The United States was traumatized by 9/11 and by the April 15th 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. Can anyone feel safe in an urban event? The 114th New York City Police Precinct conducted an exceptional police effort in protecting thousands of Greek Orthodox worshippers on Good Friday, May 3rd. The Sacred Patriarchal and Stavropegial Orthodox Monastery of St. Irene Chrysovalantou, Sts. Catherine and George Church and St. Markella Epitaphios (Holy Tomb) moved peacefully through Astoria under the vigilant eyes of police and auxilliaries.
I
attended the deeply moving St. Irene’s Epitaphios Procession from 23rd
Ave in front of St. Irene Chrysovalantou Monastery, along 31st St to
Ditmars, ending at St. Irene’s Church. Cars attempted to interrupt the
procession and cross police barriers. The NYPD 114th Precinct kept order
and did not allo9w penetration of the police lines. I was totally
amazed by the order and safety. One participant said, “We want to
worship our Good Fridayservice to show we are de3dicated to our Greek
Orthodox faith.” And that they did. Thousands from New York City, New
Jersey and Long Island came to support their beloved monastery. Many
parishioners expressed deep love for the founder of their monastery.
The
worshippers entered with three generations of their family.
Well-dressed worshippers proceeded in order to venerate the Epitaphios,
while V. Rev. Archimandrite Ierotheos Zacharis, Abbot, anointed their
hands with cologne. I personally never witnessed this ceremony before.
“His Grace is anointing our hands as Magdalini (Mary Magdalene) did the
body of Christ,” explained Dr. Vasia Filiotis, Principal of St. Irene
Chrysovalantou School and President of the Prometheus Greek Teachers
Association. My gaze on old icons from the 1960’s with silver overlay,
as the icons from Ieron Parthenon St. Constantine and Helen Monastery in
Chios, impressed. I saw a steam of worshippers never ending for over an
hour. Children holding Yiayia and Papou’s hands kissed the Epitaphios
with sincerity. Images of my Greek speaking family with Yiayia and Papou
came into my memory. A time of deep religious faith with belief in
“one’s church, right or wrong.”and Orthodoxy perpetuating Hellenism lost
on the shores of Asia Minor. The gift of St. Irene’s Monastery on
Good Friday was giving these children a precious memory of worshipping
Christ with their beloved, Greek speaking grandparents.
The
Epitaphios Procession, quiet, orderly, with young and hold holding
banners fanaria (six foot lanterns, flowing white ribbons preceded the
Epitaphios. Manoli Kouroupakis on his Good Friday Hellas FM radio
program said “Lefkos Pyrgos on the corner of 23rd Ave. and 31st. St. is
where I will be watching all three churches Epitaphios Procession.” As
we were passing, the Café was packed with standing room only.”
I
saw U.N. diplomat Georgia Filiotis outside. “We must keep up with St.
Irene’s Epitaphios. We will pass under the Epitaphios at the church’s
entrance. Now we will see the Thyranixia (Opening of the Doors).” The
Doors would not open until a young man, called Thanasi, would carry the
eight foot cross to entrance. A Byzantine hymn was chanted saying “Open
the doors to Jesus Christ (basically).” Thanasis Dhamoon is an Indian
who married his college sweetheart, Sophia. He was given the distinct
honor of standing next to Abbot Ierotheos during the Lamentations and
holding the Cross. “I was in the military,” he said. “I served in
Afghanistan.”
His
maturity and deep religious faith reflect his wartime experiences. The
trend in New York City is mixed marriages with Latinos, Hindus and
Moslems. St. Irene’s is welcoming all. “Interfaith marriage is a
positive, spreading Greek culture,” said Art Demopoulos of ODYSSEY
magazine at Hermes International Expo 2013. “It is a positive…. The
Greek American experience is assimilation with retention of Greek
identity.” Orthodoxy is a unifying factor.
Mike
Marounas, of Queens and the Transfiguration Church in Mattituck, L.I.
was participating in the Epitaphios Procession with his wife, young son
and koumbaro George Fuiaxis.”I want my son to experience Greek Orthodoxy
in an urban environment.”
“Tonight
we hold on to our Greek Orthodox faith in Astoria among multi-ethnic
communities,” said Abbot Ierotheos. “Before a multitude of diverse
people, we showed our commitment to our faith. Only the Church is our
refuge, holding on to Greek Orthodoxy.” Thousands marched in Astoria,
with the help of the NYPD 114th Precinct, to hold on to their right of
freedom of religion. For more information, contact The V. Rev.
Archimandrite Ierotheos Zacharis, Abbot at The Sacred Patriarchal and
Stavropegial Orthodox Monastery of St. Irene Chrysovalantou, 36-07 23rd
Avenue, Astoria, NY 11105-1916, Telephone: (718) 626-6225, Facsimile: (718) 626-7669 and E-mail: Sacred Patriarchal Monastery of St. Irene Chrysovalantou.
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