Monthly Newsletter for

Stewards of
Holy Anargyroi
Sts. Kosmas & Damianos
Greek Orthodox Church
Box & Spoon
Box & Spoon


2014 Standing
Committees
PARISH COUNCIL
Aaron Biedermann-President
Halina Woroncow-Vice Pres.
Tim Kelly
Andru Peters-Secretary
Don Jenkins
Erline Holman
Robert Lytle
Jacob Petersen
Maria Thomas
STEWARDSHIP /
OUTREACH
John Maragos Chair
Halina Woroncow
Ari Kolas
Diana Orbelo
ICONOGRAPHY
Diana Orbelo Chair
Andru Peters
Fr. Mark Muoz
BUILDING
Tim Kelly- Chair
Ari Kolas
BUDGET
Jacob Petersen
Fr. Mark Muoz
AUDIT
Jacob Peterson
Mark Smith
John Maragos
PHILOXENIA HOUSE
Brad Holman Chair
GREEK FESTIVAL
Dan Jerghiu Chair
Lorenda Jerghiu Silent
auction
Joe Forrer Set-up/Teardown
Tim Kelly Outdoor Cooks
Johnny Mangouras Marke-
ting
Ari Kolas Marketing
Penny Kolas Pastries
Maria Thomas Pastries
Denise Mangouras Pastries
Martha Voytovich Market
place
Andru Peters Beverages
Mike Brekke Beer Garden
Ali Ostfeld Children Area
I SSUE
J ul y
20 14
40
Letter to a person who had to choose between suicide and begging
-by St. Nikolai Velimirovich
You write that all your worldly goods were sold
off to a third party. When you found yourself out on
the street with nothing and nobody, you headed to
the cemetery, bent on killing yourself. You had no
doubts or second thoughts about this. Exhausted by
the vexations, you lay down on your parents grave
and fell asleep. Your mother appeared to you in your
sleep and berated you, saying that in the Kingdom of
God there were plenty of people who had been
beggars, but not a single one of those who had done
away with themselves. That dream saved you from
suicide. Your beloved mother really did save you, by
Gods providence. You began to beg and to live off
begging. And youre asking if, by doing so, youre
transgressing Gods law.
Take courage. God gave the commandment:
Dont steal. He didnt give any commandment
Dont beg. Begging without any real need is
stealing, but in your case it isnt. The general and
emperor Justinian was left blind in his old age, with
no possessions or friends. He would sit, blind,
outside the courtyard of the throne and beg for a
little bread. As a Christian, he didnt permit himself
to consider suicide. Because, just as lifes better than
death, so its better to be a beggar than a suicide.
[Saint Nikolaj seems to be confusing two people
here. There was a medieval Latin legend that
Belisarius, Justinians great general, had his eyes put
out and ended his days as a beggar, but this is
generally, though not universally, held to be
spurious. WJL]
You say that youre overcome with shame and
that your sorrows deep. You stand at night outside
the coffee-shop that used to be yours and ask for
money from those who go in and out. You
remember that, until recently, you were the owner of
the coffee-shop and now you dont dare go in even
as a customer. Your eyes are red from weeping and
lamentation. Comfort yourself. Gods angels arent far
from you. Why are you crying about the coffee-shop?
Havent you heard of the coffee-shop at the other end of
Belgrade where it says: Someones it wasnt;
someones it wont be? Whoever wrote those words
was a true philosopher. Because thats true of all the
coffee-shops, all houses all the castles and all the
palaces in the world.
What have you lost? Something that you didnt have
when you were born and which isnt yours now. You
were the boss, now youre poor. Thats not loss. Loss is
when a person becomes a beast. But you were a person
and have remained so. You signed some papers for
certain of your prominent customers and now your
coffee-shops in the hands of a stranger. Now you look
through the window and see everybody laughing, just
the way they used to, and youre wandering the streets
with tears in your eyes and covered in shame. Never
fear, Gods just. Theyll all have to answer for their
misdeeds. But when they attempt to commit suicide,
whos to say whether the merciful Lord will allow their
mothers to appear to them from the other world in order
to keep them from the crime? Dont consider them
successful even for a moment. Because you dont know
how theyll end up. A wise man in ancient Greece said:
Never call anybody happy before the end. Its difficult
to be a beggar? But arent we all? Dont we all depend,
every hour of every day, on the mercy of Him Who
gives us a life to lead? Now youve got an important
mission in the world: to engage peoples attention so
that they remember God and their soul and to be
charitable. Since youre forced to live in silence, delve
into your soul and talk to God through prayer. The life
of a beggars more heroic than that of a boss. For gold
is tested in the fire and accepted people in the furnace of
humility (Sir. 2, 5). But youve already demonstrated
heroism by rejecting the black thought of suicide. This is
a victory over the spirit of despondency. After this
victory, all the others will be easy for you. The Lord will
be at your side.
Peace and comfort from the Lord!

St. Panteleimon the Great Martyr and Healer July 27th

This Saint, who had Nicomedia as his homeland, was the son of
Eustorgius and Eubula. His father was an idolater, but his mother was
a Christian from her ancestors. It was through her that he was
instructed in piety, and still later, he was catechized in the Faith of
Christ by Saint Hermolaus (see July 26) and baptized by him. Being
proficient in the physician's vocation, he practiced it in a philanthropic
manner, healing every illness more by the grace of Christ than by medicines. Thus, although his
parents had named him Pantoleon ("in all things a lion"), because of the compassion he showed for
the souls and bodies of all, he was worthily renamed Panteleimon, meaning "all -merciful." On one
occasion, when he restored the sight of a certain blind man by calling on the Divine Name, he
enlightened also the eyes of this man's soul to the knowledge of the truth. This also became the
cause for the martyrdom of him who had been blind, since when he was asked by whom and in what
manner his eyes had been opened, in imitation of that blind man of the Gospel he confessed with
boldness both who the physician was and the manner of his healing. For this he was put to death
immediately. Panteleimon was arrested also, and having endured many wounds, he was finally
beheaded in the year 305, during the reign of Maximian. Saint Panteleimon is one of the Holy
Unmercenaries, and is held in special honor among them, even as Saint George is among the
Martyrs.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Holy Prophet Elias (Elijah) July 20th
Elias of great fame was from Thisbe or Thesbe, a town of Galaad (Gilead),
beyond the Jordan. He was of priestly lineage, a man of a solitary and
ascetical character, clothed in a mantle of sheep skin, and girded about his
loins with a leathern belt. His name is interpreted as "Yah is my God." His
zeal for the glory of God was compared to fire, and his speech for teaching
and rebuke was likened unto a burning lamp. From this too he received the
name Zealot. Therefore, set aflame with such zeal, he sternly reproved the
impiety and lawlessness of Ahab and his wife Jezebel. He shut up heaven
by means of prayer, and it did not rain for three years and six months.
Ravens brought him food for his need when, at God's command, he was
hiding by the torrent of Horrath. He multiplied the little flour and oil of the poor
widow of Sarephtha of Sidon, who had given him hospitality in her home, and
when her son died, he raised him up. He brought down fire from Heaven upon
Mount Carmel, and it burned up the sacrifice offered to God before all the people of Israel,
that they might know the truth. At the torrent of Kisson, he slew 450 false prophets and priests who
worshipped idols and led the people astray. He received food wondrously at the hand of an Angel, and being
strengthened by this food he walked for forty days and forty nights. He beheld God on Mount Horeb, as far as
this is possible for human nature. He foretold the destruction of the house of Ahab, and the death of his son
Ohozias; and as for the two captains of fifty that were sent by the king, he burned them for their punishment,
bringing fire down from Heaven. He divided the flow of the Jordan, and he and his disciple Elisseus passed
through as it were on dry land; and finally, while speaking with him, Elias was suddenly snatched away by a
fiery chariot in the year 895 B.C., and he ascended as though into heaven, whither God most certainly
translated him alive, as He did Enoch (Gen. 5:24; IV Kings 2: 11). But from thence also, after seven years, by
means of an epistle he reproached Joram, the son of Josaphat, as it is written: "And there came a message in
writing to him from Elias the Prophet, saying, Thus saith the Lord God of David thy father, Because thou hast
not walked in the way," and so forth (II Chron. 21:12). According to the opinion of the majority of the
interpreters, this came to pass either through his disciple Elisseus, or through another Prophet when Elias
appeared to them, even as he appeared on Mount Tabor to the disciples of Christ.
O Godly-minded Anna, thou didst give birth unto God's pure Mother who conceived Him Who is our Life. Dormition of St. Anna, July 25th
You are greatly glorified, O Christ our God, who established our Fathers as luminaries upon the earth. Sunday of the Holy Fathers July 13th
Calendar for July 2014
Absences and Office Closures
Thursday July 3rd Office Closed
Friday July 4th Office Closed
Monday July 7th Fr. Mark Away - Clergy Laity Congress in Philadelphia, PA
Tuesday July 8th Fr. Mark Away - Clergy Laity Congress in Philadelphia, PA
Wednesday July 9th Fr. Mark Away - Clergy Laity Congress in Philadelphia, PA
July 14th through July 26th Fr. Mark Away

Meetings and Events
Sunday July 13th Outreach Festival Table Meeting during fellowship hour
Tuesday July 15th Stewardship Meeting 5:30pm
Wednesday July 16th Building Committee Meeting 5:00pm
Wednesday July 16th Parish Council Meeting 6:30pm
Thursday July 17th St. Philothei Project 6:00pm
Sunday July 27th Anniversary of Philoxenia House: Parish Barbecue after Liturgy
Hoppe Family, OCMC Missionaries in Albania
Celebrating Divine Liturgy at Holy Anargyroi

Sunday July 13th, 2014

Please welcome Nathan, Gabriela, Tristan, Katherine and Daniel

And support our Kid Councils efforts to raise
funds for the Hoppes mission work in opening
a Christian coffee shop at the University in
Tirana, Albania. Thank you!
O Godly-minded Anna, thou didst give birth unto God's pure Mother who conceived Him Who is our Life. Dormition of St. Anna, July 25th
Greek Festival Leader list
Dan Jerghiuta: Chairperson
Tim Kelly: Co-Chair
Ari Kolas: Co-Chair/Children's Area
Penny Kolas: Bake Sale
Loredana Jerghiuta: Silent Auction
Ray Ostfeld: Cashiers
Andru Peters: Drinks
Martha Voytovich: Marketplace
Halina Woroncow: Outreach
Gust Barbes: Souvlaki
Jacob Petersen: Chicken
Ben Johnson: Fryers
Dimitar Gavrilova: Grill
Taso Psomas; Gyro Meat
Nick Maragos: Gyro Booth
Denise Mangouras: Sweets/Greek Coffee
Johnny Mangouras: Kitchen/Food Supplies/
Advertising
Mando Katselis: Serving Line: Chicken
Erline Holman: Serving Line: Salads
Carolyn Jukich: Publicity/PSA/PB
Joe Forrer: Set Up/Tear Down
Father Mark Munoz: Church Tours
Calli Kelly: Volunteers
If you are not willing to repent through freely
choosing to suffer, unsought sufferings will
providentially be imposed on you.
+ St. Thalassios the Libyan
On Love, Self-control and Life, Second Century
Greek Festival Volunteers Needed
August 22nd-24th
Our Greek Festival is a wonderful opportunity for us to work together for the benefit of
our parish. It helps the parish flourish financially and it is also our chance to show the
Rochester community what Orthodoxy is all about.

Please go to this website to sign up to help:
www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10C0945A4AB29A6F49-holy

If you do not have email; please give your name and preference of where/want time you
want to work to Calli and she will sign you up. May God help us in our efforts to keep
Orthodoxy alive in Rochester.
You are greatly glorified, O Christ our God, who established our Fathers as luminaries upon the earth. Sunday of the Holy Fathers July 13th
Fathers Day Fundraiser
For the Hoppe Mission brought in over $1,500!!!!

The Kid Council would like to thank all parishioners and friends who made financial
contributions towards their efforts so far to raise $5,000 for the Hoppe Coffee Shop
Mission in Albania. The coffee shop is located at a major university in Tirana and its
goal is to introduce college students, at a basic level, to Christianity and the Orthodox
Church. The children have reached their half way mark with about $2,500 raised so far.

Here is a link to their Fathers Day Dance Fundraiser:
http://1drv.ms/1q4AcPJ

May God help the children in their efforts to share the
good news of Jesus Christ in Albania. Thank you for
your love, prayers and support!
Parish Council
Dear brothers and sisters in CHRIST+

As we approach the peak of summer, our parish activities are also moving towards a high point in preparation for our
51
st
Annual Greek Festival on August 22-24th. Each summer there are an abundance of festivals and weekend events
in the area that reflect the diversity of our community. This year in particular, there is potential competition with
another event being hosted in downtown Rochester with a Greek focus just three weeks before our church festival.
As a result, we hosted a special discussion on Sunday, June 29
th
about this years church festival.

We had a thought provoking discussion focusing on all the positives that our festival provides to our church and to the
Rochester community. We continue to be the original Greek Fest in the area with our creative gyros, delectable
dinners, and highly sought after deserts. Many parishioners agreed it was our personal touch and sense of community
that makes our festival a success. Others felt that the competition is good in order to help us elevate our game. All
of these attributes are made possible by the volunteers in our parish community. We are asking that everyone
volunteer for our 51
st
Annual Greek Festival August 22-24th to make this years event a success. Please see Calli
Kelly about how to sign-up and volunteer this year.

In collaboration with the Building Committee, we are also getting closer to finalizing plans for our new fellowship
hall and classrooms. We weighed the advantages and disadvantages of our initial two options, which did not indicate
a clear choice that would meet our needs. As a result, we brainstormed and have identified a third option that blends
the advantages of our initial two designs. This third option has the new fellowship hall built to the east similar to the
original design but without a basement. This saves the cost of interior ramping, excavation, a foundation, an elevator,
and stairs. The classrooms and a larger storage area would be built to the west over the back half of the current
parking lot while still maintaining half of our current parking. The remainder of our parking would be in a new
parking lot in our empty lot to the west and behind the Philoxenia houses. We will be voting on this third option
during a Special Assembly that is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, September 14
th
, 2014. We may be able to break
ground as soon as late winter 2015. The three options are posted in our current fellowship hall. If you have any
questions about our building plans; please contact Tim Kelly or myself.

In Christ,
Aaron Biedermann, Parish Council President
O Godly-minded Anna, thou didst give birth unto God's pure Mother who conceived Him Who is our Life. Dormition of St. Anna, July 25th
Youth Team Report

Summer greetings from your Youth Team!

While our younger cohort showed us how to dream big with their amazing fundraising efforts for the Hoppe Mission
in Albania, our GOYAns were blessed to participate in their third mission trip out of state, this time in New Mexico to
serve the Navajo people. We met up with Orthodox youth and adults from various parishes in Ohio, Pennsylvania,
and Illinois, and worked together to try to make a difference in this impoverished slice of our country. We assisted
with health screenings and dental exams needed for enrollment in Head Start. We cleared weeds from the
inhospitable grounds around the community food pantry to prepare for its transformation into a source of fresh
produce for the people. We repaired dilapidated trailer homes and prepped and laid concrete for a new Hogan the
traditional eight-sided home of the Navajo. We bounced down rough, makeshift dirt and rock roads that are the
infrastructure of the reservation to reach remote homes to deliver food and household products. We assisted at the
Senior Center during a competitive round of Bingo.

Most of all, we shared ourselves with those in need. We put aside our comforts and reached out to others. We
connected with people within and outside of our faith. We encountered Christ and ministered to Him.

It was another tremendous opportunity for our GOYAns to grow in faith, service, and fellowship. Our youth were
true leaders on this trip. You can be proud of the way they represented Holy Anargyroi. Thank you for your kind,
continued support of our GOYA Mission efforts. We couldnt have done it without you!

Wishing you a blessed, safe, rejuvenating summer.

In Christ,
Your Youth Team

Loredana Jerghiuta JOY
Mike Brekke and Halina Woroncow -- GOYA

Photos from our Mission Trip!!!
You are greatly glorified, O Christ our God, who established our Fathers as luminaries upon the earth. Sunday of the Holy Fathers July 13th
Youth Team Report - Cont.
O Godly-minded Anna, thou didst give birth unto God's pure Mother who conceived Him Who is our Life. Dormition of St. Anna, July 25th
Philoptochos Society
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Our Society is having a busy summer so far. We have one group of women working on planning our fashion show
fundraiser this fall and another group of women working to build our bereavement ministry. The fashion show has
been a little easier to plan/build than the bereavement ministry because we are now on our 3rd annual fashion show
with more experience behind us whereas the bereavement ministry, which is called the Magdalene Ministry, is still in
its early stages as we are defining ourselves and working on the direction we will take it, with Gods help.
In the Magdalene Ministry, we have added the word comfort to our description because we hope to emulate the
spiritual example of the Saint in which the ministry is named after: Saint Mary Magdalene. We now describe our work
as a comfort and bereavement ministry because we hope to be there for others in their time of need, if possible,
much like St Mary Magdalene was for Jesus Christ, namely before, during and after His death on the cross. We
respect the confidential nature in our mission work and therefore we look to Father Marks guidance on who we can
work with. Not everyone is interested in having this kind of support and we need peoples permission before we offer
care. Please speak to Father if you would like the women of the Magdalene Ministry team to visit you and/or your
loved ones.

As a result of our walkathon fundraiser this past May and other donations which have been given to us; the Magdalene
Ministry now has $1,400. It has been very humbling for all of us on the team to witness the faith that others have in us
to build this special mission here at Holy Anargyroi. May the glory be Gods is what we humbly say and we pray
that we do His Will. Right now the Magdalene Ministry team is focused on educating the parish about our mission
work and working towards seeing that all parishioners who want to memorialize their loved ones; that they have the
means to do so. In order to have a memorial service for an Orthodox Christian who has passed away; one must
arrange for the service with Father Mark and prepare Kolyva to bring to the Church in honor of their loved one. To
help our parishioners learn how to make this centuries old, spiritual tradition; we are providing a Kolyva workshop
this fall. More information will come regarding this workshop. In the meantime, if you are interested in speaking to
any of the women on the comfort and bereavement care team; the team consists of the following members: Maria
Thomas, Elizabeth Ensign, Lexie Biedermann, Jackie Barbes, Kathy Lytle, Kristine Brekke and myself.

On July 27th, our Philoxenia House will celebrate a special Divine Liturgy for its 10th year anniversary! The Liturgy
will be followed by a Greek village style lamb dinner on the church grounds. In my opinion; helping Orthodox
Christians who come from around the world to the Mayo Clinic is our greatest ministry for the Lord. By being there
for others, mainly strangers, we are sharing Gods love, as best as we can. Its our parishs highest calling outside of
providing Divine Liturgy and the many Sacraments of the Orthodox Church. The Metropolis of Chicago Philoptochos
Society and its many chapters have been our biggest and most consistent supporters. We are very thankful for them
and many of our dedicated donors. Without them, our beautiful ministry of welcoming a stranger in need and giving
them a home during their hospital stay or illness would not exist.

July 27th is also a special day because it is the feast day of Saint Panteleimon who is one of the Holy Unmercenaries.
On this special list of Holy Unmercenaries is our own patron Saints; SS Kosmas and Damianos. We have the holy
relics of all three of these Saints in our parish. Saint Panteleimons story is very long; one filled with much devotion to
God and humankind, as well as many miracles he performed in the name of Jesus Christ and attempts at his
martyrdom by the pagans. One dear component is towards the end when he was sentenced to die by beheading. As the
execution was about to happen; Saint Panteleimon began to pray. The soldier hit him on the head with the sword but it
bent like wax. As the saint ended the prayer, and a Voice was heard, calling the passion-bearer by name and
summoning him to the Heavenly Kingdom. Hearing the Voice from Heaven, the soldiers fell down
on their knees before the holy martyr and begged forgiveness. The executioners refused to continue
with the execution, but Saint Panteleimon told them to fulfill the command of the emperor, saying
that otherwise they would have no share with him in the future life. The soldiers tearfully said
goodbye to the saint with a kiss. It is humbling to witness Saint Panteleimons spiritual love and
forgiveness to the soldiers in the story. May Saint Panteleimon intercede for all of us in our
Christian struggles.
With sisterly love in CHRIST+
Calli Kelly, Philoptochos President
You are greatly glorified, O Christ our God, who established our Fathers as luminaries upon the earth. Sunday of the Holy Fathers July 13th
Stewardship & Outreach
ANONYMOUS SERMON: ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN WEALTH & STEWARDSHIP
In the Gospel we read that Jesus told a rich young man that though he has kept the commandments, the one thing he
must do to inherit eternal life is to sell all that he owns, distribute the money to the poor, and then come, and follow
Him. Luke writes, But when he heard this, he became sad; for he was very rich. Jesus looked at him and said, How
hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye
of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.

It would be easy to misunderstand Jesus here and to assume that its impossible for a rich person to get into heaven.
But Jesus was most likely making an example of this self-righteous young ruler. He is a sad example of a person who
is convinced he is religious, but misses the whole point. He followed the letter of the law, yet he did not carry love in
his heart.

St. Clement warns us not to interpret this passage to mean that wealth will keep us from the kingdom of heaven. He
writes that it is the attitude of the soul that is important. It is the passion for wealth, not the wealth itself, that
condemns a man. Our attitude toward possessions reveals our true god and master. This may be troubling to us when
we feel that we have made God our master and have kept all the commandments as did the rich young ruler.
Christian stewardship of our souls and bodies is the offering of our entire self to God, attaching our desire to Him
rather than to the world. And Jesus reference to the eye of the needle seems to imply that it is impossible for a rich
man to enter the kingdom of heaven. One interpretation of this troubling verse is that a well-known gate to the city of
Jerusalem was referred to as the eye of the needle. This gate was very low and difficult to enter, and, according to
legend, a camel was required to unload all of its pack and enter on its knees. One could conclude from this that it is
extremely difficult -- though not impossible -- for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus shows us that the only lasting wealth is spiritual wealth which comes from God. When
we were baptized, we were given the light of Christ, symbolized by the baptismal candle. God lit His flame in our
souls. The purpose of baptism is to make us lights to the world for Jesus. Jesus instructs us to let our light shine
before others, so that they may see our good works and give glory to our Father who is in heaven. As baptized
Orthodox Christians, we are all called to witness through the quality of our lives to the experience of the risen
Christ.

We witness to Christ by the way we set our priorities in life. This is a time to re-examine those priorities -- the way in
which we share our time, our talents and our possessions. I challenge you to take a look at your checkbook and see
exactly what your true priorities are. Do you commit more to the cable television service than you do to your Church?
Do you pay more for your daily newspaper or to the cable company than you do to support the spreading of the Good
News of Christ? As Jesus told us, Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

You may have recently seen the moon as it rose in the east. It was huge and it lit up the night. But if you think about
it, the moon has no light of its own, but only the light which it receives from the sun. The light we see when the moon
lights up the night is the REFLECTED light of the sun.

Just like the moon, we have no light of our own, only the light of Christ, who told us that He is the light of the
world. We received His light at our baptism, and we are called to reflect that light to all the world. What better way
to begin to do that than by returning to Him through the work of the Church some portion of that with which He
has blessed us. We are responsible and are held responsible by God for the light His light that we are
reflecting in the world.

Psalm 116 asks: What shall I give to the Lord in return for all His benefits toward me? The answer comes in the
Divine Liturgy when we are invited to offer ourselves and our whole life to Christ our God.

I conclude with the following story: A pig and a chicken were walking through the barnyard one day, planning a
birthday party for Farmer Brown. And what do you suggest that we do for Farmer Brown? asked the pig. The
chicken replied, I was thinking of making him a ham & egg breakfast. The pig, troubled by this idea, quietly said to
the chicken, For you this is a contribution, but for me its a total commitment. God does not ask us for a
contribution, because his Church is not a club to which we pay dues. He is asking for a total commitment --- OUR
LIFE! May He continue to bless us all. Amen.