PHILOPTOCHOS

CORNER
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
3109 Scio Church Road March 2017
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103
Nationa

Μεγάλη Σαρακοστή
Great Lent

MARCH NEWS BRIEFS

DATES TO REMEMBER
Let us remember the meaning of Great Lent as we
move closer to Holy Easter on April 16.
SUNDAY, MARCH 5
The Two-Year Challenge Sunday of Orthodoxy
Starts May 6! * * *
The St. Nicholas Philoptochos “Two-Year Challenge” will
focus on “Creating Brighter Futures.” WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8
Meeting at 7:30 p.m.
“Creating Brighter Futures” is the center that we will be
assisting and working with in growing their customized WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) autism treatment for Orthodox Student Dinner - 6:30 p.m.
children between the ages of 2-18.
SATURDAY, APRIL 29
Our challenge is to assist in building a playground for the “Philanthropy with Love”
children’s center. More information will follow. St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Troy

SATURDAY, MAY 6
“Women’s Expo”--10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Details to follow
 LENTEN RECIPES

SPINACH AND RICE

(Spanakorizo) LENTEN CHOCOLATE CAKE

3 C flour
3 tsp. baking soda
1/4 C olive oil 6 tbsp. cocoa powder
1 lb. spinach 2 C sugar
1 med. onion chopped 1 tsp. salt
1/4 C chopped celery 3 tbsp. vinegar
8 oz. can tomato sauce 2 tbsp. vanilla
1-1/2 C water 3/4 C vegetable/canola oil
1/2 C long-grain rice 2 C cold water
1 tsp. dill (optional) Powdered sugar
Salt/pepper as needed
Feta (optional)  Measure flour, soda, cocoa, salt, and sugar into
large mixing bowl
 Saute onion and celery in olive oil  Add vinegar, vanilla, oil, and water and mix well
 Add tomato sauce, water, and rice  Pour batter into greased 9”x13” pan
 Bring to boil  Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes
 Add spinach and seasonings  Let cake sit for an hour and then sprinkle with
 Stir well; cover and reduce heat to medium low powdered sugar
and simmer for 20 minutes
 Sprinkle with feta if desired Recipe can also be used for cupcakes. Reduce
baking time to 20 minutes.
***

“The springtime of the Fast has dawned, the flower of

repentance has begun to open. O brethren, let us cleanse
ourselves from all impurity and sing to the Giver of Light.

Glory be to Thee, who alone lovest mankind.”

--Vespers for Lent, week before Lent

 THE FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
THE SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY
The Sunday of Orthodoxy is the first Sunday of Great
Lent. The dominant theme of this Sunday since 843
has been that of the victory of the icons. In that
year, the iconoclastic controversy, which had raged
on and off since 726, was finally laid to rest, and
icons and their veneration were restored on the firs
Sunday in Lent.
Ever since, this Sunday has been commemorated as
the “Triumph of Orthodoxy.” —goarch.org
THE DAFFODIL STORY
Daffodils are the birthday flower of March, the same
month as the Spring Equinox that heralds the beginning
of a new season. The daffodil is a symbol of rebirth—a
sign of the new beginnings that come with spring.
According to a Greek myth, a young wood nymph named
Echo fell in love with a young man named Narcissus. He
was bestowed with great beauty by the gods and was
given the gift of eternal youth and beauty, provided he
did not look at his own reflection.
Self-absorbed, he spurned the affections of Echo who
was consumed by love, until all that was left of her was
her voice.
Nemesis, the goddess of revenge, decided to punish him
for his behavior. She led him to a pool where he saw his
reflection and fell in love with it. Although he did not
realize in the beginning that it was just a reflection, when
he understood it, he fell into despair that his love could
not materialize. The daffodil has become the symbol of
vanity, conceit, and unrequited love.
--greekmythology.com
THE BOOK NOOK
In preparation for Holy Easter, we are featuring books
from our St. Nicholas Bookstore.
THE LENTEN SPRING by Thomas Hopko
Extensive use of all facets of church tradition—inspiring
scriptural/liturgical passages from the Lenten services
GREAT LENT—JOURNEY TO PASCHA
by Alexander Schmemann
Examines the meaning of Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts,
the Prayer of St Ephraim the Syrian, the Canon of St Andrew
of Crete, and other treasures of Lenten worship. He draws
on the Church’s sacramental and liturgical tradition to
suggest the meaning of “Lent in our life”
MEDITATIONS FOR GREAT LENT
by Vassilios Papavassiliou
Using hymns from the Triodion and the Scripture readings
appointed for the season, this Lenten book shows us how to
make our fast acceptable
***
. . . and from our Archdiocese website
“The Great Lent: A Week by Week Meaning”
www.goarch.org/ourfaith/ourfaith8126
“The Meaning of the Great Fast: The True Nature of
Fasting”—www.goarch.org/ourfaith/ourfaith9199
***
“Let us fast an acceptable and very pleasing fast to the
Lord. True fast is the estrangement from evil,
temperance of tongue abstinence from anger,
separation from desires, slander, falsehood, perjury.
Privation of these is true fasting.”
--A Hymn of First Monday of Lent by St. Basil the Great
Καλή Σαρακοστή
 BLANKETS FOR MOTT CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

What a fun Saturday morning in February! Our Philoptochos and GOYA joined together
for a learning session in preparing/tying blankets for the children at Mott. Each
blanket was different and will be appreciated and enjoyed by the children. You can
tell everyone had a great time!
 An Invitation from

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church

760 West Wattles Road
Troy, Michigan

For additional details, visit philanthropywithlove.org