My Beloved Ones,

I greet you with love and joy, praying that your families are enjoying a blessed and happy summer. In the next two weeks, we are blessed to celebrate the memories of two wonderful women saints who both struggled against evil to seek the Lord: Mary Magdalene, the Myrrh-bearer and Equal to the Apostles & Irene the Righteous of Chrysovalantou.

Maria Magdalene, we know, became devoted to our Lord after He cast out from her seven demons. So great was her belief in His mission that she was one of the few who remained with Him at the foot of His Cross, and through His burial. Therefore, because of her love that she was one of the Myrrh-bearers early to the tomb Sunday, making her blessed to preach the Resurrection to the disbelieving Disciples, for which she receives that title “Equal to the Apostles”.

In many ways, the life Irene the Righteous of Chrysovalantou began almost the opposite of St. Mary. Irene was born into a powerful family, and so great was her beauty, that she was promised as a spouse to the future Byzantine Emperor, Michael. However, like St. Mary, she felt called to a different way, and so chose the ascetic path. Unlike Mary Magdalene, demons were not cast from her, but, with Christ’s help, St. Irene did fight the demonic powers through prayer and fasting. After many years of struggle perfected in faith, she was made Abbess of the Monastery of Chrysovalantou, and was given the spiritual gifts to know the thoughts and struggles of those pilgrims who came to her for counsel and healing. Many great miracles were worked by and through her—including the apples from Paradise, which were delivered to her by a sailor from Patmos, at the request of the spiritual visitation by St. John the Evangelist. Like St. John, Irene the Righteous lived to a blessed old age, before she reposed in peace.

In a Church whose God chose to be incarnated as a man, and where its Clergy, therefore, must also be men, it is a blessing to reflect on great women saints like St. Mary & St. Irene. We know, that though the Priesthood is not open to women, in many ways, the future of the Church is determined by women: whether we speak of the mothers who are the ones that make sure their families are in Church, or the women who fill important positions in our 

Philoptochos chapters, or as Parish Council officers and Presidents. The lives of these two saints demonstrate that God indeed calls all to serve Him, and that the role of women is important in furthering the salvific mission, whether by witnessing to our world, or through ministry. May St. Mary & St. Irene continue to intercede to God for us, and so demonstrate the truth of St. Paul’s words, “…there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).

+ALEXIOS

Metropolitan of Atlanta

At that time, as Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, beseeching him and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible distress." And he said to him, "I will come and heal him." But the centurion answered him, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard him, he marveled, and said to those who followed him, "Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth." And to the centurion Jesus said, "Go; be it done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed at that very moment. Matthew 8:5-13

Looking Ahead - Upcoming Activites & Events

August 4th: General Philoptochos Meeting after church service. The topic of discussion will be on making some decisions for fundraisers. Please be present. Thank you.

August 5: Feast of Holy Transfiguration - Vespers and Lenten covered dish supper. Time TBD.

September 7: Monthly Seniors Brunch - 10am in the Community Center

September 8: First Day of Sunday School

September 22: Phanaropita Luncheon immediately after Divine Liturgy

October 5: Monthly Seniors Brunch - 10am in the Community Center

October 24: First Responder Memorial and Blessing beginning at 8am

October 27: Greek Veterans Recognition immediately after Divine Liturgy

November Date TBD: Family Outreach Sunday and Annual Pig Pickin

Members who have pledged* and /or paid Stewardship this year

Mr. & Mrs. Issa Abuaita

Mr. & Mrs. Athan Alexandropoulos

Ms. Helen Bakas

Mr. & Mrs. John Bakas

Ms. Ellie Bakis

Mr. Thomas Bakis

Ms. Karen Belissary*

Mrs. Elise Boyd*

Ms. Claudette Canavati

Mr. & Mrs. Dino Chavis*

Mr. & Mrs. John Chavis

Ms. Sabrina Chavis*

Ms. Rena Chizman

Mr. & Mrs. George Coman*

Mrs. Pauline Costas

Mrs. Karan Davis

Mr. Paul Dewitt

Mr. & Mrs. Tim Dewitt

Mr. & Mrs. Mickey Dill*

Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Donaldson

Mr. & Mrs. Steve Doulaveris

Mr.. & Mrs. William Doulaveris*

Dr. & Mrs. George Economy*

Mr. Dean Fafoutis*

Ms. Helen Fafoutis*

Mr. & Mrs. Brandon Fowler

Ms. Voula Frangakis

Mr. Basilios Gioldasis

Mr. George J Gioldasis

Mr. & Mrs. George P Gioldasis

Mr. & Mrs. Jimmy Gioldasis*

Ms. Margarita Gioldasis

Mr. & Mrs. Paul S Gioldasis

Mr. & Mrs. Pete Gioldasis

Mr. & Mrs. Tommy Gioldasis

Mr. Nicholas Grant

Mr. & Mrs. Kenny Green*

Mr. & Mrs. Jim Hinkle*

Mr. & Mrs. Jamal Jones

Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Kampiziones

Mr. & Mrs. George Kampiziones*

Ms. Eula Kampiziones

Mr. & Mrs. Harry Kanos

Mr. & Mrs. Spero Kanos*

Mr. & Mrs. Tommy Kanos*

Ms. Anna Kazilieris

Dr & Dr Joe Kearney*

Mr. & Mrs. Chris Keretsis*

Mr. & Mrs. John Kokenes*

Mrs. Fotini Kosinski

Mr. & Mrs. Dimitri Krasias*

Mr. Yianni Krasias*

Ms. Effie Kremidas

Mr. Jimmy Kremidas

Mr. & Mrs. Nick Kremydas

Mr. & Mrs. Van Kremydas*

Mr. & Mrs. Jeffery Lawhon*

Ms. Nina Lazarakis*

Mr. & Mrs. George Leris

Mr. Chris Leris

Mr. Dennis Leris

Mr. Jimmy Leris

Mr. Joseph Lewis

Mr. & Mrs. Marcel Marina*

Ms. Joanna Mathes

Mr. John Mathes

Mr. & Mrs. Sorin Merisanu

Mr. & Mrs. Chris Mitropoulos

Fr. & Pres. Catalin & Felicia Mot*

Ms. Helen Mourounas

Mr. & Mrs. Tommy Mourounas

Ms. Glenda Nikolakakos

Mr. & Mrs. George Nikolakakos*

Mr. & Mrs. Nick Nikolakakos*

Mr. & Mrs. Patrick O’Hara*

Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Pappas*

Mr. Athen Pappas

Mr. & Mrs. Constantine Perivolaris*

Mr. & Mrs. Pete Petmezas*

Mr. & Mrs. Ioan Pirau*

Mr. & Mrs. Marian Popa

Mr. Phillip Pozoulakis*

Mr. & Mrs. Gregory Psillos*

Ms. Helen K Poulos*

Ms. Helen Z Poulos

Mr. & Mrs. Stephan Putnam

Mr. & Mrs. Robert Ray

Mr. & Mrs. Reed Sansbury

Mr. & Mrs. Patrick Showalter

Mr. & Mrs. Mike Singletary

Mr. & Mrs. John Sitaras*

Mr. & Mrs. Gray Snowden

Mr. & Mrs. George Tassios*

Mr. & Mrs. Jimmy Tassios*

Mr. & Mrs. Bailey Tanner*

Mr. Deno Triantis

Mr. Jimmy Triantis

Mr. & Mrs. David Wysong*

Mr. & Mrs. Yakimenko

If your name isn’t on the list and should be, please let us know. Thank you for giving!