Christos Anesti! Christ is Risen! - Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox


St.
Demetrios
Church
May
3,
2015
Maggie
Steffas
Cindy
Genin
Director Director
A communication of topics and events in Sunday School.
It is our wish that we bring awareness to not only the parents but the entire St. Demetrios community.
Christ is Risen!
ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ
Metropolis of Pittsburgh Oratorical Festival
held April 25, 2015
St. Nicholas Cathedral, Pittsburgh
Last Day of
Sunday School
and Teacher
Appreciation
Day is May 17.
With great joy we announce that the two participants of the St.
John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival from St. Demetrios, Lee
Santarelli (senior division) and Antonia Hadjis (junior
division), who were chosen from the western region to
participate in the final festival in Pittsburgh, BOTH placed
second in their divisions. Congratulations! Our Sunday
School is truly blessed to have two of our students recognized
in this capacity. May God bless you and all our participants
with continued progress in all your future endeavors!
REFLECTIONS
Christos Anesti!
I would like you take a moment to just imagine the joy I feel
during this Paschal Season as your priest! To see so many of you
taking the time to come to worship during this Feasts of Feasts is such a blessing! I know that life’s challenges
can divert our thoughts away from of our devotion to Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, but we once again
follow Him to His Crucifixion and His Resurrection and recognize His TRUE LOVE for us. As a result, we set
aside the demands of the world and return to Him and thank Him for what He has done for our salvation.
By Fr. Jim
So, the million dollar question that every priest asks after this glorious season of Pascha is, ‘HOW CAN THE
FLAME that was lit on that Saturday night of Pascha stay in the hearts of all of us throughout the year?’
The various ministries of our Church exist to assist us in keeping that FLAME lit in our hearts throughout the
year. Our Philoptochos and their continuous philanthropic works is inspiring! The teaching of God’s Word and
the Holy Orthodox Church in Sunday School, along with the gatherings of JOY, GOYA, our Greek Language
School and other groups/events that occur during the year are such blessings! Our Choir as well as the Bible
Study provides enlightenment! As a Church family we are indeed blessed.
My favorite excerpt from the book CONTEMPORARY MORAL ISSUES by Fr. Stanley Harakas describes
ORTHOKOINONIA as the ultimate goal to be achieved in a parish. It is my fervent prayer for all of us at St
Demetrios to reflect on this excerpt written below. May we all continue to keep the FLAME lit in our hearts
throughout the year!
“Orthokoinonia means true community living, with special reference to the local parish. Truly blessed and
happy is that Orthodox parish where the majority of the members put Christ first and at the head of their
parish life; where the most meaningful social event in the lives of the Christians takes place on Sunday
mornings in the temple; where the main task of the parish is encouraging learning and service in the name of
God; where there is little conflict, jealousy, gossip and selfishness manifested among the members; where
mutual concern, cooperativeness, humility, patience and interest in learning about the Faith are exhibited; and
where - above all - LOVE is chief. Such a parish is truly worthy of the title "Orthodox Christian Community.”
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.