WINNERS!

The February 27th Sunday bulletin noted: “Congratulations to Ekrixi, Spithes, and Thisavri. Ekrixi and Spithes each came in second at this year’s FDF, in the intermediate and primary categories, respectively. Ekrixi also received this year’s costume award in the intermediate category. (There are seven awards for each category: Costume Award, Choral Award, Founders Special Achievement Award, Fourth, Third, Second, and First Place Awards.) The competition is stiff, as one can well imagine. Judges look for content, execution, styling, authenticity, precision, just to name a few, not to mention kefi. While Thisavroi, our youngest group, did not compete, they also received medals for their participation. The groups will present the medals today, following the Divine Liturgy.”

The custom of presenting FDF medals and awards in church is practiced in many communities. At the Cathedral, this practice has been in place since the start of the dance program, some 35 years ago. It serves to showcase the members of the group to the community. More importantly, though, it is an acknowledgement that all gifts, including the gift of achievement and the gift of excellence, come from God.

Needless to say, we are proud of our young people, as well as their parents and directors for shepherding them and for mentoring them in the ways of the Lord.

Members of the Cathedral’s Spithes dance group, shown with their directors and parents, sporting their medals at this year’s FDF awards banquet.

Members of the Cathedral’s Ekrixi dance group, shown with their directors and parents, sporting their medals at this year’s FDF awards banquet. Ekrixi also received costume award for the intermediate category.

Icon of the Annunciation.

The Archangel Gabriel, on the left, is depicted in swift motion, as if running to deliver the message from God. Notice, he bears the staff of a messanger. The word “angel,” in fact, means messenger. The Theotokos (lit. “God-bearer”) on the right here is shown standing on a pedestal of honor. She is the focus of the icon. Tradition has it that she was at work when the archangel appeared. Often, she is depicted in the process of spinning yarn. She is referred to as the ladder which bridges earth and heaven (taken from the image of Jacob’s ladder, from the book of Genesis. She is also honored for her virginity, before and after giving birth to Christ, hence, aeiparthenos, or “ever-virgin.” Finally, she is likened to the burning bush, which was aflame because God appeared through it, though it was not consumed. The scriptural readings of Genesis, Ezekiel and Exodus, read at the Great Vespers, give rise to these images of her who is commemorated as “more honored than the Cherubim and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim.”

MARCH, MONTH OF GOOD NEWS

The month of March is, as we noted in our Sunday bulletins, a month of good news. On March 25th, we celebrate the great feast of the Annunciation, while, earlier, on Monday, March 7, we embark upon the journey of Great Lent, in preparation for the central event of our salvation…the Crucifixion-Death, Burial and Resurrection of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ.

Accordingly, March is a busy month., especially in terms of religious services. Please note the following dates:

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN…WHAT’S HAPPENING?

As everyone at the Annunciation Cathedral knows, a Capital Campaign to raise money to build the Cathedral church is quietly getting off the ground. In preparation for this, Father Anthony Scott of Stewardship Advocates, who is helping us coordinate the Campaign, has written in the November and December issues of the Herald. Upon his recommendation, articles will appear from time to time, written by individuals who have given to the Campaign, or who are otherwise involved in the Campaign. One of these individuals is Alex Moulinos, whose article on giving appeared in the February Herald. As noted in that issue, two additional articles will follow, one in the March issue and one in the April issue, written by Tom Papageorge and Tom Nuris, respectively. Both Toms are co-chairs of the Capital Campaign Committee. In addition to serving on the committee, members also lead by example. This includes members of the Parish Council, and also the Cathedral Philoptochos President, who serves on the Capital Campaign Committee. All have made their pledge to the Capital Campaign, and all will do what they can to see to it that our dream of building the Cathedral church, to the glory of God, becomes a reality.

TOM PAPAGEORGE: THE FOUNDATION OF FAITH

When I was asked to be on the Capital Campaign Committee last year to help raise money build the New Annunciation Cathedra, I was first very honored and at the same time not quite sure what I could do to actually get the Church construction started and see the dream completed .

Over the past few months as the Committee has been meeting to find its Campaign legs I stand daily inspired by the Spiritual Leadership of Father Anthony Scott and Father Stephen Kyriacou who each and every month through their untiring commitment,we are able to witness their true faith their belief and the importance of the continuance in the Greek Orthodox Message.

Each and every month our committee is reminded of this as we sit in meetings and discuss openly the options before us. Through this inspiration I know some day the new Cathedral will be built and will be built with the inspiration and love it deserves.

As a lifetime Bay Area Greek- American I am reminded how important the Annunciation Cathedral is not only to me and my family, but to many families just like me. I was a child in the 1950’s and 1960’s and Annunciation was my first Church I attended Sunday school in. Even though I do not remember the names of many of my classmates nor teachers I do remember many small inspirational incidents that formed the Foundation of my Faith.

It is the forming of this very Foundation that drives something eternally and internally within myself to see the Cathedral built. I would like to share a personal inspirational true story that helped form my faith in those early years at the Annunciation.

One that comes to mind this past week probably because we have had reports of Bay Area Snow is the following …

I remember a day in January 1962 I was 9 years old and one Saturday evening my Father, who worked six days a week 12 hours a days came home and as we sat to have dinner he said us all ( to me and my 4 other brothers and sisters ) “Tomorrow we will go to Church even if it snows.”

I remember looking up at him and almost laughing and knowing it never snows and can’t snow in San Francisco and most likely tomorrow it would be one of those Sundays we would not go and I would watch Football instead.

Sure enough, that morning I woke up looked outside (look it up on Google January 21st 1962). It snowed.! All of Westlake/ Daly City were blanketed in white snow. I ran outside excited using socks for gloves and started to play!

Until my Father called out “get inside get dressed we are going to church” (all in Greek which really meant what he was saying). After trying to negotiate to stay home we were dressed, driving down Alemany Boulevard, down San Jose Ave toward Valencia Street. And, as we were driving, I was mad and mood, watching all the people kids young and old playing outside…. and here we were going to church.

We got to church, parked in the middle of Valencia Street and climbed the many marble steps and found our way to our spot in the in the old pews of the old church and we sat down. Still mad and moody I wanted to be at home. as time went on I could not but help hear the Father John, the Psalti and some parishioners chanting together and, as my parents joined in, it was at that very moment my moodiness stopped. I will never forget it. Looking at my father and mother (Petros & Fotini ) I had the understanding that going to church, keeping your word and having a committed faith and love for God was greater than anything else in life and as church went on I saw my father’s and mother’ssSilhouette, which started to glow from the light in the back drop of the old stained icon glass windows, as the sun was starting to break through. (My parents are both passed now but as I walk to get antidhoro on Sunday’s I touch that same glass stained window and remember them in prayer and that snowy Sunday).

As church continued, I will never forget the feeling of thankfulness that came from me at that moment and my thinking of the snow I was missing playing in started to fade and the fact we chose to go to church that Sunday morning was far greater than playing in the “once in a lifetime” Westlake/Daly City snow.

I wanted to share this story because as I look back I realize this was a big part of the foundation of my faith and through the caring of that faith I would learn to know how to nurture and raise my own family some day.

That someday happened… I was and am blessed with my beautiful wife of 33 years Joanna two great sons, Christos and Petros, and his new wife and our daughter-in -aw Nicole .

We have been blessed with a wonderful business great friends, great family, great koumbaroi and wonderful Godchildren.

Now nearly 50 years later, my family and I are inspired to give back to our precious Annunciation not only I but my wife who too was a child in the Cathedral inspired by her parents Christos and Dorothea Giotinis.

We realize together that this church has openly blessed us through the many years and we as Greek Orthodox Christians know it is time for more spiritual and sacrificial awakenings of giving to happen.

I ask all of you to remember a moment of your own past Foundational Faith forming years and you too find within your hearts something even if just a story to share and give back to the Annunciation. This Church has been patient with all of us for a long long, long time.

We must build our new church so that, some day, some little boy or girl, too, can look at his or her parents one random Sunday and be inspired by their actions and unsaid unconditional love of their faith and commitment to Jesus Christ

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE ANNUNCIATION CATHEDRAL BUILDING CAMPAIGN

Interior view: looking east towards the ieron		Exterior view from the couryard.
Floor plan of the Cathedral with a level of parking below.		Exterior view, looking east from Valencia Street.

As has been noted, the Annunciation Cathedral is beginning its Capital Campaign. The Capital Campaign Committee has, so far, organized a number of events open to the community. Events like Parish Assemblies and, more notably, the reception given by Metropolitan Gerasimos (with many more events to follow) have as part of their purpose the dissemination of information and the answering of questions.

The Committee has developed a list of sixteen (16) such questions, which are either anticipated or are, or have been, asked by various parishioners and friends of the Cathedral. At the same time, it has provided answers to these questions. Each month, two questions and answers will appear in the monthly Herald. The Cathedral has also posted these to its web site, www.annunciation.org and, for the benefit of Greek-speaking members, has printed out the questions and answers in Greek. Below are questions #3 and #4, and the answers to them (#1 and #2 appeared in the February Herald). Please read through them and, should you require any additional information, please contact us, at 415 864-8000. Thank you.

3. Why not remodel the existing Bishop Anthony Hall and Chapel?

First, the “chapel” was not designed as a permanent church; it was designed as a hall, to accommodate smaller receptions. The intention was to utilize the hall as a temporary place of worship until the church could be built. This was always part of the master plan, as shown in the model, which was executed in 1992 and which the Parish Assembly adopted at that time, i.e. a building program to be conducted in two phases, first the ancillary facilities, and, secondly, the Cathedral church. The cost of demolition of the hall/chapel and rebuilding a slightly larger church (which was considered) does not make sense, financially, since the cost of building the existing chapel alone, in 2010 dollars, is about $2 million. Secondly, the chapel was not designed for expansion. Therefore, this is not an option. Even if it were, increasing the transept in a westerly direction would take up the entire courtyard, while doing so in a southern direction would take up one-third the present parking.

4. What are we doing about parking?

As reported to the Parish Assembly on September 12, 2010, which adopted the plan to proceed with the rebuilding of the new Cathedral, the proposed new Cathedral will have one level of below grade parking. This parking level will extend to the area under the present courtyard, affording slightly more parking than the Cathedral has currently. As future needs determine, the acquisition of additional parking to meet future needs will constitute Phase III of the Cathedral’s building program. For the time being, additional parking needs will be met by utilizing attended/valet parking services.

In the April Herald we will feature two more frequently asked questions and responses. The questions will be: 5. Why have you chosen the present plan? and 6. How much will the project cost?

OFFICIAL: PARISH ASSEMBLY SUNDAY APRIL 3

Members of the Cathedral, who are in good standing, are invited to participate in the Cathedral’s first Parish Assembly for 2011. The Assembly will be convened following the Divine Liturgy. The Assembly is scheduled to last about an hour. The agenda for the meeting is as follows:

Please note: “members” of the Cathedral are those who are contributing stewards of the parish, and who are current with respect to their financial support of the parish. “In good standing” means adherence to the tenets of the Orthodox Faith. Both are defined more fully in the Regulations of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (2005), Article 18, pages 33-34.

A quorum for the purposes of enacting business is either 12 members of the Parish Council, 12 other parishioners in good standing, and the Dean of the Cathedral or, if there are fewer than 12 members of the Parish Council present, a total of 75 parishioners, plus the Dean of the Cathedral.

Annunciation Cathedral Philoptochos Easter Bake – 2011

DEADLINE TO PLACE ORDER IS SUNDAY, April 17, 2011

PHILOPTOCHOS CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Please make note of the following Philoptochos activities, through May, 2011:

CAPPELLA ROMANIA

Click on poster for a larger view

THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY LINK

One of the greatest programs offered by the Cathedral is the one which is called Community Link. We call it “one of the greatest” because it is at the heart of what we are about, as the Church of Christ: linking ourselves, in the community of the Church, to Christ, and to one another. Members of Community Link simply go out and visit hospitalized, institutionalized, home-bound, or otherwise incapacitated Orthodox Christians. By visiting, they are helping share God’s love. They are, in fact, declaring, “we care for you…we miss you…we love you…you are in our thoughts and prayers.” Community Link supplements the work that the clergy perform when they go out and distribute Holy Communion to these individuals. We cannot tell you how thankful we are for Community Link and for the vital ministry it offers. Consider “linking” yourself to this ministry. Communicate with Caroline Pappajohn, who has headed the program since its inception. Her contact information is, carolinepappajohn@gmail.com

Community Link will meet next on Saturday, March 19, beginning at 9am. Please join us as we visit homebound parishioners (most of whom rarely receive visitors) and tell them we care. Just seeing them light up when they see people from the Church makes it all worthwhile. Just think: with a brief visit to them, they receive comfort and hope and, above all, reassurance of God’s love. We invite you to join us.

Dates for Community Link this year:
March 19
April 16 (note: this is Lazarus Saturday, so Community Link will take place after Divine Liturgy)
May 21 (Sts. Constantine and Helen feast day)
June 18
July 16
August 20
September 17
October 15
November 19
December 17

SERVICES AND SACRAMENTS AT THE CATHEDRAL

BAPTISM
The daughter of Peter and Katerina Cazanis was baptized at the Cathedral on February 26, and was given the name Iliana by her Godparent,P J and Vicky Bourdaniotis.

Na Mas Zisi! (Long Life!)

FUNERALS
Leonidas Nicholas Priest, who fell asleep in the Lord on January 11, was buried on January 28. He is survived by his mother, Katina Priest, his sister, and her two children.

Maria Papadopoulos, who fell asleep in the Lord on January 28, was buried on February 5. She is survived by her daughter, Barbara Papadopoulos Smith, and her family.

Antonios (Tony) Tsatsaronis, who fell asleep in the Lord on February 8, was buried on February 11. He is survived by his wife, Kathleen (Kathy) Trewin, a brother and several nieces and nephews.

Aionia I Mnimi! (Eternal Memory!)

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Mar 2011 Herald
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral.