May God keep everyone well in order to continue to keep St. John the Baptist Church
alive and vibrant for future generations to embrace and enjoy.
alive and vibrant for future generations to embrace and enjoy.
Newsletter of St. John’s Greek Orthodox Church
1000 Spruce, Pueblo, CO 81004 PO Box 3011, Pueblo, CO 81005
For a hard copy of The Messenger in pdf format click here.
February – 2021 Service Schedule
Tuesday 2/2 – Presentation of our Lord
Orthros at 8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m.
Sunday 2/7 – 16th Sunday of Matthew
Orthros at 8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m.
Sunday 2/14 – Sunday of the Canaanite (also Valentine’s Day)
Orthros at 8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m. Saturday 2/20– Great Vespers on Zoom– 5:00 p.m.
Sunday 2/21 – Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee (Triodion Begins)
Orthros at 8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m.
** The Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee is the first Sunday of a three-week period prior to the commencement of Great Lent. It marks the beginning of a time of preparation for the spiritual journey of Lent, a time for Orthodox Christians to draw closer to God through worship, prayer, fasting, and acts of charity. It is also on this day that the Triodion is introduced, a book that contains the services from this Sunday, the tenth before liturgical
Pascha (Easter), to Great and Holy Saturday.
Saturday 2/27– Great Vespers on Zoom– 5:00 p.m.
Sunday 2/28 - Sunday of the Prodigal Son
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Luke 15:11-32
Last December our congregation decided to give a Christmas gift through IOCC.The group voted to use ½ of the tray collections (not counting stewardship) in December to purchase water tanks for Syrian families to safely store their clean drinking water.The tanks cost $100 each and would be distributed 1 to a family.As we have much smaller congregations than usual because of covid, we weren’t sure what we could do.Good news!St. John’s has sent enough money to IOCC to purchase 4 tanks so that 4 families can safeguard their clean drinking water.Opa!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
International (MNN) — Open Doors has released the 2021 World Watch List, documenting the 50 most dangerous countries in which to be a Christian. The report reveals 1 in 8 Christians worldwide suffer high levels of persecution. Every day on average, 13 Christians are murdered for their faith.
China: Religious Books Seized and Burned, Believers Given Jail Terms
The Turkish government does not recognize the “Ecumenical” status of the Ecumenical Patriarch and Ecumenical Patriarchate.
Turkish authorities do not allow the use of the term or title “Ecumenical” for any religious activity whatsoever despite the fact that it has been used since the 6th century A.D. and recognized throughout the world. Turkey regards the Ecumenical Patriarchate as an institution whose leader is seen as the spiritual head of Orthodox Christians in Turkey alone rather than the leader of 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide.
Saint Dionysius of Zankynthos
Dionysius of Zakynthos was born in 1547 on the island of Zakynthos in the Ionian Sea. He was educated by priests and became fluent in Greek, Italian, and Latin. He excelled in theology, became a monk in 1568, and received his first degree of ordination as a priest in 1570. He later became hieromonk of Zakynthos and Strofades. In 1577 he was raised to Archbishop of Aegina and Poros and after a year abdicated from this dignity and settled in Zakynthos as an abbot of a monastery. In December 17, 1622 he fell asleep in the Lord. He had asked to be buried in this monastery and his grave is still to be found in the chapel of St George; a dependent of the monastery.
It has been found that his body remains intact and emits a mixed fragrance of flowers and frankincense. Therefore he is venerated, and his sainthood has been proclaimed by the Patriarch of Constantinople. His feast day is celebrated on December 17.
St. Dionysius was remarkable in his forgiveness and love for his fellow man. A man came to St. Dionysius's cell and begged the saint to hide him from his pursuers. When St. Dionysius asked him why he was being pursued, the man told him that he had killed a man. The murderer did not know that he had killed the saint's own beloved brother Constantine. St. Dionysius was very grieved but hid the man and did not surrender him to the law. Instead he instructed him and brought him to repentance. According to local tradition, the murderer later repented and became a monk himself at that same monastery.
St. Dionysius is an example to us all for his forgiveness of even the most grievous sins against us. The Saint grants his people many blessings; and many miracles are reported in connection with his ministry.
For example, when the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas was destroyed on September 11, 2001, during the World Trade Center attack, only two things were recovered intact: a cross and a paper icon of Dionysios.
Dionysius rests in the church which bears his name in Zakynthos, where opening his tomb is often found impossible. It appears as though this occurs when Dionysius is out performing miracles. Afterwards, when the tomb can be opened,
seaweed is found at his feet and his slippers are found to be worn thin. In fact, his slippers need continual replacement because they receive so much wear. He is often seen alive and walking.
This icon of St. Dionysius is located on our north wall next to St. Spyridon.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Greece Wins Gold at Robotics Olympiad for YoungstersBy Tasos Kokkinidis - Jan 6, 2021 Irida Aggelopoulou, Vasiliki Iliadi and Christos Rentzis, from the PlaisioBots team, won the top prize by creating a “smart” white cane for the blind. The white cane has a 3-D detection sensor inside it that can warn the user of obstacles that are in the environment. It also can “read” traffic lights, allowing it to be able to tell users when to cross a street. “We hope our invention will help millions of people and improve their lives,” says Rentzis. “For the first time in history, the Greek team faced the brightest children’s minds in the world and took the gold, leaving behind teams from countries such as Korea and Russia, that have enormous experience in robotics,” he added.
Gerardos noted that Greek children are as talented as those in more technologically-advanced countries, saying “Our children can achieve great things as long as we show them the way.” Dozens of youngsters from throughout the world participated in the International Robot Olympiad (IOR).
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Finding Resilience in Times of Crisis
The damage from a disaster or crisis extends far beyond shattered homes and businesses. There are emotional injuries, too: the wounds of losing a home, a livelihood, or maybe even loved ones. That’s why IOCC developed Care Compass, a suite of tools designed to map ways individuals and communities can create a path toward resilience,digitizing elements of IOCC’s emotional and spiritual care work.
Featuring modules on self-care, grieving with hope, family dynamics, and building resilient communities, Care Compass offers downloadable resources, including short Tools for Emotional and Spiritual Care
videos by IOCC Frontliners. Frontliners—a group of disaster counselors, clergy, and other trained professionals—share their hard-won experience to help communities recover spiritually as well as physically.
Frontliners. Frontliners—a group of disaster counselors, clergy, and other trained professionals—share their hard-won experience to help communities recover spiritually as well as physically.
As we enter the new year—especially with the pandemic still a part of daily life—it’s important that we help each other weather any kind of disaster. IOCC’s Care Compass represents new and creative ways to help us care for each other.
To find out more, visit iocc.org/carecompass.
Tuesday 2/2 – Presentation of our Lord
Orthros at 8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m.
- Hebrews 7:7-17
- Luke 10:19-21
Sunday 2/7 – 16th Sunday of Matthew
Orthros at 8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m.
- 2 Corinthians 6:1-10
- Matthew 25:14-30
Sunday 2/14 – Sunday of the Canaanite (also Valentine’s Day)
Orthros at 8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m. Saturday 2/20– Great Vespers on Zoom– 5:00 p.m.
Sunday 2/21 – Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee (Triodion Begins)
Orthros at 8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m.
- 2 Timothy 3:10-15
- Luke 18:10-14
** The Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee is the first Sunday of a three-week period prior to the commencement of Great Lent. It marks the beginning of a time of preparation for the spiritual journey of Lent, a time for Orthodox Christians to draw closer to God through worship, prayer, fasting, and acts of charity. It is also on this day that the Triodion is introduced, a book that contains the services from this Sunday, the tenth before liturgical
Pascha (Easter), to Great and Holy Saturday.
Saturday 2/27– Great Vespers on Zoom– 5:00 p.m.
Sunday 2/28 - Sunday of the Prodigal Son
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Luke 15:11-32
Last December our congregation decided to give a Christmas gift through IOCC.The group voted to use ½ of the tray collections (not counting stewardship) in December to purchase water tanks for Syrian families to safely store their clean drinking water.The tanks cost $100 each and would be distributed 1 to a family.As we have much smaller congregations than usual because of covid, we weren’t sure what we could do.Good news!St. John’s has sent enough money to IOCC to purchase 4 tanks so that 4 families can safeguard their clean drinking water.Opa!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
International (MNN) — Open Doors has released the 2021 World Watch List, documenting the 50 most dangerous countries in which to be a Christian. The report reveals 1 in 8 Christians worldwide suffer high levels of persecution. Every day on average, 13 Christians are murdered for their faith.
China: Religious Books Seized and Burned, Believers Given Jail Terms
The Turkish government does not recognize the “Ecumenical” status of the Ecumenical Patriarch and Ecumenical Patriarchate.
Turkish authorities do not allow the use of the term or title “Ecumenical” for any religious activity whatsoever despite the fact that it has been used since the 6th century A.D. and recognized throughout the world. Turkey regards the Ecumenical Patriarchate as an institution whose leader is seen as the spiritual head of Orthodox Christians in Turkey alone rather than the leader of 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide.
Saint Dionysius of Zankynthos
Dionysius of Zakynthos was born in 1547 on the island of Zakynthos in the Ionian Sea. He was educated by priests and became fluent in Greek, Italian, and Latin. He excelled in theology, became a monk in 1568, and received his first degree of ordination as a priest in 1570. He later became hieromonk of Zakynthos and Strofades. In 1577 he was raised to Archbishop of Aegina and Poros and after a year abdicated from this dignity and settled in Zakynthos as an abbot of a monastery. In December 17, 1622 he fell asleep in the Lord. He had asked to be buried in this monastery and his grave is still to be found in the chapel of St George; a dependent of the monastery.
It has been found that his body remains intact and emits a mixed fragrance of flowers and frankincense. Therefore he is venerated, and his sainthood has been proclaimed by the Patriarch of Constantinople. His feast day is celebrated on December 17.
St. Dionysius was remarkable in his forgiveness and love for his fellow man. A man came to St. Dionysius's cell and begged the saint to hide him from his pursuers. When St. Dionysius asked him why he was being pursued, the man told him that he had killed a man. The murderer did not know that he had killed the saint's own beloved brother Constantine. St. Dionysius was very grieved but hid the man and did not surrender him to the law. Instead he instructed him and brought him to repentance. According to local tradition, the murderer later repented and became a monk himself at that same monastery.
St. Dionysius is an example to us all for his forgiveness of even the most grievous sins against us. The Saint grants his people many blessings; and many miracles are reported in connection with his ministry.
For example, when the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas was destroyed on September 11, 2001, during the World Trade Center attack, only two things were recovered intact: a cross and a paper icon of Dionysios.
Dionysius rests in the church which bears his name in Zakynthos, where opening his tomb is often found impossible. It appears as though this occurs when Dionysius is out performing miracles. Afterwards, when the tomb can be opened,
seaweed is found at his feet and his slippers are found to be worn thin. In fact, his slippers need continual replacement because they receive so much wear. He is often seen alive and walking.
This icon of St. Dionysius is located on our north wall next to St. Spyridon.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Greece Wins Gold at Robotics Olympiad for YoungstersBy Tasos Kokkinidis - Jan 6, 2021 Irida Aggelopoulou, Vasiliki Iliadi and Christos Rentzis, from the PlaisioBots team, won the top prize by creating a “smart” white cane for the blind. The white cane has a 3-D detection sensor inside it that can warn the user of obstacles that are in the environment. It also can “read” traffic lights, allowing it to be able to tell users when to cross a street. “We hope our invention will help millions of people and improve their lives,” says Rentzis. “For the first time in history, the Greek team faced the brightest children’s minds in the world and took the gold, leaving behind teams from countries such as Korea and Russia, that have enormous experience in robotics,” he added.
Gerardos noted that Greek children are as talented as those in more technologically-advanced countries, saying “Our children can achieve great things as long as we show them the way.” Dozens of youngsters from throughout the world participated in the International Robot Olympiad (IOR).
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Finding Resilience in Times of Crisis
The damage from a disaster or crisis extends far beyond shattered homes and businesses. There are emotional injuries, too: the wounds of losing a home, a livelihood, or maybe even loved ones. That’s why IOCC developed Care Compass, a suite of tools designed to map ways individuals and communities can create a path toward resilience,digitizing elements of IOCC’s emotional and spiritual care work.
Featuring modules on self-care, grieving with hope, family dynamics, and building resilient communities, Care Compass offers downloadable resources, including short Tools for Emotional and Spiritual Care
videos by IOCC Frontliners. Frontliners—a group of disaster counselors, clergy, and other trained professionals—share their hard-won experience to help communities recover spiritually as well as physically.
Frontliners. Frontliners—a group of disaster counselors, clergy, and other trained professionals—share their hard-won experience to help communities recover spiritually as well as physically.
As we enter the new year—especially with the pandemic still a part of daily life—it’s important that we help each other weather any kind of disaster. IOCC’s Care Compass represents new and creative ways to help us care for each other.
To find out more, visit iocc.org/carecompass.
