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MONTHLY BULLETIN OF THE ASSUMPTION OF OUR MOST HOLY THEOTOKOS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH ΜΗΝΙΑΙΟ ΔΕΛΤΙΟ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗΣ ΟΡ ΘΟΔΟΞΗΣ ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙ ΑΣ ΤΗΣ ΚΟΙΜΗΣΕ ΩΣ ΤΗΣ ΘΕΟΤΟΚΟΥ

ARK - ΚΙΒΩΤΟΣ the H

Assumption

Greek Orthodox Church

111 Island Pond Road

Manchester NH 03109

Phone: (603) 623-2045

Fax: (603) 232-6347

info@AssumptionNH.org

www.AssumptionNH.org

Join us on Facebook

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Monthly Calendar (Greek) ...... 2

Ministries List .......................... 3

Parish News ............................ 4

Philoptochos News ................. 4

Youth News ........................... 5

Stewardship…………………...12

Monthly Calendar (English) .. 19

JUNE / ΙΟΥΝΙΟΣ 2016 VOLUME 11, ISSUE 6

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ΙΟΥΝΙΟΣ 2016

ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΔΕΥΤΕΡΑ ΤΡΙΤΗ ΤΕΤΑΡΤΗ ΠΕΜΠΤΗ ΠΑΡΑΣΚΕΥΗ ΣΑΒΒΑΤΟ

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2 Ελληνικό Σχολείο & Ελληνικός Χορός 3:30 - 7:30 µµ

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5 ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΤΟΥ ΤΥΦΛΟΥ ‘Ορθρος: 9:00 πμ Θεία Λειτ: 10:00 πμ

Αποφοίτηση

Κατηχητικού

Σχολείου

6 Συνάντηση Διοικητικού Συµβουλίου 7:30µµ

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9 ΑΝΑΛΗΨΕΩΣ ‘Ορθρος: 8:30 πμ Θεία Λειτ: 9:15 πμ

Πρόβα για Αποφοίτηση Ελληνικού Σχολείου στον Αγιο Γεώργιο 4:00-6:00µµ

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12 ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΠΑΤΕΡΩΝ 1ης ΟΙΚ. ΣΥΝΟΔΟΥ ‘Ορθρος: 9:00 πμ Θεία Λειτ: 10:00 πμ

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18 ΨΥΧΟ ΣΑΒΒΑΤΟ ‘Ορθρος: 8:30 πμ Θεία Λειτ: 9:15 πμ

19 ΠΕΝΤΗΚΟΣΤΗ ‘Ορθρος: 9:00 πμ Θεία Λειτ: 10:00 πμ Γιορτή του Πατέρα

Συσσιτιο Απόρων (New Horizons) 4:00- 6:00μμ

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26 ΑΓΙΩΝ ΠΑΝΤΩΝ ‘Ορθρος: 8:00 πμ Θεία Λειτ: 9:00 πμ (Kαλοκαιρινό Ωράριο)

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30 ΑΓΙΩΝ ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΩΝ ‘Ορθρος: 8:00 πμ Θεία Λειτ: 8:45 πμ (Kαλοκαιρινό Ωράριο)

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Ark published monthly by Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, 111 Island Pond Road, Manchester NH 03109

Reverend Father Gregory Trakas

Office Hours

Tuesday & Thursday 1 - 4 pm

or by appointment

Parish Council

President .................... James Folopoulos

Vice President ............. Nick Karagianis

Secretary .................... Mike Rokas

Treasurer .................... Ted Rokas

Arthur Bakolas Charles Mardanes

Costa Georgopoulos Kathy Papakostas

Harold Guidicelli Penny Papastathis

Peter Lazos Helen Rainey

Philoptochos Board 2016

President……………......Lucie Skouteris

Vice President…………...Maria Chronas

Recording Secretary…....Andrea Moutsioulis

Corresponding Secretary... Iris Belinsky

Treasurer………………..Georgia Palaskas

Assistant Treasurer……..Nancy Mardanes

Liaison to National & Metropolis Boards….

…………………………..Mariana Gasis

Advisor………………....Esther Kereakoglow

Martha Galanis Evangelia Gregorious

Artemis Lazos

Staff

Secretary……………….…..Janet Malin

Chanter…………………….Vasilios Rokas

Choir Director …………….Joan Virga

YOUTH MINISTRIES

DIRECTORS

GOYA ............... Stavroula Bakolas

JOY .................. Julie Karagianis

Mommy & Me …Ranya Karatzoulidis

PARISH SCHOOLS

Sunday School

Director………..Stacy Caron

Teachers……….Nicole Condodemetraky

Stavroula Bakolas

Angeliki Kalampalikis

Theohare Kapellakis

Greek School

Director ……………George Kitsis

Teacher …………….Connie Stamoulis

Teacher …………….Alexandra Bruttaniti

Newsletter Editors

Fr. Gregory Trakas

Sophia Annas Janet Malin

James Folopoulos Nancy Mardanes

Ellen Healy

ADDRESS CHANGES

Please notify the Church office if

you are moving so that we may

update our database. Thank you.

Pastoral Home Visitation

If a loved one is in the hospital, in a

nursing home, or is house-bound due

to an illness, please feel free to contact

Fr. Gregory Trakas at the Church office

to arrange a visit.

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Parish News On Sunday May 29

th, 2016 we held our 9

th Annual Spring Dance at the Executive Court Banquet

Facility. The dance was a great success; we were entertained by the live Greek Band “Orfeas.”

The dance floor was full from the first song to the last; the “kefi” was flowing. This event would

not have been a success without the support of all who attended. We thank you very much for

supporting us. We would also like to thank Penny Papastathis and her team of volunteers who

gave of their time and talents to make this event a night to remember. Thank you!!

Summer hours will begin on Sunday, June 20th. This means services start an hour earlier.

Remember, summer is not a time to take vacation away from God. Please try to attend church

regularly.

Parish Council The monthly Parish Council meeting will be held on Monday, June 6

th at 7:30 PM.

Philoptochos News Once again, a big THANK YOU to all who donated money towards the purchase of flowers

during the Lenten period and holy Week! Because of your generosity, the church was beautifully

decorated! This was the first time I was able to attend church services and activities throughout

Holy Week. I was SO pleased to see the young families working to decorate our church and

Epitaphion. I hope and pray that we can continue working together, as one family, toward the

growth of our church.

I especially look forward to welcoming our many young families for their help during Greekfest,

the major church fundraiser of the year! Please see details in the Greekfest section below.

Philoptochos Dues are $25.00 If you haven’t paid your dues for 2016 please do now

and if you don’t remember if you paid or not please contact me and I will be more than happy

to check this out for you.

Thank you,

Lucie Skouteris, Philoptochos President

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New Horizons Soup Kitchen

New Horizons Soup Kitchen is Sunday, June 19th, 4-6 PM. We are looking for new volunteers to

join our group. This is such a rewarding experience; please join us for less than two hours of

fellowship with the group from the Assumption Church. If you have any questions, please call the

church office at 623-2045. Thank you!

Choir Calling all parishioners! We are looking for volunteers to join our talented choir. All ages are

welcome; all that is required is your passion and love for our church! Please contact our Choir

Director, Joan Virga at 603-553-9525 or the church office.

Youth Ministry News

A SPECIAL “THANK YOU" FROM FATHER GREGORY

I would like to thank our entire Youth Team for their hard work and dedication! Our Youth Ministry

volunteers have given countless hours to our children this past year. I hope and pray everyone will

stay involved in some capacity next year as well. Our Youth Team cannot function without the help of

all of you!

I also extend a big “thank you” to Stacy Caron, our Sunday School Director, for years of dedicated

service! Although Stacy will no longer continue as director, we are looking forward in her staying

involved with Youth Ministries in many other ways.

In addition, another big thank you to all our GOYANS for their efforts and participation! We wish our

four GOYA Co-Chairpersons, Demetrios Stamoulis, Despina Yogas, Efthemios Stamoulis and Elleni

Dellas, who are now graduating from High School, the Lord’s blessings and best of luck with their

future! No matter where your road takes you, always remember your church is here for you, waiting

to have you back anytime!

Finally, anyone interested in joining our Youth Team, please contact Stavroula Bakolas or myself by

June 12th, Graduation Sunday. Be part of planting the seeds of the future of our Church!

Panagia be with all of you!

Fr. Gregory

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END OF SCHOOL YEAR CELEBRATIONS

Sunday School – Sunday, June 5th, following the Divine Liturgy Please join us on Sunday, June 5th for

our Sunday School End of Year ceremony which will be held in church immediately following the

Divine Liturgy (please see enclosed flyer for details).

Graduate Recognition – Sunday, June 12th, following the Divine Liturgy All High School, College and

Post Graduate students will be recognized and honored in church immediately following the Divine

Liturgy. (Please see enclosed flyer for details).

Greek School Celebration – Sunday, June 12th, 12:30pm – St. George’s Community Center Please join

us on Sunday, June 12th for our Greek School End of Year Celebration. It will take place at the St.

George’s community Center at 12:30pm. (please see enclosed flyer for details).

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

Sunday, June 5th – Sunday School End of Year Ceremony

Thursday, June 9th – 4:00 pm Graduation Rehearsal for Greek School at St. George

Sunday, June 12th – 11:00 am Graduate Presentations at the Assumption Church

At 12:30 pm, Greek School Graduation Ceremony to be held at St. George’s Community Center

Sunday, June 19th – Pentecost Sunday. Happy Father’s Day!

Father’s Day luncheon will be sponsored by the Parish Council on June 19th after Church Service

Saturday, Aug. 27th & Sunday, August 28th - Annual Greekfest weekend

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POST GRADUATE DEGREES

Rev. Fr. Gregory Trakas received a Master of Theological Studies degree from the Holy Cross School of

Theology.

Efthimios Stamoulis, son of Chris & Connie Stamoulis - Received a Master of Science in Organizational

and Professional Communication degree from Regis College.

Stergiani Gasis, daughter of George & Mariana Gasis – Received a Master of Science in Organizational

Leadership degree from Southern New Hampshire University.

Christiana Bakolas, daughter of Arthur & Stavroula Bakolas – Received a Master of Business

Administration degree with a concentration in Marketing from Bentley University.

COLLEGE DEGREES

Christos Lekkas, son of Demetrios & Alexandra Lekkas – Graduated from Keene State College with a

degree in Physical Education.

Michael Papakostas, son of Efthymios & Kathy Papakostas – Graduated from Arizona State University

with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Sam Rainey, son of Gary & Helen Rainey – Graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a

Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a minor in Business.

Zoe Stamoulis, daughter of Christos & Connie Stamoulis – Graduated from the University of New

Hampshire with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology.

Anastasia E. Yogas, daughter of Dimitrios & Tammy Yogas – Graduated from Emmanuel College with a

Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science.

HIGH SCHOOL DEGREES

Eleni Dellas, daughter of Fotios Dellas & Barbara Maggatou – Graduated from Manchester Central

High School and will attend the University of New England in the fall.

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Alexus Kalampalikis, daughter of George & Angela Kalampalikis – Graduated from Manchester Central

High School and will be attending Franklin Pierce University in the fall.

Michael Kitsis, son of Theodore & Pam Kitsis – Graduated from Bedford High School and will be

attending the University of New Hampshire in the fall.

Demetrios Stamoulis, son of Christos & Connie Stamoulis – Graduated from Manchester Central High

School and will be attending Suffolk University in the fall.

Efthemios Stamoulis, son of Alkis & Joni Stamoulis – Graduated from Manchester Memorial High

School and will be attending Arizona State University in the fall.

Despina Yogas, daughter of Dimitrios & Tammy Yogas- Graduated from Manchester Memorial High

School and will be attending Franklin Pierce University in the fall.

CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES!

JOIN US IN CELEBRATING THE

ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF OUR PARISH GRADUATES!

PANAGIA BE WITH ALL OF THEM!

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THE SUNDAY SCHOOL

END-OF-YEAR PROGRAM

will be held on

SUNDAY, JUNE 5th Teachers and students will meet in their Sunday School classes

at 10:00 am and will then proceed to church together.

Presentation of Certificates will be made in church

immediately following the Divine Liturgy.

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THE GRADUATION PRESENTATIONS

to our

CLASS of 2016

HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE

GOYA & ALTAR BOY GRADUATES will be held on

SUNDAY, JUNE 12th in our church

immediately following the Divine Liturgy.

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THE GREEK SCHOOL

GRADUATION CEREMONIES

will be held on

SUNDAY, JUNE 12th

at the

St. George’s Community Center

12:30 pm

Please join us in celebrating our Sunday School children on June 5th

and all of our Graduates and Greek Schoool students on June 12th!

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2016

METROPOLIS MINISTRY AWARD RECIPIENT

EVANGELIA GREGORIOUS

On Sunday June 12th, Evangelia Gregorious will receive the Metropolis of Boston Ministry Award

from Metropolitan Methodios at the Annual Awards Banquet!

Evangelia Gregorious has been a dedicated steward of the Assumption Church for over 50 years! She

has also been a vital member of the Philoptochos Ladies Society for more than 20 years and a member

of its board for the past several years. Moreover, Evangelia is a faithful member of our parish choir.

Evangelia has volunteered countless hours at bazaars, festivals, dances and other parish events. She is

always happy to help baking - her pitas and pastries being everyone’s favorites. Still, she finds time to

visit parishioners who are no longer able to attend church due to ailing health, always giving them a

meal or snack together with her comforting words and warming smile.

Evangelia arrived in Manchester, NH as a teenager from Thessalia Greece and married Thomas

Gregorious some years later. They joined the Assumption Church in 1964 when Thomas became the

parish chanter, a position he held until his untimely passing in 1972. Devastated by the loss of her

beloved husband, Evangelia took charge raising their 3 young children. Her faith never wavered. She

turned to her church and her children for support and kept moving forward!

Evangelia is a loving mother of 3 children, Sophia, Ioanna and Apostoli, and the proud Yiayia of 6

grandchildren, all active members of the Assumption Church. After many years of work in local

factories and mills to support her family, Evangelia is now retired. She is grateful to divide her time

between the two greatest loves of her life – her church and her family. Congratulations Theia Litsa!

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Donations

Fr. Gregory Trakas

Fuel Fundraiser

George Gancarz

Mr. & Mrs. Costa Liolios

Memorial Donations

In memory of Vasiliki Bakolas

In memory of Genevieve Baldoumas

In memory of Elias Peters

In memory of Louie Pliakos

Easter Offerings Voula Annas

Peter Camberis

Evangeline Fusscas

Paraskevia Grigorakakis

Mr. & Mrs. Robert Hasevlat

Mr. & Mrs. Milton Kalampalikis

Amalia Kostakis

Mr. & Mrs. David Labore

Mr. & Mrs. Robert Leuchs

Mr. & Mrs. Costa Liolios

Chrysanthe Nagios

Lucie Skouteris

Olga Sysyn

Patricia Tingos

Betty Xintaras

Mr. & Mrs. John Xintaras

Sacraments

When planning for a baptism or wedding, please check the availability of the church

BEFORE booking your reception hall. Thank you!

Baptism

June 5th -Anthony Vasilios, son of

Ilias & Carla Apostolos

Wedding June 18

th - Polyxeni Gasis & Brendan

Mulcahy

Memorials

May 29th – 40 day for Haralambos

Pashos

Trisagion for Chrysanthe &

Andrew Orshak & Timothy

June 5th – 1 year for Thomas Lekkas

June 26th – 40 day for Rafael Elefherios

Schultz

1 year memorial for George Tonas

Funerals

May 25th – Rafael Eleftherios Schultz

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Stewardship

April Pledges

Mr. & Mrs. Ilias Apostolos

Stephanos Apostolos

Raymond Buckley

Mr. & Mrs. John Costes

Nikolaos Dafopoulos

Mr. & Mrs. Charlie Demos

Mr. & Mrs. Fotios Dellas

Mr. & Mrs. Artemios Dongas

Mr. & Mrs. Richard Dryer

Mr. & Mrs. Scott Dunn

Demetra Gakopoulos

Mr. & Mrs. Demetrios Galanis

Paraskevi Grigorakakis

Xanthippi Hatzibiros

Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Kamberis

Mr. & Mrs. Stathis Kapellakis

Mr. & Mrs. Michael Kinson

Mr. & Mrs. George Kitsis

Mr. & Mrs. John Kitsis

George Kotzamanis

Mr. & Mrs. Vasilios Lazos

Mr. & Mrs. Robert Leuchs

Eleftheria Makris

Elizabeth Marmarou

Aspa Michalopoulos

Mary Mitchell

Lee Papastathis

Panagiota Papasthathis

Mr. & Mrs. Vasilios Pashos

Faye Pliakos

Mr. & Mrs. Lewis Poplin

Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Tsekrekas

Mr. & Mrs. John Xintaras

Thank you for your love to the House of the Lord!

May our Lord bless you hundredfold and remember you in His Kingdom!

Remember please

to submit your 2016

Stewardship Pledge

Stewardship is our God-given

OBLIGATION and the PRIMARY

source of income for our church!

“Seek first God’s Kingdom and His

Righteousness and all other things shall

be added to you.” (Mt 6:33)

“And some seeds fell into good soil

and grew and yielded a hundredfold.”

(Lk 8:8)

“Give to Cesar what is Cesar’s and to

God what is God’s.” (Mk 12:17)

“Rich is not the one who has much,

but the one who gives much. For what

one gives away, he keeps for all

eternity.” St. John Chrysostom

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YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO A

LAMB BARBECUE

SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2016

11:00 am TO 6:00 pm

SAINT NICHOLAS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

1160 BRIDGE STREET

MANCHESTER, NH 03104

LOUKANIKO, PASTITSO, MEAT BALLS

LAMB BURGERS, PITA, DOLMATHES

GREEK PASTRIES

RECORDED GREEK MUSIC

************* RAFFLE *************

PICNIC RAFFLE

PENNY RAFFLE

SILENT RAFFLE

************* RAFFLE *************

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GREEKFEST 2016

CALLING ALL PARISHONERS!!!

Our 2016 GreekFest will be held on Saturday August 27

th and Sunday August 28

th. Festival hours: Saturday

11am to 10 pm; Sunday 11 am-7 pm.

Putting this event together is a massive undertaking requiring 100 volunteers each hour the festival is open!

This is our largest fundraiser of the year and we need your help! Many of you have worked for years to make

this event a success. But, we need more help, new blood and young people to renew our energies. Please

don’t be shy! We welcome your assistance, ideas and time.

The following are specific needs we have at the moment. Please call if you can help in any way or know a

source for us to pursue. Right now we are in need of:

• Donations of all kinds including: monetary, supplies, food, beverage supplies. For any of these please

contact Costa Georgopoulos at 603-512-8314, or the Church Office

• Donations of money and/or prizes for the “Penny Sale” Table

• Help with the Youth Booth - Kid's Corner. Come by and help out with the children’s craft table and

other fun things we have planned. We need volunteers to help set up on Thursday and Friday prior to

Greekfest, plus all weekend during the festival, and on Sunday evening with clean up. All families are

welcome! For more information, please contact Stavroula Bakolas at: ssbakolas@gmail.com

• Your time and talents plus anything else you can think of

• Cooks are needed to join the women of the Philoptochos to prepare specific Greek dishes prior to the

Festival, as follows:

Monday, June 27th – Keftethes (meatballs)

Sunday, July 17th – Dolmathes (grapeleaves)

Monday, July 25th – Koulourakia (cookies)

All cooking is done in the Church Hall (basement) – please enter through the back parking lot doorway.

Please call the Church Office or Lucie Skouteris at 603-622-7693 for further information.

Sounds like a lot of work … and it certainly is, but the more help we have, the fewer hours each one of us

needs to work! This is a great way to meet new people! It is a lot of fun and a very gratifying way to give

back to the Church.

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO ARE ALREADY HARD

AT WORK ON FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES!

If you like to participate, please fill out the following form and return it to the church office.

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PARTICIPATION FORM

GREEKFEST 2016

___ Kitchen

Salad Station

___ Loukoumathes Booth

___ Gyro Booth

___ Food Line (servers)

___ Pastry Booth

___ Bar

___ Penny Sale Table

___ Raffle Table

___ Kids Crafts

___ Kids Games

___Setting up tables-Friday afternoon 8/26

___Taking down tables-Sunday evening 8/28

___Tray pick-up

___Trash pick-up

___Any station

Name:

Address: _____________________________________________________

City/State: ___________________________________________________

Phone Number: _________________ Cell Number: __________________

E-mail: _________________________________________________________________

Days I can help: Hours:

_______Friday, August 26th From: _______To: ________

_______Saturday, August 27th From: _______To:_________

_______Sunday, August 28th From: _______To:_________

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BUSINESS CARD ADVERTISING

Anyone with a business that would like to advertise in our monthly bulletin, please contact the Church office.

A business card format, about 2 ½” x 1 ½” will run for a period of 12 months for one set fee of $150.00 a year.

This will help to defray the ever-increasing costs of printing and mailing these bulletins to our homes as well as

advertising your business to our parishioners and through word of mouth, to their friends.

This is a great opportunity for all!

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JUNE 2016

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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2 Greek School Greek Dance 3:30 – 7:30 pm

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5 Blind Man Sunday Orthros: 9:00 am Div. Lit: 10:00 am Sunday School Graduation

6 Philoptochos Dinner Meeting 6:00 PM Parish Council Meeting – 7:30 PM

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9 Holy Ascension Orthros 8:30 am Div. Lit. 9:15 am

Greek School Rehearsal at St. George 4:00 pm

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12 Fathers of 1st Ecumenical Council Orthros: 9:00 am Div. Lit: 10:00 am Greek School Graduation Metropolis Ministry Awards

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18 Saturday of Souls Orthros 8:30 am Divi. Lit. 9:15 am

19 Holy Pentecost Father’s Day Orthros: 9:00 am Div. Lit: 10:00 am Father’s Day New Horizons Soup Kitchen 4:00 pm

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26 All Saints Orthros: 8:00 am Div. Lit: 9:00 am (Summer Hours)

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30 Holy Apostles Orthros: 8:00 am Div. Lit: 8¨45 am (Summer Hours)

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NON-PROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE PAID MANCHESTER, NH

PERMIT NO. 6249

ASSUMPTION

GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

111 Island Pond Road

Manchester, NH 03109