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2021 News

October 19, 2021

Saint Demetrios - Dinner & a movie!
We are hosting a dinner and movie event this year to celebrate the Patron Saint of our Church - happening this Sunday! Click here for more details and be sure to follow our Facebook page for updates!

Church Support Volunteers
The Church committee is looking for some support during services. If you can help, click here to sign up.

Philoptochos
Mark your calendars! The Annual Philoptochos Bazaar will be happening from:

November 4^th (3-6PM)
November 5^th (12-6PM)
November 6^th (12-6PM)
November 7^th (12-5PM)

Due to Covid restrictions, this will be a TO-GO ONLY event. You can pre-order delicious food and desserts until Friday, October 29^th, by clicking here.Note: PRE-ORDERS WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE FOR PICK-UP ON NOVEMBER 4 & 5! You can still place to-go orders in person at the Hellenic Community Hall during the days and times of the Bazaar that are listed above. Thank you to all who have offered to volunteer! Any questions can be sent to philoptochos@calgaryhellenic.com.

Sunday School
Due to overwhelming registration response and restricted seating capacity in the Church, Sunday School has temporarily moved online. Our plan is to return to in-person lessons ASAP.
Next class is on November 7^th, 2021. To register, click here. Levels: (1) ages 4-6 (2) ages 7-10 (3) ages 11+

Online classes are from 12:00 to 12:30pm. Teachers will send out a lesson plan and zoom link for each Level, prior to the scheduled class. For families that have children in multiple levels and limited technology, please select which level you’d like your children to attend (ie. A family with children in Levels 1 & 2 but with one computer, may choose for both to attend Level 2).

Adult Greek Dance
Our dance program is back! Classes will be held on the first Wednesday of every month in the upper Hellenic Community Hall from 6:30-7:30pm. The program will run from November to June with the first class commencing on Wednesday, November 3^rd, 2021 at 6:30pm. Please note that we are required to follow the health guidelines set out by the Government of Alberta regarding Covid-19 so masks must be worn at all times, hand sanitization and proof of vaccination is required. For more information please contact Kathy Papavacilopoulos-Desautels at kdesautels@shaw.ca.

Attention Business Owners
Our membership business directory is live! Click here to view it. As a reminder, all paid members can have their business listing added free of charge. Contact Penelope at admin@calgaryhellenic.com if you wish to add your business name and contact information to the directory.

Information for Funeral Services
For information regarding funerals and memorial services, please click here. Parishioners can contact a funeral home of their choice first. Please contact Fr. Thomas at (403) 246-4553ext 2 or at Fr.ThomasSandberg@icloud.com.

Fr. Thomas' Homily - October 10, 2021

The Widow of Nain (Third Sunday of Luke: Luke 7:11-16)

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit—One God.

In his Commentary on the Gospel of Luke, St. Cyril of Alexandria wrote, “Let it be known to people everywhere that the Lord is God, and even though he appeared in a form like us, yet has he given us the indications of a godlike power and majesty on many occasions and in a multitude of ways. He drove away diseases and rebuked unclean spirits. He gave the blind their sight. Finally, he even expelled death itself from the bodies of men, death that cruelly and mercilessly had tyrannized humankind from Adam even to Moses, according to the expression of the divine Paul (Romans 5:14). That widow’s son at Nain arose unexpectedly and wonderfully. The miracle did not remain unknown to everyone throughout Judea but was announced abroad as a divine sign, and admiration was upon every tongue.”

This is one of the three times in Scripture that Christ raises someone from the dead. And in this instance, the focal point isn’t necessarily the person being risen from the dead, but rather it is the mother, the widow of Nain. “When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” (Luke 7:13-14). There is so much revealed about Christ here—Christ does not fear the Jewish ceremonial defilement of contact with the dead because He is the Lord of the living and the dead, which is why He can raise the young man. But what stands out in today’s gospel reading is His compassion. He had compassion for the mother.

The first word that our Lord speaks is not the command given to the dead young man, but his word of compassion to the mother, “Do not weep.” Who is this who says, “Do not weep”? Who has a right to tell a woman who has lost her only son, who is a widow, and has nothing more in this world for survival? In Jesus’ time, a widow was truly poor. There was no financial safety net. Not only had she lost her son, but she was also likely to live a life of poverty from then on. Our Lord says, “Do not weep.” We don’t have the right to say “Do not weep” to someone who has lost a child, but our Lord does. Christ had compassion for her and knew what she needed. He knew He would provide what she needed—this is why He can say this.

In the Church, you cannot give what you do not have. This is very true. Parents, if you want your children to grow up without passions, to be without anger, to attend Liturgy, or to be obedient (ὑπήκοος) and God-fearing, if you are still filled with anger, if you do not attend Liturgy, or not obedient, or do not fear God, do not expect your children to learn these virtues from you. You won't be giving them what you don’t have. A priest cannot ordain. Only a Bishop can ordain. He has something a priest does not have. Christ can give us so much because He has an abundance.

St. Cyril of Alexandria wrote further, “Christ raised him who was descending to his grave. The manner of his rising is plain to see. “He touched,” it says, “the bier and said, ‘Young man, I say unto thee, arise.’” How was not a word enough for raising him who was lying there? What is so difficult to it or past accomplishment? What is more powerful than the Word of God? Why then did he not work the miracle by only a word but also touched the [coffin (ἡ σορός)]? It was, my beloved, that you might learn that the holy body of Christ is productive for the salvation of man. The flesh of the almighty Word is the body of life and was clothed with his might. Consider that iron when brought into contact with fire produces the effects of fire and fulfills its functions. The flesh of Christ also has the power of giving life and annihilates the influence of death and corruption because it is the flesh of the Word, who gives life to all. May our Lord Jesus Christ also touch us that delivering us from evil works, even from fleshly lusts, he may unite us to the assemblies of the saints.”

Ἀμήν

Orthodox Gift Shop - October 7, 2021

Dear members,

We are delighted to be working on creating an Orthodox book store and gift shop at our church! Our shop will provide a variety of inspiring and unique religious items. We hope to have a great selection of religious jewelry, gifts, books, ornaments, cards, incense and candles. We are also very excited to be working with an Icon specialist in Greece that will be providing us with amazing Icons created with the old traditional methods of production.

Our vision is to provide those who are passionate about their Greek Orthodox faith, a place to find great books, supplies, and gift ideas.

In order for our vision to come alive, we ask for your support. Please click here to donate towards this project. The donation type is "Church Gift Shop".

With your support, we believe this store will be a great success.

All proceeds of the book store and gift shop will go towards St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church and Calgary Met Youth initiatives.

Sent on behalf of Fr. Thomas and your Community Council

October 5, 2021

Church Support Volunteers
The Church committee is looking for some support during services. If you can help, click here to sign up.

Sunday School
Due to the restricted seating capacity at the church and the overwhelming response to Sunday school registration, Sunday School will return to online lessons on October 17^th, 2021. We hope to return to in-person as soon as possible. Click here to register using the link. Levels: (1) ages 4-6 (2) ages 7-10 (3) ages 11+

Classes are held on the first and third Sunday of the month (unless otherwise notified), from 12:00 to 12:30pm. Teachers will send out a lesson plan and zoom link for each Level, prior to the scheduled class. For families that have children in multiple levels and limited technology, please select which level you’d like your children to attend. Ie. A family with children in Levels 1 & 2 but with one computer, may choose for both children to attend Level 2.

Greek School
Online Adult classes for beginners will be offered Starting on October 13th. For more information please email at principal@calgaryhellenic.com or visit our website by clicking here.

Niata
Our community's youth Greek dance program is back! Online registration for Niata Greek dance will open on October 5^th, 2021. Classes will start on Saturday, October 16^th at 12:15pm. Click here to visit our page for more information or contact us at niata@calgaryhellenic.com.

Philoptochos
Mark your calendars! The Annual Philoptochos Bazaar will be happening from November 4^th-7^th. We will be selling delicious Greek food and desserts and a portion of the profits will go to local charities in Calgary. Due to Covid restrictions, this will again be a TO-GO ONLY event. More info to come! If you are able to volunteer for this year's bazaar, please email philoptochos@calgaryhellenic.com.

Special Community Meeting
On Sunday, October 17^th at 2pm, there will be a Special Meeting of the Community, as per the request of the signing petitioners. To see the formal notice and agenda, click here. Please note, all attendees must provide a proof of vaccination, a negative antigen test, a medical exemption or a single vaccination obtained at least 2 weeks prior to October 25^th, along with photo ID and a mask to enter the facility.

Fr. Thomas' Homily - October 3, 2021

Loving People (Second Sunday of Luke: Luke 6:31-36)

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit—One God.

A Christian (Tertullian) from the time before the First Ecumenical Council once wrote, “To love friends is the custom for all people, but to love enemies is customary only for Christians.”

Let me repeat that, and as I do, let us each take a moment to see how true or false that statement is for ourselves: “To love friends is the custom for all people, but to love enemies is customary only for Christians.”

In fact, this is exactly what we are instructed to do in today’s Gospel reading. The wisdom of the Church in the assigned Sunday Gospel readings never ceases to amaze me. Even though they are fixed and we almost always read the same readings on the same Sundays every year, the reading often seems to be addressing a contemporary concern.

Our society is more divided than ever, and it doesn’t matter why that is. What matters is whether or not we as Christians are contributing to division, or are we following Christ’s command to love those who are different from us in whatever form that difference may take?

We are told today that: even sinners love those who love them; even sinners do good to those that love them; even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But for us who claim the title of Christian, everything we do must be done out of love, and to everyone.

St. Cyprian of Carthage tells us, “How will you love your enemies and pray for your adversaries and persecutors? (Matt 5:44) We see what happened in the case of [St.] Stephen [one of the original seven Deacons ordained by the Apostles and the first martyr of the Church]. When he was being killed by the violence and stones of the Jews, he did not ask for vengeance but forgiveness for his murderers, saying: “O Lord, do not lay this sin against them.” (Acts 7:58-60) So it was most fitting that the first martyr for Christ who, in preceding by his glorious death the martyrs that were to come, was not only a preacher of the Lord’s suffering but also an imitator of his most patient gentleness.”

How could he do this, pray for those who were killing him? Because of love. This reminds me of something the Church Fathers wrote about. They wrote of multiple stages of the Christian life. When we start the Christian life, we are motivated primarily by fear of punishment, fear of the fires of Gehenna, and fear of God's judgement. Then, as we become more mature in our Faith, the fear of punishment starts to recede, and we focus primarily on the promises of God, the good things to come in Heaven; we think of religion less as avoiding being bad, and we think more about trying to be good so that we will receive the rewards and the blessings which God has promised to those who follow Him. Most of us will never progress beyond those two states, and we'll spend our days going back and forth between those two states. But the state of greatest spiritual maturity, according to the Church Fathers, is when we get to the point where we are no longer concerned about punishment, and we are no longer concerned about rewards, and we follow Christ and we obey his Commandments simply out of love. Simply out of love.

This is a great goal to work towards, dear brothers and sisters in Christ. But with Christ and His saints as our examples, we too can truly come to love God and to truly love our fellow humans, and have our actions match our words, and have those actions match our title of Christians.

Ἀμήν.

Special Meeting Announcement - October 2, 2021

ΕΙΔΙΚΗ ΣΥΝΕΔΡΙΑΣΗ

Σύμφωνα με το καταστατικό τις Αρχιεπισκοπής ... εάν το δέκα τοις εκατό των μελών υποβάλλουν γραπτή αναφορά, το κοινοτικό συμβούλιο είναι υποχρεωμένο να ορίσει ειδική συνεδρίαση. Δεδομένου ότι πληρούνται οι προϋποθέσεις για να ζητηθεί συνάντηση, θα απαντηθούν οι παρακάτω ερωτήσεις στις 17 Οκτωβριου 2021 στις 2.00 μμ, στην αίθουσα τις κοινότητας.

(Δείτε παρακαλώ παρακάτω)

(Υπήρχαν αρκετές ερωτήσεις σχετικά με τους κληρικούς αλλα λόγω των νόμων περί απορρήτου καθώς και οδηγίες από την Αρχιεπισκοπή, οι ερωτήσεις αυτές δεν θα απαντηθούν)

Λαμβάνοντας υπόψη τους ισχύοντες περιορισμούς από την κυβέρνηση της Αλμπέρτα, όλοι όσοι επιθυμούν να παρευρεθούν πρέπει να επιδείξουν απόδειξη εμβολιασμού κατά του Covid 19 μαζί με άδεια οδήγησης ή κάποιο άλλο κρατικό πιστοποιητικό φωτογραφίας.

SPECIAL MEETING

According to the Uniform Regulations … if ten percent of members submit a written petition the community council is obligated to set a special meeting. Since the conditions to request a meeting were met, the following questions will be answered on Sunday, October 17^th 2021 at 2pm.

(Please see below)

(Due to both privacy laws and the direction of the Archdiocese, all questions regarding the clergy that were submitted will not be addressed and as such have not been added to the agenda)

In light of the current restrictions in place by the government of Alberta, all those wishing to attend must show proof of vaccination against Covid 19 along with either a driver’s license or some sort of other photo government ID.

###

1. Non-Disclosure Agreement to be signed by all Council members.

Council members have informed Community members at times, that they are unable to discuss certain matters regarding the Community because Council members have signed a “Non-Disclosure Agreement”. Under what authority was the Non-Disclosure Agreement developed, approved and implemented so that all Council members must sign?

2. Code of Conduct, Human Rights and Harassment & Violence Prevention Policy

It is customary for non-profit organizations to adopt a set of principles to guide the organization’s decision making and activities, as well as behaviour of its council and board members, employees, and volunteers.

a. How was the Calgary Hellenic Code of Conduct, Human Rights and Harassment & Violence Prevention Policy developed, approved and implemented?

b. How were members informed this policy exists and when it took effect?

c. How are members advised of their responsibilities and how do members express their consent?

d. The code of conduct posted on the website, indicates it “is a policy that applies to all employees, staff, members, volunteers, sponsors, vendors, clients and guests of the Calgary Hellenic.” Further, the code of conduct states “that it is a condition of your membership with the Calgary Hellenic, and failure to comply with any of the policies will be subject to disciplinary action up to termination of membership.” Are Council members exempt to this of Conduct?

e. Certain members have received letters from Council being advised their membership will be terminated for certain citations sited by the Council. The policy states that under this policy, members can report incidents of harassment or violence to Council members. What this policy fails to address is to whom can members report incidents of harassment or violence originating from Council members themselves?

3. Year-end Financial Statements for December 31, 2019 and Six (6) Months Financial Statements to June 30, 2020

a. These statements were sent to members prior to the November 8, 2020 AGM and presented at the same AGM. However, to date, there has not been a Board of Auditors8 Semi-Annual report presented to members. When will the Board of Auditor’s Semi- Annual reports for the period ending December 31, 2019 and June 30, 2020 be provided to members?

4. Financial Impact due to imposed Gathering Restrictions

a. Gathering restrictions imposed by provincial health authorities due to the pandemic, commencing mid-March-2020 and up to the November 8,2020 AGM, resulted in a significant reduction in revenue to the Community.

Why were members not informed of the potential financial crisis facing the community and the proposed plan to address this issue between mid-March and the November 8, 2020 AGM? Furthermore, why was this “financial crisis” not included as an agenda item at the November 8, 2020 AGM?

b. On November 12, 2020 the Council announced to members, “the desperate financial need to save the Church and a request for donations of $100,000 from members to be used only to cover our utilities, insurance and maintenance costs for 2021.”

c. Why did Council’s request for donations not include the use of these funds for operating costs such as the salary for the Priest and any other staff to operate the Church, or to meet the Community’s annual obligations to the Metropolis?

d. Why in contravention to the Council members’ affirmation 9 and oath, 10 11 did the Council mail a ballot to Community members dated January 23, 2021 requesting members’ opinions, regarding the Community’s annual contributions 12 to the Greek Orthodox Metropolis, by choosing between two options: “1) Do not pay the Metropolis the allocated fee that is being requested for 2020 and ask for forgiveness of this obligation or 2) Pay the 15% as stated in the bylaws which would mean we incur a cost of approximately e. $19,500, which will be paid out of funds that were generously donated by you.”

e. Additionally, in this ballot why did Council provide their rationale on why the community should not pay, knowing that it is against the regulations13 given Council is obligated to comply with the community regulations?

5. Year-end Financial Statements for December 31, 2020 and Budget for 2021

a. Why did the Council not schedule the first Community Assembly 14 of the year on Sunday, January 31, 2021, as obligated in the regulations, whereby the Board of Auditors are to present the financial reports for the year ending December 31, 2020 covering all income and expenses, including the Council to submit the Budget 15 for the fiscal year ending 2021 for approval?

The Questions were only provided in English by the petitioning committee therefore only being sent in English.

Fr. Thomas' Homily - September 27, 2021

The Translation of St. John the Theologian

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit—One God.

Today we commemorate the Translation of the holy and glorious Apostle and Evangelist, Bosom-friend, Virgin, and Beloved John the Theologian.

The name of this day gets obscured in some of our English translations of it. In English we often call it “The Falling Asleep of St. John the Evangelist and Theologian” but in Greek, we call it <<Ἡ Μετάστασις τοῦ Ἰωάννου τοῦ Θεολόγου.>> Now, you might be wondering why we call it μετάστασις instead of κοίμησις.

Κοίμησις is what we usually translate as “falling asleep,” but the correct translation for μετάστασις is actually “translation” or “a being put into a different place.” And this is part of our tradition that not many know, but we read in the Synaxarion about this.

In the Synaxarion—which is an abridged collection of the lives of the saints—St. Nilus of Rossano tells us that St. John died “in peace at the age of 105. When God made known to him that the time of his departure was at hand, he instructed his disciples to dig a grave in the sand in the form of a cross and he stretched himself out in it. His disciples were covering his face just as the sun rose. When some other of his disciples came to venerate him for the last time, the uncovered tomb was found empty. This accords with a tradition that St. John was raised from the dead and taken up into Heaven...in fulfilment of the Saviour’s enigmatic response to Peter’s question about John: “If it is My will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?” (John 21:22). The meaning of His words is not that St. John would not die, but rather that he would await the Second Coming in the special place reserved for him.”

So we see today we do commemorate the “falling asleep” (κοίμησις) of St. John the Evangelist, but we also commemorate his “being put into a different place” (μετάστασις).

This is interesting to me because, at the end of today’s gospel, St. John tells us “But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” These words at the end of today’s gospel reading point to the ongoing oral tradition within the Church, which would, later on, get compiled in collections of books such as the Synaxarion.

We must always remember to keep to the Holy Tradition of the Church, as taught to us by the Holy Church Fathers. The world changes, but the Church doesn’t. The world relies upon the opinions of humans who have almost completely rejected God, whereas the unchanging Truth of the Church has been lived by the Apostles (who are the witnesses to the resurrection of Christ) and revealed to the Church Fathers who prepared themselves through spiritual struggles to know that same Truth, and passed it down to us. And this is what St. Paul tells us to do in his Second Letter to the Thessalonians, “So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter” (2 Thessalonians 2:15).

Not an easy task in a modern world that looks upon most of our Traditions as old or outdated. But let us keep in our hearts these words of Christ found in the Fourth Gospel, “In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Ἀμήν.

September 21, 2021

Fr. Thomas' Sunday Sermon
Click here to read Fr. Thomas' sermon from this past sunday, the Sunday After the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

Church Support Volunteers
The Church committee is looking for some support during services. If you can help, click here to sign up.

Greek School
Registration for the 2021-22 school year closes this Saturday, September 25^th. Please contact Principal Vicky at principal@calgaryhellenic.com if you are interested in enrolling your child/children. Visit www.calgaryhellenic.com/our-school for more information!

Mabel’s Label’s Fundraising
School's in session! The durable labels are a great way to prevent mix-ups and avoid all those supplies getting lost! You can support our school by ordering here.

Sunday School
Sunday School begins Sunday, October 3^rd! All teachers and students will return to the church at the end of the Divine Liturgy to receive the Agaismo blessing.Click here to register using the link and stay tuned for further updates. Levels: (1) ages 4-6 (2) ages 7-10 (3) ages 11+.

Covid Protocols
Children are to sit with their respective guardians during Divine Liturgy until Holy Communion. After communion, children's may join the Sunday School teachers to attend class downstairs. Masks must be worn, students will sanitize between stations, and social distance in class. Sunday School will resume with online lessons on October 17^th, 2021.

Niata 2021-2022
We are excited to announce that Niata will be returning to our community this October! Lessons will take place on Saturdays, right after Greek School from 12:30-1:30pm in the basement of the Hellenic Community Hall. To ensure the safety of our teachers and students, we will be following Covid-19 guidelines from AHS to ensure we can keep dancing. Please complete a short survey by clicking here - your input will help us with our planning! Further details on enrolment and registration will follow. Looking forward to seeing you this October!

Philoptochos
Mark your calendars! The Annual Philoptochos Bazaar will be happening from November 4^th-7^th. We will be selling delicious Greek food and desserts and a portion of the profits will go to local charities in Calgary. Due to Covid restrictions, this will again be a TO-GO ONLY event. We will send out more information in late September and early October regarding our PRE-ORDER options. If you are able to volunteer for this year's bazaar, please email philoptochos@calgaryhellenic.com.

September 18, 2021

Dear Members,

With the government of Alberta stating new restrictions for the province, we are obligated to adhere to the rules regarding the church and have decided to implement the Restriction Exemption Program in regards to the hall. This will allow us to continue to generate income from hall rentals and accommodate our members for funerals, memorials and wedding receptions, as well as most other programs.

Effective as of September 16^th 2021

Church
As per the provincial mandate, capacity is limited to 1/3 of the church and seating will be first come first serve. We are required to physically distance at 2 metres in the pew unless you are sitting with your family cohort. Masks are also mandatory for parishioners.

Weddings, baptisms, and funerals are permitted with up to 50 people in attendance.

Indoor receptions for weddings, baptisms, funerals or memorials can occur as we are following the Restriction Exemption Program (see below).

Effective as of Monday, September 20^th 2021

Banquet Hall/Gym
We have chosen to implement the Restrictions Exemption Program to the hall, meaning that we can operate without capacity or operating restrictions with the requirement of individuals over the age of 12 to show one of the following:

Proof of vaccination
Partial vaccination accepted from September 20^th - October 25^th if received two weeks prior to time of entering
Full vaccination (two doses) required after October 25^th
Proof of privately paid negative PCR or rapid test within 72 hours of service (test from AHS or Precision Laboratories are not allowed)
Documentation of a medical exemption

If you feel unwell please stay home.

Thank you for your understanding as we navigate through yet another new process.

Please stay well and safe.

Sent on behalf of the Community Council.

September 10, 2021

Dear Members,

This Sunday, September 12th after church service, Philoptochos and the community will be hosting a light lunch to welcome Fr. Thomas, Presvytera Ashley and baby Sophia to our community and also thank Fr. Dimitri Polychroniades for his dedication to our church these past few months. We hope you will join us!

Sent on behalf of the Community Council.

September 7, 2021

Greek School
The first day of Wednesday class is September 15^th and Saturday class is September 18^th. Fr. Thomas will be there to bless the students for a successful school year. Haven' t registered yet? Do it today by clicking here and email it to principal@calgaryhellenic.com.

Mabel’s Label’s Fundraising
School's in session! The durable labels are a great way to prevent mix-ups and avoid all those supplies getting lost! You can support our school by ordering here.

Church Support Volunteers
The Church committee is looking for some support during services. If you can help, click here to sign up.

Sunday School
Sunday school intends to begin on Sunday, October 3^rd, 2021. Click here to register using the link and stay tuned for further updates.
Levels: (1) ages 4-6 (2) ages 7-10 (3) ages 11+
God Bless!

Philoptochos
Mark your calendars! The Annual Philoptochos Bazaar will be happening from November 4^th-7^th. There will be a link to an order form for delicious food and desserts, as well as more information about the bazaar sent out in the next newsletter. We will also be posting it our Facebook page (Calgary Philoptochos Society). If you are able to volunteer for this year's bazaar, please email philoptochos@calgaryhellenic.com.

AHEPA & DOP Scholarships
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2021 Order of Ahepa and Daughters of Penelope Scholarships! The below applicants have been awarded scholarships based on academic merit and the criteria outlined:

AHEPA FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP $1000 - Maria Zannis
GREEK COMMUNITY SCHOLARSHIP $700 - Krina Liaridis
HARRY PROTOPAPPAS SCHOLARSHIP FOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT $1000 - Paraskeve Voula Koukias

Congratulations again to the above applicants on their accomplishments and we wish them the best in their academic journey!

Scholarship Committee
Order of Ahepa and Daughters of Penelope

August 16, 2021

Greek School
There is less than a month left for the first day of Greek School and we are now accepting registrations for the current school year 2021-2022. You can fill out the online registration form by clicking here and email it to principal@calgaryhellenic.com. Please ensure that you download it, open it with Adobe Acrobat Reader, fill it in and save the completed version before submitting. We will be happy to answer any questions or inquires so don’t hesitate to reach us at principal@calgaryhellenic.com. Enjoy the rest of your holidays!

Church Support Volunteers
The Church committee is looking for some support during services. If you can help, click here to sign up.

Sunday School
Interested in teaching Sunday school? Email level1sundayschool@calgaryhellenic.com.

"The Church is like a great ship being pounded by the waves of life's different stresses. Our duty is not to abandon ship, but to keep her on her course." St. Boniface of Mainz.

Niata 2021-2022
We are excited to announce that Niata will be returning to our community this October! Lessons will take place on Saturdays, right after Greek School from 12:30-1:30pm in the basement of the Hellenic Community Hall. After so long of not dancing, we are excited to get back to our roots and hope you are as well! To ensure the safety of our teachers and students, we will be following Covid-19 guidelines from AHS to ensure we can keep dancing. Further details on enrolment and registration will follow. Looking forward to seeing you this October!

Greek Fire Relief
We would like to thank our parishioners who contributed $2300 yesterday for the wildfires in Greece. All Greek Orthodox churches across Canada are making a donation to the fire relief. If you wish to contribute to this fundraising campaign, please:
- send an e-transfer to admin@calgaryhellenic.com (add Greek Fire Relief 2021 to the comment)
- call the office (403) 246-4553 ext 5 to make a credit card donation
- donate through the online portal by clicking here (please select general church donation and add Greek Fire Relief 2021 to the comment

AHEPA FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP $1000 - Maria Zannis
GREEK COMMUNITY SCHOLARSHIP $700 - Krina Liaridis
HARRY PROTOPAPPAS SCHOLARSHIP FOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT $1000 - Paraskeve Voula Koukias

Congratulations again to the above applicants on their accomplishments and we wish them the best in their academic journey!

Scholarship Committee
Order of Ahepa and Daughters of Penelope

Philoptochos
The Philoptochos ladies are taking a well-deserved break this summer. We will be on holidays until September 5^thso we will not be serving coffee after church services during the summer. If you need our services for a funeral or a memorial, please contact President Kathy Vlisma at (403) 836-3665. Have a good summer!

NEEDED! A Greek-Speaking Caregiver
Senior homecare by Angels is seeking a Greek-speaking care giver. If you or anyone you know would be interested in this paid position, please contact Gerry Gatto at gatto@seniorhomecarebyangels.com or by calling (403) 862-0129. To learn more, visit their website at www.seniorhomecarecalgary.com.

Orthodox Chapel at Eden Brook Cemetery
On August 24^th, Eden Brook will be hosting an open house to formally announce the plans for the chapel. There will be a reserved section for our members that will be adjacent to this new church that Eden Brook will be building. Click here for a sneak peak!

Information for Funeral Services
For information regarding funerals and memorial services, please click here. Parishioners can contact a funeral home of their choice first. Please contact Fr. Demetrios Polychroniades at either (403) 970-5548 or (587) 353-6112.

July 26, 2021

Greek School - Job Posting
Greek School is looking for a qualified Greek language teacher who has passion and skills to teach advanced Greek and culture to students of Greek descendants.

Applicants must have:

Great fluency in Greek language
Excellent conversational and written skills
A Passion for teaching
Great communication skills to non-native Greek speakers
Teamwork and Interpersonal Skills
Growth mindset and willingness to adjust/improve teaching methods
Understanding of students from various backgrounds
Organizational skills
Be eligible to work with vulnerable groups.

Interested candidates can submit their resume to: principal@calgaryhellenic.com. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

AHEPA & DOP Scholarships
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2021 Order of Ahepa and Daughters of Penelope Scholarships! The below applicants have been awarded scholarships based on academic merit and the criteria outlined:

AHEPA FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP $1000
- Maria Zannis
GREEK COMMUNITY SCHOLARSHIP $700 - Krina Liaridis
HARRY PROTOPAPPAS SCHOLARSHIP FOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT $1000 - Paraskeve Voula Koukias

Congratulations again to the above applicants on their accomplishments and we wish them the best in their academic journey!

Scholarship Committee
Order of Ahepa and Daughters of Penelope

Philoptochos
The Philoptochos ladies are taking a well-deserved break this summer. We will be on holidays until September 5^thso we will not be serving coffee after church services during the summer, except for August 15^th. If you need our services for a funeral or a memorial, please contact President Kathy Vlisma at (403) 836-3665. Have a good summer!

NEEDED! A Greek-Speaking Caregiver
Senior homecare by Angels is seeking a Greek-speaking care giver. If you or anyone you know would be interested in this paid position, please contact Gerry Gatto at gatto@seniorhomecarebyangels.com or by calling (403) 862-0129. To learn more, visit their website at www.seniorhomecarecalgary.com.

Orthodox Chapel at Eden Brook Cemetery
On August 24^th, Eden Brook will be hosting a free dinner and open house to formally announce the plans for the chapel. There will be a reserved section for our members that will be adjacent to this new church that Eden Brook will be building. Click here for a sneak peak!

2021 EU-Canada Young Journalist Fellowship
The EU-Canada Young Journalist Fellowship seeks to foster links between Europeans and Canadians and to raise awareness of the European Union among a new generation of Canadian students and journalists. Since 2001, three candidates have been selected every year to participate in a week-long study tour to experience the EU institutions, the Canadian Mission to the EU, and media outlets in Brussels. Winners will also attend the daily European Commission press briefing. For more information on eligibility, please click here. The deadline to apply is September 15, 2021.

Information for Funeral Services
For information regarding funerals and memorial services, please click here. Parishioners can contact a funeral home of their choice first. Please contact Fr. Demetrios Polychroniades at either (403) 970-5548 or (587) 353-6112.

July 16, 2021 - Special Announcement from Archbishop Sotirios

We write to inform our members of the appointment of Father Thomas Sandberg to St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church of Calgary and District effective September 1^st, 2021. Please see the attached appointment letter from Archbishop Sotirios by clicking here.

We look forward to welcoming Fr. Thomas and Presvytera Ashley to our community!

Translation of Archbishop Sotirios' letter:

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God the Father and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you always.

I hereby appoint Father Thomas Sandberg as Parish Priest of your beloved Community as of September 1^st, 2021 in accordance with the Uniform Community Regulations of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada. I am attaching a salary guide for Priests of the Archdiocese of Canada. I ask that you work together in the spirit of love for the success of your Community. I wish you success in all things.

With Fatherly love and warmest blessings,

Archbishop Sotirios

July 9, 2021 - Church Capacity Update

We are all very excited that the restrictions have been lifted within Alberta which now means we have no restrictions on capacity for our Church services.

We do however have a duty to do our best to keep our parishioners safe and assist in ensuring that there is no transmission of the virus within our church and community.

Although masks are no longer mandatory we fully support those that wish to continue wearing them. We also kindly ask that if you have any cold like symptoms: runny nose, cough, fever, upset stomach, you remain at home. Please keep in mind that we still have young children 0-12 years old entering our church and premises that are not immunized and still at risk. We also have an older population of parishioners who may have chosen not to get immunized.

We ask that you continue to sanitize your hands when you come in and try to sit within your family cohort.

We appreciate everyone's continued support and look forward to seeing you throughout the summer Sunday services.

###

Είμαστε όλοι πολύ ενθουσιασμένοι που έχουν βγει οι περιορισμοί στην Αλμπέρτα, πράγμα που σημαίνει ότι δεν έχουμε περιορισμούς στην Εκκλησία και κοινότητα μας.

Έχουμε, ωστόσο, καθήκον να κάνουμε το καλύτερο δυνατό για να κρατήσουμε τους ενορίτες μας ασφαλείς και να κανουμε οτι μπορουμε να διασφαλίσουμε ότι δεν υπάρχει μετάδοση του ιού στην εκκλησία και την κοινότητά μας.

Αν και οι μάσκες δεν είναι πλέον υποχρεωτικές, υποστηρίζουμε πλήρως εκείνους που επιθυμούν να συνεχίσουν να τις φορούν. Σας παρακαλούμε επίσης, εάν έχετε συμπτώματα κρυολογήματος: ρινική καταρροή, βήχα, πυρετό η στομαχικές διαταραχές, θα παραμείνετε στο σπίτι. Λάβετε υπόψη ότι εξακολουθούμε να έχουμε μικρά παιδιά ηλικίας 0-12 ετών που μπαίνουν στην εκκλησία μας και σε χώρους που δεν έχουν εμβολιαστεί και εξακολουθούν να διατρέχουν κίνδυνο. Έχουμε επίσης έναν πληθυσμό ενορίτων που μπορεί να έχουν επιλέξει να μην εμβολιαστούν.

Σας ζητάμε να συνεχίσετε να απολυμαίνετε τα χέρια σας όταν μπαίνετε και προσπαθείτε να καθίσετε στην οικογενειακή ομάδα σας.

Εκτιμούμε τη συνεχή υποστήριξη όλων και ανυπομονούμε να σας δούμε καθ 'όλη τη διάρκεια του καλοκαιρίου.

Sent on behalf of the Community Council

June 28, 2021

July Church Services
Beginning on July 1^st, Alberta's Re-Open for Summer plan will be in effect which means that there will not be restrictions on capacity in our church. However, the City of Calgary is extending the mask bylaw, so all parishioners must be wearing a mask during Sunday Services. During the month of July, Father Polychroniadis will be holding services on Sundays only.

Community Lunch Fundraisers
Thank you for the support of our last two community lunches - Palm Sunday and Father's Day. We had over 100 orders for each lunch including some in-kind donations. For Palm Sunday, we raised $ 1,350 and for Father's Day we raised $ 1,670 - totalling $ 3,020! Thank you to all the Council volunteers and Philoptochos volunteers for their support and assistance during this time!

Greek School - Job Posting
Greek School is looking for a qualified Greek language teacher who has passion and skills to teach advanced Greek and culture to students of Greek descendants.

Applicants must have:

Great fluency in Greek language
Excellent conversational and written skills
A Passion for teaching
Great communication skills to non-native Greek speakers
Teamwork and Interpersonal Skills
Growth mindset and willingness to adjust/improve teaching methods
Understanding of students from various backgrounds
Organizational skills
Be eligible to work with vulnerable groups.

Interested candidates can submit their resume to: principal@calgaryhellenic.com. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

AHEPA Family News
Each year the Order of AHEPA and Daughters of Penelope of District 24 (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba) awards deserving students with scholarships. This year’s recipients are:

The William H Girgulis Memorial Scholarship for a member of the Maids of Athena or Sons of Pericles was awarded to Krina Liaridis of Calgary.
The Joint Order of AHEPA and Daughters of Penelope Scholarship for a member of the AHEPA Family was awarded to Maria Zannis of Calgary.

We congratulate the winners and all candidates who submitted applications. We wish you much success in your future endeavours.

AHEPA & Greek School
The Calgary AHEPA Family annually recognizes students in the Greek School. We congratulate the students as we realize it was an exceptional year with all the restrictions. This year’s recipients of our annual awards are:

Level 1: Adia Argiris, Demitra Glynn, Eleni Katerina Spence
Level 2: Athanasios Morfessis, Katerina Georgina Tsaprailis
Level 3: Christopher Stevens
Level 4: Georgia Anna Lathiras, John Ronald Spence, Konstantine Perdikea Dedaj
Level 5: Panayiota Astorino, Eirini Elaina MacDonald, Maria Stevens
Level 6: Theodoros Resnick, Elleni Elpitha Klironomos, Jonathan Safaris
Greek 15: Giorgos Boshra Rezk
Greek 25: Demitri Eid, Irene Giannakopoulou
Greek 35: Angelina Sophia Lambrinoudius, Ektoras Papadopoulos

Theatre Calgary - Artstrek 2021!
Theatre Calgary is inviting all interested teens (ages 12-18) to sign up for their online summer theatre program, starting on July 4th! For more information, visit www.theatrealberta.com.

Information for Funeral Services
For information regarding funerals and memorial services, please click here. Parishioners can contact a funeral home of their choice first. Please contact Fr. Demetrios Polychroniades at either (403) 970-5548 or (587) 353-6112 while Fr. Peter Rougas is on leave.

June 16, 2021

Father's Day Lunch - ORDER BY TOMORROW!
The community is hosting a Father's Day to-go lunch this Sunday! Chicken souvlaki, with rice, salad, pita and tzatziki are on the menu for $15! All orders are to be pre-purchased either by clicking here or by calling (403) 246-4553 ext 3 by the end of day tomorrow! Pick-up and take your order to-go between 12:00pm - 1:30pm.

Ahepa & Daughters of Penelope Scholarships
Calling all high school & university students! Please visit www.dopcalgary.com/scholarships to view and apply for the different scholarships available.

Sunday School
As our Sunday school year concludes, a reminder that "I can do all this through him who gives me strength" Philippians 4:13, and a thank you to all those who participated in a reimagined year. We had 20 registered families with 15 online classes and 5 volunteer teachers. Wishing everyone a safe and blessed summer. We hope to return to IN person learning in October!

Greek School - Job Posting
Greek School is looking for a qualified Greek language teacher who has passion and skills to teach advanced Greek and culture to students of Greek descendants.

Applicants must have:

Great fluency in Greek language
Excellent conversational and written skills
A Passion for teaching
Great communication skills to non-native Greek speakers
Teamwork and Interpersonal Skills
Growth mindset and willingness to adjust/improve teaching methods
Understanding of students from various backgrounds
Organizational skills
Be eligible to work with vulnerable groups.

Interested candidates can submit their resume to: principal@calgaryhellenic.com. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

Philoptochos
The Philoptochos executive would like to thank the members of Philoptochos, members of our community, and everyone else who supported us this year by either volunteering their time or by financially supporting our causes through their purchases and/or donations. We have been able to be a light for those in need in Calgary again this year, through our donations to various charities, high needs schools, and a few families who have needed our help in our own Hellenic Community. We are blessed to be able help. May you all have a healthy and joy filled summer!

Maids of Athena
The Maids of Athena would like to thank everyone for your support this year. Despite the pandemic, we continued to be productive and have been able to volunteer for and cook over 300 meals at the Made by Momma location! Meals are given to mothers and children facing adversity and crisis either during their stay in the hospital or at home. We also donated clothing and other much needed items to help them as well. We are excited to continue our good work in the fall and we welcome new girls from ages 14 and up to join! Have a fantastic summer!

Information for Funeral Services
For information regarding funerals and memorial services, please click here. Parishioners can contact a funeral home of their choice first. Please contact Fr. Demetrios Polychroniades at either (403) 970-5548 or (587) 353-6112 while Fr. Peter Rougas is on leave.

June 9, 2021 - Church Capacity Update

As a part of Alberta's open for summer plan, places of worship are permitting 33% of occupancy, effective starting on June 10^th. As of tomorrow, 115 people will be permitted on a first come first serve basis. Once capacity has been reached, parishioners are welcome to light a candle but then must exit. Masks will be required.

We can't wait to have our parishioners back in Church! Your support and patience has been greatly appreciated.

Sent on behalf of the community council.

June 1, 2021

Father's Day TO-GO Lunch
The community is hosting a father's day to-go lunch on June 20^th! Chicken souvlaki, with rice, salad, pita and tzatziki are on the menu for $15! All orders are to be pre-purchased either by clicking here or by calling Penelope at (403) 246-4553 ext 3. The deadline to pre-purchase is June 17^th. Pickup will be between 12:00pm - 1:30pm.

Ahepa & Daughters of Penelope Scholarships
Calling all high school & university students! Please visit www.dopcalgary.com/scholarships to view and apply for the different scholarships available.

Information for Funeral Services
For information regarding funerals and memorial services, please click here. Parishioners can contact a funeral home of their choice first. Please contact Fr. Demetrios Polychroniades at either (403) 970-5548 or (587) 353-6112 while Fr. Peter Rougas is on leave.

May 28, 2021 - Church Capacity Update

As a part of Alberta's open for summer plan, places of worship are permitting 15% of occupancy, effective on May 28^th. As of Sunday, 50 people will be permitted on a first come first serve basis. Once capacity has been reached, parishioners are welcome to light a candle but then must exit. Social distancing and masks will be required.

We can't wait to have our parishioners back in Church! Your support and patience has been greatly appreciated.

Sent on behalf of the community council.

May 17, 2021

*The community office will be closed next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (May 24^th-26^th) but will be open on Thursday and Friday, May 27^th & 28^th.

Sunday School
Christ has Arisen! Ο Χριστός αναστήθηκε!
Kalo Pascha - Kαλό Πάσχα to all. Join us for our final online class of the year on May 30^th at 12-12:30 pm. To enroll your children, click here.

Ahepa & Daughters of Penelope Scholarships
Calling all high school & university students! Please visit www.dopcalgary.com/scholarships to view and apply for the different scholarships available.

Maids of Athena - Fundraiser
The Maids of Athena are having a Bake Sale on June 20^th. and the last day to pre-order is this Sunday, May 23^rd. Click here to submit your orders: MOA Bake Sale Order Form. Proceeds will be donated to "Made by Momma'', an organization that helps mothers facing situations of adversity by providing meals, baby essentials, supportive in-home visitors and other much needed services. We have the following for sale: Krinos (frozen packages): spanakopites, tiropites, bougatsa. Home baked: Koulouria (nistisima), Rice Krispie squares, Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins, Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies, etc.

Information for Funeral Services
For information regarding funerals and memorial services, please click here. Parishioners can contact a funeral home of their choice first. Please contact Fr. Demetrios Polychroniades at either (403) 970-5548 or (587) 353-6112 while Fr. Peter Rougas is on leave.

Changes Effective Immediately - May 5, 2021

Dear members,

Given the new restrictions set forth by the Alberta Government, all Church services will be live stream only, effective immediately . You can watch services on our Youtube Channel St. Demetrios Calgary.

Our Greek School will also be moving fully online starting Saturday. Detailed information will be sent to our families directly from our Greek School principal.

Sent on behalf of the community council.

May 4, 2021

Church Support Volunteers
The Church committee is looking for some support during services. Specifically, they need members to complete the contact information for attendees, hand out candles, ensure social distancing and proper wearing of masks are maintained. If you can help, click here to sign up.

AHEPA/DOP Greek School Awards
The AHEPA Family has for over 50 years presented awards to students in the Greek School. You are very aware that restrictions last year prohibited us from making these presentations during the Greek School Award ceremony that was cancelled. We are communicating with the Greek School Principal and administration to determine the best way to acknowledge the students for this year and last year. Please have patience because protocols change daily and we are trying to be as safe as possible for all involved. We are very proud of our support of the Greek School and of the students who have worked to learn a second language.

Vasilia Kachmarski
Greek School Committee
AHEPA Family

Ahepa & Daughters of Penelope Scholarships
Calling all high school & university students! Please visit www.dopcalgary.com/scholarships to view and apply for the different scholarships available.

Maids of Athena - Fundraiser
The Maids of Athena are having a Bake Sale on June 20^th. Pre-Orders for the Sale can be made through this MOA Bake Sale Order Form and will close May 23^rd. Proceeds will be donated to "Made by Momma'', an organization that helps mothers facing situations of adversity by providing meals, baby essentials, supportive in-home visitors and other much needed services. We have the following for sale: Krinos (frozen packages): spanakopites, tiropites, bougatsa. Home baked: Koulouria (nistisima), Rice Krispie squares, Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins, Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies, etc. The pick up date will be on SUNDAY, JUNE 20^th at the church.

Greek School
We would like to congratulate our students, Gerasimos Karras and Theodora Girgulis for successfully participating in the Independence Day Challenge, held by the Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada. Gerasimos received the 1^st place and Theodora the 3^rd in the 13-17 years old age group. We are so proud for all our students who took the time and submitted their essay.

Niata
Thank you to all that attended our Niata Get Together over Zoom! It was a great turnout and so nice to see so many Niata dancers again. We'll definitely be hosting another get together so that we can all touch base and talk about our love of Greek dance. Niata would like to wish everyone Xristos Anesti!

Information for Funeral Services
For information regarding funerals and memorial services, please click here.

Click here to view this newsletter in Greek.

April 15, 2021

Palm Sunday TO-GO Lunch
The community will be selling a salmon lunch for Palm Sunday. All lunches will include salmon, rice and salad, and be sold for $15 per plate. All orders must be pre-purchased and the deadline to place an order will be April 22^nd. Orders can me made online by clicking here or by contacting Penelope at the office either by phone (403-246-4553 ext 5) or email (admin@calgaryhellenic.com).

Labathes & Easter Books for Sale!
As Easter approaches, we are selling large ($20) and medium ($15) size labathes for girls and boys. We also have a few children's easter books and activity books as well the Holy Week Liturgy book (in English and Greek). They can be purchased online by clicking here and picked up during any service.

Information for Funeral Services
For information regarding funerals and memorial services, please click here.

AGM Update - April 9, 2021

Dear members,

In keeping with typical timing, Council had planned for the Annual General Meeting (AGM) to be scheduled for mid April; as we all know, this year continues to be anything but typical. Ongoing and tightening COVID restrictions as well as unpredictability and ever changing demands on the time of the Council volunteers has resulted in an adjustment to the scheduled timing.

Our goal is to ensure the year-end financial documentation for 2020 will be sent to all members by the end of April and for the AGM to be scheduled at a time when restrictions will permit the indoor gathering at our Community Hall.

We thank you for your patience and support.

Σύμφωνα με το τυπικό χρονοδιάγραμμα, το Συμβούλιο είχε προγραμματίσει να γίνει η Ετήσια Γενική Συνέλευση στα μέσα Απριλίου. Οπως όλοι γνωρίζουμε, φέτος συνεχίζει να μην είναι μια τυπική χρονιά. Οι συνεχιζόμενοι περιορισμοί του COVID, καθώς και οι συνεχώς μεταβαλλόμενες απαιτήσεις κατά την ώρα των εθελοντών του Συμβουλίου, οδήγησαν σε προσαρμογή του προγραμματισμένου ΑGM.

Στόχος μας είναι να ετοιμάσουμε το οικονομικό απολογισμό και να σταλεί σε όλα τα μέλη έως τα τέλη Απριλίου και η συνελεύση θα προγραμματιστεί όταν οι περιορισμοί θα επιτρέψουν την εσωτερική συγκέντρωση στην κοινότητα μας.

Σας ευχαριστούμε για την υπομονή και την υποστήριξή σας.

Sent on behalf of the Community Council.

Important Update - April 4, 2021

Dear members,

On Friday, April 2^nd at 9:00 am, the Parish council received notice from His Grace Bishop Bartholemew that Fr. Peter Rougas will be on leave for the next three months.
The Bishop has asked Fr. Demetrios Polychroniadis to preside over our church services for that time frame. If any parishioner wishes to contact Fr. Polychroniades, please call either (403) 970-5548 or (587) 353-6112. We thank Fr. Polychroniadis for his support during this busy time of lent and Easter services. We also request that anyone who is available to assist Fr. Polychroniades in the alter please email admin@calgaryhellenic.com.

On behalf of the community council.

March 29, 2021

Greek Flag Fundraiser
Thank you to all who generously donated to this fundraiser! Our church and community were so beautifully decorated with the flags for the Bicentennial of Greek Independence. Flags are still available for purchase with a minimum donation of $30 by clicking here! Proceeds will be going towards our Community and the Greek School. Flags will be available for pick up on and after Sunday, April 4^th from the church office. You can pick them up at any church service (dates and times of church services are listed on the calendar - click here to see more!).

Sunday School
Sunday School will remain online until the end of May 2021. The next two months are full with weekly religious sessions. If you haven't done already, click here, to enroll your children in the appropriate level(s). Unless notified, classes are offered on the 1^st and 3^rd Sunday of the month from 12:30-1pm.

Consider including the Prayer of St. Ephraim in your family's daily program during Great lent:
O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power, and idle talk.
But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to Thy servant.
Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own transgressions, and not to judge my brother, for blessed art Thou, unto ages of ages. Amen.

Father Peter's Office Hours
Father Peter will be in his office Tuesdays to Thursday mornings, assuming there is no church service or other commitments. Appointments are still highly encouraged although members will not be turned away if he is available. To contact Father Peter, click here.

Byzantine Chanting
If you are interested in learning Byzantine Chanting, please contact Father Peter at fr.peter@shaw.ca.

The Hellenic Initiative
THI Canada would like to invite you to attend their upcoming virtual discussion on March 31st @ 10am: In conversation with Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece. About the event: On the occasion of the bicentennial of the Greek Revolution, join us for a virtual event with the Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis: A discussion with THI Canada Honorary Director and former Ambassador of Canada to Greece Robert Peck on his vision for Greece, economic recovery, bilateral relations and the diaspora. To register, please click here.

Alberta Gov - Working Parents Benefit
Working parents have until March 31^st to apply to receive a one-time $561 per child benefit to help with the cost of child care. To apply, please click here.

Attention Business Owners
Our membership business directory is live! Click here to view it. As a reminder, all paid members can have their business listing added free of charge. Contact Penelope at admin@calgaryhellenic.com if you wish to add your business name and contact information to the directory.

Information for Funeral Services
For information regarding funerals and memorial services, please click here.

Click here to view this newsletter in Greek.

200 Years of Greek Independence - March 4, 2021

Dear members,

As you are already probably familiar, this year marks the 200^thAnniversary of Greek Independence. Although restrictions are still in place and we will not be able to celebrate in our usual ways, we have planned several other ways to celebrate this important milestone in our cultural and religious history.

Community Fundraiser:
Join us in celebrating the 200^th year anniversary of the Independence of Greece, by sponsoring a Greek Flag. These flags will decorate the outside of our St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church and our Hellenic Community Hall. You can also include a special message in honor of a war hero that will be added to your flag. After March 29^th, you will get to keep your flag as a memento of this special anniversary.
The minimum donation per flag is $30 (flag size 3x5 foot). Proceeds will be going toward the Calgary Hellenic Community and the Greek Community School of Calgary. To purchase your flag please visit us online at www.calgaryhellenic.com or contact our community office at (403) 246-4553 ext 3 or 5.

Calgary Tower:
On March 25^th, the Calgary Tower will be lit up Blue and White in honor of this historic milestone.

City of Calgary:
The City of Calgary will be raising the Greek Flag from sunrise to sunset on March 25^th. Those who have time are welcome to go to City Hall (north side of the municipal plaza) and take photos with our flag.

City of Calgary Proclamation:
A request has also been made for a proclamation from the City of Calgary acknowledging the 200 years of Greek Independence. Once it has been received, it will be shared broadly with our members.

Greek School Celebration:
Once again we will not be able to celebrate the event in our usual format, all together in the Church and in the hall. However, our Greek School staff and students will be preparing a video to share. We are all looking forward to seeing the wonderful work our students will put together. Those interested in seeing the video please contact principal@calgaryhellenic.com.

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada:
Essay challenge for all youth ages 8-17, on the topic of Why are you proud to be Greek? Contest deadline is March 31^st. Click here for more information.

Official Song of the 200 years of Independence:
Listen to this beautiful song commemorating this historic time in our history by clicking here.

On behalf of the Community Council and Fr Peter Rougas,

Diane Polesello
President

February 22, 2021

House Renovation Update
After a few months of necessary renovations to the community house, it is finally ready to be put on the market for rent. The revenue collected from the house will be used to offset the utilities and property tax. A heartfelt thank you to the following for their generous donations and time/labour/supplies:
- Calgary Foundation - $15,000
- George, Gus and Platona Apostolidis - Painting (all supplies and labour)
- Anonymous
It could not have been done without you!

Christmas Ornament Donation
Thank you to everyone who helped us raise funds during our Christmas Ornament Fundraiser for the Drop-In Center. We will be donating $1,250 to sponsor a lunch at the Drop-In Center. The remaining $2,300 will be used to support the costs of the building.

Father Peter's Office Hours
Father Peter will be in his office Tuesdays to Thursday mornings, assuming there is no church service or other commitments. Appointments are still highly encouraged although members will not be turned away if he is available. To contact Father Peter, click here.

Greek School
The Ellhnomatheia online registration portal is now open for those 8 years of age and older wanting to write the certification exam. It will be open until March 21^st, 2021. If you find yourself stuck in the process of registering, please email Olga Sarlis at olga.sarlis@edmontonhellenic.com or Eleni Tsekoura eleni.tsekoura@edmontonhellenic.com.

The exams will be taking place at the Hellenic Heritage Language School/Hellenic-Canadian Community of Edmonton & Region in May of this year with a date and time to be determined and then announced.

Byzantine Chanting
If you are interested in learning Byzantine Chanting, please contact Father Peter at fr.peter@shaw.ca.

College Year in Athens
College Year in Athens (CYA) is offering two opportunities for Gap Year students: one for those passionate about antiquity with the program "Archaeological Field Work: Excavation, Workshops and Digital Technologies" and one for those interested in learning more about activism and diversity, with the program "Understanding Activism, Diversity, and Equity: the example of Greece". If you think this option may be of interest to you please email gapyear@cyathens.org for additional information.

Information for Funeral Services
For information regarding funerals and memorial services, please click here.

February 9, 2021

2021 Vic Alefantis Memorial Poker Night
Thank you to all the sponsors and participants of this year's virtual poker night! Over $19 000 was raised for our community with a portion going towards Scleroderma research. Congratulations to the final table winners, all who won a prize!

1^st place - Randy Jennings
2^nd place - Jay Hanzel
3^rd place - Gordon Nelson
4^th place - Sally Zehan
5^th place - Dimitrios Hontzias
6^th place - Chris Chrisohou
7^th place - Theodoros Alefantis
8^th place - Tim Matchim
9^th place - George Liaridis

Greek Tax Residency Webinar
On February 10^th, 2021 at 10am, The Hellenic Initiative is hosting a webinar on the recently adopted Greek tax legislation providing incentives to people who consider relocating their primary tax residency to Greece. For more information and to register for the webinar, please click here.

Council Vacancies
Your community council is looking for two energetic volunteers to fill two, one-year terms on council! If you or anyone you know would like to be a part of council, please email admin@calgaryhellenic.com. As a reminder, you must have been a paid member for 2-years since December 6^th, 2020.

Church Support Volunteers
The Church committee is looking for some support during services. Specifically, they need members to complete the contact information for attendees, hand out candles, ensure social distancing and proper wearing of masks are maintained. If you can help, click here to sign up.

Father Peter's Office Hours
Father Peter will be in his office Tuesdays to Thursday mornings, assuming there is no church service or other commitments. Appointments are still highly encouraged although members will not be turned away if he is available. To contact Father Peter, click here.

Niata
Hello Niata Families,
It’s been far too long since we’ve all been together. We hope that you’re all well and making the best of this cold winter. We can’t wait to see you all again, but we’re not sure when that will be yet. In an effort to lift spirits and continue our mission to pass on our Greek cultural history to our youth, we will be organizing a Zoom get together in March. Details will follow. Wishing all of you the best.
Effy Klironomos - Niata Director

Byzantine Chanting
If you are interested in learning Byzantine Chanting, please contact Father Peter at fr.peter@shaw.ca.

Information for Funeral Services
For information regarding funerals and memorial services, please click here.

January 27, 2021

Save Our Church
Thank you so much to everyone who has so graciously donated to our Save Our Church fundraising campaign. To date, we have raised just under $179,000! Covid-19 has presented challenges for everyone, so if you are able to, please give what you can.

If you haven't donated yet, here's how:

Make a donation online by clicking here
Cheques payable to:
Hellenic Community of Calgary
E-transfer to admin@calgaryhellenic.com
Monthly recurring donations
Call (403) 246-4553 ext 3 or drop off to any council member during church services in an envelope
*All donations will receive a tax deductible receipt

All the funds raised will be used to sustain the maintenance, utilities and insurance of our church and community hall to ensure that we can remain open for the 2021 year and beyond.

We are grateful for your support!
Hellenic Community Council & Fr. Peter Rougas
(Click here to view the donation meter!)

Father Peter's Office Hours
Father Peter will be in his office Tuesdays to Thursday mornings, assuming there is no church service or other commitments. Appointments are still highly encouraged although members will not be turned away if he is available. To contact Father Peter, click here.

Byzantine Chanting
If you are interested in learning Byzantine Chanting, please contact Father Peter at fr.peter@shaw.ca.

Information for Funeral Services
For information regarding funerals and memorial services, please click here.

January 11, 2021

Save Our Church
Thank you so much to everyone who has so graciously donated to our Save Our Church fundraising campaign. To date, we have raised just about $ 178,000!! Covid-19 has presented challenges for everyone, so if you are able to, please give what you can.

If you haven't donated yet, here's how:

Make a donation online by clicking here
Cheques payable to:
Hellenic Community of Calgary
E-transfer to admin@calgaryhellenic.com
Monthly recurring donations
Call (403) 246-4553 ext 3 or drop off to any council member during church services in an envelope
*All donations will receive a tax deductible receipt

All the funds raised will be used to sustain the maintenance, utilities and insurance of our church and community hall to ensure that we can remain open for the 2021 year and beyond.

We are grateful for your support!
Hellenic Community Council & Fr. Peter Rougas
(Click here to view the donation meter!)

Maids of Athena
The Maids of Athena gathered and delivered items to the Drop In Centre in support of the "Togetherness" initiative. Three of the Maids also volunteered to be greeters at our church during a recent Sunday service. Additionally, one of the Maids, with her family, created a Santa's Workshop in their garage where they collected and packaged items for seniors' homes, and ended up giving presents to over 200 residents! For their New Year’s fundraiser, the Maids have created a special video. Give them a follow on Instagram @moa.calgary to watch it. All the best of health and happiness in 2021!

Philoptochos
Philoptochos continued to give to those in need during December! They purchased 20 backpacks and filled each backpack with winter items (tuques, warm gloves, neck warmers) hygiene items, masks, hand sanitizers, nutritional bars and much more. Pictures of the items are on the Philoptochos Facebook page. They were dropped them off at the Mustard Seed a few days before Christmas to help the homeless in Calgary. The Philoptochos Ladies are very proud to have been able to continue their good work, despite the challenges of 2020. They wish you all a healthy and joyful new year!

Sunday School
We wish everyone a healthy, prosperous and joyful start to the New Year and XRONIA POLLA to all who celebrate this month too!
"A tree is known by it's fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love." - Saint Basil

Online Sunday School returns on January 17^th. Register for classes by clicking here, to enroll your children in the appropriate Level(s). Unless notified, classes are offered the 1^st and 3^rd Sunday of the month from 12:30-1pm. Sunday School Chat's with Father Peter resume on January 24^th.

Father Peter's Office Hours
Father Peter will be in his office Tuesdays to Thursday mornings, assuming there is no church service or other commitments. Appointments are still highly encouraged although members will not be turned away if he is available. To contact Father Peter, click here.

Byzantine Chanting
If you are interested in learning Byzantine Chanting, please contact Father Peter at fr.peter@shaw.ca.

Met Youth Chats
Calling all youth 15+! Join Father Peter for monthly Google Meets sessions after his Religious Education classes. Be sure to check the community calendar for upcoming dates and the link to the meeting.

Attention Business Owners
Our membership business directory is live! Click here to view it. As a reminder, all paid members can have their business listing added free of charge. Contact Penelope at admin@calgaryhellenic.com if you wish to add your business name and contact information to the directory.

Information for Funeral Services
For information regarding funerals and memorial services, please click here.