Month: October 2022

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I pray that you enjoy a blessed weekend as we head strongly into November. Though I indicated that we would be able to see the newly installed mosaic as soon as this week, it seems that I have over promised and under delivered. The combination of the cold and precipitation has made it not possible to uncover. Insulated tarps will remain around the scaffolding until Tuesday afternoon, when the concrete frame around the icon will be installed. Next Sunday, we should be able to witness the glory of our church’s transformation. We will reschedule the Blessing of the Mosaic, once it is uncovered. 

I am told that next Sunday, we should have access to the front door, once again, as construction will be complete on the bell tower. Finishing touches, such as windows, grills, lighting and the cross are still in the works. But soon enough, it will a functioning structure. We will then head straight into Phase II of construction, turning our sights on the interior.

Thankfully, as we have continued to communicate, worship will still remain uninterrupted. With November approaching, this is important because there are many Liturgies scheduled during this month.  November literally begins with a Divine Liturgy and ends with a Divine Liturgy. That said, this coming Tuesday, November 1st, we will commemorate the Holy Unmercenary Saints Cosmas and Damian of Asia Minor (Constantinople).

The Holy Wonderworkers and Unmercenary Physicians Cosmas and Damian and their mother Saint Theodota were natives of Asia Minor (some sources say Mesopotamia). Their pagan father died while they were still quite small children. Their mother raised them in Christian piety. Through her own example, and by reading holy books to them, Saint Theodota preserved her children in purity of life according to the command of the Lord, and Cosmas and Damian grew up into righteous and virtuous men.

Trained and skilled as physicians, they received from the Holy Spirit the gift of healing people’s illnesses of body and soul by the power of prayer. They even treated animals. With fervent love for both God and neighbor, they never took payment for their services. They strictly observed the command of our Lord Jesus Christ, “Freely have you received, freely give.” (Mt. 10:8). The fame of Saints Cosmas and Damian spread throughout all the surrounding region, and people called them unmercenary physicians.

Once, the saints were summoned to a grievously ill woman named Palladia, whom all the doctors had refused to treat because of her seemingly hopeless condition. Through faith and through the fervent prayer of the holy brothers, the Lord healed the deadly disease and Palladia got up from her bed perfectly healthy and giving praise to God. In gratitude for being healed and wishing to give them a small gift, Palladia went quietly to Damian. She presented him with three eggs and said, “Take this small gift in the Name of the Holy Life-Creating Trinity, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” Hearing the Name of the Holy Trinity, the unmercenary one did not dare to refuse.

When Saint Cosmas learned what had happened, became very sad, for he thought that his brother had broken their strict vow. On his deathbed he gave instructions that his brother should not be buried beside him. Saint Damian also died shortly afterward, and everyone wondered where Saint Damian’s grave should be. But through the will of God a miracle occurred. A camel, which the saints had treated for its wildness, spoke with a human voice saying that they should have no doubts about whether to place Damian beside Cosmas, because Damian did not accept the eggs from the woman as payment, but out of respect for the Name of God. The venerable relics of the holy brothers were buried together at Thereman (Mesopotamia).

Many miracles were worked after the death of the holy Unmercenaries. There lived at Thereman, near the church of Cosmas and Damian, a certain man by the name of Malchus. One day he went on a journey, leaving his wife all alone for what would be a long time. He prayerfully entrusted her to the heavenly protection of the holy brothers. But the Enemy of the race of mankind took on the appearance of one of Malchus’ friends, and planned to kill the woman. A certain time went by, and this man went to her at home and said that Malchus had sent him to bring her to him. The woman believed him and went along. He led her to a solitary place intending to kill her. The woman, seeing that disaster threatened her, called upon God with deep faith.

Two horrific men then appeared, and the devil let go of the woman and fled, falling off a cliff. The two men led the woman home. At her own home, bowing to them deeply she asked, “My rescuers, to whom I shall be grateful to the end of my days, what are your names?”

They replied, “We are the servants of Christ, Cosmas and Damian,” and became invisible. The woman with trembling and with joy told everyone about what had happened to her. Glorifying God, she went up to the icon of the holy brothers and tearfully offered prayers of thanksgiving for her deliverance. And from that time the holy brothers were venerated as protectors of the holiness and inviolability of Christian marriage, and as givers of harmony to conjugal life. 

The Unmercenary Saints Cosmas and Damian of Asia Minor should not be confused with the Unmercenary Saints Cosmas and Damian of Rome (July 1), or the Unmercenary Saints Cosmas and Damian of Arabia (October 17). (Source: OCA)

Remember: Our JOY Pumpkin Patch Outing is this Sunday after Church!

GOYA is this Friday at the Soter Home!

YAL is November 18th at Rocky Mountain Axe Throwing!

With Love in XC,

Fr. Anthony Savas
Protopresbyter

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I apologize for this late message. It has been an extremely busy week with our mosaic installer in town. What an incredible time in the history of our parish!

Before I share anything else, let me invite you to the Divine Liturgy this Wednesday Morning for the Feast of St. Demetrios. It will be your first real opportunity to see the new mosaic. We will bless it next Sunday following Church Services. 

Please note the above pictures. They are our new Sunday School rooms, located on the property of our new next-door neighbors and the future home of a Lunatic Fringe Hair Salon. The owners, Lauren Spatafore and her father, David Spatafore have graciously allowed us to hold Sunday School in their building until our classrooms (three of the intended five) are complete this spring. They are gracious and generous neighbors. 

Our preschool class will remain on our property; tomorrow, having class in the back of the church in their partitioned space, and eventually in the new storage building, once it has heat and electricity in the coming weeks. Elementary and Teenage Classes will go next door for the next few months. Our Men’s Ministry Team built a stairway and installed a handrail up to the new location. Teachers will guide the kids up for their classes following Communion. 

Once their salon is open, the employees of Lunatic Fringe will be parking in our parking lot during their business hours. We are honored as a community to be both the recipient of, and the provider of neighborly blessings. It is the way it should be. 

Enjoy a lovely remainder of your short evening. See you in a few hours. Stay warm. Come to Church!

Much Love in XC,

Fr. Anthony Savas
Protopresbyter

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Some very exciting news: our mosaics have been delivered. The artwork arrived on Thursday and remains crated and waiting for the installers to arrive in about ten days. We have been engaging these Italian artists for months.

The design, budgeting, creative and production process has been filled with great anticipation and prayerful jubilation. You could imagine my sense of excitement knowing that our shipment had cleared customs and was on its way. The truck pulled in, the delivery driver jumped out and then, one of the most significant interactions of my life took place. And it had nothing – NOTHING to do with glass mosaic tiles. 

The delivery driver came into the building, and I immediately went to the door, extended my hand to greet him and introduced myself. The man shook my hand, then just stood there, staring at me. He didn’t say anything for what seemed to take forever. He just kept looking at me, almost beginning to cry. He then asked in very broken English “Do you speak Spanish?”

I told him no. He then took out his phone and started speaking into it with clear and deliberate speed in his own language. He then showed me his phone, which had translated what he said into English. “Here,” he said. I took his phone and read the message. Then, just like him as we first met, I began to get emotional and started to cry.

His phone read: “Thank you. For the first time since I’ve moved to this country, you are the very first person to shake my hand.”

Through the process of his phone translating, I asked him how long he’s been here.

He said just over three years. 

By this point, I wasn’t even thinking about mosaics or artwork or construction or Italians or anything else. I was equally stunned with emotion.

This man, standing before me, was taken back with the most basic gesture of acknowledgement and connection. Upon his arrival, I did not see a delivery man, or a foreign guy walk through the doors of our church, but a person. I didn’t even think about the interaction in such terms. But he sure did.

Let’s think about the last three years. With the Pandemic, we all got out of the habit of shaking hands. The awkward combination of fist and elbow bumps replaced the firm handshake. Ricardo, our new friend came to the USA around this time. Perhaps the timing of his arrival made it so, that nobody, ever, extended a hand of greeting. For the sake of giving humanity the benefit of the doubt, I’ll naïvely accept that. But you and I know probably know that’s not true.

Let us always take the opportunity to respect and acknowledge everyone who comes into our lives. When we afford grocery clerks and cable installers with the same dignity, we offer our physicians and professors, we can see humanity through the eyes of Christ. We are all His children. We are all created in His image. We are accountable to Him by how we treat each other. 

Can you imagine going three years without an acknowledgement of your existence? Would you want to walk through the halls of your office, school or warehouse as an invisible ghost? Always, always see the Other. Because the Other, is another occupant of this globe and represents Christ, Himself (Mt 25:31-46).

So, the mosaic icon is here. It depicts St. Anna walking in her garden with her daughter, the Theotokos. There is no image of Christ in this icon. But look with a prayerful, humble, discerning, and delicate eye. Then you’ll see Him. 

He delivered it to us.

With Love in Christ,

Fr. Anthony Savas
Protopresbyter