Parish News The memorial service this morning is being chanted for Bishop George of New Jersey who fell asleep in the Lord ten years ago. May his memory be eternal. The memorial service begins on page 164 of the Divine Liturgy book.

Today, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Prevas will present their first child, a daughter, for the traditional forty day blessing. Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Maistros will present their third child, a daughter, also for that blessing. We wish these families many years of health and happiness.

The Laconian Society “Lycourgos-Taygete” will honor its patron, St. Nikon, with an artoclasia, litany, and coffee hour. The congregation is invited.

The Fall Parish Assembly will be held today, in the AHEPA Room, immediately following the Divine Liturgy. Light refreshments will be served. Please plan to attend.

Filakia dance group will practice today in the music room. Evangelakia dance group will practice in the Father Constantine M. Monios Hall following the coffee hour.

A musical tribute to the Greek legends Theodorakis, Plessas, Hadzidakis, and Xarhakos will be held today at 5:00 p.m., at the Lyric Opera House. All proceeds to benefit the Metropolis of New Jersey.

Join us for the Annual Women's Guild Christmas Luncheon at the Towson Golf and Country Club, Saturday, December 5, 2009, 11:30 a.m. Adult tickets are $30.00; children 12 years of age and under are $15.00. For tickets and additional information, contact Diana Pillas, 410-821-8799, or Lauri Feeney, 410-666-6255. Remember to bring an unwrapped toy for “Toys for Tots.”

Holy Cross Orthodox Church presents “This Orthodox Life,” a Nativity Fast Retreat with author and speaker Matthew Gallatin, Friday, December 4, 2009, 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, December 5, 9:00 a.m. For more information call 410-850-5090 or register online at holycrossonline.org/MatthewGallatin. Registration deadline is December 1, 2009. All are welcome.

CHRISTMAS BREAD and BAKLAVA. This year, in addition to selling the traditional Christmas bread at $8.00 per loaf, the Philoptochos is offering small trays of homemade baklava for your gift lists. The trays will make perfect treats, and will be sold in two sizes $15.00 and $25.00. The bite-size pieces of the honey nut pastry are guaranteed to prompt visions of sugar plums! Call Georgeann Morekas, 410-828-8340, gnmorekas@comcast.net, Mary Kariotis 410-655-1579 malama@comcast.net, or Pat Bartsocas, 410-581-2349 bartsocaspat@hotmail.com, for details and pre-orders.


Parish News ADVENT—In the Orthodox Church, this period is commonly known as the Nativity Fast. It begins on the day following the Feast of St. Philip (November 15) and ends on Christmas Day. Its meaning refers to the coming of the Lord in the flesh (Nativity) for which the faithful must prepare spiritually and emotionally.

The convent sisters of The Holy Trinity St. Paraskeva in the Ukraine are in dire need of warm clothing. Items particularly requested are: blankets, shoes, warm boots, warm knee-hi socks, sweaters, and warm coats...all in unrelieved black for the nuns, and color items for the villagers. Items should be in good condition and not necessarily new. A whole range of sizes are needed. Any questions, please call Sophia Redmiles, 410-256-6879. Please drop off items in marked box outside Cathedral office.

The Franciscan Center needs our help. Donations to the center have decreased and they have regrettably decided to cancel the daily meal they serve on Fridays. They have been serving 450 to 500 meals daily, Monday through Friday. They hope to be able to hand out 450 bagged lunches of non perishable items to supplement the Friday meal. Some food donation bins at the entrance to church will be labeled “Franciscan Center” specifically for items like cereal bars, granola bars, fruit juices, cookies, peanut butter, etc. Anyone wishing to help may contact Geli Ioannou, gioannou@comcast.net or Harry Monios, evid2000@comcast.net.

One of the beautiful Christmas traditions in our Church is the decorating of our sanctuary with poinsettias. These plants, at $20.00 each, may be donated in honor of or in memory of loved ones. Forms are available from the Cathedral office. The deadline is December 14, 2009.

PROJECT ZESTASIA--The Cathedral’s annual clothing drive for the City’s homeless will take place on Sunday, December 6 and Sunday, December 13. Because of the tremendous increase in Baltimore City’s homeless, we ask that every parishioner participate in this very worthy project. This year we need coats, hats, scarves, sweaters, gloves and boots for people of all ages including children. We are also collecting blankets for the homeless.

Our annual Winter Bible Camp will be held on December 29 - 30, 2009, at the Cathedral. Camp is open to
children ages 3 – 11. Please RSVP by December 15. For additional information, please contact Dimitri Lee,
dlee@goannun.org. Space is limited and your early response is necessary. The cost is $25.00 per child and
includes all activities and lunch.

GOYA Christmas caroling is scheduled for Saturday, December 12, 2009. If you would like a visit to your home or business, please see our Goyans in the lower lobby today to sign up.

All college students are welcome to join the Johns Hopkins/Loyola University Campus Ministry dinner on Thursday, December 3, 2009, at 5:00 p.m. Meetings are held at the Meyerhoff Interfaith Center on Charles Street. Every first Thursday of the month, we have a dinner followed by discussion and fellowship with other Orthodox Christians. Contact Dimitri Lee for more details, dlee@goannun.org.

“Give, and it shall be given to you. For whatever measure you deal out to others, it will be dealt to you in return.” In the spirit of giving, our Sunday School will be decorating the community Christmas tree with school supplies that will be given to needy children through the IOCC. Please help them in their effort by donating any of the following new items: rounded tip scissors, three 70-count spiral or tape bound pads of 8 x 10-1/2 ruled paper or pads with 200-210 sheets, hand-held pencil sharpeners, pencils with erasers, 2-1/2 inch erasers, boxes of 24 crayons. Collection baskets will be located outside of the Sunday School Office. Please call Maria Durham, 410-323-4237, for additional information.