Can You Dance and Pray?

Dear friends and supporters of our beautiful Church,

Can you dance and pray at the same time? In my case, all the time: praying to remember the steps, praying not to be stepped on, and praying not to fall down… I was never a strong dancer, I learned (some) Greek dancing the night before the wedding… embarrassing! Imagine, a Greek from Greece who can’t dance! So, the night before I stepped up to the altar, we had the talk: “you will LEAD the dance tomorrow!” I have never been so scared in my life. I prayed. I danced and prayed. So, here you go, you can dance and pray.

Greek dancing is actually very theological. It is mostly circular, symbolizing eternity. It is Christocentric, Christ-centered, with all of us holding hands, in the solidarity of the faith, and coming in unity, as a community, to celebrate our faith and heritage. During the service of Holy Matrimony, we also move in 3 circles, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, following our spiritual Father, the Priest, who holds the best icon of Christ, the Holy Gospel. When we follow the Lord, our life is like a dance, filled with joy and celebration. We chant “dance Isaiah, the Virgin has conceived in the womb” and the Messianic prophecies are fulfilled. Dance and rejoice for the Kingdom of God is at hand.

Last weekend, I celebrated the wedding of a couple. The entire ceremony was in English except for that beautiful hymn. Yet, all the American speaking guests, took out their cellphones and recorded the moment. After the service, I asked some guests, how come they recorded that particular part of the service, the only one in Greek. They answered “it was inspiring,” “we felt the Holy Spirit” and “it was the most beautiful chant we ever experienced!” Yes, indeed, we dance even in services, we have processions, celebrations, litanies, we dance and pray!

Modern Western dances are mostly individualistic. Dancing to a rhythm dictated by the beat of a drum, by ourselves and without uniformity. They are exciting and fun. Traditional Greek dancing adds to the excitement and the fun the elements of community engagement, spiritual symbolism and faith. Dancing can be prayerful, especially when we celebrate with the Community of faith. Breaking bread together, spending time together, with the blessings of our Priests and the dedication of our volunteers.

Our Dinner Dance is fast approaching, to celebrate one year in our new Constantine and Carol Cassis Center. We all need to be there, to celebrate, to rejoice and to manifest that we are contributing members of the Community. Thursday, October 15, at 6 pm, at the SNF Gymnasium. Bring all your friends and relatives. The live music will be exceptional and we can have delicious food and an unforgettable time, just like we had at Tsiknopempti. Make your reservations today! We have the best time when we all get together, to learn, to play, to dance and to pray.

Protopresbyter Nikiforos Fakinos

ΑΙ and GI

          Someone said that with AI (Artificial Intelligence), we will no longer need lawyers. It takes about 7 years to become a lawyer, plus additional time for the Bar examination and other certifications (applicable to certain fields of law). 7 years of extensive and expensive education. I doubt that AI will take over the legal professions, but I am certain that GI should. GI, God’s Intelligence, is superior, if applied by all.

In Sunday’s Gospel reading, it takes one phrase for all the law of God to be contained: “And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them likewise” (Luke 6:31). 14 simple words. No needs for thousands of books and millions of words. If we apply the Lord’s words, we have a perfect society, based on the law of love. The Divine Law, because God is love!

          And the more difficult part of the law: love your enemies, for even sinners love those who love them. That is hard. If someone attacks your children, your family, how can we love them? But if we truthfully and genuinely forgive and pray for them, we have gained eternal grace. Be careful, we are not enablers. We will not allow them to repeat toxic or dangerous behavior. But we also forgive and pray for them, as we would do if we had committed those injustices.

          And we have. We have also sinned, time and again. We have hurt people’s feelings and we have become insensitive to others. We demand forgiveness from them and from God. We should also extend forgiveness likewise, that is the key to open the gates of Heaven.

Protopresbyter Nikiforos Fakinos

Ένας νόμος χρειάζεται

Μέσα σε 12 λέξεις στο Ευαγγέλιο της Κυριακής, κρύβεται όλη η νομοθεσία του κόσμου. Τόσο απλά. Τόσο εύκολα. «Καθὼς θέλετε ἵνα ποιῶσιν ὑμῖν οἱ ἄνθρωποι, καὶ ὑμεῖς ποιεῖτε αὐτοῖς ὁμοίως», Ὅπως θέλετε νά σᾶς συμπεριφέρονται οἱ ἄνθρωποι, ἔτσι ἀκριβῶς νά συμπεριφέρεστε κι ἐσεῖς σ΄ αὐτούς. Ενώ ο Χριστός, με μία πρόταση, κατάφερε να συγκεντρώσει όλους τους νόμους σε έναν. Είναι ο χρυσός κανόνας για την ζωή της κοινωνίας, ειδικά στις μέρες μας όπου κυριαρχεί η παρανομία και η ανομία. Θέλουμε να μας αγαπάνε; Να δείχνουμε αγάπη. Θέλουμε να είναι δίκαιοι απέναντί μας; Να είμαστε δίκαιοι. Θέλουμε να είναι έντιμοι; Να είμαστε έντιμοι.

Ο Χριστός προσπαθεί να δώσει στους μαθητές Του τον ορισμό της αγάπης. Τους καλεί να αγαπάνε χωρίς διάκριση όλους τους ανθρώπους, θεωρώντας τους ως αδερφούς. Προσπαθεί να τους δείξει να αγαπάνε όπως ο Θεός· όλους και χωρίς εξαιρέσεις. Άλλωστε, ο Θεός μπορεί να φτάσει μέχρι και στο Σταυρό για την αγάπη Του. Την ίδια έκκληση, σήμερα, απευθύνει στον καθένα από εμάς.Καλούμαστε να αγαπήσουμε άνευ όρων τον άνθρωπο· όποιος και αν είναι αυτός.

Να αγαπάμε όλους και όχι μόνο αυτούς που μας ευεργετούν και η αγάπη για τους ανθρώπους να φτάνει μέχρι το Σταυρό. Και το ένα και το άλλο είναι πολύ δύσκολα σε μία κοινωνία που κυριαρχεί το κακό σε όσους δεν μας βοηθάνε. «ἀγαπᾶτε τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ὑμῶν καὶ ἀγαθοποιεῖτε καὶ δανείζετε» είναι ο λόγος του Κυρίου για τη ζωή μας. Αυτός που έχει πραγματική αγάπη κάνει αγαθά πράγματα, χωρίς να περιμένει κάποιο αντάλλαγμα από κάποιον. Αυτός είναι ο κανόνας για να είμαστε μέσα στην εκκλησία.

Ξέρετε πού θα κριθούμε για την αγάπη μας; Αν έχουμε έναν εχθρό και δεν τον αγαπήσουμε μέχρι το τέλος της ζωής μας. Σε αυτή την περίπτωση, δεν θα είμαστε άξιοι να λεγόμαστε παιδιά του Θεού ή και να δικαιούμαστε την Βασιλεία του Θεού. Μία αγάπη σταυρική. Για τον άνθρωπο που αγαπάω, να φτάσω μέχρι το Σταυρό, αλλά και η αγάπη φαίνεται μέσα από τις πράξεις μας. Να βοηθάμε εκείνους τους ανθρώπους που δεν θα περιμένουμε ανταπόδοση από αυτούς, αλλά από το Θεό.

 Follow Me!

How did the disciples meet Jesus? We know that some of them knew the Lord through the testimony of Saint John the Baptist. We also know that the Lord approached them and invited them to follow Him. Each one had a personal invitation, and in different circumstances.

In Sunday’s Gospel reading, Jesus sees the fishermen washing their nets. The Lord gets into Simon’s (Peter’s) boat and asks him to put out a little from the land so that He can preach and be heard by all the people on the shore. After the sermon, He compels the simple fishermen to cast their nets into the deep. Simon responds that “we toiled all night and caught nothing, but at your word, I will let down the nets.” And the result is catching a great shoal of fish, so many, that they needed additional boats to assist them and carry them to the shore.

Simon Peter falls on his knees and says “depart from me, O Lord, for I am a sinful man.” His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also astonished. And Jesus says: “Do not be afraid; henceforth, you will be catching people.” And they brought their boats to land and they followed Him. (Luke 5: 1 – 11)

What is your story? How did you meet Jesus? What brings you to Church on Sundays and feasts? Why do you follow Him? How do you cast your nets to bring those you love to Him?

We all have received a personal invitation from Christ. I reminisce with tears and a nostalgic smile how my parents brought me to Church. I remember my grandparents, talking about God; even when my grandmother forgot everyone and all our names, she was still chanting the Paraklesis and the Heretismi (Salutations) by heart.

I remember my Parish Priests and the impact they had in my life. My Sunday School teachers and my counselors at Camp were inspirational. My favorite memories include visiting Monasteries, receiving the blessing of Saint Paisios, Saint Iakovos Tsalikis and Saint Porfyrios. I cannot forget the first time I climbed the summit of Mount Sinai, to the Chapel of Prophet Moses, where God gave the 10 Commandments and praying their at sunrise; I was only 15 at the time, still a child. And I love my memories that led me to the School of Theology in Boston, and later to ordination and to serve God, bringing me to Saint Demetrios in Merrick, our beautiful Church.

Many of you have beautiful memories from Church since childhood. Just like the Apostles, we obey Christ, who commissions us to serve Him and His flock. As volunteers, teachers, donors or Christian parents, we are all asked to bring people to Him.

Saint Peter obeyed the Lord to cast the nets a second time and that brought prosperity and success. People who obey Christ, have a beautiful life, blessed families, love and faith in their lives. Saint Peter and the Apostles left many things behind, unfinished business, to serve the Lord.

We all leave unfinished house chores and business responsibilities to come to Church. We put fear aside and with faith and courage we fulfill His will. This way, we teach our family that He comes first. And we bring with us those we love. “Do not be afraid; henceforth, you will be catching people.”

Protopresbyter Nikiforos Fakinos

 Love the Faith – Live the Faith

          This Sunday, September 20th, we will have our Ministries Sunday for all the Parish programs and organizations. A free breakfast is lovingly offered by the Trahanas family in memory of our beloved Jimmy Trahanas and we welcome all our Parish families to meet our advisors and learn about the exciting events planned for this year.

          The Church School students and teachers, as well as all our families, will receive a blessing (Ἁγιασμός) service. We pray that all our students are healthy and they progress academically and spiritually. In Church School we learn our faith and every Sunday I teach our youth significant aspects of our Orthodox life. This Sunday, we will speak about the Holy Cross, why we make the sign of the Cross “differently” from other denominations, what the Cross represents and how it emerged as the universal Christian symbol. This information is not available anywhere else, not in school, not in social media, not on TV.

          Most importantly, our children and all faithful families will find like-minded people to share and practice our traditions in a world that surrounds them with many wrong beliefs and dangerous practices. I recall one College student who told me that each time she was offered drugs or she was approached by Satan worshipers or dangerous groups, she recalled these lessons. She is always in contact with her friends from Church and with her Priest and she knew to defend herself from the many evils that attempted to ruin her life.

          Church School, Little Angels, HOPE, JOY, Jr. GOYA, GOYA, YAL, Golden Years, Pins for Pauly, Philoptochos, School Board, PTA and Parish Council are all comprised of volunteers who love the faith and dedicate their lives to the Church. All the advisors and coaches for our organizations and for our teams are here to serve the Community and make our world a better place. We express our gratitude to them by participating in all the activities, which are organized for the benefit of each family and every Parishioner.

          In Saint Demetrios, we are blessed to be part of a spiritual family, with one characteristic in common: we love the faith. And when we love the faith, we live the faith. We participate in the sacraments of the Church, in worship, in activities. We learn our faith and we practice the precepts that our Lord and Savior instructed. Orthodox Study discussions on Thursdays are very well attended, with dozens of participants. Sunday services are packed with many faithful. Our children are never alone. They are surrounded by their peers in what I call “positive peer pressure:” when my friends are doing the right things, I also emulate that example. When they cultivate their health, their souls and their mind, I do the same. When they stay away from dangerous habits and toxic ideologies, I do the same.

          I am blessed to write more than 100 recommendation letters each year, for scholarships, community service for honors classes, and for College or employment applications. When our youth is actively involved in the Community programs, I have more to write and great eagerness to wholeheartedly recommend. I will personally call their prospective employers for job applications and give my most enthusiastic recommendation, when I know the candidate, who has been an active member of the Community. Participation in Saint Demetrios events and programs is more valuable than any other activity. Most importantly, we replenish our spiritual nourishment and we live our faith to the fullest. When we love the faith, we live the faith!

Protopresbyter Nikiforos Fakinos

 DO WE WEAR THE CROSS OR DO WE BEAR THE CROSS

          On the day of our baptism, our Godparents gifted us one of the most precious and significant presents we will ever receive: our baptismal Cross. Since that day, we wear our Cross everywhere. Right next to it, our heart beats every second of our lives, receiving the Lord’s blessings, Whose heart stopped beating on the Cross we venerate and honor. His love is manifested with His precious blood on the Cross of Golgotha, His sacrifice is an eternal gateway to Heaven, since the Cross became the key that unlocked the Gates to Paradise; His death opened the road to the Resurrection, the common Resurrection – τὴν κοινὴν Ἀνάστασιν.

          September 14th is the day that we commemorate the Universal Exaltation of the Precious Cross in Jerusalem, unearthed by Saint Helen, Mother of Saint Constantine the Great. On September 14th 335 A.D., in the great Church of the Holy Resurrection in Jerusalem, the Precious Cross of the Lord was exalted up high, venerated by thousands of faithful. Centuries later, the Cross was stolen by the Persians; it was retrieved by Emperor Herakleios who returned the Precious Cross with a festive procession reaching Constantinople in the year 628 A.D.

          As we all pray for the blessing of our Crucified and Risen Lord, we ought to ask ourselves: do we wear the Cross our bear the Cross? Is the Cross a piece of jewelry or a way of life? The Cross is the symbol of sacrificial love. What do we sacrifice for our faith? Do we pray enough, study the faith enough, do we receive the sacraments frequently and well prepared? Do we love God with all our hearts and our neighbor as ourselves? Do we observe the commandments unequivocally or selectively? Do we wear our Cross or bear our Cross?

Protopresbyter Nikiforos Fakinos