Three Modern Miracles!
1) On the coast of Sochi, Russia, that a group of dolphins carried ashore an icon of Panagia. A Colonel of the Russian Army and his wife noticed the dolphins swimming very close to shore. When the dolphins swam away, they noticed something was left behind. When they cleaned off the mud, they discovered that it was an icon of Panagia. No one knew about the icon or how it got to the bottom of the Black Sea. How the dolphins discovered the icon and brought it ashore is miraculous!
2) Dimitrios Nikolopoulos, 16 years old, fell off the roof of an indoor swimming pool. He was critically injured and was unresponsive in the hospital. His father called the priest, who wanted to bring a skoupho (monastic hat) of St. Paisios (a modern saint), but was too far away. Instead, he went to the local women's monastery and brought an epitrachelion (priest's stole) that belonged to St. Porphyrios (another modern saint). The priest brought the stole and laid it on Dimitrios's head. The medical equipment lit up and made noises. Young Dimitrios started moving his arms and legs. The next day he was upright and talking. Today he is fully recovered.
3) A 22 year old man in Greece was hospitalized and diagnosed with clinical death. His parents placed their hope in God and asked the intercessions of St. Paisios. A skoupho belonging to the elder St. Paisios was brought and placed on the head of the young man, and his health was fully restored. The hospital in Kavala has confirmed this miraculous event!
***Both Elder Paisios and Elder Porphyrios are recently canonized saints who lived in our time. They both struggled for holiness in the monastic life and reached the heights of prayer and holiness. There have been many books written about them and many collections of their writings have now been made available in English. Fr. Seraphim has icons of both of them in the office. God is wonderous in His saints!!!
Nota Bene
*Congratulations to Fr. David Henderson!!! Axios! Axios! Axios! We pray the Lord bless Father and Presvytera as they begin this new labor in the Lord's Vineyard. Fr. David will be transitioning to proistamenos in July.
*Raffle Tickets: Please turn in your raffle tickets to Gus or Bessie Pappas as soon as possible. We need extra help selling raffle tickets this year. If you’re able to sell a few more tickets, please contact Gus or Bessie Pappas for extra tickets. Any and all help is appreciated!
*Festival Donations: Anyone wishing to make a donation for the Festival may do so at anytime. Please note on your check that it is for festival, or place it in an envelope that indicates the contents are for Festival. Donations may be given at the tray, the candle desk, or to any parish council member.
*Greek Dance Lessons are now finished.