Parish News We welcome to the Cathedral, Father Theodore Dorrance, pastor of St. John the Baptist Church in Beaverton, Oregon. We also cordially welcome Presvytera Marika Brown, Presvytera Stacey Dorrance and Mrs. Chrysanthy Therianos. All were visiting on the occasion of the annual Growing in Faith Lenten Retreat held yesterday. Father Theodore will offer the homily this morning following the Gospel.

The memorial service this morning is being chanted for the following servants of Christ who have fallen asleep in the Lord. The memorial service begins on page 164 of the Divine Liturgy book.

Lula Marudas 40 Days
Marie Prevas Diamond 40 Days

May their memory be eternal.

The Altar flowers are offered to the glory of God and in loving memory of John Christo and Liliane T. Sakelos and are presented by Nick and Jackie Dezes.

The Coffee Hour is being hosted by the Marudas and Diamond families in loving memory of Lula Marudas and Marie Prevas Diamond. The entire congregation is invited to the Father Constantine M. Monios Hall.

Mr. and Mrs. Pascalis Papouras will present their first child, a daughter, for the traditional forty day blessing. We wish them many years of health and happiness.

The Maryland Greek Independence Day Parade Committee will host its Grand Parade today. All Greek Orthodox Churches will be proudly marching along with their Sunday Schools, Greek Schools, Dance Groups, and GOYAns. They will be joined by the many Greek community organizations. Plan to attend. The parade starts in Highlandtown at 1:00 p.m.

The basket of flowers gracing the icon of the Panaghia for the service of the Akathyst Hymn was offered to the glory of God and in memory of Nicholas S. Morekas and Nicholas J. Slifer.

The members of the Golden Age Club will dye eggs red for Easter on Holy Thursday, April 1. We will meet in the Cathedral Kitchen at 10:00 a.m. and will finish by 2:00 p.m. We need both men and women to help. If you can do so, please see Chris Apesos or Nick Kiladis today. A Lenten lunch will be available.

Please mark your calendar for the Women’s Guild Annual Taverna Night to be held on Friday, April 23, 2010, 8:00 p.m. to midnight, at the AOC. Music will be provided by Zephyros; mezedakia and cash bar. Tickets are $20.00 per person. See Athena Sidou in the lower lobby, or call her, 410-882-2355.


Parish News Great Vespers of Agape will be celebrated on Pascha, April 4, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. It is a tradition that the Good News of the Resurrection of our Lord be proclaimed in various languages. Readers skilled in languages are needed to proclaim the Gospel. To volunteer as a reader, please call Father Dean, 410-727-1831, or you may e-mail frdean@goannun.org.

We are looking for young ladies in grades second and third who would like to be Myrofores (myrrh bearers) during Holy Week. Attire will be all white dresses and white shoes. Duties to include being a part of the processions of the Bridegroom services and standing guard around the Kouvouklion and processing around the block, weather permitting, on Holy Friday night and present on Saturday night (Pascha). To sign up, call Kathy Kafarakis, 410-252-7954, by March 31. There will be some rehearsals prior to the services.

One of our beautiful Easter traditions is the decoration of the Altar with lilies. These plants, at $20.00 each, may be donated either in memory of, or in honor of, your loved ones. Forms are available from the Cathedral office. Please make checks payable to Annunciation Cathedral and return to the Cathedral office.

The Philoptochos Society is sponsoring a sale of tsoureki at $8/loaf and decorated boxes of koulourakia at $10/box for your Paschal table. These items will be sold on Palm Sunday, March 28, following the Divine Liturgy in the lower lobby. Contact Georgeann Morekas, 443-845-1176, gnmorekas@comcast.net, or Pat Bartsocas bartsocaspat@hotmail.com. Delicious Easter candy in different Easter shapes will also be sold after church in attractive containers to give as Easter gifts. The Philoptochos decorates the Epitafios for Great Friday Procession. The flowers used are a gift to the Cathedral from you. Please send your monetary donations payable to the Philoptochos Society.

Hellene Cuisine will celebrate with "Splendid Table", Saturday, April 24, 2010, at 10:30 a.m., in the Mentis Room. The cost is $40.00 and will include the demonstration and tasting. Join us! The array of dishes will delight and impress! Contact Susan Prevas, 410-252-4337, or you may e-mail her susan.prevas@gmail.com.

The IOCC Fourth Annual Orthodox Taste of Baltimore will be held on Saturday, April 24, 2010, in the Father Constantine M. Monios Hall. Vespers will be held in the Cathedral at 5:00 p.m.; program in the social hall at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are $30.00 for adults; $15.00 for children 5 – 12 years of age; children 5 and under are our guests. For additional information, call the IOCC 410-243-9820, or visit www.iocc.org/baltimore.

If you have not returned your 2010 Stewardship card, please do so today. Pledge cards are available at the Cathedral office and the Pangari, or you may call the office, 410-727-1831, and one will be mailed to you.

HELLENIC HERITAGE MUSEUM AND ARCHIVES OF MARYLAND COMMITTEE
One of the purposes of this committee is to preserve the histories of Hellenes in Maryland by interviewing and recording individuals. The recorded material will be deposited in an archival collection creating a repository for these histories. Please consider a donation to help purchase the equipment for recording this valuable and interesting information. You may contact Penny Frankos, 410-366-6362.

As you exit church services on Sunday mornings, take a few minutes to enjoy the colorful and impressive new exhibition on Greek Orthodox Easter customs in the main lobby showcases. It is the work of Hank Grasso, consultant to the Hellenic Heritage Museum and Archives of Maryland Committee, and the committee’s chairman Harry Maistros.

Scholarship applications for the Hellenic University Club and the Philoptochos are available from the Cathedral office. Please note the deadlines.