My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR IN MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
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THE CUSTOM OF APOKRIES (MEAT-FARE) SUNDAY
The celebrations of Apokries (Greece's Carnival) culminate on Forgiveness or Cheesefare Sunday. It is the last day that Orthodox Christians traditionally eat dairy products and celebrated before the first day of Lent. In Greece, this day is redolent of traditions, customs, and, of course, delicious recipes that bring community and family together.
The event of the carnival season, a period known in Greece as Apokries, marks the peak of indulgence in food and festivities. This period, however, ends with the start of the longest fasting period of the Orthodox calendar: the forty-seven-day pre-Pascha (Easter) Lenten fast. The Greek word "apokria" refers to the weeks of the gradual change in diet prior to the fasting discipline of Holy Lent, also known as Great and Holy Lent or "Tessarakosti". This period spans the three weeks before the onset of Great Lent. The popular tradition of celebrating Apokries culminates during the weekends with masquerades, parades, parties, and of course, the abundance of traditional foods. While the most popular carnival today is that of the city of Patras other cities and smaller towns carry out their own regional traditions.
According to the Orthodox Church, the gradual change in diet is more than just a matter of food intake. Allowing us to transition from one spiritual state to another through this gradual change in diet, the Church acknowledges our human weakness. All celebrations culminate on Cheesefare (Tyrophagos) Sunday, the last day of celebration before Pure (Kathara Deftera) Monday, or Clean Monday, which marks the first day of Lent beginning on Cheesefare Saturday. After church services in the morning, there is a continuation of the festivities that began the first Sunday of Apokries, with people masquerading through the village and town streets, followed by feasting on traditional dishes made with fish, cheese, milk, and eggs, as meat was abandoned the previous week of Meatfare Sunday. Before the meat is served, however, everyone in the house traditionally asks forgiveness from each other, which is something also done by those who attend Vespers (Esperino) of Forgiveness in the evening. Some traditional satirical songs carry out the theme of bidding goodbye to "Cheese" (Tyri) and welcoming in the "Onion" and the "Leak". All this, of course, in reference to the upcoming fast, where the "lowly" vegetable will now take over as the main course.
The Gospel reading on Sunday of the Last Judgment or Meatfare Sunday remembers Christ's Parable of the Last Judgment (St. Matthew 25:31-46). This adds to the previous pre-Lent Sundays and teaches that it is not enough to see Jesus, to see ourselves as we are, and to come home to God as His prodigal sons and daughters. The Church teaches that, in addition, one must also be God's child by following Christ, His Only-Begotten Divine Son, and by seeing Christ in everyone and by serving Christ through them.
Salvation and Final Judgment will depend upon deeds, not merely on intentions or even on the mercies of God apart from personal cooperation (Synergy) and obedience (ypakoe). All piety and prayer are ultimately directed towards the goal of serving Christ through His people.
From the divine gospel reading, the Christian faithful hear:
"...for I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and in prison and you visited Me... For truly I say to you, if you did it to one of the least of these, My brothers, you did it to Me" (Saint Matthew Ch. 25).
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Every year our church prepares the celebration of Apokries with an "Apokriatiko Glendi". All parishioners are invited to this family annual celebration which this year is scheduled to take place on February 23, immediately following the Divine Liturgy at the Good Samaritan Center.
Our Ladies Philoptochos Society Chapter is in charge of the tickets. Adults are $25 and $12 for children 6-12, and free for ages 5 and under. Callahan's will be serving a buffet lunch featuring grilled pork chops and sausage, Greek-style potatoes, vegetables, and salad, with mostaccioli offered for the children, and of course ample desserts. RSVP to the church office or to Mrs. Esther Arvanitis (theasta@aol.com) no later than February 16th.
Please note: I have made it a point to explain the purpose of this celebration and Greek Orthodox religious and cultural tradition so that all of you will appreciate this special occasion. I am hoping that you, the adult Greek Orthodox Christians, will take the time to also explain it to your children. This is how we educate the young and pass on our customs and traditions to future generations. Otherwise, it is just another lunch.
Make every effort to attend with all of the members of your family to this wonderful event.
With love in Christ,
+Father George