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GREEK ORTHODOX COMMUNITY & PARISH

OF PROPHET ELIAS NORWOOD & EASTERN

SUBURBS INC.

87 BEULAH RD. NORWOO

NORWOOD SA 5067 P.O. BOX 277, KENT TOWN SA 5071
71
ALL CORRESPONDENCE T
TO THE HON. SECRETARY

O
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: 8362
62 4139 . 8431 7789 . 0412 710 037

07-08-16
32 . 1620

WEEKLY MAGAZINE

THE WORD OF GOD

PHONES: 8362 4139 H
H. 8431 7789 M. 0412 710 037

DATE 07-08-16
YEAR 32ND NUMBER 1620
WEB PAGE: WWW.PROPHETELIAS.ORG.AU
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EMAIL: PROPHETELIAS@ESC.NET.AU

(. 15,1-7) 07 2016
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SEVENTH SUNDAY OF MATTHEW (Rom. 15,1-7) 7 August 2016
As we read and study the lives of the Saints we gain strength from their strength as
well as large amounts of perseverance and patience, the indispensable supplies for
our Christian struggle. We also take from them courage and enthusiasm, as this study
frees us from the temporary we are filled with a feeling of vitality and courage for our
spiritual work as we study the lives of the Saints These are characteristics of a strong
Christian.

Todays apostolic reading presents, alongside strong Christians, weak

Christians who the strong have a responsibility to offer spiritual services to. Brothers

and sisters, God has given us many virtues, some people neglect a few of these, some
people with the help of God cultivate them, and others abandon them completely.
Lets hope that we are in the group of Christians who with Gods help cultivate these
holy virtues more and more each day, and are therefore a portion of the strong and
according to the words of the Apostle Paul today we have responsibilities. We have
the responsibility to help the weak: We then who are strong ought to bear with the
scruples of the weak (Rom. 15,1) As we have already said, each one of us has
received many gifts from God. And that which is required from us is for us to support
the shortcomings and inadequacies of others, since we have the responsibility to bear
their weaknesses and faults. This responsibility bears more weight on the Christian
that is stronger and more progressed in virtue. This is exactly what the apostolic
reading that we heard today teaches us. It is beneficial for us to take a closer look at
the human weaknesses and shortcomings, or rather to examine the cause of these.
The sources of the many weaknesses are just as varied. Firstly there is the distancing
of oneself from God and His holy will.

The next cause occurs especially when

someone is suffering from some chronic debilitating disease and they eagerly have the
expectation that God will intervene in a positive way and He does not. Then there are
the various failures and frustrations that lead man into despair and spiritual weakness.
Isolation of person from their fellow man and from human relationships in general, also
alienates him from God. The gift of the strong being able to help the weak is evident in
the relationship that parents have with their vulnerable children. The same occurs later
when the parents grow old and the children grow stronger and take care of their
parents.

This can often be seen in our daily lives, it with joy that we see when

someone is unable to lift up their burden that the stronger rush to their aid and say
leave it to me. Strength and weakness exists also between the educated and the
uneducated. The educated person has the responsibility to read and to write and to
explain things to others. In everyday life there are many situations where the strong
offer their services to the helpless. It would be possible to fill entire volumes of books

in our attempts to record our daily experience where the strong help the weak. In his
letter to the Galatians the Apostle writes: Bear one anothers burdens (Gal. 6, 2)
Where we dont see so many strong, but a multitude of weak is in the spiritual sphere.
It is rare to hear among the many conversations that people have with each other
every day, words of the strong encouraging the weak.

The establishment of the

Church on earth by our Lord Himself was intended to help Christians cultivate virtue
and strengthen them spiritually, to illuminate them through the sacramental life and to
help them to support the weak. Never should a strong Christian take advantage of or
criticize the weak, unfortunately we come across many situations where we find the
opposite is true. Even though the spiritually strong should show love and support the
weaker person in a spirit of love and understanding, instead he treats him harshly
making his life even more miserable. At the same time we also observe the spiritually
weak person insisting to play the role of the teacher to the spiritually strong. When the
Apostle Paul says to the Romans: We then who are strong ought to bear with the
scruples of the weak, he means that the silent should tolerate the vocal, he does not
mean that the vocal have the right to criticise the silent since he does not open his
mouth. The diligent person tolerates the lazy, but the lazy should not burden himself
upon the diligent. The educated person will offer his services to the uneducated with
love, but the uneducated will not badmouth him for his instruction. He who loves virtue
should advise the person who avoids virtue and instead seeks evil and sin, but this
weak person has the responsibility to demonstrate an understanding.

When the

Apostle Paul writes: Bear one anothers burdens (Gal. 6, 2) he means that each
person has the responsibility to help the other. We should not forget that all of us are
part of one single body with Christ at the head. Just as with our body, each part, every
tiny cell lives so long as it united and dependent on every other part and cell of the
body, it is also affected by an infirmity in any one of these parts. When, for example, a
small particle of dust lands in our eye, the whole eye is irritated and as a whole our
whole body suffers. Can you imagen how great the damage would be if someone was

to lose their sight, and their whole body is plunged into darkness? The little finger
cannot do the same work as the thumb, and yet the thumb never complains or calls the
little finger useless, on the contrary it protects the little finger thanks it for whatever
services it can offer. So it should be with us, we have the responsibility to be tolerant
of each other, and unconditionally endure each others weaknesses and shortcomings.
Progressed Christians must endure the weaknesses and deficits of beginners. Within
this blessed environment all Christians, progressed and beginning, become strong so
that they can overcome evil with good as we have said in a previous issue. With
superior good and in a spirit of love the evil in another should be addressed.
The challenges and injustices levelled against us should never upset our inner being
nor disrupt our peace, and should certainly not bring us to vindictive actions and words.
The Apostles words: We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the
weak instruct us that we must accept whatever bad characteristics another may have
with gentleness and forbearance. With such a Christian attitude the opportunity is
given to the other person to soften their heart and their stance against us.

We

understand that it is not easy to successfully bring about this and that it requires
significant virtue and spiritual strength.

Perhaps for man alone this is impossible;

therefore it is necessary for him to take strength from regular participation in the
sacramental life of the Church.

There are countless examples of Christians

progressed in their faith, who with true self-sacrifice offered their services to their weak
fellowman. First among these is our Lord who as a human did not avoid any task that
was painstakingly difficult and uncomfortable, he avoided the luxurious and the earthly
glories. Instead He chose the difficult path and with superhuman forbearance bore the
weakness of His disciples, He endured terrible sufferings and finally a degrading
martyrdom by crucifixion, and then on the Cross He asked God the Father to forgive
those who crucified Him. From then onwards our Church has a cloud of faithful and
spiritually strong Christians who through the ages through to today help the spiritually

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weak. In this way, the words of todays apostolic reading are fulfilled and a balance is
restored to the inequity of our times. We have the responsibility to be like them.

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News from our Community-Parish

Dekapentavgoustos
No sooner have we enjoyed the spiritual nourishment of the festivities in memory
of the Glorious Saint and Prophet Elias the Thesvite, than the Church brings us
to the spiritual period of Dekapentavgoustos. Dekapentavgoustos is yet another
blessed time of spiritual elevation for Orthodox Christians. The important and
wonderful events which happened throughout the life of the Panagia are
expressed poetically by our Church during this time. Alternating Supplicatory
canons to the Panagia Theotokos invigorate morality of the faithful, strengthen
faith, bring hope, and become balsam of comfort to all those who feel sinful and
humble of heart and approach her grace. Every evening from Monday 1st to
Friday 12th August, 6pm - 7pm, there will be one of the supplicatory canons of the
Falling Asleep of the Theotokos. The full program, in both languages, can be
obtained from the front counter of our Church.
This year, we have the special blessing of having for the first time in our Church,
as well as the great icons of the Panagia of Kikkos and the Myrtidiotissa, the holy
icons of the Panagia of Tsambika and the Panagia of Skiadini.

Prayer to the Panagia

Full of Grace, Most Glorious, Queen of the Universe, from the abundant sunshine
of divine light where you rejoice, present at the right hand of thy only-begotten
Son, send here below to your faithful servants a blessed ray, for light to enter our
darkened mind and fire to enter our apathetic will, so that we might see to walk

15

earnestly along the road of divine righteousness. We place our hope of salvation,
after God, in you, the Mother of God and of us all; from you, we hope for the
victory of the most Serene Highness, the trophies of the Pious Kings; the
protection of the Church; the help of the Orthodox people; the defence of the
devout in this state, which is dedicated to your invincible aid. Yes, All-Holy Virgin,
yes, Maria, name of joy, consolation, and glory of Christians: during these holy
days in which we honour you, accept our fasting and supplication as welcome
incense; and count us worthy, as we piously kiss this holy and miracle-working
icon, here in the Church, so that there in Paradise, we might see your blessed
face, which we venerate in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy
Spirit, to the ages of ages.

Vigil
On Friday 26th August, there will be the monthly Vigil, from 8.30pm until shortly
before midnight (as there will be Divine Liturgy on the Saturday morning for St.
Fanourios). The Vigil comprises Mikro Apodeipno, the 24 verses of the Akathist
Hymn, Great Vespers, Prayer in the Narthex, blessing of bread, mnemosyno for
the departed, Matins and Divine Liturgy, concluding with blessing of the table in
our Community Centre Hall. This is a beautiful contritional service, where every
pious Christian can feel the living presence of God within.
School Dance: Saturday 3rd September 2016
The School Dance which is organized by the School Committee of parents and
teachers, with the assistance of the Executive Committee and the Philoptohos, is an
initiative of the parents. Its aim is to gather children, parents and grandparents in a
happy family atmosphere and in a beautiful harmonious environment which expresses
the Greek culture, the familial bond, the brotherhood and love among us, and our
Greek Orthodox identity. In an atmosphere where together we can enjoy song and
dance, we are brought closer to Greece. From what the children themselves tell us,
they are happy to see parents and grandparents dancing with them. They understand,

16

say the children, that it is difficult for people to get up and dance as they get older, but
if they knew what joy they give, just in walking around, they surely would. The School
Committee is of the opinion that this dance, in conjunction with the celebration of
Fathers Day, should continue, and this depends on how much the parents are
interested in the Greek education of their children. The Annual School Dance this year
will take place in our Parish Hall on Saturday 3rd September 2016, 7pm 11.30pm.
The students of our Greek School will present the dances that they have been taught
during the year by the dance-teachers Alexia and Christopher Crocker. By dancing and
enjoying themselves together, parents and grandparents have the opportunity to feel
like children. As you know, the books and teaching materials are provided free-ofcharge, and we endeavour with the annual Walk-a-thon and School Dance to raise
funds to cover costs. The ticket is $25 for adults, and for all school students and
children under 18 years, free. Drinks are extra. We thank you in anticipation of your
help toward this sincere effort of the School Committee, and for your lively interest in
your childrens learning of the inestimable Greek culture and tradition. We look forward
to you and your children celebrating with us on the eve of Fathers Day.

Bible Study
Orthodox Christian topics are discussed in the rooms of the Prophet Elias Community
Centre every Wednesday, 7pm 8pm. Discussions are in English and there is
opportunity for everyone to listen, ask questions, and examine every topic. All the
topics are very interesting and enrich our spiritual knowledge.

Reminder
For the last 32 years, Fr. Stavros has been at the service of our parishioners 24 hours
a day. You can contact him, on these numbers: Office 8362 4139, Mobile 0412 710
037, Home 8431 7789; or at Church, either after the frequent services or in his office.
We understand that when someone is in pain or is sick, it may be hard to even
remember to telephone the Priest for prayer or to make a visit. However, what we dont
understand is why, despite their pain, some people remember to complain and
disparage the good intentions of their Priest.