Clean Monday Service of Holy Anointing in Nassau County, New York
Clergy from Nassau County, Direct Archdiocesan District, offered the Sacrament of Holy Unction to the faithful in attendance on Proper Monday, February 27, at the Church of the Holy Resurrection in Brookville, New York. The District Vicar of Nassau, Rev. Protopresbyter Nikiforos Fakinos, conveyed the blessings of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America; His Eminence plans to implement such initiatives in order to strengthen the spiritual collaboration of the clergy and to bring together the faithful for their edification and growth in the faith. Protopresbyter Nikiforos Fakinos spoke about the importance of the Sacrament of Holy Unction as well as the value of healing and spiritual catharsis as we embark on this spiritual journey of Holy and Great Lent.
Reverend clergy offering the sacrament with the Vicar were Protopresbyter Christopher Constantinides (Dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral, Hempstead), Protopresbyter Ioannis Lardas (Pastor of the Church of the Holy Archangels, Port Washington), Protopresbyter Panteleimon Papadopoulos (Pastor of the Church of the Holy Resurrection, Brookville), Economos Theofanis Papantonis (Pastor of the Church of the Holy Trinity in Hicksville), Presbyter Elias Pappas (Associate Pastor of Saint-Paul Cathedral in Hempstead), Presbyter Ioannis Capones (Associate Pastor of the Church of Saints Archangels in Port Washington) and Deacon Mathew Kakis (serving at Saint Paul Cathedral in Hempstead). Each of the 7 priests read the respective Gospel readings and blessings from the Holy Anointing service, praying for the continued health, protection and spiritual upliftment of the faithful of Nassau.
At the end of the service, Reverend Protopresbyter Panteleimon Papadopoulos, Pastor of the Host Parish of the Holy Resurrection, thanked the Vicar of Nassau for his greeting and for his sermon, as well as all the clergy, cantors and faithful of presence and invited them to a reception. Father Panteleimon also showed the Vicar the new expansion project of the Parish and discussed the progress of the construction. Rev. Protopresbyter Nikiforos Fakinos also invited the faithful to the upcoming Lenten lectures, which will be delivered by Nassau County clergy in various parishes in the district. The theme of the discussions is “A Journey to Easter through the Sacred Services of Lent” and the schedule is as follows:
Program of Lenten conferences:
1) Tuesday February 28 (7 p.m.), Saint-Démétrios church, Merrick, presenter by the Reverend Priest George Kazoulis on the theme of Greetings (Οι Χαιρετισμοί).
2) Tuesday March 7 (7 p.m.), Archange Michael Church, Port Washington, presenter Reverend Presbyter Elias Pappas on the theme of the Prayer of Saint Ephraim the Syrian (Η Ευχή του Αγίου Εφραίμ του Σύρου).
3) Tuesday March 14 (7 p.m.), Saint Paul’s Cathedral, Hempstead, presenter Reverend Protopresbyter Panteleimon Papadopoulos on the theme of the Great Canon (Ο Μέγας Κανών).
4) Tuesday March 21 (7 p.m.), Holy Resurrection Church, Brookville, presenter Reverend Economos Theofanis Papantonis on the theme of the Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts (Η Λειτουργία των Προηγιασμένων Τιμίω ν Δώρων).
5) Tuesday March 28 (7 p.m.), Holy Trinity Church, Hicksville, presenter Reverend Protopresbyter Nikiforos Fakinos on the theme of Lenten Vespers (Κατανυκτικός Εσπερινός).
6) Tuesday April 4 (7 p.m.), Panaghia Church, Island Park, presenter by the Reverend Protopresbyter John Lardas on the theme of Great Compline (To Μέγα Απόδειπνο).
Nassau clergy also work together on important initiatives for the advancement of religious education and Greek heritage as well as district youth ministries. On Friday, March 17, immediately following the Greetings Service, GOYA members in the district are invited to a Bible Bowl, which is a very unique and engaging way to teach young people the value of reading the Testaments. The event takes place at Holy Trinity Church, in Hicksville, NY, at 7 p.m. and all Nassau clergy will gather to read several parables and then help young members of the surrounding communities understand them and test their knowledge of the subject. .
The historical significance of the Greek Revolution and independence will also be celebrated in Nassau, March 23 at 6 p.m. (Nassau Executive Headquarters: 1550 Franklin Ave., Mineola, NY 11501) with the American Hellenic Heritage event. His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America will be the keynote speaker of the event. Representatives from parishes, Greek schools and political leaders will be present to honor the sacrifices of the heroes of Greek independence. In the morning, AHEPA and the youth will raise the Greek flag at the Nassau Executive Headquarters at 11 a.m. and Ms. Aggeliki Psoni will sing the anthems of the American and Greek nations. Ms. Christina Baris will sing the said national anthems during the evening. This initiative and many others are sponsored by Nassau parishes. The District Vicar coordinated the various programs in close collaboration with the clergy, parish leadership and volunteers in the region.
