OUR PATRON SAINT

St. Demetrios’ Feast Day is Celebrated Every Year on October 26.

Saint Demetrios was a Thessalonian, a most pious son of pious and noble parents, and a teacher of the Faith of Christ.

When Maximian first came to Thessalonica in 303 A.D, he raised the Saint to the rank of Duke of Thessaly. When it was discovered that the Saint was a Christian, he was arrested and kept bound in a bath-house. While the games were under way in the city, Maximian was a spectator there.

A certain friend of his, a barbarian who was a notable wrestler, Lyaeus by name, waxing haughty because of the height and strength of his body, boasted in the stadium and challenged the citizens to a contest with him. All that fought with him were defeated. Seeing this, a certain youth named Nestor, aquaintance of Demetrios’, came to the Saint in the bath-house and asked his blessing to fight Lyaeus single-handed.

Receiving this blessing and sealing himself with the sign of the precious Cross, he presented himself in the stadium, and said, “O God of Demetrios, help me!” and straightway he engaged Lyaeus in combat and smote him with a mortal blow to the heart, leaving the former boaster lifeless upon the earth.

Maximian was sorely grieved over this, and when he learned who was the cause of this defeat, he commanded straightway and Demetrios was pierced with lances while he was yet in the bath-house, As for Nestor, Maximian commanded that he be slain with his own sword.

OUR PARISH PRIEST

FR. KONSTANTINOS CHIALTAS

Father Konstantinos Chialtas was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario. He is married to Presvytera Vicki and has one son, Dimitri.

Fr. Kosta received a Bachelor of Arts (Hon.) in Political Science and a Bilingual Certificate in Public Policy and Administration from Glendon College, York University, he has done post-graduate work towards a Master in Public Policy and Management at the University of London (U.K.) and received a Bachelor of Theology (Hon.) from the Patriarchal Toronto Orthodox Theological Academy. Fr. Kosta was named co-valedictorian and graduated cum laude from the Academy.

During his time at the Academy, Fr. Kosta served as a part-time chanter at the Hellenic Home Chapel (Sts. Anargyroi) - 2015, Neoxoros for the Chapel of St. John the Theologian – 2016-2019 and Head of the Sunday School Program for the Chapel of St. John the Theologian – 2017-2019.

Fr. Kosta was ordained a Deacon by His Eminence Archbishop Sotirios on July 20th, 2019 on the Feast of Prophet Elias the Thesbite and as a Priest on November 12th, 2019 on the Feast of St. John Chrysostom.

Fr. Kosta is currently the English Secretary to His Eminence Archbishop Sotirios, a position he started in 2018.

In his free time Fr. Kosta enjoys watching movies and tinkering with technology.

COMMUNITY COUNCIL AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Additional Information

Parish Priest: Fr. Dimitrios Gianniou

President: Anastasios (Tom) Zafiridis

Vice-President: Frank Spiridoulias

Secretary: Tina Edwards

Treasurer: Dimitrios Nikolaidis

Treasurer for Senior’s Building:

Nick Triantafillou

Advisor to the Board: Nathan Hondronicols

Dance Group: Sue Zafiridis and Tony Halkeas

Building Committee: Athanasios Kavouras

GOYA: Sophia Zafiridis-Savruk and Fr. Dimitrios Gianniou

Festivals: George Thersidis

Food, Beverages & Funerals : Frank Spiridoulias

Entertainment: (By Committee)

Board Members: Elias Thersidis, Peter Kourtakis, Fotini Edwards (Greek School), John Kartas, and Eleftherios Tsiliganos

Community Secretary: Ekaterini (Rena) Georgakopoulos

Cantors: Peter Toublis, Nick Miminas and George Sholarchos.

Role of the Community Council

The role and responsibilities of the Church Council members is to represent their parish and the Orthodox Christian faith as leaders of the community. The Council consists of the Priest and the elected members.

Mission of the Community Council

Our goal as the parish council is to practice and proclaim the Orthodox Christian Faith pure by setting an example for the parish and ensure that we provide an enjoyable and comfortable experience through our administration services towards our membership and non-members entering the front doors every day.

As ambassadors of Faith and your council representative, we encourage you to feel free and approach us for any inquiries you may have.

Council Meetings occur on the First Monday of every month at 7:30 pm unless otherwise communicated.

NOTES OF INTEREST

For your Reference, the Following Services are not Permitted on the Dates Mentioned Below:

WEDDINGS:

✤ January 5-6 (Epiphany)

✤ Lent and Holy Week

✤ August 1-15 (Fast of the Theotokos)

✤ August 29 (Beheading of St. John the Baptist)

✤ September 14 (Elevation of the Holy Cross)

✤ December 13-25 (Christmas Fast)

✤ Weddings are not allowed on the day before all major Feastdays of the Church, all Holy Days of Our Lord, and Holy Pentecost (see above).

✤ Weddings are not allowed on these days unless absolutely necessary and then only by special permission from the Metropolitan.

BAPTISMS:

✤December 25 – January 6

✤ Holy Week

✤ Major Feast Days

✤ Baptisms are not allowed on these days unless in the case of an emergency or when absolutely necessary and then only by special permission from the Metropolitan

FUNERALS

✤ Funeral Services are allowed on any day of the year, except on Sundays, unless absolutely necessary and permission is obtained from the Metropolitan.

MEMORIALS

✤From Saturday of Lazarus through Sunday of Thomas

✤ All the Feast days of our Lord

✤ On August 15

St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Community of Hamilton & District