"Αποκαθήλωση του Κυρίου - Taking down of Christ from the Cross
Faithful, including many children, attended this moving afternoon service on Holy Friday afternoon. Fr. Patrick introduced a project for the children - in the spirit of χαρμολύπη - joy and sadness - asking them to write one word representing each on a paper cross that were left at the base of the Cross of Christ.
"Come, let us praise Him Who was crucified for us." Mary beheld Him on the Tree and said, "Though You endure even the Cross, You are my Son and my God." - Kontakion of the Royal Hours
Our guests were lined up, waiting for us on 33rd Street in Manhattan for last night's soup run. We served lasagna, vegetables, oranges and other treats, along with the welcomed coffee and hot chocolate. We were happy to distribute clothing items, including the last of certain seasonal items like coats and blankets. Our toiletry kits were full of necessary items, including small flashlights donated by a business publication.
We met a number of our regular guests, some of whom helped us set up and serve, and others who were new to us but not new to the streets. Tom, who said he has been homeless and in prison on and off for 10 years, was very appreciative of all that we provided. He put on the sweatshirt and coat we gave him before he ate his meal. We talked with a husband and wife whom we've previously met and they asked for clothing for their six-year-old daughter. We will bring them clothes next month. The husband is protective of his wife and doesn't leave her side since she was raped in a homeless shelter.
There were many "thank you for doing this" and "God bless you" comments of appreciation from our guests. Their generosity with each other continues to impress us. As the evening was winding down, a young man approached us asking if we had any more toiletry kits. We had distributed all kits so another homeless man whom we were talking with opened up his toiletry kit and gave the young man some of his items. He told us "the stuff you guys do rubs off on us. My time here is done," and he walked away.
That is how the evening ended - another beautiful night of providing a bit of sustenance for the body, conversation and compassion for the soul and witnessing the beauty in everyone.
All that we offer to the hungry and homeless on the streets of New York is made possible through the generous donations of our growing group of volunteers and supporters. This month's soup run was sponsored in memory of Mary Mavromatis through the many donations received in her name. Thank you to Minos Samoladas for his donation which enabled us to purchase socks and underwear, Manny Louros and Zachary Karounos for preparing the meal, Kristin Calve, Publisher of Corporate Counsel Business Journal, for donating 100 flashlights, Deborah Farone for a case of toothpaste, Teddy and Maria Papatheodorou for boxes of tee shirts and baseball caps, the Holy Trinity Philoptochos and the entire community for their incredible generosity. Wishing all a blessed Easter. Kali Anastasi. We look forward to you joining us on April 26.
Fr Nick presented two checks today to Fr. Christopher Metropoulos, president of Hellenic College Holy Cross in Brookline, MA. The first check for $25,000 was presented on behalf of the V. Rev. Peter N. Kyriakos Endowment Foundation and establishes scholarships for Holy Trinity students studying theology attending HC/HC. The second check for $16,000 was a donation on behalf of our parish to support the continuation of the school's national ministry.
Dear Fellow Parishioners,
May I share a couple of things with you all?
On Wednesday, March 7th, we will keep our buildings open in the case that you don’t have heat or electricity in your homes. I spoke with several parishioners today that still have no heat and/or electricity, and wanted to offer our church and facility to anyone who wish to come into a warm and safe place.
Please bring blankets and inflatable beds if you wish to spend the evening. (Hopefully we won’t lose power! If we do, I will send a robo call out in the morning.)
Also, the Church Office will be closed on Wednesday, and we have cancelled all the regular Church activities as well as the evening Pre-sanctified Liturgy scheduled for 6pm tomorrow evening.
Be safe
Fr Nick.
Last Night’s Soup Run
by Despina Kartson
Happy New Year! We are thankful for the blessings that enabled us to begin 2018 serving the hungry and homeless again during Last Night's Soup Run. The 20 degree temperature forced many of our guests to stay indoors in the train stations and the set-up for Sunday’s Grammy Awards at Madison Square Garden prevented us from serving at our usual spot. Instead, we relocated to our alternative location a block away where we served many of our meals. We also made several trips into Penn Station and distributed hot chili, rice and vegetables along with fleece blankets and hand knit scarves. And we sent Christian Glaser home on the subway with a box of 15 meals to distribute along the way. By the time he boarded the train, he had give out all the meals.
We talked with men and women who were cold and hungry and extremely grateful for what we gave them. They thanked us, blessed us and hugged us. How many of us walk past individuals just like them every day and would never think that they’d reach out for a hug? We connected with Keith who said he feels so much better after he talks with us. He said he feels as if the devil is on his shoulder always tempting him and we suggested that an angel is on his other shoulder guiding and protecting him. He brightened up and said he’d never thought about life that way. When we asked a man later in the evening how he liked the dinner we gave him, he said we “made his night”.
Thank you to the volunteers, supporters and sponsors of the Soup Run who include Deb van Der Heyden and the Yotides family in memory of their father Tommy Yotides. Special thanks, as always, to Manny Louros for cooking, Minos Samoladas for his donation which enabled us to purchase clothing for our men and women guests, Ana and Constantine Dimas for their donation of new coats, socks and t-shirts, Georgeann Mavrovitis for her diligence in preparing hundreds of toiletry kits, Cynthia Herzegovitch and Constance Mavrovitis for their sorting efforts, Alexandra King for knitting 25 scarves, and Andre Herzegovitch for the smoothie packs we gave to our guests to take with them for additional sustenance. Thank you to Manny’s neighbor, Mary Ellen Barbieri, who gave us 40 bags of sandwiches, chips and water that were decorated by children at the Scarsdale Community Baptist Church and packed by her Girl Scout troop! We could not provide warm food and clothing every month for the 125 needy souls without the support of the entire Holy Trinity Community, and beyond, and for that, we - and our guests - are immensely grateful.
We received the following note wishing us a Happy New Year: "Happy New Year 2018 to the ladies and men who help to make this world a better place and who is always given to those who need. May God bless you all for the good work you do. Thank you. Wishing you all a healthy and prosperous New Year. Have a bless, safe and wonderful day. With love."
Please join us on Thursday, February 22.
