ANNOUNCEMENT - JULY 10 2020
Retirement of our Parish Priest
Dear Parishioners, Community Members, Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
It is with mixed emotions that we announce the coming retirement of our Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Demetrios Gianniou, Protopresbyter after 36 years of faithful service to the church in Canada.
Fr. Dimitrios Gianniou was ordained into Priesthood by Metropolitan Sotirios on September 11, 1984. He received his Offikion of Economos in 1990 and his Offikion of Protopresbyter in May 2016.
Father Gianniou has served many communities across Canada, including the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Thunder Bay (1984-1989), Panagia Greek Orthodox Church in Hamilton (1989-1991), Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church in Laval, QC (1991-1997), St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Winnipeg (1997-2008) and St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Hamilton (2008-present).
Father Gianniou is a teacher of Byzantine music and taught at the Metropolis’ Theological Academy in Toronto for seven years (2008-2015). He has also taught Byzantine music in the Communities he has served across Canada (Holy Trinity in Thunder Bay, Panagia in Hamilton, Holy Cross in Laval, St. Demetrios in Winnipeg and St. Demetrios in Hamilton).
On behalf of the Community council, the parishioners, the community cultural organizations, and the volunteers of the Greek Orthodox community of St. Demetrios in Hamilton, we would like to wish Rev. Fr. Demetrios and Presvytera Asimina well in retirement, and thank them for their dutiful service to all of the communities, including our own, that they touched.
Fr. Demetrios Gianniou would like to thank all of the faithful in the communities he served, as well as the various cultural organizations who helped to spread and continue the good works of the church and for Greece.
Our new Parish Priest will be announced in the near future.
Farewell Dinner for Fr. Demetrios Gianniou hosted by Agia Triados Ladies Philoptochos.
Important Notice Regarding Church Reopening June 21st.
To All Parishioners and Members
Dear Parishioners and Members, Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The Province of Ontario recently announced that houses of worship will be able to reopen with a maximum of 30% capacity.
The Community Council will be preparing the church this week for reopening on Sunday June 21st. We will be ensuring that all proper precautions and measures are in place to protect the health of our Parishioners and Community Members.
Please read the message from our Archdiocese, which outlines the opening process.
Additional details will be communicated as they become available.
Sincerely,
The Board of Directors and Community Council
monthly message - july 2020
St. Paraskevi the Righteous Martyr of Rome - July 26th
Saint Paraskevi, who was from a certain village near Rome, was born to pious parents, Agatho and Politia. Since she was born on a Friday (in Greek, Paraskevi), she was given this name, which means "preparation" or "preparedness" (compare Matt. 27:62, Mark 15:42, Luke 23:54, and John 19:31, where 'Friday' is called "the day of the preparation"). From childhood she was instructed in the sacred letters and devoted herself to the study of the divine Scriptures, while leading a monastic life and guiding many to the Faith of Christ.
During the reign of the Emperor Antoninus Pius, she was apprehended because she was a Christian and was urged to worship the idols, but she answered with the words of Jeremias: "Let the gods that have not made heaven and the earth perish from off the earth" (Jer. 10:11). Because of this she endured exceedingly painful torments, and was beheaded in the year 140 AD. The faithful pray to her for the healing of eye ailments
MONTHLY MESSAGE - august 2020
The Dormition of our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary - August 15th
Concerning the Dormition of the Theotokos, this is what the Church has received from ancient times from the tradition of the Fathers. When the time drew nigh that our Savior was well-pleased to take His Mother to Himself, He declared unto her through an Angel that three days hence, He would translate her from this temporal life to eternity and bliss. On hearing this, she went up with haste to the Mount of Olives, where she prayed continuously. Giving thanks to God, she returned to her house and prepared whatever was necessary for her burial. While these things were taking place, clouds caught up the Apostles from the ends of the earth, where each one happened to be preaching, and brought them at once to the house of the Mother of God, who informed them of the cause of their sudden gathering.
As a mother, she consoled them in their affliction as was meet, and then raised her hands to Heaven and prayed for the peace of the world. She blessed the Apostles, and, reclining upon her bed with seemliness, gave up her all-holy spirit into the hands of her Son and God.
With reverence and many lights, and chanting burial hymns, the Apostles took up that God-receiving body and brought it to the sepulchre, while the Angels from Heaven chanted with them, and sent forth her who is higher than the Cherubim. But one Jew, moved by malice, audaciously stretched forth his hand upon the bed and immediately received from divine judgment the wages of his audacity. Those daring hands were severed by an invisible blow. But when he repented and asked forgiveness, his hands were restored. When they had reached the place called Gethsemane, they buried there with honor the all-immaculate body of the Theotokos, which was the source of Life. But on the third day after the burial, when they were eating together, and raised up the artos (bread) in Jesus' Name, as was their custom, the Theotokos appeared in the air, saying "Rejoice" to them. From this they learned concerning the bodily translation of the Theotokos into the Heavens.
These things has the Church received from the traditions of the Fathers, who have composed many hymns out of reverence, to the glory of the Mother of our God.
your support is appreciated
Your support and contributions will enable us to continue to offer engaging programming, religious instruction, and philanthropic endeavors. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.
