It is Safe in the Ark

 We read the story of Noah's Ark in the Old Testament. (Genesis 6-8). The only way for Noah and his family to be safe from the flood was to get in the Ark. For forty days and forty nights the storm raged and the floodwaters came. Everything that was not in the Ark was swept away. Outside the Ark there was total destruction, but inside the Ark the animals and Noah’s family were safe. Once the storm stopped and flood waters subsided, God called Noah and his family out of the Ark to live life.

 Today’s Gospel tells another story of a boat and a raging storm. In this case the Disciples were already in the boat when the storm began. It was God that was outside in the waves. Saint Peter said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to you on the water.” (Matthew 14.28) Christ called him out of the boat and Saint Peter walked on water in the middle of the storm. Once Saint Peter noticed just how bad the storm was, he panicked and began to sink. Christ pulled Saint Peter out of the water and they returned to the boat. Once they were safe in the boat, the storm stopped.

 It is not an accident the Church uses the term “Ark” to describe the Temple/Church. In Greek, Ναός, is the word for ship or ark. In English we use the word, “Nave” to describe the inside of the Church building. Outside the walls of the Church, outside the Ark, the storm of life is raging. Inside the Church we are with God, safe and comfortable.

 The Church is the Ark of Salvation. At our baptism we enter the Ark as members of the family of God. As His children we are saved from death and destruction just as Noah and his family were saved from the death of the flood. We are called out of the Ark every Sunday to walk on the stormy water with Christ just as Saint Peter was called out.

 If we stay out too long and the storm rages around us, we panic and begin to sink. Thankfully Christ is willing to pull us up and bring us back into the Ark, the Church, where we are safe again. If we stay out too long, if we stay away from the Church too long, we will sink and be swept away.

 So long as we keep our focus on Christ, just as Saint Peter kept his eyes on Christ, we will be able to walk above the storm. So long as we don’t panic we will rise above the storm. When the storm does rage, and when we do lose our focus, we are always brought back by Christ to the Ark. It is safe in the Ark, but we still must step outside and live life. Noah and his family were eventually called out of the Ark. The Disciples eventually left the boat. We will eventually step outside the walls of the Church to face the storms of life.

 Just then Christ will say to us, “O you of little faith. Why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14.31) That is when we will remember today’s story and say, “Lord save me,” and He will bring us back to Church the next Sunday and every Sunday where we are safe.

Στην Ορθόδοξη Χριστιανική Εκκλησία ο εορτασμός της Κοίμησης της Θεοτόκου περιλαμβάνει κατά πρώτο λόγο το θάνατο και την ταφή της Παναγίας και κατά δεύτερο την ανάσταση και τη μετάστασή της στους ουρανούς.

Η 15η Αυγούστου είναι αφιερωμένη στην Κοίμηση της Θεοτόκου που δεν είναι μόνο η Μάνα του Ιησού, αλλά και η Μάνα του γένους των Ελλήνων και στέκει πάντα άγρυπνη στην έπαλξή της, όπως θέλει η λαϊκή μας παράδοση. Αυτή η παράδοση είναι πολυσήμαντη και πολυδιάστατη. Μέσα στο ελληνικό καλοκαίρι τον Δεκαπενταύγουστο γιορτάζουμε την Κοίμηση της Παναγίας. Στην Κωνσταντινούπολη, στον Ναό της Αγίας Σοφίας γινόταν «ολονυκτία», όπου κλήρος και λαός προσεύχονταν με θερμή πίστη. Σ’ αυτήν την ολονυκτία διανυκτέρευε μαζί με τον κόσμο κι ο αυτοκράτορας.

Στην Καινή Διαθήκη δεν υπάρχουν πληροφορίες για την Κοίμηση της Θεοτόκου. Γι’ αυτήν μαθαίνουμε από τις διηγήσεις σημαντικών εκκλησιαστικών ανδρών, όπως των Αγίου Ιωάννου του Θεολόγου, Διονυσίου του Αρεοπαγίτη, Μόδεστου Ιεροσολύμων, Ανδρέα Κρήτης, Γερμανού Κωνσταντινουπόλεως, Ιωάννη Δαμασκηνού κ.ά., καθώς και από τα σχετικά τροπάρια της εκκλησιαστικής υμνολογίας. Στα κείμενα αυτά διασώζεται η «αρχαία και αληθεστάτη» παράδοση της Εκκλησίας γι’ αυτό το Θεομητορικό γεγονός.Έτσι, λοιπόν, κατά την εκκλησιαστική παράδοση, η μητέρα του Ιησού Χριστού, Μαρία (η Θεοτόκος και Παναγία), πληροφορήθηκε τον επικείμενο θάνατό της από έναν άγγελο τρεις ημέρες προτού αυτός συμβεί και άρχισε να προετοιμάζεται κατάλληλα. Προσεύχεται στο όρος των Ελαιών και δίνει τα υπάρχοντά της σε δύο γειτόνισσές της χήρες. Επειδή κατά την ημέρα της Κοίμησής της δεν ήταν όλοι οι Απόστολοι στα Ιεροσόλυμα, καθώς κήρυτταν «απανταχού γης», μια νεφέλη τους άρπαξε και τους έφερε κοντά της. Μοναδικός απών ο απόστολος Θωμάς.

Μεταξύ της Ορθόδοξης και της Καθολικής Εκκλησίας υπάρχει δογματική διαφορά σχετικά με την Κοίμηση της Θεοτόκου. 

Η Καθολική Εκκλησία πιστεύει στο δόγμα της ενσώματης ανάληψης της Θεοτόκου (Assumptio Beatae Mariae Virginis), που οριστικοποιήθηκε με την αποστολική εγκύκλιο του Πάπα Πίου IB’ «Munificentissimus Deus» (1 Νοεμβρίου 1950). Αντίθετα, η Ορθόδοξη Εκκλησία κάνει λόγο πρώτα για Κοίμηση της Θεοτόκου, δηλαδή πραγματικό θάνατο (χωρισμό ψυχής και σώματος) και στη συνέχεια για μετάσταση της Θεοτόκου, δηλαδή ανάσταση (ένωση ψυχής και σώματος) και ανάληψή της κοντά στον Υιόν της.

Στις 31 Αυγούστου γιορτάζεται η κατάθεση της Τιμίας Ζώνης της Υπεραγίας Θεοτόκου. Όπως θέλει η παράδοση, η Παναγία λίγο πριν την Κοίμησή της, διένειμε τα ενδύματά της σε φτωχές γυναίκες. Χρόνια αργότερα, όπως λένε οι γραφές, αναζητήθηκε, και βρέθηκε η Ζώνη αυτή και με τη φροντίδα Βυζαντινού Αυτοκράτορα τοποθετήθηκε σε ναό της Πόλης. Τεμάχιο της Τιμίας Ζώνης σώζεται σήμερα στο Άγιο Όρος

Στην Ελλάδα, η Κοίμηση της Θεοτόκου εορτάζεται με ιδιαίτερη λαμπρότητα, ονομάζεται δε και «Πάσχα του Καλοκαιριού». Σε πολλά νησιά του Αιγαίου (Τήνος, Πάρος, Πάτμος) στολίζουν και περιφέρουν επιτάφιο προς τιμήν της Παναγίας. Σε πόλεις και χωριά ανά την επικράτεια, σε εκκλησίες αφιερωμένες στην Κοίμηση της Θεοτόκου διοργανώνονται παραδοσιακά πανηγύρια, που καταλήγουν σε γενικευμένο γλέντι. Η Κοίμηση της Θεοτόκου δεν είναι ένα πένθιμο γεγονός για τον λαό, επειδή η Παναγία «μετέστη προς την ζωήν».

Greetings in Christ,

 Last weekend I Joined the Boy Scout Troop on their weekend camping trip at the Sand Hill Boy Scout Campgrounds in the Spring Hill area. We received a tour of the land, Including two natural springs, one of which connects directly to the Florida Aquifer which was featured on National Geographic. As well, the BoyScouts had an opportunity to work on their Marksmanship at the camp's training ground.The main attraction of our camp out was a canoeing trip down the Chassahowitzka River.

As Fr. Athanasios mentioned after Divine Liturgy last week this was my first camping trip in Florida. I’ve had many opportunities to camp throughout my life, though all of those experiences were in the North and North Western states. Camping in Florida is a whole new experience, from the humidity, to the wild life, topography, and Natural beauty of God’s creation! 

 If you are looking for a ministry to get involved with, this week we have a few things to get excited about! On Monday the 15th we celebrate the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos together as the Orthodox Community, for this reason, Monday is dedicated to Her. 

 Tuesday the 16th 

• 8am - 12pm the Soup Kitchen will run its normal program starting in the Fr. Tryphon Hall, and ending at the Shepherd Center. This is a beautiful way to participate as an Orthodox community, in the context of the local community for the Glorification of God, and an act of obedience to His teachings. As we read in the Gospel of Matthew; “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was hungry, and you gave me food: I was thirsty, and you gave me drink: I was a stranger, and you took me in: Naked, and you clothed me: I was sick, and you came to me: I was in prison, and you visited me.Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord,  When did we see you hungry and feed you? or thirsty, and gave you a drink? When did we see you, and take you in? or naked, and clothed you? Or when did we see you sick, or in prison, and visit you? And the King shall answer and say to them, Truly I say unto you, Since you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me.” Matthew 25:34-40

• 7pm - 9pm Boy Scouts will return to their normal weekly meetings.

• 7pm - 8pm we invite you to attend the Bible Study as it starts off for the year. If you have the desire to deepen your knowledge of our Faith through Scripture, there is no better way to start than here, and now.

Thursday the 18th

• 10:30am - 11:30am the Women's Book Club will have their first meeting. Exciting new books have been chosen, you are invited to read and discuss material revolving faith and life in context as Orthodox Christian Women! 

• 7pm - 8pm the Choir will meet for regular practice, glorifying God with their voices!

  *THE DEADLINE IS MONDAY 5PM FOR ALL BULLETIN INFORMATION*

Memorials

Kaliopi Ikonomou - 6 months

Mary Yanna - 1 year

John Mougros - 2 years 

   All ministries wishing to sign up and host the Sunday Coffee Hour please contact Chris Palaidis at 727-808-3895.

                              Memorial & Artoklasia Service Planning