps families that have a need

for assistance. It is very important that we

keep our food Pantry filled at all times.

Please remember the bank for the needy is at

the entrance of the Community Center.

VASILOPITA CELEBRATION:

The Community Vasilopita Celebration

will be on Sunday, January 8, 2017 after

the Divine Liturgy. We ask that all parish-

ioners and friends to join us for this very

special beginning of the New Year Cele-

bration.

Mr. & Mrs. Adam Adams

Mr. Bill Adams

Mrs. Katina Agaliotis

Mr. K. Agathangelou / Ms. T. Kirkham

Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Alexiades

Mr. & Mrs. George Alexiades

Mr. Paul Anagnostakos/ Dr. E. Tsomos

Mr. & Mrs. John Anastasopoulos

MR. & Mrs. Peter Anastasopoulos

Mr. & Mrs. Andreas Andreou

Mrs. Silvia Andros

Mrs. Flora Antonopoulos

Mrs. Ubaldina Antonopoulos

Mr. Michael Arotis

Ms. Bella Baker

Mr. & Mrs. Antonios Barbagiannis

Mrs. Eleni Barbagiannis

Mr. & Mrs. George Barkouras

Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas Belegrinos

Mrs. Litsa Berenberg

Mr. & Mrs. John Betts

Mr. & Mrs. Daryn Binder

Helen & Susan Boyas

Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Brandt

Mr. & Mrs. James Burke

Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Canzani

Mr. Charlie Caravoulias

Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Cevallos

Dr. & Mrs. George Christolias

Mr. & Mrs. Nikos Christopoulos

Mr. & Mrs. George Christopoulos

Dr. & Mrs. George Christoudias

Mr. & Mrs. Chris Chucalas

Mr. Chris Chucalas

Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Clark

Dr. & Mrs. Theodore Constandelis

Mrs. Maria Constandelis

Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas Constandelis

Mr. & Mrs. Alex Cormas

Mrs. Eve Cravits

Mrs. Elaine Daoutis

Mr. & Mrs. Peter Dedes

Dr. & Mrs. Aristidis Delis

Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Demetrakis

Ms. Evaggelia Dermatis

Mrs. Maria Diacakis

Mrs. Maria Diakos

Mr. & Mrs. Sophoclis Diakos

Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Dimatos

Mrs. Christina Dimitrakopoulos

Mr. Michael Dimitrelis

Mr. & Mrs. Stefanos Doulos

Mr. & Mrs. Evangelos Drosos

Mr. & Mrs. Athanasios Economou

Mr. & Mrs. John Economou

Mr. & Mrs. Elias Ekonomidis

Ms. Alexandra Eliopoulos

Mr. & Mrs. Tony Emmanouilidis

Mr. & Mrs. Harry Emmanouilidis

Mr. & Mrs. John E. Emmanouilidis

Mr. & Mrs. John H. Emmanouilidis

Mr. & Mrs. Evangelos Exarchos

Μr. Photis Fakazis

Mr. & Mrs. Sofoklis Fasitsas

Mr. George Fikaris

Mr. & Mrs. Vasilios Fikaris

Mr. & Mrs. Zannis Fikaris

Mr. Jason Fink

Mrs. Artemis Gagis

Ms. Elaine Gagis

Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas Gagis

Mr. & Mrs. Emmanuel Galifos

Mr. Elias Gatoulis

Mr. & Mrs. Salvatore Gendusa

Mr. & Mrs. Pantelis Genouzos

Mrs. Chryssie George

Mr. & Mrs. Constantinos George

Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Georgiou

Mr. Loucas Georgiou

Mrs. Athena Georgotas

Ms. Christina Georgotas

Mr. George Geonaras

Mr. & Mrs. Victor Giamos

Mr. & Mrs. Constantinos Giatras

Mr. & Mrs. George Glavas

Mr. & Mrs. Savas Glavas

Mr. & Mrs. Athanase Gouliamos

STEWARDSHIP

STEWARDSHIP LIST AS OF 11/25/16 Giving to the Church is an opportunity to examine our priorities and values. It is an opportunity to express our thankfulness, to give of ourselves and to grow in grace. It is an opportunity to partici-pate in the work of God. We thank the following 343 parishioners who have already made their Stewardship Pledge for 2016. Those who have not yet made their pledge, please do so today!

ΠΡΟΓΡΑΜΜΑ “EΚΟΥΣΙΑΣ ΕΙΣΦΟΡΑΣ” 2016: Υπενθυμίζομε ότι έχουν ταχυδρομηθή στα σπίτια σας οι κάρτες “Eκούσιας Εισφοράς” για το 2016. Έχετε ανανεώσει την οικονομική σας προσφορά για το 2016; Εάν όχι, κατατάξατε το όνομά σας στήν κατάσταση των ενοριτών που έχουν τακτοποιήσει την οικονομική τους υποχρέωση προς την ενορία, συμπληρώντας την κάρτα καί επιστρέφοντάς την στο γραφείο μας, μαζί μέ το δώρο της αγάπης σας. Ευχαριστούμε τις 343 οικογένειες πού ήδη εκπλήρωσαν την υπόσχεσή των για το 2016.

Mr. & Mrs. Dino Gourmos

Mr. & Mrs. Efstratios Grammatas

Mr. Evangelos Grammatas

Mr. & Mrs. Peter Grammatas

Ms. Mary Gregoras

Mr. & Mrs. Kriss Hadjistavrinos

Mr. Ilias Hantsoulis

Mr. & Mrs. Chris Haramis

Mrs. Helen Hasterlis

Ms. Maria Hasterlis

Mr. & Mrs. Tom Higgins

Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Hios

Mr. & Mrs. George Hios

Ms. Stephanie Hios

Mr. Paul Hourmouzis

Mr. & Mrs. George Hrissikos

Mr. & Mrs. Nikolas Joannidis

Mr. & Mrs. Agamemnon Jouvanis

Mr. & Mrs. Stefanos Kalabakas

Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Kalogirou

Mr. & Mrs. Chris Kamvosoulis

Mr. & Mrs. Damon Kamvosoulis

Mr. & Mrs. Peter Kamvosoulis

Mr. & Mrs. Tom Kamvosoulis

Mr. & Mrs. Vasilios Kamvosoulis

Mr. & Mrs. Frank Kanakaris

Mr. & Mrs. Nick Kantaris

Mrs. Aggeliki Kapantais

Mr. & Mrs. Spiros Kapsaskis

Mr. & Mrs. Elias Karantonis

Mr. & Mrs. George Karounos

Mr. & Mrs. Panagiotis Karounos

Mr. & Mrs. Othon Katechis

Mr. & Mrs. Emmanuel Kavrakis

Mrs. Magdaleen Keen

Mrs. Kalliope Kesoglou

Mr. & Mrs. Tom Kesoglou

Mr. & Mrs. Theodore Kesoglou

Mrs. Tonya Kirkham

Mr. & Mrs. John Kiriakakis

Mr. & Mrs. Charles Koehler

Mr. & Mrs. Nick Kolaros

Mr. & Mrs. Eleftherios Kolovos

Mr. & Mrs. Nick Konstantinakos

Mrs. Irene Konstantinidis

Mary & Eva Konstantinidis

Dr. Dora Kontogiannis

Mr. & Mrs. Tom Kostopoulos

Mrs. Effie Koukeas

Mr. & Mrs. James Kourgelis

Mr. & Mrs. John Kourgelis

Mr. & Mrs. Michael Kourgelis

Mr. & Mrs. Jimmy Kourgelis

Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Kourgelis

Ms. Pelagia Kourliouros

Ms. Sophia Kourliouros

Mr. & Mrs. Christos Koutsis

Mr. & Mrs. Petros Kouvatsos

Mr. & Mrs. Michael Kovoros

Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Krikelis

Mr. & Mrs. John Kyriakakis

Dr. & Mrs. George Lambrinos

Mrs. Toula Langas

Mr. & Mrs. Louis Laoudis

Mrs. Virginia Laoudis

Mr. & Mrs. Antoine Larosiliere

Mr. & Mrs. Truong Le

Mr. & Mrs. Spiro Leakas

Mr. & Mrs. Ted Leakas

Fr. Panagiotis & Presbytera Lekkas

Mr. & Mrs. Stefanos Leles

Mr. & Mrs. Petros Lembesis

Mrs. Froso Levas

Mrs. Mary Lignos

Mr. & Mrs. Photis Livitsanos

Mr. & Mrs. Nikitas Logothetis

Mr. & Mrs. Stathis Loukas

Mrs. Christina Lowery

Mr. & Mrs. Emmanuel Makris

Mr. & Mrs. Kostas Makris

Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas Makris

Mr. & Mrs. John Malandrucolo

Mr. Andonis Mallios

Mr. Nicholas Maloupis

Mr. & Mrs. Kyriakos Mangafas

Mrs. Helen Mantzouranis

Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Marcopoulos

Mr. & Mrs. Dean Mastrojohn

Mr. & Mrs. Petros Matthews

Mr. & Mrs. Constantinos Mavrianos

Mrs. Stella Megariotis

Mr. & Mrs. Vasilios Melidoneas

Drs. Michael & Irini Mentakis

Mrs. Vasilia Mereos

Mr. & Mrs. James Michaels

Mr. & Mrs. George Michalakis

Mr. & Mrs. Paul Micholas

Mr. & Mrs. Gerasimos Mihalitsianos

Mr. & Mrs. Peter Miras

Mr. & Mrs. Robert Mitchell

Mitsakos Family

Mrs. Olympia Molfetas

Mr. & Mrs. Harry Molfetas

Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Moore

Mr. & Mrs. Renan Morada

Mr. & Mrs. Mike Moshouris

Ms. Maria Moshouris

Mr. & Mrs. Leo Mourikes

Mrs. Stephanie Mouzakis Smith

Mr. Ignatius Mumtzis

Mr. & Mrs. Kostas Nakopoulos

Mrs. Jordana Nicholas

Dr. & Mrs. John Nicholas

Mr. & Mrs. Demetris Nicolaidis

Mr. & Mrs. Tom Nikolaidis

Mr. & Mrs. James Nissirios

Dr. & Mrs. Themi Nissirios

Mr. & Mrs. Chris Nolan

Mr. & Mrs. Dimitrios Ntarlagiannis

Mr. & Mrs. Louis Pahountis

Mr. & Mrs. Costas Paissidis

Mr. & Mrs. Peter Paizis

Mr. & Mrs. Vassos Pallikaropoulos

Mr. & Mrs. Gus Panagiotopoulos

Mr. & Mrs. George Panagiotou

Dr. & Mrs. Nicholas Panagiotou

Mr. & Mrs. Antonis Panagopoulos

Mrs. Vaso Panagopoulos

Mr. & Mrs. Dino Panayiotarakos

Mr. & Mrs. Jon Pandel

Mr. & Mrs. John Pangis

Ms. Nicole Panzarella

Mr. & Mrs. Costas Papademas

Ms. Victoria Papademas

Mr. Harry Papademas

Mrs. Konstantina Papademas

Mrs. Androniki Papadopoulos

Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas Papalambrou

Mr. & Mrs. Constantine Papamichael

Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas Papamihail

Mr. George Papanester

Mr. & Mrs. N. Papathanasopoulos

Mrs. Eleftheria Pashalis

Mr. & Mrs. Charles Patterson

Mr. & Mrs. Tiago Patusco

Mr. & Mrs. Menelaos Pavlou

Mr. George Pepines

Mr. & Mrs. John Peponias

Mr. & Mrs. Jimmy Perides

Mr. & Mrs. Ioannis Petrou

Ms. Helen Pettas

Mr. & Mrs. John Phillips

Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Picolino

Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Piteo

Mr. & Mrs. Ciro Pizollato

Mrs. Eleni Pollatos

Mr. & Mrs. Vasilios Portelos

Mrs. Ann Pouletsos

Mr. John Pouletsos

Mr. & Mrs. Sam Poulis

Mr. & Mrs. Christodoulos Prepis

Mrs. Maria Protopappas

Mr. & Mrs. John Psarianos

Mr. & Mrs. John Psarros

Mrs. Eumorphia Raissis

Mr. Anthony Rathe

Pantelis, Mary & Anthony Rezitis

Mr. & Mrs. Georgios Rodas

Mr. & Mrs. Alexander Rodetis

Mr. & Mrs. Eddie Rodriguez

Mrs. Despina Ropa

Ms. Penelopi Roumantzas

Ms. Stacey Roumantzas

Mr. Spiros Roumantzas

Mr. Andrew Roushdy

Mr. & Mrs. John Roussos

Mrs. Margie Russo

Mr. & Mrs. Nikolas Sahlaras

Mr. & Mrs. Frank Salemme

Mr. & Mrs. Dimitrios Salogiannis

Mr. & Mrs. Dennis Samolis

Mr. & Mrs. Savas Santamouris

Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Sarno

Mr. & Mrs. Costas Savvas

Mr. & Mrs. John Scaglione

Mr. & Mrs. Vinnie Schiraldi

Mr. & Mrs. William Scoullos

Mr. George Seretis

Mr. & Mrs. Savvas Sfikas

Mr. & Dr. Peter Shikar

Mr. & Mrs. Stergios Siabanis

Mr. & Mrs. George Siamboulis

Mr. & Mrs. Georgios Siderias

Mr. & Mrs. George M. Siderias

Mr. & Mrs. George S. Siderias

Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Siderias

Mr. & Mrs. Steve Siderias

Mr. & Mrs. Dimitrios Sitounis

Mr. & Mrs. John Skoutakis

Mr. & Mrs. Brian Slattery

Mr. & Mrs. Steve Sofos

Mr. & Mrs. Theodore Sogotis

Mr. & Mrs .Steve Spirou

Mr. & Mrs. George Stamatiou

Mr. & Mrs. Evangelos Stamelos

Mr. & Mrs. Thouki Stavris

Fr. & Presbytera A. Stavropoulos

Mr. & Mrs. Patroklos Stavrou

Mr. & Mrs. Christos Stogianoglou

Mr. & Mrs. T. Stogianoglou

Mr. & Mts. Chistakis Stylianou

Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Tevletidis

Mr. & Mrs. Dean Tomaras

Mr. & Mrs. Paul Toronidis

Mr. & Mrs. George Trahanas

Mr. & Mrs. George Trakas

Mrs. Evelyn Triantos

Mr. & Mrs. Nick Tsagouris

Mrs. Tina Tsamas

Mr. & Michael Tsentas

Mr. & Mrs. George Tsiklidis

Mr. & Mrs. Chuck J. Tsocanos

Mr. & Mrs. Chuck K. Tsocanos

Mr. & Mrs. John Tsocanos

Mrs. Panagiota Tsongas

Mr. & Mrs. Haralambos Tsotsos

Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas Tsoukalas

Ms. Efthymia Tsoukalas

Mr. & Mrs. Salvatore Tzoumas

Mr. & Mrs. Stan Umowski

Mr. & Mrs. Kostas Vanikiotis

Mrs. Eugenia Varias

Ms. Catherine Varveris

Drs. Evros & Eliana Vassiliou

Mr. & Mrs. George Vathianakis

Mrs. Ethel Venetos

Mr. & Mrs. Richard Venezia

Mr. & Mrs. Paul Venizelos

Mrs. Irene Veros

Mr. & Mrs. George Vlamis

Mr. & Mrs. Robert Voorhis

Mr. & Mrs. John Wain

Mr. & Mrs. Randall Williams

Mr. & Mrs. Dimitrios Xanthos

Mr. & Mrs. Louie Yannitsadis

Mr. Steve Yannitsadis

Mr. & Mrs. George Zanakis

Mr. & Mrs. Telly Zervoudis

Mr. & Mrs. Michael Zigarelli

Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Ziotas

Mr. & Mrs. Alexander Zodiatis

Mr. & Mrs. Polikarpos Zorbas

PRAYER FOR THE FIRST DAY OF THE YEAR

O Lord our God, who have placed times and seasons under your own

authority; who, in your infinite compassion and goodness, have counted

us worthy to enter a New Year of your loving kindness, bless it and keep

us in peace.

Loose, remit and forgive any sins that we may have committed during

the year that is past, and keep us free from sin in the New Year.

Enlighten us with the light of your truth and your divine command-

ments. Establish in our souls your holy will, and guide us to every work

that is good and pleasing to you.

Guard well our Holy church with your divine grace. Remember, Lord,

our nation; train up the youth; protect the elderly; encourage the faint-

hearted; gather the scattered; bring back those who have gone astray, and

reunite them to your Holy Church.

Overshadow our Land with your might, and grant it gentle rain and

abundance of the fruits of the earth. Speak of goodness in the hearts of

our rulers; support and strengthen them, together with our armed forces

by land, sea and air so that in their tranquility we may lead our life in eve-

ry piety and dignity.

Let your kingdom come upon us, O Lord; the kingdom of love, good-

ness, peace and justice; and make us worthy to praise and glorify, with one

mouth and one heart, your most honorable and majestic name, of the Fa-

ther and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages

of ages. Amen

FOS MINISTRY BOOKSTORE OF ST. ATHANASIOS

Our FOS Ministry Bookstore recently sponsored an author

visit from Marilyn Rouvelas who is the author of the book, A

Guide to Greek Traditions and customs in America. Marilyn

gave us a wonderful presentation about “The Orthodox Home,

A Center of Worship and Witness”. Presbytera Christina Stav-

ropoulos spoke to us about prosphora making and we all had the

opportunity to make prosphoro. Many of us had the opportunity

to purchase Mrs. Rouvelas autographed book, which we carry in

our bookstore.

We have many new items in our bookstore for Christmas.

Some items include new children books, boxed Christmas orna-

ments, and the St. Vasilios vasilopita coin. All these make great

gifts for the upcoming holidays. Our FOS ministry Bookstore is

growing and we invite you to join this ministry.

We wish you Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New

Year.

With Love In Christ,

Dr. Karen Scoullos

St. Athanasios Feast Day

PANIGIRI - DINNER DANCE January 21, 2017

in our Community Center

Join us with your family and friends for a fun-filled evening

of great food, dancing and parea!

Additional information will be available soon!

LOVE IN ACTION Our St. Athanasios parish continue the Homeless Outreach Pro-

gram to bring much needed food and care to men, women, and

children in our area who are in need. As many of you already

know, last year we began an effort to collect food for donation in a

Food Collection Box at the rear entrance of our church. This ef-

fort has already been a big success in helping to feed low-income

families, and this year we would like to give even more. We will

be putting our desire to help into action by partnering with a

homeless shelter in Northern NJ to help prepare and serve warm

meals for the needy. We hope to make this a community-wide

effort, with every age group involved in some way - whether

through food donation, meal preparation, driving, serving, or

some other facet. We are still at the early stages but before we can begin this fruitful

work, we are looking for volunteers who are interested in helping to develop and sustain

this new program. Thank you to everyone who has donated time, food, or supplies to our

ministry! Let us keep the spirit of giving alive in our parish, for it is truly in giving that

we receive. May the Peace of Christ be with everyone this holiday season! If you would

like to get involved, please contact the church office.

ΙΕΡΑ ΠΑΝΗΓΥΡΙΣ ΤΟΥ

ΑΓΙΟΥ ΑΘΑΝΑΣΙΟΥ

Μέγας Εσπερινός

Τρίτη, 17 Ιανουρίου στις 7:00 μ.μ.

Όρθρος και Θεία Λειτουργία

Τετάρτη, 18 Ιανουαρίου στις 8:30 π.μ.

Εορταστική δεξίωσις κατόπιν των Ιερών

Ακολουθιών από την Φιλόπτωχο.

FEAST DAY OF OUR PATRON SAINT ATHANASIOS

Tuesday, January 17th - Great Vespers 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, January 18th -Orthros and Divine Liturgy 8:30 a.m.

Reception to follow after the Services, hosted by our Philoptochos.

SAINT ATHANASIOS THE GREAT, PATRIARCH OF ALEXANDRIA

Born in Alexandria, Egypt in A.D. 297, Athanasios was associated with the Alexandrian chan-

cery at an early age, having been ordained deacon in the year 319 and subsequently priest. His bril-

liance was shown in his “Sermon Against the Arians”, written to answer the widely spreading heresy

of Arianism, which had been condemned in 318 by a synod. According to Arius, an elderly priest of

Alexandria, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were three separate essences or substances, which is contra-

ry to Orthodox teaching. The spread of Arianism prompted Emperor Constantine to convene the

First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea (A.D. 325), where Athanasios brilliantly opposed the false doc-

trine of Arius. He wrote a series of works in defense of the faith proclaimed in Nicaea, that is, the

doctrine of the true deity of God the Son. Nevertheless, the controversy lasted for another two centu-

ries. The conciliatory tone of the Council of Nicaea was not enough to put an end to the heresy; Ari-

us would not comply with its decisions and thus fled to Palestine.

While still in his twenties, St Athanasios wrote two short treatises of which the second one is

the famous “On the Incarnation”. In this treatise he expounds how God, the Logos, by His union

with Manhood restored to the fallen man the image of God in which he had originally been created

(Genesis 1:27); and how by His death and Resurrection He met and overcame death which is the

consequence of sin. St. Athanasios proved to be the greatest and most consistent theological oppo-

nent of Arianism.

He convened the Synod of Alexandria in 362 which did much to clear up misunderstandings

of the terms “Person” (hypostasis) and substance (ousia). He also did much to uphold the deity of

the Holy Spirit and the full Manhood of Christ against contemporary heretical tendencies.

At the age of thirty, Athanasios was made Bishop of Alexandria. Although Arius assured the

Emperor that he accepted the creed of Nicaea, the suspicious Athanasios defied the Imperial order

for Arius’ reinstatement. For this he was banished, taking refuge in Treves, France, the place of his

first exile, from which he returned in 337 after Constantine’s death. The same year though, his en-

emies conspired to have him again banished by a synod in Antioch. Athanasios, eluded those who

would have him imprisoned, traveled to Rome to plead his case before the Pope, Julius I. Alt-

hough a council at Sardica favored Athanasios, he did not return from exile until 345, after the

death of usurper Bishop Gregory.

Once again, his enemies sprang into action and at a council in Milan in 355, Athanasios was

deposed. Thus, after ten years of fruitful rule, he took refuge with the monks of the Egyptian de-

sert whom he greatly admired and whom he had befriended. While with the monks he wrote the

History of the Arian Heresy, which displays his vehemence and ironic humor.

In 361 Athanasios was again restored as Bishop of Alexandria and immediately resumed his

struggle against Arianism. After a series of lengthy and complicated discussions, councils, synods,

and other forms of debate, a credal formula was adopted which satisfied those whose middle view

led them to be called Semi-Arians. Peace had hardly arrived when another storm came in the form

of the regeneration of paganism under the Emperor Julian the Apostate.

In the autumn of 363, Athanasios was again put to flight, only to return a short time later after

the death of the Emperor. He enjoyed a comparative calm until he was removed by Emperor Va-

lens during another resurgence of paganism. Four months later, the aging Bishop was recalled and

allowed to live out his life in comparative peace.

Greatly admired by the Orthodox, St. Athanasios stirred the emotions of the Christians as per-

haps no other Father of the Church. His theological doctrine is clear and uncomplicated in the

strictest Orthodox tradition, and his encouragement of monasticism was a labor of love. He greatly

aided the ascetic movement in Egypt. Also, St. Athanasios was the first to introduce knowledge of

monasticism to the West. He died on May 2, 373.

The Feast Day of St. Athanasios is celebrated on January 18th (also on May 2nd).

May his blessings and prayers be with us as we aspire to serve the same Lord as St. Athanasios did

centuries ago.

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Saint Athanasios Greek Orthodox Church Iconography / Phase I and II

Campaign for the Adornment of our Church

As of November 18, 2016 the following icons are still available:

For additional information and to discuss your family’s donation, please contact Fr. Anargyros Stavropoulos.

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December 6th - Feast Day of Saint Nicholas (4th century)

December 12th - Feast Day of St. Spyridon (4th century)

Two of the most beloved Bishops and Saints of our Church are St. Nicholas and St. Spyridon.

They both lived during the fourth century and were very good friends who together defended the Or-

thodox Christian Faith against those who attempted to change the teachings of the Church.

St. Nicholas

If any person attempts to tell you that there is no Santa Claus, you can prove to them that they are

wrong. There was and there is truly a Santa Claus. He lived in a small town called Myra in Asia Minor,

which is now the country of Turkey. He became a priest at an early age and soon commanded the re-

spect and admiration of all the citizens of Myra. He was elevated to Bishop very quickly and served for

many years as Archbishop of the province. His fame as a lover of children was well known. He also

defended the unfortunate and assisted the poor. It was St. Nicholas who brought the spirit of good will

and Christmas to the world. He loved to give presents to poor children and underprivileged families.

The name Santa Claus is the northern European name for Saint Nicholas. St. Nicholas attended the

First Ecumenical Council in the year 325 A.D. in Asia Minor and helped to defend the True Faith of

Jesus Christ. He was tortured by the enemies of Christianity and spent many years in prison. He bore

the terrible scars of torture on his body for many years after his release from prison.

Santa Claus will continue to exist so long as there are people who love one another and who are

willing to share in the many wonderful gifts which Almighty God has given to us. St. Nicholas is the

Patron Saint of children everywhere. He is also considered the Patron Saint of travelers.

St. Spyridon

St. Spyridon was called the Shepherd Bishop. He lived during the 4th century on the beautiful is-

land of Cyprus. As a young boy, he tended sheep on the island of his father. He was ordained a priest

but continued to tend his sheep which he loved very much. When he was elevated to the position of

Bishop of his province, he still kept the little farm of his parents and worked diligently tending his

sheep. St. Spyridon had no formal education. Yet, he had memorized the entire Bible by listening to it

being read in Church and in his home. In the year 325 A.D. he was called by St. Constantine to help

defend the Orthodox Faith at the 1st Ecumenical Council which was held in the city of Nicaea, Asia Mi-

nor. It was there that he began a lasting friendship with St. Nicholas of Myra. St. Spyridon too, like St.

Nicholas, had been persecuted by the Roman pagans. After being beaten by Roman soldiers he lost his

right eye and was to work in the mines for many years. Although he died almost 1600 years ago, his

body is still well preserved on the island of Kerkyra (off the West Coast of Greece). Thousands of pil-

grims venerate his holy remains on the Church of St. Spyridon on the island, and each year on Decem-

ber 12, the clergy carry his holy body through the streets of the city. The hand of God has preserved his

sacred body for all to venerate each year.

NON-PROFIT ORG.

U.S. POSTAGE P A I D

Paramus, NJ 07652

Permit No. 121

St. Athanasios Greek Orthodox Church 51 Paramus Road Paramus, NJ 07652

OR CURRENT RESIDENT

THE MINISTRIES OF ST. ATHANASIOS:

SUNDAY CHURCH SCHOOL Eliana Antoniou - Director

GREEK SCHOOL Sophia Stamatiou - Principal

PHILOPTOCHOS SOCIETY Vaso Panagopoulos - President

P.T.O. Roda Repusis - President

CANTOR Chris Haramis

NEOKOROS Michael Galianos

ALTAR BOYS Sotirios Karabetsos

H.O.P.E. (ages 4-7) Ellainy Christopoulos

J.O.Y. (ages 8-11) Ellainy Christo[poulos

GOYA (ages 12-18) Manny Jouvanis / Reina Phillips

ATHLETIC CO-ORDINATORS: Peter Paizis / Andy Hios

FOS (Outreach Parish Ministry) Karen Scoullos

HELLENIC SENIORS Helen Manztouranis

BIBLE STUDY & CATECHISM Fr. Anargyros

GREEK DANCING Reina Phillips (GOYA) Mia Petrou & Melanie Marcus HOPE/JOY)

EPISKEPSIS (Visitations) Fr. Anargyros

DIAKONIA AGAPES Presbytera Christina (Help the needy-Food Pantry)

AHEPA Meets every 2nd Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

Dear Parents, Thank you to everyone that has registered their child(ren) in H.O.P.E./J.O.Y. We have been busy the last few months with activities! In October, the children had a Pumpkin Painting & Pizza night event. The children had the opportunity to decorate pumpkins, eat pizza & meet new families & friends! In November we hosted our H.O.P.E./J.O.Y. Thanksgiving Harvest Potluck. Each family brought in a dish to share and the children participated in Thanksgiving themed activities including shar-ing what they are thankful for. Each child also brought in a canned good item to donate to a local food pantry. Please check your email for our upcoming December & January events. We will have a Christmas event on December 9th and a Family Bowling event on January 22nd. Registration is still open to whoever is interested in joining and is available via email, Face-book or by seeing one of our Coordinators. Please contact me at grkkukli@yahoo.com or any of our H.O.P.E/J.O.Y Coordinators with any questions you may have regarding our events for the year.

Despina Anastasopoulos Melanie Marcus (201) 245-5447 (914) 396-7734 We hope that you and your family join us for an educational and fun filled year! Ellainy Karaboitis-Christopoulos. H.O.P.E./J.O.Y Coordinator (201) 681-8174

H.O.P.E / J.O.Y.