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WE HAVE A NEW
METROPOLITAN
 On February 22nd, the Holy and Sacred Synod
of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, elected His Eminence Gerasimos, formerly
Bishop of Krateia, as Metropolitan of San Francisco. Our new Metropolitan
will come to San Francisco closer to the time of his enthronement, the
exact date and place of which will be announced shortly
.
Upon learning of the election of our new Metropolitan, Father Stephen, on behalf
of the Parish Council, the Philoptochos, and all the organizations and the faithful,
which make up our Annunciation Cathedral family, sent a congratulatory message
along with an arrangement of flowers. On Thursday, March 3rd, Father Stephen
will travel to New York to meet with the new Metropolitan and Archbishop
Demetrios.
He will go with Fanis Economidis, Vice-Chairman of the Metropolis Council, and
Father Paul Schroeder, Chancellor, who, along with Valerie
Roumeliotes, our Metropolis
Philoptochos Board President, were named by the Metropolis Council as the Enthronement
Committee, both to plan the enthronement and to provide for a smooth transition.
You will be informed, just as soon as the details of the enthronement are known.
Metropolitan-Elect Gerasimos was born on August 2, 1945, in Kalamata, Greece.
He graduated with a Masters of Divinity degree from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox
School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts, with high distinction in 1976.
On December 16, 1979, he was ordained to the diaconate by His Grace
Bishop Anthimos,
and appointed Archdeacon to Archbishop Iakovos, a position he held until 1996.
During that time and afterward, he served as Dean of Students, Director of the
Office of Student Life, and Director of the Office of Admissions and Records
at Hellenic College and Holy Cross School of Theology. Metropolitan-Elect
Gerasimos received his Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Boston College in 1993. In 2002,
he was elected Bishop of Krateia by the Patriarchate of Constantinople. He was
ordained to the priesthood on February 2, 2002, by His Eminence Metropolitan
Methodios, and to the episcopacy on February 9, 2002, by His
Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, with His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos and twelve other hierarchs concelebrating.
After this, he was appointed Chief Secretary of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the
Archdiocese, a post he occupied until his election on February 22.
Immediately upon his election, the responsibilities of the neighboring bishop,
in this case Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver, in overseeing our Metropolis, ceased.
In all liturgical services, where the Archbishop is commemorated, we now pray “for
our Archbishop Gerasimos, the venerable priesthood, the diaconate in Christ,
etc.” We look forward to welcoming our new Metropolitan and pledge to
work with him for the well-being of the Holy Church entrusted to his care.
AXIOS! (WORTHY!)
METROPOLITAN ANTHONY TO BE LAID TO REST MARCH 2 AT THE LIFE GIVING SPRING
MONASTERY AT ST NICHOLAS RANCH As we announced in the February issue of the Herald, His Eminence directed
that he be buried at the Monastery of the Theotokos, the Life-Giving
Spring, which he established. Toward that end, special legislation was
enacted, in the form of amendments to Senate Bill No. 28, sponsored by
Senators Poochigian, Alquist, and Speier.
It was passed first by the State Senate, then by the Assembly and, on
February 2, the exact date of His Eminence’s 40 days, it was signed by Governor
Schwarzenegger.
Meanwhile, the authorities of Fresno County also agreed to
the burial. His Eminence’s body will be removed from the Greek Orthodox
Memorial Park in Colma, where it lay temporarily following the funeral December
29th, and taken to the Monastery on Tuesday, March 1st.
It will remain overnight in the katholikon (church) and, following the Divine
Liturgy the next day, will be given burial just behind the holy altar. The
Liturgy will begin at 10 a.m. and the burial will take place at 1 p.m. Wednesday,
March 2nd, on what would have been Metropolitan Anthony’s 70th birthday.
Everyone is welcome to attend the Liturgy and the burial. For those who wish
to stay at the Ranch overnight, a limited number of rooms is available. Please
call the Ranch at 559 338-2103.
ANNUNCIATION CATHEDRAL WELCOMES THE AMBASSADOR OF CYPRUS TO THE U.S.,
SUNDAY, MARCH 13 The Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Cyprus is pleased to announce
that H.E. Euripides L. Evriviades, Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus
to the U.S., will visit Northern California the third week of March.
Ambassador Evriviades is scheduled to speak at the following events,
which are open to the public:
Sunday, March 13, 2005
Annunciation Cathedral, 245 Valencia Street, San Francisco.
Services: 10:00 a.m.
Reception 12:15 p.m hosted by the Cathedral
Brief Cultural Program 12:30 p.m -1:00 p.m.
Suite of Cypriot dances by Arete
Monday, March 14, 2005
Stanford University
12-1:30 p.m. Presentation
Address the European Forum and SIIS
For information please contact:
Tamara Danoyan, Program Administrator
European Forum and SIIS Encina Hall, C100
616 Serra Street, Stanford, CA 94305-6055
Tel: 650-725-1495
Address the World Affairs
Council & Commonwealth Club
5:30 p.m. Reception
6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Program
Where: 312 Sutter Street, San Francisco
For information please contact:
http://www.itsyourworld.org/contact.php
You may make reservation on-line at the following address:
http://www.itsyourworld.org/calendar.php?calendar=March-2005
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Address the Tsakopoulos Hellenic Foundation
and Sacramento HAPS
7:00 p.m. Presentation
Reception to follow
Where: Student Union
Sacramento State University, Sacramento, CA
PLEASE SAVE THE DATES. Your attendance at these events is kindly requested.
Nicolaos Theophanous,
SE Honorary Consul/Cyprus at SF
75 Silverwood Dr. Lafayette, CA 94549
Ph. 925-284-1060 Fax 925-284-9745
GREAT LENT
BEGINS MARCH 14
Utilizing the calendar
which was in use at the time of Jesus, the so-called Julian Calendar,
and
calculating Pascha to follow the Jewish Passover,
Easter this year falls on May 1. Accordingly, the Great Lent -- a period
of fasting, prayer, and alms-giving -- begins on March 14. During the
Great Lent we have added services: every Wednesday morning, at 10 a.m.,
we
celebrate the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. For five Fridays, at
7 p.m. we sing the service known as the Akathist (literally, “not
sitting”). Additionally, on March 5 we observe Saturday of the
Souls. Father Stephen will celebrate the Liturgy at the Greek Orthodox
Memorial Park in Colma, beginning at 10 a.m. The following Saturday,
March 12, he will celebrate the Liturgy and memorial service at the Cathedral.
Then, on March 19, the Feast commemorating the miracle of St. Theodore,
he will return to the cemetery for the Liturgy and the memorial service.
Many services follow, in connection with Holy Week. The Presanctified will
be celebrated at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 22nd, giving everybody the opportunity
to participate in this ancient and stirring Liturgy. Then, the morning of April
23rd we commemorate the raising of Lazarus. Every evening during Holy Week
we hold services: Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, we remember Christ who comes
as Bridegroom. On Wednesday we hold two services of Holy Unction, the 4 p.m.
one geared especially for the children. On Holy Thursday, we celebrate a Vesperal
Liturgy in the morning and prepare Holy Communion which remains on the Holy
Altar Tabernacle all year long. That evening, the service of the Crucifixion,
during which twelve Gospel readings are offered.
On Holy Friday, the Great Hours are read in the morning. The service of the
Descent from the Cross is held at 1 p.m., attended by the many children who
will have participated in the TGI Pascha program. In the evening the Lamentations
Service follows. Then, at 7 on Holy Saturday morning a Vesperal Liturgy is
celebrated anticipating the Resurrection. The Resurrection Service follows
at midnight. Then, Easter morning, the Agape Vesper service is offered. On
Bright Monday (the day after Pascha), we commemorate St. George. (His feast
is April 23rd but, because of the Saturday of Lazarus, it is moved to Monday
of Bright Week.)
Let us not forget that, during the Great Lent, the Great Feast of the Annunciation
to the Virgin Mary (the feast day of our Cathedral parish) takes place. Vespers
will be celebrated the night before, beginning at 7 p.m. and the Liturgy will
be celebrated on Friday, March 25th, at 10 a.m., preceded by Orthros at 9 a.m.
PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS
MEMBERSHIP DRIVE
The month of February was designated membership drive month and we
are excited to announce that we increased our membership by 20%. We accomplished
this with determination, with hope and a plan that worked to meet our
goal. To the new members, we hope that you will find that being part
of this organization will be a very rewarding experience and we feel
that we are on the right path to creating a more vibrant and productive
Philoptochos.
Kathy Dermitzakis and Pat Destein, co-chairs of this drive, are to be congratulated
for all their efforts in making this a huge success. Let us not forget Fr.
Stephen, our Spiritual Advisor, who was so kind to announce this drive every
Sunday during the month of February and the great support which he always affords
us. Thank you, Father.
MARCH 20 MEMORIAL
SERVICE
On March 20, Sunday of Orthodoxy, the Philoptochos will sponsor a memorial
service for those members who have passed on. After church services,
we will host a coffee hour in the community hall.
MARCH 25th LUNCHEON
Please plan to attend a Lenten luncheon on March 25 after church services.
This is an annual event put on by the Philoptochos and we welcome everyone
to attend. The meal will be prepared by the Philoptochos ladies along
with their friends of Philoptochos. As is traditional, the Woman
of the Year will be named and honored. The price of the luncheon is $10.00.
PERSEFONI VRIHEAS
WINS THE MINI
It
was an anxious moment, that moment on February 6th, following the Divine
Liturgy,
leading
up to the drawing. 332 tickets in all were sold,
at $111 each. The Mini Cooper, acquired through BMW/Mini of San Francisco,
cost the church about $23,000. But that was not what was on everybody’s
mind. What was on their mind was, “Am I going to be the winner?” One
person in the crowd just had the feeling she was going to win, and very
calmly sat there waiting for the ticket to be drawn. Her name was called:
PERSEFONI VRIHEAS. Everyone was thrilled. Her good friend Irene
Rakos,
who prompted Persefoni to buy the ticket, said, “See. Aren’t
you glad you did?” And Father Stephen chimed in, “Now, Persefoni,
you have to drive Irene to church every Sunday. This way, we’ll
all get to see and admire your new Mini Cooper.” Congratulations.
Meanwhile, we thank Mike Bagatelos, who chaired the Mini event for us,
John Sooklaris, who came up with the idea, and each and every one of
you who bought one or more tickets and supported this undertaking.
MOTHER IVONNE TO VISIT THE CATHEDRAL MARCH 6
Mark your March calendar! On Sunday, March 6th, Mother
Ivonne from
the Orthodox orphanage in Guatemala City will be with us at the Annunciation
Cathedral. She was unable to come in November because she was too sick
to travel. She will attend the Divine Liturgy and then give a brief presentation
during coffee hour. This will include a 15 minute CD presentation of
the children at the orphanage. The orphanage, named the Hogar
Rafael Ayau, is located in one of the most dangerous parts of Guatemala City.
But with the love and support of the nuns, the children are raised with
strong beliefs and faith in the Orthodox church. Mother Ivonne will share
many amazing and heart breaking stories about the Hogar. Please be sure
to be there to hear all about it.
GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE ON MARCH 20TH
The observance of Greek Independence Day, which coincides with the
Feast of the Annunciation, that is, March 25th, has for some time now
been celebrated with a parade on the Sunday closest to March 25th. This
year, the event will take place on Sunday, March 20th (which is also
the Sunday of Orthodoxy and the memorial held by the Cathedral Ladies
Philoptochos).
The event is being co-sponsored by the Consulate General of Greece, the Hellenic
Federation of Northern California and the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San
Francisco. An open invitation to attend the parade and the celebration following
is extended to all. The schedule of events is as follows: 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.:
the parade itself, which will begin at Market and Mason Streets, San Francisco,
and proceed to City Hall. 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.: a reception hosted by the
Consul General of Greece and Mrs. Dimitrios Touloupas, at City Hall, the North
Light Court. All events are free of charge. As for security, everyone entering
the Rotunda must pass through metal detector security. As for parking, we suggest
parking at the Civic Center Plaza underground garage. There will be shuttle
bus service from City Hall to Market and Mason Streets, from noon to 1:30 p.m.
For further information concerning the program and coordination, please contact
Ted Laliotis ted@laliotis.org.
For information concerning the reception: the Consulate General of Greece (415
775-2102), sfgr@greekembassy.org.
And, for information concerning the parade: Lou Eleopoulos or
Margo Drosos, yasoumargo@astound.net.
EDUCATION: INTRODUCING THE ORTHODOX CHURCH SUNDAYS 9-10 AM This course, taught by Father
Paul Schroeder, Sunday mornings 9-10
a.m., is designed to guide those who are seeking to be received into
the Church through baptism or (if they are already baptized in the Name
of the Holy Trinity) through chrismation. It is also intended to help
anyone who is interested learn more about the Orthodox faith. The class
is informative and engaging, and we invite you to attend. Learn more
about our 2000 year old Orthodox Christian Faith, as you grow in grace
in our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ.
PRE-MARRIAGE CLASSES AT THE CATHEDRAL Couples planning to be married at the Cathedral during the first part
of 2005 are invited to meet with Father Stephen (or another member of
the Cathedral clergy) on four occasions prior to their marriage. The
first and fourth meetings will be private, while the second and third
meetings will take place with other couples who are also planning to
be married within the same six-month period. The second of the group
meetings will take place in the second floor conference room Tuesday,
April 19, 7-9 p.m.
Couples planning to be married in another Orthodox Church should follow the
protocols for marriage set by the parish in which they will be married. The
priest of that parish will complete the paperwork and conduct their pre-marriage
classes, even though the couple still plans to continue their membership at
the Cathedral. For additional information, or for any questions, please call
the Cathedral at 415 864-8000 and speak with Father Stephen.
RECENT SERVICES AT THE CATHEDRAL
BAPTISMS Michael Aristotle, son of Dr. Steven Kolokithas and Marguerite Nicole
Pence, was baptized February 26. His sponsor is Anastasia Bacia Tinker.
Naod Samsoni, son of Samson Tesfamariam and Hiwot Measho, was baptized
February 27. His sponsor is Yohannes Tesfai.
Alessandro, son of Michele Bernardini and Alexandra Panagiotopoulos,
was baptized February 27. His sponsor are Anna and Nick Rainsford.
CHRISMATION
Stephanie Marie Ross was received into the Church through the Sacrament
of Holy Chrismation on February 27. Her sponsor is Chrisoula Pezo.
Na Mas Zisoun! (Long Life!)
FUNERALS
Stephan T.
Poulos, who fell
asleep in the Lord on February 9, was buried February 15. Next of kin
listed is his daughter, Lauren O’Connor.
John (Jim)
Manuel Andronico,
who fell asleep in the Lord February 17, was buried February 23. Next
of kin listed are his son and daughter,
Mark and Patrice Andronico, and Mark’s children, Niko and Ali.
Aionia afton i mnimi. (May their memory be eternal.)
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION WORKSHOP The Metropolis Religious Education Workshop will convene at the St.
Nicholas Ranch and Retreeat Center March 18-20. The featured speaker
will be the Reverend Dr. Frank Marangos, Director of the Archdiocese
Religious Education Department. Every parish is encouraged to send its
director of Religious Education/Sunday School Coordinator and as many
Sunday School teachers and other religious educators as possible. For
more information and a printable flyer, click onto:
http://www.sanfran.goarch.org/religioused/seminar2005
NOT TOO EARLY TO THINK ABOUT SUMMER CAMP Young people of our community have three camp options. One is our own
camp, which for the last few years has been held at the Cassini Ranch
along the shores of the Russian River, the last week in July or the first
week in August. A second is the camp held at the St. Nicholas Ranch and
Retreat Center, in Dunlap, California. Finally, a third is the one held
at the Ionian Village, on the shores of the Ionian Sea, in Greece.
During 2005, two summer sessions will be offered. One is for young people in
grades 7 through 9. This will take place July 1st through July 19th. The second
is for young people in grades 10 through 12. This will take place July 25th
through August 13th. For more information, visit the web site, www.IonianVillage.org.
You may also call the Ionian Village office, at 646 519-6190.
CATHEDRAL SCHOLARSHIPS It’s March, but it
is not too soon to plan how you are going to pay for your college education.
Part of your college costs come from
your savings and earnings, as well as those from your parents. Part of
your expenses may come from various loans. A part may also come from
financial aid and from scholarships.
The Annunciation Cathedral offers students who are members of the Cathedral
a number of scholarships. These are the John N. Pappas and the Christos
Tsikitas Scholarships, which award amounts up to $1,000, depending upon the income earned
by the funds. The Cathedral also maintains the Maria Panagoulias Scholarship
Fund and the Sonia Spachis Scholarship Fund and will award scholarships from
these funds when the income earned in these funds permits the awarding of scholarships
in the amount of at least $500. In addition, the Cathedral Ladies Philoptochos also awards an annual scholarship in the amount of $1,000 to a student who
is a member of the Annunciation Cathedral/Annunciation Cathedral Philoptochos.
The Pappas and Tsikitas (and, eventually, the Panagoulias) Scholarships are
given to members of the Cathedral community who are high school graduates and
who are currently enrolled or who plan to enroll in a college or university
of technical or vocational school, without a view to their career objectives.
The Spachis Scholarship is given to a member of the Cathedral community who,
additionally, participates or has participated in the Greek Folk Dance Program.
Finally, through the Cathedral, a Dr. Anthony P. Bagatelos Medical
Scholarship is awarded to students who are “a) of Greeek descent; or b) of the Greek
Orthodox faith; and who: a) Matriculate at and attend medical school, preferably
at Stanford University; and b) intend to practice medicine within the nine
county area surrounding San Francisco Bay, preferably in San Francisco.” Up
to 75% of the income earned by the fund is awarded in the form of a scholarship
for tuition or other school-related expenses. Typically, the scholarship is
awarded to the same student until that student graduates from medical school,
provided that, after submitting the initial application, the student requests
the medical school to verify to the Annunciation Cathedral, in writing, by
June 1, that the student has satisfactorily completed course wok for the year.
To apply for one of the Cathedral scholarships, please request an application,
in writing: Annunciation Cathedral Scholarship Committee, 245 Valencia Street,
San Francisco, CA 94103.
FURTHER ON OUR 70th
As previously announced, we are making plans to mark the 70th Anniversary
of the founding of the Annunciation. Recall that our community begin
in 1921 as
St. Sophia. Following six years in a church at Hayes and Pierce Streets in
San Francisco, in 1927. the community acquired the Valencia Street Theater,
which it turned into a church. Meanwhile, the community was named as Cathedral
Church for the newly established Diocese of San Francisco. (Initially there
were four Dioceses which made up the Archdiocese, established in 1922; these
were: New York, Boston, Chicago and, of course, San Francisco.) In 1936 the
community reorganized and became known as “United Greek Orthodox Community
of San Francisco, The Annunciation.” Since then, it has been known, simply,
as “Annunciation Cathedral.” Except for a brief period of time
when the Cathedral was relocated to the newly constructed St. Sophia in Los
Angeles, during trhe 1950’s, Annunciation has always been the Cathedral
Church for the Diocese, now the Metropolis of San Francisco.
St. Sophia in Los Angeles continues to be called a cathedral church, and a
number of other churches in the Metropolis have been named cathedral churches
(such as SS Constantine and Helen’s in Honolulu, Ascension in Oakland,
and Holy Trinity in Phoenix). However, Annunciation is the Metropolitan’s
Cathedral Church. The others are, as the late Metropolitan Anthony used to
say, “honoris causa,” or “honorary cathedrals”. They
have been so named because of their distinugished service in our Metropolis.
November 11, 2006 is the date selected for this gala celebration. Please note
the date on your 2006 calendars. Soon, we will name a committte, which will
make plans to appropriately mark the occasion.
NEW
RESOURCE FOR OUTREACH & EVEANGELISM:
SOME PRACTICAL STEPS The Department of Outreach and Evangelism of our Archdiocese has released
a new booklet entitled Outreach and Evangelism: Some Practical Steps.
These practical steps are based upon the personal experiences of parish
priests and laypeople active in the ministries and administration of
the parish, and draw upon the wealth of literature and research dealing
with the important issues and aspects of outreach and evangelism in our
parishes. It offers ideas for improving our outreach to inactive Orthodox,
inquirers, visitors, non-Orthodox spouses, people with disabilities and
more. To obtain a copy of this booklet, contact the Department by E mail
(outreach@goarch.org), telephone (646 519-6160) or fax (646 519-6166).
The price of only $2 covers shipping and handling. Numerous additional
resources are available on the Department Web Site at www.outreach.goarch.org.
The Archdiocese Department of Outreach and Evangelism was established
by Archbishop Demetrios in January 2003 “...to bring the Gospel of our Lord to all
those within the boundaries of our Archdiocese who thirst to know The Way,
The Truth and The Life.” The mission of the Department is to revitalize
the faith of active Orthodox, reach out to inactive Orthodox, meet the needs
of those inquiring about the Faith, offer tools for parish renewal in addition
to offering guidance for the establishment of new parishes.
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March 2005 Herald
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral. |
