October 13th, 2024
Always a Spiritual Focus, First
Dearest Parish Family Members,
Watching our Church home grow from each Sunday to each Sunday is like watching a flower bud and blossom over a brief span of days. In the Spring, we can even see how trees begin that almost-invisible shimmer of green—and then, suddenly, we wake one morning to witness an explosion of colour around the tree. It’s as if the whole tree went from just a lingering, hovering hint of green air for the longest time into a vividness of green expanse overnight.
In similar fashion, we have been able to see in real-time how our own church home has crowned into an explosion of colour with gorgeous icons crowning the ceiling and walls of our worshipping home. We feel envisioned and almost cocooned by colour and prayer. It has been like a sensory overload in the best sense of the words. It feels filling, the way we hear stories of how Heaven itself has been depicted by those who have glimpsed Heaven.
Please come to see us now, if you haven’t been recently. Please experience this cascading vision for yourselves, as it gets added to in the next few weeks.
For this reason, I ask all of you reading this: if you, by chance, are not yet registered stewards of our parish family, please help us by registering now. This helps us in two, essential ways: first, by helping us understand how many people we have in our parish family; and, secondly, by helping us know how to stay in touch with you (with your contact information and update on your families). It is how we can best communicate with you—and even to be there for you.
We understand that the nature of New York City is that it is very transient and people have a multitude of worship places they can go to. Sometimes, this even becomes a temptation to be more transient and, inadvertently, lose any place of stability and a feeling of home. The one thing I have loved about our Saint John the Baptist parish is that so many people describe it as a church “just like back in Greece” and a church that “feels like home.” This is what we offer and cultivate: a place you can belong to and come from. I have been so emotionally touched when I meet young families who tell me they’ve come back because they were either baptized in our parish or their parents were married here. I’ve seen how this connection lives strong throughout the decades and people’s lives. This is what we strive to perpetuate and keep going.
Yes, Saint Nicholas’ parish at Ground Zero was destroyed. But we at Saint John’s continue the spirit of the old Saint Nicholas’ parish in much the same way. We are like home for you all. In this spirit, I do offer for you and anyone in your family and friend circles to join us in stewardship—so we may keep going and keep giving back to you all. Please come and take a stewardship card with you to fill out and keep us all going together.
Faithfully, Father Samaras
5th Morning Orthros Gospel
On October 13, we commemorate the holy Martyrs Carpos, Papylos, Agathodoros, and Agathoniki; the holy Martyr Florentios; the holy Martyr Dioskoros; our devout father Nikitas, the Patrician and Confessor; the holy Martyr Benjamin the Deacon; the holy Martyr Antigonos; the holy New Martyr Chryse; the holy and blessed Fathers who convened in Nicea for a second time, under the Orthodox and Christ-loving emperors Constantine and Irene, against those who in an impious, uneducated, and thoughtless manner said that the Church of God practiced idolatry and who had taken down the august and holy icons.
2024 PARISH COUNCIL
President - Theo Christ
Vice President – Yvonne Anastasiou
Secretary – Dina Mastoras
Parish Council Member - Evdokia Sofos
Parish Council Member - Dialecti Voudouris
Parish Council Member - Anastassios Mentis
Parish Council Member – Paula Refolo
Parish Council Member - Theodore Vougiouklakis
Parish Council Member - Mike Anastasiou