VASILOPITA AND ST. BASIL’S ACADEMY by Angie Leventis,
Cathedral Philoptochos President

The vasilopita celebration is one of the most beautiful traditions of the Greek Orthodox Church. It is also an annual family observance which takes place the 8th day of Christmas, January 1.

This age old tradition commenced in the fourth century when Saint Basil the Great, who was a bishop, wanted to distribute money to the poor in his Diocese. He commissioned some women to bake sweetened bread whereby he placed gold coins in the sweet bread. The poor families in cutting of the bread were pleasantly surprised to find the gold coins.

This event which happened in the late fourth century still exists today in our Orthodox homes and even in our own Parish in the tradition of a vasilopita celebration. The women of our Parish Philoptochos take time from their busy schedules to gather and work in harmony to make the vasilopites for this joyous observance. This year our vasilopita celebration takes places on Sunday, January 12, 2003.

The donations and moneys raised from the sale of these vasilopites are sent to St. Basil Academy to help support the operating costs of the Academy. St. Basil Academy is located in Garrison, New York and is the sole property of Philoptohos. Annually, National Philoptochos and their chapters nationwide sponsor vasilopita celebrations for this commitment - $300,000 per year is granted to help support the academy.

For the last 50 years St. Basil has provided "a home away from home" for the Church’s less fortunate children. In most cases the children St. Basil Academy serves come from families who have fallen on bad times due to death, sickness or a dysfunctional family situation. The focus of St. Basil is on the spiritual, physical, educational, emotional and social needs of each child. Full-time personnel are employed to meet the needs of these children.

St. Basil Academy is also the permanent home for the Patriarch Athenagoras Retreat & Conference Center. The Retreat Center facilities are used by Parish Priests, Philoptochos Ladies, YAL and GOYA. The center provides lodging, food and lecturers when requested. The webpage is www.stbasil.goarch.org/.

It is a known fact that centuries ago, the vasilopita tradition was intended for the hungry and the destitute and yet after all these centuries, it is amazing and unbelievable that the vasilopita celebration today is very much alive and follows the same path that Saint Basil the Great undertook so many years ago.

ANNUNCIATION PHILOPTOCHOS ANGEL TREE PROJECT
by Nan Cusulos

The Annunciation Philoptochos Angel Tree Project was once again a huge success. Once again, we sponsored a place called City Crossroads Ministry. It is a non-profit public benefit corporation, with a ministry to multi-ethnic youth and low-income families who live in the area. It is located in the inner city of San Francisco, South of Market, on 6th Street, where overcrowded housing, alcoholism, drug abuse, homelessness, gangs and crimes are an everyday problem.

Through various programs, City Crossroads seeks to meet the real physical, social and spiritual needs of the City’s neglected children. Their ages run from 3 to 18 years of age. It is a haven for them to have a place to go after school, away from the dangerous streets. There, they have recreational activities, a quiet area to do their home work, Bible studies, fellowship with one another and a warm mea. On any afternoon of the week, City Crossroads is filled with children looking for love. It is run by a young pastor and his wife, who have their own church, but find time to open their hearts and give of themselves to this worthwhile ministry.

This is our fifth year into the Philoptochos Angel Tree Project. Once again, we wish to thank all our parishioners for their enthusiastic response in taking a child’s name, buying a gift, wrapping it and returning it to the church. There were 85 names this year, which means these 85 neglected children were shown that God loves and cares about them. Our caring community made this possible. Thank you. Assisting me in this project were Pat Destein, her daughter Melina and Helen Markanton.

PARISHIONERS ELECT SEVEN NEW MEMBERS TO PARISH COUNCIL; 2003 OFFICERS ELECTED

On December 15, parishioners elected seven members to the Parish Council for a two-year term, beginning January 1, 2003. Following ratification of the elections by Metropolitan Anthony, Father Stephen Kyriacou administered the oath of office at the conclusion of the Liturgy Sunday, December 29. The election results, in alphabetical order, were as follows:

Following the administration of the oath of office, the seven new members joined the eight members who were elected last year and elected their officers for 2003. James Peter Dariotes was elected President; Thomas A. Nuris was elected Vice-President; George Ambadiotakis Ambus was elected Secretary; Nicholas J. Rally was elected Treasurer; and Michael Misthos was elected Assistant Treasurer. Mike Sarikakis and Jim Vorrises were appointed to the Stewardship Committee, which is chaired by Gus Vouchilas.Other committees are in the process of being formed.

DEB

The Development, Expansion, and Building Committee (hence DEB) continues to meet the first Wednesday of every month, except in January. Its purpose is to prepare for our work on Phase II. Towards this end, it has commissioned the architect who designed Phase I, Goldman Architects of San Francisco, to offer us three design (and cost) options: (1) the church and parking as envisioned in the model, (2) a smaller version of the church, along with parking, and (3) the expansion of the existing chapel into the future church, along with parking. The committee will then select the option which makes the most sense and ask for feedback from the community.

Meanwhile, we welcome the exciting development over the prospect of acquiring the property across the street for the purpose of building senior housing and for parking. On December 10, our Cathedral Philoptochos expressed unanimous support for the acquisition of the site by making $100,000 available towards its purchase. Since then, the Parish Council has been meeting with the owners of the property as well as with experts in the area of senior housing, with a view to acquiring and developing the site. Although these may be considered as two separate projects, they are related in that the parcel being considered addresses some of the Cathedral’s parking needs.

METROPOLIS OF SAN FRANCISCO TO HOLD CLERGY-LAITY FEBRUARY 6-8

This annual gathering of the representatives of the parishes will take place at the Saint Nicholas Ranch and Retreat Center. Normally, the Priest and Parish Council President, or her/his designee, attend as representatives of the parish. As noted above, the New Charter for the Archdiocese of America will be read during the Assembly. This will take place on Thursday, February 6. On Friday, February 7, the Assembly will consider the Budget for the Metropolis of San Francisco for 2003 and, in addition, will hear reports on our various Ministries, namely: Parish Stewardship, Communications, Greek Education, Religious Education, Commission of Orthodox Missions and Evangelism, Philoptochos, and the Federation of Church Musicians. On Saturday, February 8, following the Divine Liturgy, a Ministries Leadership Conference will be held, convened and coordinated by Father Stephen Kyriacou, Ministries Chair, assisted by Father John Konugres. Parishioners of the Annunciation Cathedral wishing to address the Assembly are invited to submit their concerns in writing to James P. Dariotes, our Parish Council President, by February 3rd.

2003 STEWARDSHIP PLEDGE CARDS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS MAILED

By now, parishioners of the Cathedral, ages 18 and above, have received Stewardship Pledge Cards for 2003. In order to help the Cathedral budget accordingly, parishioners are asked to return their completed Pledge Cards by January 31. Should parishioners require assistance in filling out their Cards, members of the Strewardship Committee will be on hand, following the Sunday Liturgy, every Sunday in January and in February. They may also answer questions you may have about your statement, which shows all monies given to the Cathedral during 2002. To determine what is tax deductible, please refer the statement to your tax advisor.

Meanwhile, the letter accompanying this year’s pledge card, signed by Stewardship Chair Gus Vouchilas and Father Stephen asks you to ponder what the Church means to you before completing your pledge. While most of our parishioners are conscientious in giving to the Church, many are not. Some try to get away with giving as little as possible. Some do not give anything at all and do so only to satisfy some “requirement,” that is, when they want to baptize their child or serve as a godparent, and the like. What are we going to do about these people? The answer is simple: patiently educate them. We believe that most people mean well and that, when given the opportunity, most people are responsbile and generous. The process of education is an arduous one. In the end, however, it is the way by which we can effect changes. Towards this end, a wonderful Stewardship Committee has come into being, to explore creative approaches to the whole notion of giving. Giving, as most of us know, is at the heart of being an authentic human being, which is why Scripture tells us “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). After all, our God is a giving God. He has given Himself in the person of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ. And this, in a nutshell, is at the heart of the Christian Gospel.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY ...ATTITUDE...
COMPLIMENTS OF YOUR Stewardship Committee

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance giftedness, or skill.

It will make or break a company...a church...a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past...we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have; and that is our attitude...I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.

PAOI ANNOUNCES EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPRING 2003

The Patriarch Athenagoras Orthodox Institute, a part of the Graduate Theological Union at Berkeley, located at 2311 Hearst Avenue, Berkeley, announces two courses for the first part of 2003. The one, beginning February 6, and running for eight Thursdays, 6:30 to 9 p.m. is entitled, Introduction to Byzantine Music. It is being taught by our own John Boyer. John has studied Byzantine Chant with Alexander Lingas and Lycourgos Angelopoulos, and has sung with groups known as Capella Romana and Cantores in Ecclesia.

The seconde course, to be held Saturday, March 22, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. will endeavor to help one discover how the entire life of the parish community is the primary educator of all Orthodox Christians. Participants will have an opportunity to reflect on various aspects of parish life for their positive and negative educational influences on children and families. Strategies will be given for enhancing parish life and educational programs.

The course will be offered by Anton C. Vrame, Ph.D., the new Director of the PAOI, and will be held at the Ascension Cathedral, Oakland. For further information, please call 510 649-3450 or e-mail: paoi@gtu.edu.

RECENT SACRAMENTS AND SERVICES AT THE CATHEDRAL

BAPTISMS
On December 1, Stephen Dimitrios, son of Erika and Jimmy Panagiotopoulos, was baptized. His sponsors were Thomas and Maria Mavrakakis.

On December 8, Haralambos Nicholas, son of Nick and Athena Kontonis, was baptized. His sponsors were Michael and Christina Misthos.

Na mas zisoun! Congratulations!

MARRIAGE
On January 3, the marriage of Richard Walter Anderson and Darcy Cheryl Hooper was blessed at the Cathedral. Caliope Hooper served as sponsor.

Na mas zisoun! Congratulations!

FUNERALS
Joseph Tene, who died on November 25, was buried November 29. Next of kin listed is his wife, Nada Tene.

John Emanuel Pappis, who died on December 30, was buried January 3. Next of kin listed is his wife, Loula Pappis, and children Stella Katakis and Manoli Pappis.

Aionia afton i mnimi!
May their memory be eternal!

CELL PHONES AND CHURCH

We thank you for being sensitive to the prayerful atmosphere of the Divine Liturgy for yourself and for others by turning off your cell phone upon entering Church.

LOOKING AHEAD

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January/February 2003 Herald
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral.