AIOPA - Monthly Meeting

Atlanta Inter-Orthodox Parish Association Meeting 07/30/2024

 Attendees: Fr. Anthony Salzman, Fr. Christos Mars, Fr. Fr. Micheal Tishel, Evelyn Kemp, Steve Sarantis, Jackie Sarantis, Mirjana Milosevic-Brockett, Stephanie, Spyridoula Fotinis, Kurtis and Amanda Johnson and Johanna Karas

Opening Prayer offered by Fr. Anthony Salzman

Fr. Christos welcomed everyone and reminded them that we are two months away from the Assembly of Bishops meeting.

Fr. Christos gave and update on the Assembly of Bishop’s meeting taking place in Atlanta.

·      Assembly of Bishops—September 28-October 1, 2024

There are 58 potential hierarchs. Signed up has begun and will know better numbers by end of August, beginning of September. As of the last phone call there were only 5 that had registered.

Below is the schedule of events.

§  Friday and Saturday arrival of Hierarchs/helpers to Atlanta—Jacob Sparks will be coordinating this effort with the OCF and young adults. If there are any names of young adults that you would like to share, please do so.

§  Saturday, September 28 Great Vespers with reception at St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church. The Parish priest and one deacon will serve with their hierarch.

§  Sunday, September 29 Divine Liturgy at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation (unless the Bishops chose to visit their home church). Executive Committee of AoB will service. Remaining hierarchs will sit in special mareked pews. Cultural event still in deciding where it will take place. Asking the group if they their parish can perform during the cultural event (dancers, singers, etc.). Fr. Christos’ is requesting representation from the group.

§  Monday, September 30 and Tuesday, October 1st meetings at Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation. Looking for 6 meals to be provided by the community during these meetings. Fr. Christos will be sending a sign up. Goal is to have smaller communities, who may not be able to contribute funds to help offset the costs, could cover one of the meals with prep, set up, serving and cleaning up, etc.

§  Assembly meetings ending at noon on Tuesday, October 1st with the Bishops of the Ecumenical Patriarchate staying for another meeting with a possible event with the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

§  Tuesday and Wednesday departure of Hierarchs from the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation. 

§  Thank you, Saints Raphael, Nicholas and Irene of Cumming, GA for agreeing to do the welcome baskets.

§  Still looking for a parish to agree to provide the flowers.

Fr. Christos also talked about the Cross Dive Event that will take place on Sunday, September 15 at the parish of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church in Macon, GA. Please see the attached flier for more information.

Spyridoula Fotinis thanked everyone for participating, once again in the focus group and mentioned that if you did not have a chance to participate this time around, there will be another opportunity in the future.

Other Parish Events:

·      Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church, Marietta, GA

o   Paternal Feast—Great Vespers on August 5th and Divine Liturgy on August 6th

·      St. Christopher Hellenic Orthodox Church, Peachtree City, GA

o   Greek Festival will be at Trillett—August 24th

o   South Atlanta Annual Golf Classic—October 28th

·      Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Atlanta, GA

o   Atlanta Greek Festival—September 19-22.

·      Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church, Macon, GA

o   17th Annual Central Georgia Greek Festival—October 25-27

More information to come on the times of the Festival.

o   Pan-Orthodox Cross Dive—September 15th

·      Saints Peter and Paul, Lilburn, GA

o   Serbian Festival—September 28-29

·      Saints Raphael, Nicholas and Irene, Cumming, GA

o   Cumming Greek Festival—October 18-20, Celebrating 20 years!

·      The Liturgical Arts Academy, Diakonia Retreat Center, Salem SC

o   August 18-24

Educational

Annunciation Day School—Begins on August 15th.

Saint Nicholas Academy at St John the wonderworker—Begins on August 16th.

Transfiguration Orthodox Academy—Begins on August 20th

OCF’s first 40 days registration for college students begins. Please contact Jacob Sparks for your students to be involved including those attending, UGA, Emory, Kennesaw State.

Closing prayer offered by Fr. Michael Tishel.

Next meeting to take place on Monday, August 26 at 7pm. Please note the date change for this meeting.