This post is dedicated to all the people from OLSH (my high school ... www.olsh.org) who follow my blog, although they can't say they are OLSH people because they might get expelled...long story that I don't want to get into. Anyway, this was my speech to the OLSH community on the senior retreat day at the end of the 2009-10 school year. I found the paper cleaning out my room and decided to finally type it up. Many people have asked to see it, so here it is. (My permission is granted to print it out and give it to as many people as you think would appreciate it, although please don't stick it to all the stairwell doors...that would be a bit excessive.)
It seems like yesterday that my dad and I hurried off to Youthtowne after church. I played in a football game and was very confused because there was a Truskowski on each team. I grew to be able to tell them apart, and one of them was in my geometry class sophomore year - the best math class in my 12 [now 12.5] years of school, by far! It was me, Shronda, Ron, Justin, Meaghan, Caitlin, Steve, Cody, Andy and Marissa.
And then there was my high five spree. I'd high five just about everyone in sight. I still do sometimes. :)
I know I get on people's nerves sometimes, with my "stories and odd scenarios" to quote Sara J., and my weird questions in Gov class, and comments about frog STDs. For all of these I'd like to ask your forgiveness.
And to all you underclassmen, know that we seniors need your prayers next year. We're gonna be faced with a lot, and the more prayers the better. On the flip side, know that I pray for OLSH every day, although it's almost impossible to mention everyone by name.
There have been ups and downs, but overall my time at OLSH has been great.While I am definitely excited to leave Pittsburgh and go to Boston for college, I know there will be times that I'll look back fondly and wish I was back here, or log into facebook, hoping to find an OLSH friend to I.M.
Take care of yourselves, and pray for us.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Hellenic: Year 1; Semester 2; Week 1
Sorry, I haven't had time to blog very much this past week. I got in on Tuesday evening and got back to campus late-ish. It was so weird to come back to school and see the deep blanket of snow all over campus because, prior to break, we had only had a total of maybe one inch, half of which fell at 10pm and was gone by morning. I really had not seen Boston snow until I came back.
Wednesday morning I financially cleared and went to my first (2:10) class - World History. Soon after coming out of World History at 3:30, we got an "Iris alert," HC/HC's way of notifying us of "emergency" situations and such. We were supposed to get an insane amount of snow (almost a foot?), so Wednesday "evening classes" after 4:00, and Thursday classes were canceled. Snow day on the second day of class! I then went sledding down the big hill on campus with Ninja, John the Baptist and the Romanian. We also played a game of ninja in the snow. That was fun! We went inside around 4:30 and went to church at 5:00 (I have to use pseudonyms because some have requested that I not use their names on the internet).
We were scheduled to have Liturgy at 6:15am on Thursday for St. John Chrysostom. We have to do Liturgy so early on school days because people need to be out in time to go to class. Thankfully, with no class, Liturgy got moved back to the usual time of 8:00 :) Fr. Peter, Fr. Demetri, Fr. Evangelos, Deacon John and Deacon Yan (sp?) served, and "Awesome Rassem" led the chanting. Everything was glorious! After Liturgy, the chanters stayed at the chanter's stand and chanted to their hearts' content, just because they could, and it's what they love to do.
At lunch, some friends (Ninja, Tim, Josh) suggested we take a walk in the snow. I was up for it, so we walked down to Jamaica Pond. I lagged behind and forgot that the driveway was cleared, so took (what would have been the shortcut in fair weather) the long way...through the almost-waist-deep snow. By the time we got to the pond, I was exhausted so I collapsed in the snow to recover my strength. Tim suggested we bury me in the snow, so I got up and dug a hole, sat down, and they buried me and left me there to say hi to passers-by. Two of the passers-by were John and Ryan, Holy Cross students. John took this picture and emailed it to me. All the passers-by got a kick out of me and one of them took a video because he was so taken by the sight haha.
While my torso was fine because of my heavy down coat (thanks Mom!), long underwear and sweatpants were not enough on my legs so I soon freed myself so as not to numb my legs. I reunited with the Romanian, my sister, Ninja, Tim and Josh, and we trekked back up to school. On the way back I suggested that we go to JP Licks, a favorite ice cream/coffee shop. Everyone thought I was crazy for wanting to go get ice cream in the cold, but after getting back to school, Mickey Mouse, the Romanian, the red-hatted new kid, and I went to JP Licks. I got soft-serve peanut butter ice cream. It was awesome! We stopped at a few stores and then headed back to campus...walking on the side of the street because Mickey Mouse didn't wanna go through the snow. That was a little scary...
Friday was low-key because I have no Friday classes, so I just hung out. I woke up at 8:30 on Saturday (no church Saturday morning...it is our day to sleep in), and went back to sleep around 9. I woke up "for real" at 11:43 and went to lunch, then spent a few hours with the Romanian, straightening/cleaning my room. Red-headed, Golden-mouthed Orator and I went to Vigil at Holy Trinity, the OCA Cathedral in Boston, at 5pm, and met up with three other friends at Tasty Burger. I got a hamburger with onion, cheese and mushroom. We also got onion rings and fries. It was my first time there and everything was delicious! We walked to the T, took the T to Brookline Village, and then walked back to school. We got back at 9:30. It was a fun evening. I got to stand at the chanter's stand at Liturgy on Sunday, which was cool. Oh, and Elmo has been tonsured a monk and ordained deacon!
So that takes me to now, when I am blogging. I guess I will post now.
We are scheduled to have a meeting of all the Greek Orthodox bishops in America, on campus on Thursday (minus Maximos, Demetrios Couchell, and Savvas). That will be interesting. I will update on how that goes. Until then, Happy Three Hierarchs Day!!! (oh, and we're supposed to have snow midweek sometime...)
From this morning's Canon...from the Ninth Ode of the second Canon for the Saints:
There is no second best in these sacred three. Each is thought to be foremost in precedence and to prevail over his corrivals of equal rank. But rather each with joy has made his own the success of the other two. There is no room among them to envy one another and thus destroy their unanimity.
Wednesday morning I financially cleared and went to my first (2:10) class - World History. Soon after coming out of World History at 3:30, we got an "Iris alert," HC/HC's way of notifying us of "emergency" situations and such. We were supposed to get an insane amount of snow (almost a foot?), so Wednesday "evening classes" after 4:00, and Thursday classes were canceled. Snow day on the second day of class! I then went sledding down the big hill on campus with Ninja, John the Baptist and the Romanian. We also played a game of ninja in the snow. That was fun! We went inside around 4:30 and went to church at 5:00 (I have to use pseudonyms because some have requested that I not use their names on the internet).
We were scheduled to have Liturgy at 6:15am on Thursday for St. John Chrysostom. We have to do Liturgy so early on school days because people need to be out in time to go to class. Thankfully, with no class, Liturgy got moved back to the usual time of 8:00 :) Fr. Peter, Fr. Demetri, Fr. Evangelos, Deacon John and Deacon Yan (sp?) served, and "Awesome Rassem" led the chanting. Everything was glorious! After Liturgy, the chanters stayed at the chanter's stand and chanted to their hearts' content, just because they could, and it's what they love to do.
At lunch, some friends (Ninja, Tim, Josh) suggested we take a walk in the snow. I was up for it, so we walked down to Jamaica Pond. I lagged behind and forgot that the driveway was cleared, so took (what would have been the shortcut in fair weather) the long way...through the almost-waist-deep snow. By the time we got to the pond, I was exhausted so I collapsed in the snow to recover my strength. Tim suggested we bury me in the snow, so I got up and dug a hole, sat down, and they buried me and left me there to say hi to passers-by. Two of the passers-by were John and Ryan, Holy Cross students. John took this picture and emailed it to me. All the passers-by got a kick out of me and one of them took a video because he was so taken by the sight haha.
While my torso was fine because of my heavy down coat (thanks Mom!), long underwear and sweatpants were not enough on my legs so I soon freed myself so as not to numb my legs. I reunited with the Romanian, my sister, Ninja, Tim and Josh, and we trekked back up to school. On the way back I suggested that we go to JP Licks, a favorite ice cream/coffee shop. Everyone thought I was crazy for wanting to go get ice cream in the cold, but after getting back to school, Mickey Mouse, the Romanian, the red-hatted new kid, and I went to JP Licks. I got soft-serve peanut butter ice cream. It was awesome! We stopped at a few stores and then headed back to campus...walking on the side of the street because Mickey Mouse didn't wanna go through the snow. That was a little scary...
Friday was low-key because I have no Friday classes, so I just hung out. I woke up at 8:30 on Saturday (no church Saturday morning...it is our day to sleep in), and went back to sleep around 9. I woke up "for real" at 11:43 and went to lunch, then spent a few hours with the Romanian, straightening/cleaning my room. Red-headed, Golden-mouthed Orator and I went to Vigil at Holy Trinity, the OCA Cathedral in Boston, at 5pm, and met up with three other friends at Tasty Burger. I got a hamburger with onion, cheese and mushroom. We also got onion rings and fries. It was my first time there and everything was delicious! We walked to the T, took the T to Brookline Village, and then walked back to school. We got back at 9:30. It was a fun evening. I got to stand at the chanter's stand at Liturgy on Sunday, which was cool. Oh, and Elmo has been tonsured a monk and ordained deacon!
So that takes me to now, when I am blogging. I guess I will post now.
We are scheduled to have a meeting of all the Greek Orthodox bishops in America, on campus on Thursday (minus Maximos, Demetrios Couchell, and Savvas). That will be interesting. I will update on how that goes. Until then, Happy Three Hierarchs Day!!! (oh, and we're supposed to have snow midweek sometime...)
From this morning's Canon...from the Ninth Ode of the second Canon for the Saints:
There is no second best in these sacred three. Each is thought to be foremost in precedence and to prevail over his corrivals of equal rank. But rather each with joy has made his own the success of the other two. There is no room among them to envy one another and thus destroy their unanimity.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
St. John Chrysostom, on singing
Just as swine run to a place where there is mire and bees dwell where there are fragrances and incense, likewise demons gather where there are carnal songs and the grace of the Holy Spirit settles where there are spiritual melodies, sanctifying both mouth and soul.
- St. John Chrysostom
- St. John Chrysostom
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Wisdom from Metro Max
Today I went into Pittsburgh to meet with His Eminence, Metropolitan MAXIMOS, my bishop, for him to sign a paper for me, and give me advice, since I am switching to "seminarian" status at school this semester, which I need a bishop's blessing to do. One of the things he told me in our conversation was (paraphrased), "it doesn't matter what your station is in life, it matters if you use it to serve God." I thought that was great!
He also told me about his time in Belgium, I believe, and then in Rome, where he was one of the Orthodox attendees of Vatican II, and then his first meeting with Bishop (I forget the name) who was the first Greek Orthodox bishop of Pittsburgh (whose picture is on the wall of the Metropolis living room, where his omophorion is crooked), and Maximos asking this guy how he liked it in Pittsburgh, and talked with him. Then Archbishop IAKOVOS came to Rome and said "I want you in America." And Max said "Talk to Patriarch DIMITRIOS." Then Iakovos put him at seminary where he taught for 14 years, and then brought him to Pittsburgh. "Why Pittsburgh?" "I need you there!" "OK." He told me, do the best you can to represent me, and to represent the Metropolis of Pittsburgh. I love him!!! He also told me that he was very fond of Mother Alexandra (the foundress of Ellwood City, who is partly responsible for my existence...long story), she was a very good spiritual mother to him, and he went to her funeral (he didn't like going on hot days in the summer, though, because there was no air conditioning).
I love Metro Max!
Έις πολλά ετι Δέσποτα!!!
(Many years, O Master)
He also told me about his time in Belgium, I believe, and then in Rome, where he was one of the Orthodox attendees of Vatican II, and then his first meeting with Bishop (I forget the name) who was the first Greek Orthodox bishop of Pittsburgh (whose picture is on the wall of the Metropolis living room, where his omophorion is crooked), and Maximos asking this guy how he liked it in Pittsburgh, and talked with him. Then Archbishop IAKOVOS came to Rome and said "I want you in America." And Max said "Talk to Patriarch DIMITRIOS." Then Iakovos put him at seminary where he taught for 14 years, and then brought him to Pittsburgh. "Why Pittsburgh?" "I need you there!" "OK." He told me, do the best you can to represent me, and to represent the Metropolis of Pittsburgh. I love him!!! He also told me that he was very fond of Mother Alexandra (the foundress of Ellwood City, who is partly responsible for my existence...long story), she was a very good spiritual mother to him, and he went to her funeral (he didn't like going on hot days in the summer, though, because there was no air conditioning).
I love Metro Max!
Έις πολλά ετι Δέσποτα!!!
(Many years, O Master)
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Snowpocalypse again?
So it started snowing today, a little before 1 pm. Everything is covered, and it's still coming down, pretty heavily. I've been inside since this morning so it's beautiful and exciting and maybe I'll go sledding tomorrow or get some money shoveling walks... :) But I sure am glad I don't have to drive in it!
But is it as bad as the snowmageddon of last February, when we had something like 4 feet? I think not.
Descartes walks into a bar. "Would you like a drink, sir?" asks the astonished bartender. Descartes responds, "I think not," and vanishes.
But is it as bad as the snowmageddon of last February, when we had something like 4 feet? I think not.
Descartes walks into a bar. "Would you like a drink, sir?" asks the astonished bartender. Descartes responds, "I think not," and vanishes.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Interactions with GOYAns today :)
First of all, let me say that I finished the first tape of the 1979 Spiritual Renewal Conference, listening to Fr. Stanley Harakas' lecture last night and finishing it this morning. I also listened to the first part of Fr. Stylianopoulos's lecture this morning, on my way to pick up my Yiayia and take her to church. Fr. Harakas' was about the ζέστης πίστεος, or the "fire of faith," as he translated it (a phrase from the Divine Liturgy). He also said that there are nine "altar calls" at every Divine Liturgy, where we are called to commit our lives to Christ ...maybe we have heard it so many times we have become deaf... "Let us commend ourselves, and each other, and all our life, unto Christ our God." Wow I wanna go back and listen to that again haha it was awesome :)
Today after church I was talking with some of the Aliquippa GOYAns who said that I was a pimp, and I was obviously "getting all the ladies," partying, and "living it up." I replied by saying that yeah, we have the best parties...we feast on the Body and Blood of Christ every week! :) I also said that I hope I'm "getting" the Panagia and the other (holy) ladies to pray for me, because I definitely need it!
One of them had some pretty celebrity Gomez girl that I had never heard of as his background on his cell phone. He said isn't she attractive? I was like, yeah but why do you need her as your background?? I said put something else on, like... and then in desperation, after not being able to think of anything, I said "me!" He was like, ooooh good idea!! and he said "smile!" and took a pic of me with his phone, so now I am his background instead of Miss Gomez...I guess that's a good thing?? :)
PLN time? Possibly...
Today after church I was talking with some of the Aliquippa GOYAns who said that I was a pimp, and I was obviously "getting all the ladies," partying, and "living it up." I replied by saying that yeah, we have the best parties...we feast on the Body and Blood of Christ every week! :) I also said that I hope I'm "getting" the Panagia and the other (holy) ladies to pray for me, because I definitely need it!
One of them had some pretty celebrity Gomez girl that I had never heard of as his background on his cell phone. He said isn't she attractive? I was like, yeah but why do you need her as your background?? I said put something else on, like... and then in desperation, after not being able to think of anything, I said "me!" He was like, ooooh good idea!! and he said "smile!" and took a pic of me with his phone, so now I am his background instead of Miss Gomez...I guess that's a good thing?? :)
PLN time? Possibly...
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Awesome hymn from Theophany Compline
This is a hymn from the Great Compline service, part of the Vigil of Theophany, served in the evening of January 5.
old Spiritual Renewal cassette tape
So my dad's car, that I drive when I'm home, is a 98 Civic and doesn't have a cd player...I'm also not a radio listener, in general...so I have to be creative if I want to listen to stuff in the car. I've been listening (a lot) to a recording of Paraklesis by Simonopetra Monastery on Mt. Athos, which I copied from CD to tape so I could listen to it in the car. Yesterday, I decided to dig through some old cassettes and see if anything interesting reared its head. It sure did. I listened to Bishop Basil (who had been a bishop for two years) talking to young people about Orthodoxy in America and an upcoming assembly of the 60 canonical American Orthodox Bishops at Antiochian Village, Ligonier PA ... in 1994.
(And I thought that was old!) When that was done, I put on a recording of the first ever Spiritual Renewal Conference, held at Duquesne University, and Sponsored by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America. Archbishop Iakovos wanted to be there but he was in Greece. The keynote speaker was His Grace, Bishop Maximos of Pittsburgh. Some of the speakers were Fr. Ted Stylianopoulos (who is still around, at HCHC! He's great!) and Fr. Stanley Harakas. It was a little hard to understand, partly because of Bishop Max's speech impediment, but mostly because the quality of the recording wasn't very good, as this tape is from 1979 :)
31 years doesn't make something unapplicable...if I can attempt to summarize Bishop Max's keynote, it would be this: Spiritual renewal and the life in Christ are a process, because our measure of perfection (given by Christ) is to "be perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect." Our measure of perfection is God Himself. We will never satisfactorily reach that point and not have to struggle anymore...life in Christ is a constant struggle. We have to constantly renew the vows made at our Baptism...we have to constantly renounce Satan and join ourselves to Christ. the chief way to do this is through making use of Confession - by which we are able to cleanse ourselves - and Communion - which is God's wonderful gift to us, and whereby everything we do is united with Christ and we become one with Him. (Oh, and delaying baptism - as they often did in the early Church - is foolish). I forget some of the rest, but I remember that the conclusion was a bit unclear. I want to go and re-listen to the conclusion. Tomorrow, God willing, I will listen to Fr. Harakas' lecture...we'll see what pearls I will gain from that :)
CHRIST IS BAPTIZED!!!
IN THE JORDAN!!!
(to sanctify the waters!!!)
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