SAINT ELEFTHERIOS
Dear members of the Saint Demetrios family,
Our Community Chapel celebration is fast approaching. On Monday, December 15th, we honor the feast of Saint Eleftherios, and we will have a service in the morning at 9 am. However, since it is a feast that is significant for our youth, on Sunday, we will speak about Saint Eleftherios to the students and we will have Artoklasia service for those who celebrate; we will also pray for all expecting mothers as well as the youth of our Parish, since Saint Eleftherios was a young Christian who dedicated his life to the Lord. He is a perfect role model and an inspirational example for all young people, since nowadays, our youth is surrounded by many negative examples of immorality and madness.
The more that madness and immorality are promoted and “normalized”, the more people will turn to Christ. There is a powerful Christian revival in our Nation and worldwide. It is evident with your attendance to services, with the miracle of the completion of our new edifice, and with the participation of our youth to the Church ministries. We love Christ; He is the only answer, especially when we are surrounded by so much that attempts to corrupt the younger generation.
I was so happy to see our children attend their classes in our Community this week; they were so enthusiastic to be with their forever friends, to play, to learn, to share fellowship and to live their faith to the fullest. More and more young families and couples attend services. Our Orthodox Study discussion groups need more chairs every week. Young people who are new to the faith ask questions and find the answers that save our souls. More philanthropy and more good deeds are manifesting our love for the faith. Our senior citizens are also excited to come to Church, and share their “parea” of fun and spirituality. From the youngest babies to the pappous and yiayias, we have observed that we come to Saint Demetrios and we spend more time under the same roof every week.
We have our appointment with the Fire Department Marshall this Monday morning, so that our roof is officially extended to include these beautiful new classrooms, athletic facilities and social halls adjacent to our gorgeous Church. So, very soon, we are looking forward to welcoming all of you to share more of these fantastic events, spiritual opportunities, charitable functions and athletic meetings in Christ’s fellowship.
Happy nameday to Spyros and Spyridoula today, to Eleftherios and Eleftheria on Monday and Χρόνια Πολλά to our Community, celebrating our gorgeous Chapel, and all our amazing contributors who are making the life of the Parish so beautiful. See you all in our home, next to our house, Saint Demetrios Church.
+Protopresbyter Nikiforos Fakinos
This Christmas, we can give a gift to our own children in the Parish, by donating much needed supplies for their education and our Schools. Please, click on the link below and select which gift you would like to offer to support our youth:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3E1ZXI9P6HD4E?ref_=wl_share
Sacred Services
1) Sunday, December 14th, 11th Sunday of Luke, Orthros and Divine Liturgy starting at 9 am.
2) Memorial: Sofia Efstathiou (3 years). Coffee fellowship sponsored by the family of Sofia Efstathiou. May her memory be eternal.
3) Church School is in Session.
4) Saint Eleftherios, Monday, December 15th with Orthros and Divine Liturgy at 9 am.
5) Sunday Before the Nativity, December 21st, Orthros and Divine Liturgy starting at 9 am.
6) Christmas Hours, Wednesday, December 24th, at 10 am.
7) Christmas Eve Divine Liturgy, Wednesday, December 24th at 6 pm.
8) Christmas morning Orthros and Divine Liturgy, Thursday, December 25th, at 9 am.
9) Sunday after Christmas, December 28th, with Orthros and Divine Liturgy starting at 9 am.
Religious and Cultural Education
1) Orthodox Study discussion, Thursdays at 7:30 pm in our Church Hall.
2) Little Angels Thursdays from 11 am – 12:30 noon. We look forward to seeing our babies in Church! This Thursday, celebration with Santa.
3) KANARIS Dance practice, Saturday, December 20th at 10 am.
4) David and Georgia Pereira Church School Christmas Pageant Rehearsal on Sunday, December 14th after the service. The Christmas Pageant will take place on Sunday, December 21st after the service. Our Rev. Nikiforos Fakinos Hellenic School will perform the carols and a Christmas celebration program.
Youth Ministries
1) Hope and Joy: Please join us on Saturday, December 13th from 7 - 8:30pm for our annual “Christmas Storytime with Father Nikiforos” free event and Treasure Hunt game. New Year’s Celebration, December 31st from 10 am – 12 noon. Drop off event.
2) GREEK HERITAGE ISLANDERS GAME for the NY Islanders / Vancouver Canucks home game on Friday, December 19th at 7pm at UBS.
3) GOYA, Friday, December 12th at 7:30 pm.
4) Jr. GOYA on December 27th at 7 pm.
Celebrations and Fundraisers
1) Pet Photos with Santa, Friday, December 12th, 2025, from 3 – 5 pm, at the Courtyard by the Chapel.
2) Philoptochos Bake Sale, Sunday, December 21st after the service. Philoptochos is also taking orders for Vasilopita pies; please, contact Sophia Pappas or Eleni Frasiolas.
3) Please support our Christmas Card to send your wishes to the entire Parish this festive Nativity season. Call our office to include your family in the Card: (516) 379-1368.
SAINT ELEFTHERIOS
Our beloved Community celebrates the feast of the Chapel of Saint Eleftherios the Holy Martyr. The Chapel is a place of worship and a vessel of divine grace and salvation. On weekdays, there are many Divine Liturgies for the memory of various Saints throughout the year. Some of the spiritual events that take place in the Chapel are Vespers, Paraklesis (Invocation to the Virgin Mary) and Compline services, as well as of confessions and Agiasmos (or sanctification of Holy Water) services. Many blessings are offered in the beautiful, Byzantine Chapel of the Community.
The Patron Saint of the Chapel, Saint Eleftherios, is an example for all Christians, especially for the youth. He became a deacon at the age of 15 and a priest at the age of 19. 6 years later he became Bishop of Rome! Saint Eleftherios offered his God-given talents in the service of Christ’s vineyard without delay or hesitation. He was eager to serve God and to labor for the salvation of the world. His mission was to evangelize the people, teaching all to follow the commandments of God and baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Saint Eleftherios took important decisions early in his life. He did not procrastinate, as some people chose to do when it comes to doing the right thing in this life. There are persons who hesitate to do the right thing, such as charity, going to Church, helping a good cause, etc. The more we delay to do a good deed, the more opportunities we miss to express our faith and show our love to God. It has been said that “the road of tomorrow leads to the avenue of never.” The many delays might destroy our chances to offer something good in this life. It is a blessing that people serve the Church and come to Church without waiting for the eleventh hour. It is beautiful when young people serve the Community with love and dedication. Saint Eleftherios certainly inspires them to do so.
Saint Eleftherios also teaches us to be courageous. People might persecute us for living a life of virtue. There are young people who are made fun of for praying, doing their cross in public, coming to Church, maintaining their purity and abstaining from smoking and drugs. Saint Eleftherios inspires us to withstand the persecutions of others. He suffered many tortures professing his faith and converting even his persecutors! God gave him strength not to feel the pain, but to praise him even during the most painful martyrdom. We can also look to God for strength and support, during the adversities and tribulations of life. We can all honor Saint Eleftherios and by following his example of holiness, perseverance and decisiveness, we not only honor him, but we also earn eternal glory!
+Protopresbyter Nikiforos Fakinos
ΑΓΙΟΣ ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΙΟΣ
Οι Ορθόδοξοι Χριστιανοί εκφράζουν ιδιαίτερη αγάπη για τους Αγίους τους. Όλοι μας τιμούμε την μνήμη των εκλεκτών του Θεού που μεσιτεύουν για τις ψυχές μας από την Επουράνιο Χώρα της Βασιλείας του Θεού. Στα παιδιά μας, δίνουμε ονόματα Αγίων ώστε να έχουν θετικά πρότυπα στη ζωή τους. Στις Εκκλησίες μας, τιμούμε τις μορφές των ανθρώπων που βίωσαν τις αρχές του Ευαγγελίου, που έκαναν την πίστη τρόπο ζωής. Στην ιδιαίτερη πνευματική μας ομήγυρη, την Κοινότητα του Αγίου Μεγαλομάρτυρος Δημητρίου, αριθμούμε πλειάδα εορτών ανά το έτος στις οποίες συντρέχουν οι πιστοί ώστε να πανηγυρίσουν την μνήμη των Αγίων και να λάβουν τη Χάρη και την προστασία τους. Είχαμε την ευλογία να γίνουν τα ονομαστήρια του ιερού Προσκυνήματος του Αγίου Μεγαλομάρτυρος Ελευθερίου, ο οποίος εορτάζεται στις 15 Δεκεμβρίου. Όχι τυχαία, στο θησαυρό του Αγιολογίου, με τους Παρακλητικούς κανόνες όλων των Αγίων, τεθησαύρισται η Ακολουθία του Αγίου Δημητρίου και του Αγίου Ελευθερίου συναπτά, η μία μετά την άλλη. Έτσι και στην Κοινότητά μας, τα θυσιαστήρια του ναού, το ένα μετά το άλλο, είναι αφιερωμένα στους δύο αυτούς σημαντικούς Μάρτυρες και Προστάτες της Εκκλησίας.
Ο Άγιος Ελευθέριος ήταν από νέος αφοσιωμένος στην υπηρεσία του Χριστού. Χειροτονήθηκε σε εφηβική ηλικία διάκονος και ιερέας, για να γίνει επίσκοπος Ρώμης ένας από τους πιο νέους ιεράρχες της πίστεως. Διώχθηκε και καταπολεμήθηκε από τους ειδωλολάτρες, αλλά εκείνος με αγάπη κατάφερε να προσυλητίσει ακόμη και τους στρατιώτες-διώκτες του. Μαρτύρησε με φρικτό θάνατο, αλλά ο ίδιος ηρωϊκά και με θάρρος υπέμεινε τα βασανιστήρια και τις ταπεινώσεις. Συγχωρώντας τους εκτελεστές του, αινούσε το Θεό, και δεν ένιωθε πόνο παρά μόνο τη Χάρη από το στεφάνι του Μαρτυρίου και της Αγιότητος.
Οι σύγχρονοι Χριστιανοί, επίσης διωκόμαστε από την ειδωλολατρεία και τον παγανισμό. Από νεαρή ηλικία, τα παιδιά και όλοι μας έχουμε να αντιμετωπίσουμε τις Χάρυβδες και τις θέλξεις του υλισμού, του πλουτισμού και του καταναλωτισμού. Αναγκάζεται η νέα γεννιά να βάζει σε ανώτερη προτεραιότητα τα χρήματα, τη μόδα, την διασκέδαση, παρά την ηθική ζωή και την εποικοδομητική ψυχαγωγία. Στα αρχαία Ελληνικά, διασκεδάζω σημαίνει διασκορπίζομαι. Διασκορπίζονται πολλοί νέοι μας με ψυχοφθόρα μουσική, ναρκωτικά, βία και ανηθικότητα. Αντί να ψυχαγωγούνται, να άγουν την ψυχή τους σε ανώτερα επίπεδα, την διασκορπίζουν και την πετάνε στα σκουπίδια της σύγχρονης διαφθοράς. Τα εκατομμύρια των εκτρώσεων, η επέκταση του Έϊτζ, η διάβρωση των ηθών και η διάδοση των ναρκωτικών επιβεβαιώνουν με ακρίβεια την δίωξη των νέων μας από τα σύγχρονα μέσα του παγανισμού και της αθεΐας.
Ο Άγιος Ελευθέριος, ως νέος Χριστιανός που αντιστάθηκε σε ορατούς και αοράτους εχθρούς κατά της Χριστιανοσύνης, μας εμπνέει να είμαστε δυνατοί και να ζούμε σύμφωνα με τις αρχές του Χριστού. Να απελευθερωθούμε από τα δεσμά των μέσων μαζικής διαφθοράς και να έχουμε δική μας γνώμη και άποψη για το πως οφείλουμε να ζούμε. Να είμαστε ελεύθεροι μέσα από την αλήθεια του Χριστού και να μαρτυρούμε την πίστη που σώζει τον άνθρωπο. Την Ορθόδοξο πίστη της Εκκλησίας μας.
+Πρωτοπρεσβύτερος Νικηφόρος Φακίνος
SAINT ANDREW AND THE SAINTS OF THE WEEK
Dear members of the Saint Demetrios family,
This week was marked with the celebration of significant Saints (and the name-days of many Parishioners and family members). On Sunday, we had the feast of Saint Andreas, the Protector and Patron Saint of our Mother Church, the Patriarchate of Constantinople, and Patron of Patras, Cyprus, Ukraine and Scotland (along with Great Britain). He was the first called Apostle and his martyrdom was by crucifixion; out of humility he requested that his cross is placed sideways, so that he is not crucified like Jesus. This explains the X shape in the British flag (in honor of Saint Andrew) superimposed by the Cross in honor of Saint George.
On Thursday, we celebrated Saint Barbara the great martyr. She is a miraculous Saint and she is also a protector for abused children and for people suffering from pandemics and contagious diseases. She is also the Patron Saint of the Greek military forces, το πυροβολικό. Every year, in my sermon on the feast of Saint Barbara, I make special reference to the sacred duty we all have to protect the innocent and angelic children. They are surrounded by corruption and evil, that invades their lives through atheism, moral deception, corrupt social media and public persecution. As the protector of our Philoptochos, she inspires our sisterhood to defend the defenseless, to protect the unprotected and to aid the helpless. Yesterday, the Philoptochos Christmas celebration was wonderful and all our ladies shared exciting fellowship while assisting a worthy cause. And one of the most worthy causes is to protect our innocent children.
Often times, children are pressured to deny their Christian identity and values, especially in School and College. The sanctity of their life is not respected before and not even after birth. International traffickers and exploiters use and abuse innocent lives and especially children from suffering countries and broken families. Recent arrests of such abusers are only the tip of the iceberg, data shows that thousands are abused daily and such crimes are not punished as they should. Movies and series on famous networks and platforms romanticize abuse; directors and film producers, although with guilty verdicts against them, roam free and with punishments much lesser considering the gravity of the crimes against children. The newest initiative of the Archdiocese is to protect the innocent, and the new office to support victims of human trafficking was been blessed by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America and has supported so many ailing souls.
On December 6th we celebrate the memory of Saint Nicholas, Bishop of Myra in Asia Minor. Saint Nicholas is an example of charity, philanthropy and care for the meek. He lived an ascetic lifestyle and he maintained no personal belongings; he was a monk and a Bishop that should inspire all Christians that happiness in the simple things of life. Saint Nicholas was very discrete when helping someone; he did not want his good deeds to be known, unlike some people who advertise their philanthropy. He helped especially the orphans, the widows, the lame, the sick and the elderly. He gave smile in the faces that were sprinkled by tears. He gave joy to the hearts that were broken by sorrow. He was the example of faith and piety, as his hymn (Apolytikion) indicates. He is an example to be followed and imitated by more and more Christians. Such an example inspired the faithful to announce at his ordination that his is “worthy;” and at his funeral to exclaim that he is “HOLY!”
On Tuesday, we celebrate Saint Anna, who is also the Protector of expecting mothers and couples who wish to have children; We ask for the Saint’s intercessions as she unceasingly prays for the families; the grandmother of our Lord, who miraculously brought us the blessed Theotokos, by the divine will. Our children are the greatest gift of God in our lives. In Church, we nourish them spiritually, we educate them and edify them in faith, we prepare them for life, and we instill in them the values and moral principles of our Christian ethos.
The Saints the we celebrate these days, have one thing in common. Saint Nicholas was instrumental in giving gifts for the families and children who were needy (which also became the legend of Santa Nicholaus, Santa Claus, in the West). Saint Barbara protects the innocent victims of abuse. Saint Anna blesses the unborn, the newly conceived and all pure infants. Saint Andrew, the founder of the Mother Church, gave me personally the gift of Apostolic Succession, along with thousands of other priests, so that we may baptize, offer the sacraments and minister to the children. The Church loves our children; this is the best place for them to make life-long friends and cultivate their ethos. This is where they belong, where we all belong!
+Protopresbyter Nikiforos Fakinos
This Christmas, we can give a gift to our own children in the Parish, by donating much needed supplies for their education and our Schools. Please, click on the link below and select which gift you would like to offer to support our youth: