A Message From Your Priest

So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!

2 Corinthians 5:17

We have entered a New Year, a New Century and a New Millennium. On January first, we began another year in our earthly lives, in our work, our families, our partnerships, our friendships, our concerns, our worries, our joys and disappointments and our hopes and frustrations. All of these everyday experiences comprise the field "in which our salvation has to be worked out in God's name."

We have left one more year behind us. We know and God knows what we have done in the past and we place our trust in Him for our unknown future. "We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him" as St. Paul wrote to the Romans. Many of us fall into despair when we realize that another part of our earthly life has irrevocably passed. "But time presses on towards God and eternity, not towards the past and destruction. And so-in God's name!", as Karl Rahner reminds us in his book, Everyday Faith.

In God's name, we move forward as individuals, as families, as a Christian Church and as a nation. The whole world is marching towards eternity and the realization of God's plan that all nations and all peoples of the earth will respect and understand each other, communicate and share in helping each other like family members, the family of the eternal God. Walls and divisions should crumble. Tyranny should yield to democracy and freedom. The destruction, abuse and exploitation of our planet should be eliminated. Justice for all, peace and human rights should be in the forefront of our political, religious and economic debates. The plight of the disadvantaged should come into focus and it should become the concern of our society. No Church can afford to overlook these problems without compromising her mission.

"The world is rapidly changing. Half a century ago, few of us had heard of television; now it is the predominant form of communication on earth. We knew nothing of computers; yet now our lives are being revolutionized by their existence. We had no understanding of DNA, that remarkable little string of cells in our bodies that makes the decisions about the replication of all our other cells; today we are told that scientists will soon be able to alter our DNA, perhaps eliminating cancer and Alzheimer's and other debilitating diseases, and, in the bargain, producing cells that are superintelligent and superathletic." writes John Killinger in his book, Preaching the New Millennium.

Humankind, facing an unknown future, yearns for security and hopes for peace. Orthodox Christians and all Christians, are wondering, what is to be the Church for the New Millennium and yet God's plan is to save this world. St. Paul told the Corinthians, "So if anyone is in Christ , there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!" The author of the Revelation 21:1-5 talks also about a new Heaven and a New Earth: "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more; for the first things have passed away." And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new." The New Testament teaching that the present world will pass away does not mean that present creation will be destroyed. It will be renewed, transfigured and glorified.

From this point of view, against any rationalistic interpretation of our Christian Faith and our Orthodoxy in particular, we must remember that we are God's co-workers today, this very moment, not yesterday, not tomorrow, not then and there, but here and now. His call is powerful. "The most important thing that happens between God and the human soul is to love and to be loved" said Kallistos Kataphygiotis. When there is love, all of our problems will be resolved.

Let us then, in God's name, begin this New Year, this New Century and Millennium trusting God, honestly and with confidence that "God works for good with those who love him."

May God bless you throughout this New Year and abundantly bestow upon you and your loved ones the gifts of His love. Amen.

Father Efstathios V. Mylonas

St. Photios the Great

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

On Sunday, February 6, we commemorate one of the great luminaries of our Church, Saint Photios the Great, a holy Father whose life and work as the Patriarch of Constantinople had a lasting impact on the Church throughout the world.

Saint Photios was a brilliant thinker who strove always to remain faithful to the Tradition of the Church while at the same time laboring to meet the needs of his flock in the present and the future. For this reason, Saint Photios was first of all deeply committed to paideia, or education, in every sense. As a scholar himself, Saint Photios attached great value to learning, using his resources as Patriarch to share the blessing of education as widely as possible. Secondly, Saint Photios was dedicated to maintaining the adherence to the right faith and to the good order of the Church in accordance with the Apostolic Tradition. He devoted himself to preserving the rightful administration of the flock of God even through times of intense pressure and under persecution. Third, Saint Photios was a man of profound missionary zeal, who sought to spread the light of the Gospel to non-Christians by continual methodical action.

On the Feast of Saint Photios, we as an Archdiocese also honor the work of the Saint Photios National Shrine in St. Augustine, Florida. In its own way the National Shrine carries on the work of Saint Photios by educating, preserving, and enlightening. The Shrine holds exhibits that recall the accomplishments of our protoporoi, the earliest generations of Greek Orthodox immigrants who came to the shores of America to make a home for themselves in the New World; the Shrine also conducts programs that preserve and project our Orthodox Christian faith and our Hellenic cultural heritage. It is the custom of our Church to pass a special tray on Sunday, February 6, which is designated as "Saint Photios National Shrine Day," in order to support the work of this worthy Archdiocesan Institution.

Through the intercessions of St. Photios, may the Lord bless the work of our National Shrine and all of you and your families with His peace and grace.

With paternal love in Christ,
+Demetrios
Archbishop of America

Note: For information or contributions to St. Photios National Shrine, please write to: St. Photios National Shrine, 41 St. George St., P. O. Box 1960, St. Augustine, FL 32085, Tel.: (904) 829-8205, Fax: (904) 829-8707.

Acknowledgements
We acknowledge the many efforts, work and generosity of the people who made our Godparents/Godchildren Sunday so successful and they brought so many people together. We express our thanks and appreciation to the faithful ladies who baked and prepared the breads (artos) for the Ecumenical Service during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Many thanks to the people who were responsible to bring our youth to attend the Great Vesper Service on the Eve of the Feast of St. Anthony, the Patron Saint of our Parish. We express also deep appreciation to our Philoptochos who sponsored the delicious dinner following the Vesper Service on the Eve of the Feast of St. Anthony. On behalf of Metropolitan Anthony, our Greek Orthodox Priests and their families many thanks and gratitude to St. Anthony's Parish Council members, the Ladies Philoptochos Society, to the faithful and generous people who donated, those who came to serve, those who baked the vasilopitta and the breads. The annual cutting of the Vasilopitta by His Eminence Metropolitan Anthony and our clergy was a very happy event, elegant, beautiful!

Holy Sacraments and Services

Baptism
Alexander Philip, son of Brian M. and Pana-Louise Gelt on Saturday, January 22, 2000. Godparents: Theodore and Evangeline Dupas.

Chrismation
Victoria Sue Ryan on Sunday, January 30, 2000. Godparents: Barbara Akrotirianakis and Stavroula Kiotas.

Funeral
Pana A. Pastis of San Gabriel, California died on December 23, 1999. Funeral Services on December 27, 1999. May the Lord our God grant peace and rest to the soul of His most dedicated servant and strengthen her family. May her memory be eternal.

Vital Statistics for the Year 1999
Weddings 5
Baptisms 17
Funerals 9

Martina Tassius will be our new Church secretary as of February 14, 2000.

St. Anthony's Philoptochos News
St. Anthony's Philoptochos will now have a visitor and newcomers table in the Church Hall after Church Services on Sundays to welcome new members to our community. Information will also be available at the table regarding all Church organizations and activities.

Now is the time for Philoptochos members to renew their annual membership. Stewardship notices will be in the mail soon. If you are interested in becoming a new Philoptochos member please contact Ann Rouman.

Coffee Hour
The coffee hour after Church Services on Sunday needs your support. Please sign up to host a coffee hour. Contact Irene Albeck (626) 792-8122 or Alma Vorgias (818) 952-8426 for details.

Upcoming General Meeting
Please join us on Wednesday, February 23 at 7:30 p.m. For a discussion by Katie Moran from Project Linus. Project Linus distributes hand crafted blankets to seriously ill children. This meeting will be held at the home of Charlene Vayos in Pasadena.

With the support of our generous community in 1999, St. Anthony Philoptochos Society was able to make donations to the following groups and charities:

National Philoptochos
St. Basil Academy
Social Services
Cardiac Fund
St. Photios Shrine
Archdiocese Mission Program
Hellenic College/Holy Cross
Cancer Fund
Ecumenical Patriarchate
Unicef-Kosovo War
Church Music Endowment Fund
Children Medical Fund

Diocese Philoptochos
St. Nicholas Ranch
Kid's 'n Cancer
Bishop Anthony-Philoptochos Student Aid Endowment Fund

Other Contributions
Greece Earthquake Fund
Ionian Village
Oratorical Festival
St. Sophia Camp
American Cancer Society
Special Olympics
Ronald McDonald House
Red Wagon Society-Children's Hospital
City of Hope
LAC-USC Center for the Vulnerable Child
Pasadena Union Station
Meals on Wheels
Friends in Deed
Icons from Coffee Hour Donations

Local Community Outreach
Easter Baskets
Help to those in need at Thanksgiving and Christmas time

Announcements
Kids 'n' Cancer Program at Dr. And Mrs. James Kallins' home 9756 Downey and Sanford Bridge Road, Downey, CA, Telephone: (562) 923-1495. For contributions call: Mrs. George Chacopoulos (310) 207-6721.

Grand Banquet honoring Archbishop Demetrios of America on Friday, February 18, 2000 at the Doubletree Hotel, 2050 Gateway Place, San Jose, CA. For information: Christina Kontgas at (408) 578-0392; Loula C. Anaston at (650) 968 7238.

Greek Orthodox Folk Dance Festival will take place in San Jose, CA from February 17 - 20, 2000. Our Terpsichorians will participate.

St. Anthony's Parish will hold its 33rd Pentehiliariko on Saturday, February 26, 2000 at The Pasadena Hilton Hotel beginning at 6:00 p.m. You will experience an unforgettable evening. Please join us. For information: Pana or Brian Gelt at (626) 293-7588.

A Gala Banquet to honor Father John S. Bakas, dean of St. Sophia Cathedral on March 4, 2000. He will be honored by the Friends of Hellenic Studies and the Basil P. Caloyeras Center for Modern Greek Studies at Loyola Marymount University. Contact: Demetrios Liappas at (310) 338-4463 or Akrevoe Emmanouilides at (310) 377-6643.

A Lenten Youth Rally on March 11, 2000 at St. Katherine's Greek orthodox Church in Redondo Beach, CA. For information: (310) 540-2434 or Dean Langis at (949) 733-2366.

You are invited to a concert by Andrew Anthony, an Orthodox Christian contemporary musician on Saturday, March 11, 2000 from 8:00 - 10:00 p.m. At St. Katherine Community Center, 722 Knob Hill Ave., Redondo Beach, CA. For information; (310) 540-2434.

A Millennium Evening to remember by the Assumption Parish of long Beach,CA. This event will be held on Saturday, March 11, 2000 at The Hyatt Regency Long Beach Hotel. For further information: (562) 494-8929.

Old treasures and things that you don't need or you wish to donate, please bring them to our Church Hall for the forthcoming rummage sale. Please call Katherine Skandale at 818-790-5028.

St. Anthony's GOYA will hold a dinner/dance on Friday, May 12, 2000 from 7:00pm to 12:00 midnight at St. Anthony's church hall. $5 entry fee. For information call Nicole Hronas at (626) 446-5896 or e-mail at QTKurl@aol.com (subject GOYA) for questions and RSVPs.

The Diocesan Voice, the official news publication of the Diocese of San Francisco, is now available online, and may be accessed by visiting the Diocese website at sf.goarch.org/diocesannews.html