St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church

“If he was not God and man, our salvation is a lie, and the words of the Prophets are lies. But the Prophets spoke the truth, and their testimonies were not lies.
The Holy Spirit spoke through them what they had been commanded.” – St. Ephrem the Syrian

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we are blessed to come ever closer to our Nation’s celebration of Independence, I call to mind that which our American forefathers fought so bravely to establish, and declared so eloquently to protect – freedom. And as Orthodox Christians, we cannot possibly contemplate the notion of freedom outside of its purest expression, that is the freedom which God graciously bestows upon His creation.

Our freedom expelled us from the Garden, but through Christ, it is our very freedom which invites us back in. Christ is the Author of our freedom. As the perfect man, he exercised His free will to remain obedient to the will of the Father. As perfect God, He grants us the ability, also through the voluntary act of obedience, to find the Kingdom, having been restored to us through His death and resurrection.

Pure freedom is a gift from Jesus Christ as God and Man. Permit me to share the thoughts of St. Isaac the Syrian on this very concept:

The facts themselves bear witness and his divine acts of power teach those who doubt that he is true God, and his sufferings show that he is true man.

If he was not flesh, why was Mary introduced at all? And if he was not God, whom was Gabriel calling Lord?

If he was not flesh, who was lying in the manger? And if he was not God, whom did the Angels come down and glorify?

If he was not flesh, who was wrapped in swaddling clothes? And if he was not God, whom did the shepherds worship?

If he was not flesh, whom did Joseph circumcise? And if he was not God, in whose honour did the star speed through the heavens?

If he was not flesh, whom did Mary suckle? And if he was not God, to whom did the Magi offer gifts?

If he was not flesh, whom did Symeon carry in his arms? And if he was not God, to whom did he say, “Let me depart in peace”?

If he was not flesh, whom did Joseph take and flee into Egypt? And if he was not God, in whom were words “Out of Egypt I have called my Son” fulfilled?

If he was not flesh, whom did John baptize? And if he was not God, to whom did the Father from heaven say, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased”?

If he was not flesh, who fasted and hungered in the desert? And if he was not God, whom did the Angels come down and serve?

If he was not flesh, who was invited to the wedding in Cana of Galilee? And if he was not God, who turned the water into wine?

If he was not flesh, in whose hands were the loaves? And if he was not God, who satisfied crowds and thousands in the desert, not counting women and children, from five loaves and two fishes?

If he was not flesh, who fell asleep in the boat? And if he was not God, who rebuked the winds and the sea?

If he was not flesh, with whom did Simon the Pharisee eat? And if he was not God, who pardoned the offences of the sinful woman?

If he was not flesh, who sat by the well, worn out by the journey? And if he was not God, who gave living water to the woman of Samaria and reprehended her because she had had five husbands?

If he was not flesh, who wore human garments? And if he was not God, who did acts of power and wonders?

If he was not flesh, who spat on the ground and made clay? And if he was not God, who through the clay compelled the eyes to see?

If he was not flesh, who wept at Lazarus’ grave? And if he was not God, who by his command brought out one four days dead?

If he was not flesh, who sat on the foal? And if he was not God, whom did the crowds go out to meet with glory?

If he was not flesh, whom did the Jews arrest? And if he was not God, who gave an order to the earth and threw them onto their faces.

If he was not flesh, who was struck with a blow? And if he was not God, who cured the ear that had been cut off by Peter and restored it to its place?

If he was not flesh, who received spittings on his face? And if he was not God, who breathed the Holy Spirit into the faces of his Apostles?

If he was not flesh, who stood before Pilate at the judgement seat? And if he was not God, who made Pilate’s wife afraid by a dream?

If he was not flesh, whose garments did the soldiers strip off and divide? And if he was not God, how was the sun darkened at the cross?

If he was not flesh, who was hung on the cross? And if he was not God, who shook the earth from its foundations?

If he was not flesh, whose hands and feet were transfixed by nails? And if he was not God, how was the veil of the temple rent, the rocks broken and the graves opened?

If he was not flesh, who cried out, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me”? And if he was not God, who said “Father, forgive them”?

If he was not flesh, who was hung on a cross with the thieves? And if he was not God, how did he say to the thief, “Today you will be with me in Paradise”?

If he was not flesh, to whom did they offer vinegar and gall? And if he was not God, on hearing whose voice did Hades tremble?

If he was not flesh, whose side did the lance pierce, and blood and water came out?And if he was not God, who smashed to gates of Hades and tear apart it bonds? And at whose command did the imprisoned dead come out?

If he was not flesh, whom did the Apostles see in the upper room? And if he was not God, how did he enter when the doors were shut?

If he was not flesh, the marks of the nails and the lance in whose hands and side did Thomas handle? And if he was not God, to whom did he cry out, “My Lord and my God”?

If he was not flesh, who ate by the sea of Tiberias? And if he was not God, at whose command was the net filled?

If he was not flesh, whom did the Apostles and Angels see being taken up into heaven? And if he was not God, to whom was heaven opened, whom did the Powers worship in fear and whom did the Father invite to “Sit at my right hand”. As David said, “The Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand, etc.”

If he was not God and man, our salvation is a lie, and the words of the Prophets are lies. But the Prophets spoke the truth, and their testimonies were not lies. The Holy Spirit spoke through them what they had been commanded.

Christ; Perfect Man and Perfect God is our declaration of independence from sin and death.

God bless your families, our Church and this great Nation as we celebrate freedom.

With Love in Christ,

Fr. Anthony

“It is true that one may know man’s ultimate goal, that is to have communion with God. And one may describe the path towards this goal: faith and walking in the commandments
with the aid of Divine Grace. One need only to say in addition: ‘Here is the path – start walking!’” – St. Theophan the Recluse

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As many of you know, I was absent from the church office last week, as I participated in our Metropolis Camp Emmanuel. Our summer camp is one of the most dynamic and reputable summer camping programs in the Archdiocese. The last time I helped out at Camp Emmanuel was in 2004, the year before we moved to the Metropolis of San Francisco. So much had changed in that span of 12 years. But so much was comfortably familiar.

The spiritual and social benefits of our young people participating in such programs are obvious: our children are grounded in the faith, they are exposed to the Scriptures, their fellowship and relationships revolve around like-minded kids, the teachings of the Church and the Bible come alive in practical ways, they are positively influenced by clergy from throughout the entire Metropolis and they come back with an eager commitment to living their lives for Christ.

But I must tell you, that as one of 15 clergymen (yes, twelve priests & three deacons!) who spent a week at Camp Emmanuel, I believe that I came back with the same renewed enthusiasm and fortified commitment as our children! It is equally true that we learn much more from them as they do from us. Their struggles become our struggles and their joys are ours as well. As the kids let their every-day lives and distractions concede to matters of spiritual health and Orthodox Christian principles, I found myself reaping the same benefits.

As a priest serving on staff at Camp Emmanuel, it’s not like we maintain a vague spiritual presence; wandering around looking “holy.” Each day, we lead two Orthodox Life sessions, conduct a Daily Word Bible Study, lead evening Cabin Devotionals, and are available for Confessions twice a day. One of the hallmarks of Camp Emmanuel is, in fact, clergy presence. Ours is the only Metropolis Camp which attracts so many priests to participate.

Being able to spend a week interacting with my brother priests and deacons from the Denver Metropolis was so incredibly refreshing. I had almost forgotten how valuable that time can be. Clergy Laity Meetings are filled with meetings and Clergy Retreats are filled with lectures and seminars. Camp is unique.

Camp is filled with ministry.

Camp is filled with growth and excitement.

Camp is filled with Christ.

I pray that as our Spirit-filled community of St. Anna Greek Orthodox grows and prospers for the sake of the Kingdom, we will continue an atmosphere that is positive for our young people; a place where they can always discover Christ in the ministries, Sacraments, programs and fellowship. But parish interaction, that is the local church, is only one aspect of our children’s exposure to the entirety of the Orthodox world.

As our kids meet other young, Greek Orthodox Christians from places like Kansas City, Houston, Cheyanne and Denver, they see the faith through a broader spectrum, beyond the identity of their home parish. They interact against the backdrop of common belief, sacred prayer and within the Communion of faithful. I hope that every parent will begin to appreciate the unduplicated experience that our Summer Camp has to offer.

There are countless stories about kids who went but didn’t want to go. All of these stories end the same way; the kids who didn’t want to come – didn’t want to leave either. Transformation takes place before our very eyes through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the laughter of the children and the joy of expressing and living one’s Orthodox Faith.

I experienced all of this first hand, plus the benefit of bouncing ideas off of fellow priests, reuniting with old friends, and meeting new ones. I saw young teenagers whom I baptized as infants, and counselors who were my JOY kids and GOYANs. Time passes, but Faith progresses. People grow and change, but Christ remains consistent.

Of course, as I mentioned in my homily last Sunday, the Sunday of Pentecost, we can’t remain at Summer Camp perpetually. At some point, we return to the distractions, the temptations, the complications and the practice of daily living. Just as the disciples were thrust from their familiar confines, then spread throughout the world, we depart from Camp; enlightened, strengthened, fortified and enthused.

I was grateful for the opportunity to be with our St. Anna children, and all of the youth assembled from throughout the Mountain West for the Junior Week of Camp Emmanuel. While there, I spent hours upon hours teaching. But to be sure, I spent days upon days learning.
I remain,

With Love in Christ,

Fr. Anthony

Dearly Beloved in the Lord,

It’s that time of year, when schools are out, vacations are taking place, and our weekend hours become all the more precious. There are many reasons not to come to church on Sundays.

To be helpful, and to alleviate any pangs of guilt you may be feeling, I thought I should give you some more reasons. Though this list is not necessarily exhaustive, and I’m borrowing much of the concept from other sources, let’s make it easier for you to enjoy your Sunday mornings:

MY TOP TEN REASONS NOT TO COME TO CHURCH THIS SUMMER:

1. The Church is not Air Conditioned

False! While some churches may be sweltering during the summer months, that is not the case for us! In fact, we can make the sanctuary so cold, that you’ll need to wear a sweater and bring a jacket. Remember, I am wearing several layers of vestments while serving in the altar, so I actually prefer the church to feel like a wintery wonderland. Will that help us fill the church during the summer? Making it feel like December? Brrrr.

2. We Have a Boat

Of course you do! Every other person who lives along the Wasatch Front does. Boats are great – Jesus spent a lot of time on boats since His Disciples were mostly fishermen. He preached from them, calmed storms in them, and walked on water towards them. Attend the Divine Liturgy this summer before launching your boat and I guarantee you’ll hear at least one reference to boats and/or water.

3. The Lawn Needs Mowing

And the flower beds need planting and the vegetable gardens need weeding and the fence needs painting and…and…and! There will always be chores to do around the house – both inside and out. But don’t neglect being in the Lord’s house as you attend to your own. Christ, Himself did allot of planting, harvesting, cultivating and pruning. But He did it for our spiritual benefit, not to our detriment. Put down the edger and come to Liturgy!

4. The Kids Have Games

Since moving back to Utah, we have experienced much less of this annoying occurrence in sports, but it still happens. I remember attending a club (comp) soccer game on a Sunday morning, at 7:00 am; two hours before the Orthros. Of course I was wearing my collar and a black suit since I was leaving directly to celebrate services. A woman wearing a Notre Dame hat asked me, “Father, don’t you have somewhere to be?” So of course I answered. “Sure. Don’t you also have somewhere else to be?” Yes, kids play sports. But we really need to limit their participation on Sundays. We can’t use our children’s athletic schedules as excuses to stay away from church. Who signed them up anyway?!?

5. There’s Church in the Summer, Even though Pascha was so Late?

Indeed. Every Sunday morning just like the rest of the year. With Fellowship Hour, too!

6. We’re Away for the Weekend

That’s great – I hope you have a relaxing time. Be sure to take your Sunday Best with you and look up the Orthodox Church, nearest to your destination. It’s always fun to visit other churches and attend the Divine Liturgy in different cities. The similarities are obvious, but spotting the differences can be lots of fun, especially for the kids. If you are planning on visiting another parish this summer, let me know in advance, and I will call that priest and make your introduction. Doing so makes receiving Communion so much easier.

7. There’s No Sunday School

Perfect! Your kids can remain in church with you for the entire Liturgy. You can spend more time together as a family. Isn’t that better than being all separated on a dirt bike trail or on individual jet skis? Where’s the quality time in that? Besides, this is a wonderful time to have your boys who are entering into 3rd Grade start trying on Altar Boy robes and beginning to learn what to do “back there.” Summer is a non-threatening, easy time to begin Altar Service. Don’t wait for school to begin before allowing your boys to participate. Give them a head start!

8. I Gave up Summer Church for Lent

Lent is over! And the Apostles Fast is only, like, two days this year (that’s what happens when Pascha is so late.) So…since you won’t be spending the entire month of June watching your friends eat hotdogs and hamburgers at neighborhood barbeques, while you a keep a strict abstinence through the Feast of Ss. Peter and Paul, you can thank the Lord for this fast-free summer – at church. See you there!

9. I’d Rather Be Outside

I have an answer for that as well. Everyone can take turns sitting on the left side of the church so you can share opportunities in gazing out of the window. We are uniquely blessed in that most Orthodox Churches do not have windows that offer such views of nature. While attending the Divine Liturgy, at St. Anna’s, you’ll feel as though we are worshiping up Millcreek Canyon; the view is that lovely from our one, east-facing window. Enjoy!

10. I Have a 9:00 am Tee Time

How perfect for you! This Sunday, June 12th, the Divine Liturgy begins at 7:00 am and is perfectly suited for almost any golf course – public or private. Get your early golfing done this weekend. Consider it our GOYANs gift to you, as we depart for Camp Emmanuel! Please keep our children in your prayers for safe travels and a wonderful camp experience.

I hope you’ve found a good reason in this list to stay away from the Divine Liturgy until after Labor Day. But if not, I look forward to seeing you each Sunday. Summer is for relaxing the body and soul. The Divine Liturgy is for engaging the body and soul. You see, they’re perfectly made for each other!

With Love in Christ,

Fr. Anthony

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Christ is Risen!
Truly He is Risen!

This coming Thursday, the Feast of our Lord’s Ascension into the Heavens, marks the end of the Paschal Season. This Sunday will be the final opportunity for us to chant together, the clarion hymn which proclaims Jesus Christ risen from the Dead. It will be an honor and a blessing to chant “Christ is Risen” for the final time this season.

The Synaxarion, or Daily Book of Commemorations explains the Feast of the Ascension is such a beautiful and poignant way:

After His Resurrection, Jesus remained on earth for forty days, appearing to His Disciples in various places. He ate, drank and conversed with them, verifying and assuring His Resurrection. On the fortieth day after Pascha, Jesus appeared to His Disciples in Jerusalem. He gave them His last commandment, to go forth and preach in His Name to all the nations. At the same time, He told them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait until they were clothed with the power from on high by the descent of the Holy Spirit upon them. Having said this, Jesus led His Disciples to the Mount of Olives. Then He lifted up His hands and blessed them.

And as He was speaking to them with words of fatherly blessing, Jesus departed from them and ascended into Heaven, being received by a shining cloud, indicating His divine majesty. He gradually disappeared from the sight of the Disciples as they gazed at Him. And as they stood thus, two angels in brilliant white robes appeared to them in the form of men and said to them: Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into Heaven? This same Jesus, Who is taken from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into Heaven.

In these words is fulfilled and defined the doctrine concerning the Son of God and His Word, in the Confession of Faith. After our Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled all His great dispensation for us, He ascended in glory into Heaven, and sat on the right hand of God the Father. His Disciples returned from Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, rejoicing in the promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit. O Christ our God, Who did ascend in glory, have mercy on us.

We are moving ever closer to Pentecost, and ultimately, later this summer, to the first celebration of our parish Feast, the Dormition, or Falling Asleep of St. Anna on July 25th. May our gracious Lord keep you safely in His tender care as you engage in all of your summer activities. God bless, and for nearly the last time, Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

With Love in our Lord Who is to Rise on the 40th Day,

Fr. Anthony