Invite Logistics for Sunday of Orthodoxy/Icons (3-5-2017)

   When there’s a special event going on, and you’re invited, it’s often helpful to know a few things, like who’s invited, where it is, when it is, what’s going on, and how do I get there. The who, what, where, when, why, how basics of any import event. And today’s special event is the Sunday of Orthodoxy, the Sunday on which we commemorate the restoration of the holy icons to the Church.

   And if someone were to ask you, what are the icons, what would you say? One might say, well I’m not sure but we have them at church. You might point them out saying, “That’s an icon!” The inquirer might respond, “Oh, so an icon is a painting.” Well, yes, but icons are much more than paintings. Icons are images. The word ‘icon’ comes from the Greek word ‘eikona’ which means ‘image.’ But icons are not just images. They are sacred images of Jesus, the Virgin Mary, one of the Saints, or even an event from salvation history. For example, today, the Sunday of Orthodoxy, we have its icon on the stand in the narthex and it depicts a group of people and one of them is holding the icon of the Virgin Mary with the Christ-child. Thus, we have an icon depicted in an icon. So, what are the icons? Icons are sacred images. Who is in the icons? Jesus, the Virgin Mary, the Saints and events in salvation history.

   But why do we have icons? Why do we use them? Why do we adorn or churches with icons? Well, we use icons for the simple fact Jesus became a man. The Incarnation is the reason why. Jesus was not an apparition or a ghost. Jesus was a real human person, who could be seen, who could be touched, who could be handled, who spoke, who people listened to. And because Jesus, the eternal Word and Son of God, was a human person who could be seen and touched, we are not only allowed to depict Him in iconic form, the Church Fathers all the way back to the eighth century said, we must depict Jesus in icons, because they are a witness to the Incarnation. That is why we use icons.

   So, we know what icons are, we know who is depicted in them and we know why we use icons. But as we look at the icons, we see them and they look like paintings but they don’t look like paintings that we see in museums or that we hang on the walls of our home. Icons are different. The question is how are they different? How are icons made? One of the first things to remember is that the making of icons is called ‘iconography’ and that word does not mean the painting of icons or images. Rather it means the ‘writing of icons/images.’ Thus, there is a story that is being told in the icon.

   We may be more familiar, certainly most people in American society, with Renaissance style religious art, which is something that Michaelangelo would have done. And this style’s purpose was to make the person or persons depicted look as realistic as possible. We know that are Byzantine style icons are different from Renaissance paintings. That’s because Orthodox iconography is done in a way that limits the humanity of the person, such as Christ or one of the Saints. It does not want to go far in emphasizing their human nature. Rather, icons seek to balance humanity with divinity in the case of Christ, or with the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in the case of the Virgin Mary and the Saints. Christ, as we know, was both fully God and fully man. So, in iconography we depict the human person but we emphasize their spiritual nature in a stylized or abstract fashion. We don’t have time today to go into the details of this.

   However, Fr. Anthony Coniaris, notes in his book “Sermons on the Major Holy Days in the Orthodox Church” that there are three ways to depict a person: 1) a photograph, 2) a portrait, and 3) the icon. First, the photograph records the features of a person exactly as they are with no changes. Second, the portrait reproduces a person’s features in a recognizable way but tries give expression his/her character. Thirdly, the icon goes even further than the portrait by showing what the person has become because of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. Iconography does this by eliminating or de-emphasizing everything that is irrelevant to the spiritual nature. Thus, the depiction is stylized and spiritualized, not in an unrealistic way but in supra-realistic manner.

   Icons have been called many names over the centuries: prayers, hymns, sermons in form and color. There are two types of Gospels in the Orthodox Church: the verbal and the visual. Together, they appeal to the whole person, both mind and heart. St. Basil the Great said, “What the word transmits through the ear, that painting silently shows through the image, and by these two means, mutually accompanying one another…we receive knowledge of one and the same thing.” St. John of Damascus said, “If a pagan (non-believer) asks you to show him/her your faith, take that person into a church and place him/her before the icons.”

   So we know where to find icons. We find them in the Church. But do we also find them in our home? It’s typical or traditional for Orthodox Christians to have an altar in their home, perhaps many altars, one for each person in the family. And on those altars we find candles, lamps, incense and other sacred items, and icons. But the icons are not there for aesthetic purposes. They are not art that you use to decorate your home. Icons are a witness to who you believe in, to who is number one in your life.

   In Russia, icons were displayed prominently in the home and when guests would enter they would go first to venerate the icons before greeting their hosts. Christianity probably survived Communism because of the Faith in Christ was preserved in the home, the house Church. Do we have icons of Christ, the Virgin Mary and the Saints prominently displayed in our homes? Or do we have posters of famous people, musicians and athletes instead?

   Icons are not only placed in our homes to show who we believe in, but more importantly to remind us of God’s presence in our life. Icons also remind us to pray. This speaks to the when of iconography. Hopefully, icons remind us to pray each and every day.

   Let me close today but asking a question. What is the very best icon ever written? Many of us have been to many different places and seen all sorts of icons. What is the best one you ever seen? What if we had a contest, which icon would win? Well it’s the one that God made Himself and that would be each and every human being. When God created Adam He said, “Let us make him in our image and likeness” (Genesis 1:26). During the Orthodox worship services the priest often censes the holy icons but he also censes the people because they are icons too. Each person is a living icon of Christ. Thus, each person is worthy of the same respect and veneration that we would give to Jesus. To disrespect and abuse another human is to become an iconoclast, an icon smasher, just like the iconoclasts of the eighth and ninth centuries who destroyed the icons because they erroneously thought they were idolatrous.

   And in today’s world, many are trying to change the image of God found in mankind. They are literally trying to redefine the human icon into something different than it is. But of course, there is no need to do this because God doesn’t create junk. If we are in His image and likeness, what reason is there to change or alter it? How could we possibly improve it? So, let us respect one another as icons of God and also let us respect ourselves. During this time of Lent, we try to train ourselves as best we can to resist sin. Because when we sin, we are smashing the icon of God within ourselves. To disrespect and abuse ourselves through sinful thoughts, words or actions is also to become an icon-smasher. Amen!

ST. GEORGE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

REV. FR. RICHARD DEMETRIUS ANDREWS, PRESBYTER

www.stgeorgegoc.org

March 12, 2017                                                                                SUNDAY OF ST. GREGORY PALAMAS

TODAY’S EVENTS: DAYLIGHT SAVINGS BEGINS- SET CLOCK AHEAD; Greek School 12pm, Pan-Orthodox Lenten Vespers and reception here at St. George 4pm; Serve-a-Meal at FOCUS 4pm.

Epistle Reader: Stephen Kanavati                                       Prosfora: anonymous

Fellowship: Lana Kartak Family                                         

Monday       03-13     GREAT COMPLINE (by readers)                                                                           6:00PM

                                      Catechism Class: Sacraments II-Eucharist, Liturgy, Worship, Prayer               7:00PM

Wednesday 03-15     NINTH HOUR                                                                                                         5:30PM

                                      PRESANCTIFIED LITURGY                                                                                6:00PM

                                      Lenten Meal & Lecture on Modern Heresies with Fr. Richard Andrews                 7:30PM

Thursday     03-16     OCF at University of St. Thomas                                                                         12:00PM

                                      AHEPA meeting                                                                                                   7:00PM

Friday          03-17     AKATHISTOS / SALUTATIONS                                                                             6:00PM

                                      Lenten Meal & Lecture on the Torah, aka the Pentateuch with Fr. Ted Wojcik     7:30PM

Saturday      03-18     Be the Bee Youth Retreat at St. Mary GOC                                                         9:30AM

                                      GREAT VESPERS                                                                                                 5:00PM

                                      Pan-Orthodox Young Adults event at Giordano’s in Richfield                             7:00PM

Sunday         03-19     ORTHROS (8:15 am) & DIVINE LITURGY – SUNDAY OF THE HOLY CROSS      9:30AM

                                      Greek School                                                                                                      12:00PM

                                      Greek Dance Practice                                                                                       1:00PM

                                      Serve-a-Meal at FOCUS on Lake Street, hosted by St. George                         4:00PM

                                      Pan-Orthodox Lenten Vespers & Reception at Holy Trinity Church in St. Paul   4:00PM

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Memory Eternal: our parishioner, Linda Moran, reposed in the Lord on March 8^th. Visitation is today, 5-8pm at Willwerscheid Mortuary with 7pm Trisagion service. Funeral is tomorrow, Monday 11am. We extend our sympathies to her family: husband Thomas, children: Alex, Thomas Jr. and Caroline (Aaron) Haried.

Sympathies & Condolences: to Dr. Tasso Pappas & Dr. Telly Pappas on the repose of their mother, Presbytera Maria Pappas, wife of Fr. Angelo of Sioux Falls, SD. Funeral was yesterday March 11^th.

Pan-Orthodox Vespers: we host the service today at 4pm followed by a reception. Please welcome our guests!

Think About It: Control desire and you will overcome anger; for desire gives rise to anger.     St. Thallasios the Libyan (7^th cent.)

Phyllo Orders: available today for pick-up. Please see the Philoptochos ladies in the social hall to pick up your order. Thanks for helping the Philoptochos fundraiser.

Summer Camp Early Bird Registration: will open on April 18^th at 10am. Registration fees are as follows: Early Bird Discount:  $425 from April 18- May 5, 2017; Standard Fee:  $475 from May 6-25, 2017 at 4:30pm. Please register at: www.stmaryscamp.com. Summer Camp dates are July 1-7, 2017.

Greek Cookbooks: various vintage hardcover editions in Greek are available in the bookstore.

Be the Bee Retreat: this Saturday, March 18 all youth (k-12), parents, and youth workers are invited to join us at St. Mary's in Minneapolis for the Be The Bee BEETREAT, a day of engaging workshops, activities, and great opportunities to explore our faith. JOY, Jr. GOYA, and GOYA will be separated into their own retreats. Come see what all the fuss is about! Workshops are from 9:30- 5:00. To register, go to BeTheBee.goarch.org/retreats

The Church Fathers Speak: God our Savior wants all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth (1Timothy 2:4). Grace does not compel anyone. Men have the God-given freedom to accept it and to work with it or to reject it. Those who embrace it are saved and those who withdraw from it are lost.                              Elder Cleopa of Romania (+1998)

Parent Volunteers Needed: We are looking for a parent for both Saturday of Lazarus and Holy Friday to coordinate the potluck meals. The sign-up sheet is located in the social hall. Thank you!

Daughters of Penelope: Thursday’s meeting on March 16^th has been cancelled.

Lenten Lectures: Our 16th annual Lenten Lectures series' themes are "Modern Heresies" on Wednesdays and "The Torah-Pentateuch" on Fridays. Fr. Rick will speak on Weds. about secularism, humanism, rationalism, pluralism and phyletism. On Fridays various presenters will speak about the first five books of the Old Testament, also known as the Law of Moses and their relevance for modern readers today.

Wisdom from the Church Fathers: When someone takes the first step towards reconciliation, he immediately feels joy, peace and relief. Why? Prior to this, hatred, enmity, separation and alienation laid like a heavy burden on his shoulders. There was also pressure from the devil who wanted his way. God, on the other hand, is love and humility. All of us, nonetheless—and I first—are fooled by our egotism, and seek to erect our own will. We believe that we are correct, that we are good, and that others are at fault.    Elder Ephraim of Philotheou

Greek Independence Day Lunch: the AHEPA will sponsor the annual Greek Independence Celebration lunch on Sunday, March 26^th. Tickets available at the door. See insert for details.

Lenten Meals: please see sign-up sheet in social hall. You can volunteer individually or with a group.

Stewardship 2017: Our theme is You are the Voice of Christ in a Changing World: As the Father Has Sent Me, So I Send You (John 20:21). We have received 89 pledge cards for 2017 with a total of $147,196 and an average of $1,654. When pledging be sure to increase your pledge, even if only a few dollars. This reflects spiritual growth and overcomes stagnation. We encourage everyone to give a minimum of 2% pledge of gross yearly income to become a self-sustaining community. This is far less than the biblical ideal of tithing, giving 10%.

Patristic Wisdom: The rich man is not one who possesses much, but one who gives much.                  St. John Chrysostom (+407)

Holy Land/Russia Pilgrimage: Sept.27 – Oct.11 2017. Holy Land trip is first 9 days and costs $1,300/ person. Russian trip is afterwards for 6 days at $1,550/person. Prices do not include air, travel insurance and tips. Several options available. Pilgrimage hosted by Icon Art Studios under the leadership of Tom Rudquist at abousean39@gmail.com and Deb Korluka akorluka@aol.com.

Pictorial Directory 2015: is now available for $5 per copy. They can be purchased either from Julie in the office or in the bookstore (limit, one per family).

Palm Sunday Fish Lunch: on Sunday, April 9, following the Divine Liturgy. Tickets will be available at the door in the social hall.

Welcome Visitors Thank you for joining with us in prayer and fellowship. The worship of the Orthodox Church is deeply rooted in and very similar to that of the early Christian Church. Unique sensory stimuli and mystery are elements that go back even to the liturgy of the Jewish temple. Everything in an Orthodox Christian church communicates the majestic presence of God the Holy Trinity with His Saints. It is literally heaven on earth. It is a sad consequence of the divisions in Christianity that we cannot extend a general invitation to receive Holy Communion. Visitors are invited to receive the blessed bread (antithoron) at the conclusion of the liturgy. We pray and work for the reconciliation and unity of all Christians. If you are interested in learning more about Orthodoxy, please contact Fr. Rick at fatherrick@stgeorgegoc.org. We are proud of our Greek heritage but one does not have to be of Greek descent, nor speak Greek to be a Greek Orthodox Christian.

Note to Orthodox about Holy Communion: Receiving the Body and Blood of Christ is one of the most Holy experiences for a Christian in order to be granted the forgiveness of sins and everlasting life. We are never worthy to partake of Divine Nature. Yet, it is essential that we prepare ourselves for this sacred Communion by constant prayer, reading the Scriptures, regular fasting and periodic Confession. At a minimum, we should fast all morning before Communion, arrive at the beginning of Liturgy, and come for Confession at least once a year. In addition, we should not have separated ourselves from the Church through serious sin. Otherwise, please refrain from Communion to avoid “judgment…not discerning the Lord’s body” (1Cor. 11:29). Contact Fr. Rick for pastoral guidance.

Glad Tidings deadline: The 10th of each month. Glad Tidings email: gladtidings@stgeorgegoc.org  Sunday Bulletin Deadline: Wednesday Noon each week.  Email: office@stgeorgegoc.org