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Welcome! !
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The Brotherhood of Saint George
Denver, Colorado
an open letter to a faithful people
+
any donations to help frey the cost
of this book would be appreciated
"It is a beautiful and wonderful thing to behold people gathered in the love
of Christ." - Gheronda +Amphilochios of Patmos (St Paraskev chapel, Fiji)
On the Feast-day of Pentecost, after a scrumptious traditional Fijian meal
lovingly prepared and served by Presvytera Lydia (the wife of Fiji's first
indigenous priest, fr. Bartholomeos) and their 19 year old daughter
(Paraskevi) and their adopted 6 year old (Ioannis), our Gheronda
graciously (in the Spirit) spoke "a word of thanks" to them and to all his
co-workers () here and afar; those who with deep love for and
commitment to Christ and His Church have assisted him in founding the
Church here on Fiji; and to two individuals in particular (who were still
present before departing for America), Steve Angelides and his faithful
wife, Maria [Gheronda's younger sister] who, though both are elderly,
continuously and throughout the years have been loyally by Gheronda's
side helping all the good works of the Church that His Eminence
responsibly enacts.
Gheronda's blessed words of gratitude inspired me so - that my
thoughts went to you all; to you the particular faithful ones who have
assisted my unworthiness ( ) in so many ways to
continue the Church's and our Savior's work wherever I have been sent and especially from our little monastery* ~ in
Denver (near our beloved Assumption Cathedral) that we all love and
know so well as: the Brotherhood of Saint George (*we use the term
"monastery" in the same way that every mountainside/seaside/urban
chapel is called in Greece). Your eager assistance, your
financial contributions, and your "standing-by" readiness to help create
what has become an "urban oasis of peace and prayer" cannot be
overstated; it never would have been - without you.
My first thoughts go to our
blessed circumstances of
today (17 years after our
blessed beginning). It
was just a few months ago
that we brought adelf
Ioanna with us here to Fiji
to assist in another recent
mission-trip (see photo)
and His Eminence
Metropolitan Isaiah gave
! ENTER (please!)
Our Christ says, "Come to me all you who labor and are heavy
laden and I will give you rest" - just so, the welcoming Brotherhood,
We are now also blessed with the "garden chapel" of Saint Nicholas
like all monastic dwellings, awaits all with "the fragrance of Christ." to
come find some rest and renewed courage here ~ to "fight the good fight!"
as Saint Paul says, . Mnach (nun) Ioanna
strives sacrificially, discerningly and lovingly to maintain this "mansion"
of God ( see John 14:2) in the Mile-high City. The assistance that all
of you give continuously (financial support, your intermittent visits and
your genuine gestures and signs of appreciation) combined with adelf
Ioanna's "complete monastic devotion" prove that the Brotherhood is a
work of everybody all together ( ). This work; an offering
which is unique to our Orthodoxy, requires "many hands" (as Saint Paul
alludes to in his Second Epistle to the Corinthians, "...the manifestation of
the Spirit is given to each one - for the profit of all." - 1 Cor. 12:7).
To all of you then, this is a simple written expression of the
inexpressible gratitude I feel deep in my heart. My heart informs
me that perhaps now is the time for us to also write a "timeline history"
about God's providential care... how gradually (), God allowed and the Brotherhood of Saint George has come to be...
The beautiful and inviting entrance to the main chapel of Saint George
prayer where hundreds would gather each year on the Feast-day of Saint
George?! And who could have imagined that this little monastic dwelling
would be blessed to have the world renowned Great-martyr George as its
protector - just as he is the protector of all Orthodox monasticism?
(because of his long-suffering love for Christ). God knew; our great God
who is the "All-knowing" ( ) knew before "the foundation
of the world" ( ). And just so - it happened!
The medicine of immortality
Toward our goal of establishing a monastic house of prayer, in June of
1999, so that we might have the
opportunity to receive holy communion
The contrite and moving chapel of the Great-martyr Saint George today
(photo inset - blessed visit of Archbishop Demetrios of America).
A view of the monastery fountain/yard from the Saint Nicholas garden chapel
Special help in preparing for that day came from Lou and Fran Gonis
(who at a later date actually put up the new iconostasion - and her
parents; +Anastasios [who chanted so solemnly - and encouraged us so
heartily! May God rest his soul] and his pious and gentle widow Katina.
Note: the iconostasion was later detailed by another of our own Tom
Dielman, assisted by his lovely wife Marianthe [Karavites]). Great
assistance too came from Bill and Janie Bruce whose presence at every
ensuing Saturday morning liturgy (for a couple of years running) was a
significant, prayerful encouragement toward our goal. They, together
with adelf Ioanna (then Anna [+William] Myrick), Katina Kapantas and
Yoryah (John) Roberts (who just happened to be yours truly's boyhood
Greek School teacher) and others beautified the gardens and put a
sparkling touch of cleanliness throughout the whole house. Their
enthusiasm for this thrice-blessed project was indeed - foundational.
- our blessed founders
Naturally, none of the good things come out of
Saint George's would ever have been possible
were it not for the very "first offering" of one
particularly special woman - the woman who
gave me birth. Soon after that first Pascha that I
was back in Denver (1999), my mother
suggested that I might like to reside
"temporarily" at her forgiven mother's home
(+Aspasia N. Maniatis ~ thus "yiayia's house")
until God might reveal to us how we might
proceed. After Metropolitan Isaiah's episcopal
blessings, we respectfully remember the adage,
! - "take the blessing of parents and climb to
the mountain top!" The tireless help that my mother and father
(George and Joan Papadeas) have given (and continue to give) to the
functioning of Saint George's cannot be told in mere words - certainly
these "good works" will follow them into "the eternal mansions" of God
(Jn 14:2) Who "will judge each according to his works." Joyfully and at
great sacrifice they "toiled first" for Saint George's. In their "golden
years," they continue to work for and support all the good works done in
Christ's name from the Brotherhood of Saint George. Any expressions of
!
May the true God of history give you and yours
good health and always fill your hearts...
...with the "peace and joy" that brings salvation
gratefully yours, ,
+Christdoulos,
Ierokyrix, Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Atlanta
(too many to name!) who regularly (and some from afar) provide the
beautiful atmosphere of prayer in the Eight Byzantine Tones? The
craftsmanship of Chris Stames, Paul Mitchell, Dino Souleiotis and the
various Iconographers/helpers who adorned the chapel walls with the
Saints? And the seven-year celebration at the Governor's mansion
wood-working craftsmanship of Dn
Thomas Lynch and his brothers? (from
Colorado Springs) And the inspiring
lessons from +Ted Alexander? - his
piano playing, but moreover - his
complete mastery of New Testament
Greek? Can anyone forget the holy
visitation of Panaghia through the
miracle-working icon from Moni
Ypseni of RHODES (above)? and the
sobering and uplifting talks by
Gherondissa Mariam? How about
+Tony Krassas ( )
and his initial support and his
encouragement to stay the course?
(Tony used to plant the gardens, rake
leaves and shovel snow). Of course
there are our tree donors ...and our nearby Greek-orthodox neighbors
who are always watching out for us! and the intermittent continuous
visits of all! The anonymous donors of the brick-work, garden
beautification, the chandeliers, the curtains, each old icon and the new
ones framed? Of course the royal doors of the ancillary chapel of our most
beloved contemporary saint, Saint Nektarios (see photo at left) - and the
miracle for which they were donated? Indeed - Who could forget?
May Christ our true, good and loving God - who knows us,
"even the number of hairs on our heads," by the prayers of our
Panaghia and all the Saints - may He richly bless each and
every one with health and much grace!
And to think - these are just "some" of the people and a "few" of
the memories of the ways that God has been showing us that
...
"Zero Worrying...
~
All is well in the hands of our good God!
June 2016
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! ~ Glory to God for all things!
Co-workers and more... ...