The land of our ancestral heritage of Greece has once again been stricken with devastating fires that have destroyed, among other areas, a densely populated region outside of Athens. Fires continue to burn in other parts of Greece which is a cause of great concern for the country and its citizens. Many people have lost their homes, their livelihood, and innumerable personal belongings. It will take them many years to rebuild their lives, especially during these times of economic hardship. Furthermore, the afflicted areas have been considered to be very important for the fragile ecological balance in Greece and the Balkan areas. This will only further add to the devastation and destruction. Read more...
Dearly Beloved, The beginning of September is a significant time for Orthodox Christians in the United States, presenting for our spiritual consideration three commemorations. First, following a 5th century edict of Emperor Leo I, September 1 is considered to be the beginning of the year, because according to the Church’s tradition, this was the first day of creation. Less than a century later, Emperor Saint Justinian the Great decreed that all dates must include a reference to the Indiction as a way of linking human events to God’s initial act of creation. Second, in 1989 His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Demetrios, of blessed memory, dedicated September 1 as an annual day of thanksgiving and supplication for the environment and all creation. Third, beginning in 1895, the United States government has set aside the first Monday in September as a national holiday, Labor Day, to remember the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity and well-being of our country. Read more...
Communication technology has radically transformed our personal lives, the lives of our faithful, and the lives and ministries of our parishes, our Metropolis, and the Archdiocese. The Church should take advantage of the positive dimensions of new communications technologies. However, it is important to be aware of the dangers that can come from indiscreet use of electronic communication. Read more...
July 2, 2009: At this moment, an electronic referendum is being conducted on the webpage of CNN Turk on the topic of the reopening the Theological School of Halki. I encourage you to read the history of the Theological School of Halki (below) and vote “yes” today. Read more...
The 28th canon of the Fourth Ecumenical Council, which convened in Chalcedon, not only affirmed, but completed that which had been understood by the Second Ecumenical Council, namely, that the Ecumenical Throne was granted “equal privileges as those of the Church of Rome.” To this day, for example, only the Ecumenical Patriarchate possesses the ecclesiastical authority to act judicially in the appeal process regarding clergy outside its jurisdiction (Canons 9 and 17). Read more...
On this Pascha dawn, let your heart and entire being, along with all God's creation, be filled with the exultation of the Resurrection. It was on an early morning such as this that the second creation - the "ineffable" wonder - emerged from the splendor of the empty tomb. Even though it was rejected, and continues to be rejected by apostates and those who espouse no belief whatsoever or are weak in faith in every facet of their lives, the Resurrection of the Lord remains a fact. Read more...
“Let us fast an acceptable fast that is pleasing to God.” With this prayer and admonition I greet you as we begin this period of fasting and Great Lent. The Church has named the first day of Lent “Pure/Clean Monday”. It is expected that Lent gives us the opportunity for an inner catharsis in all things. Read more...
“And this will be a sign to you: You will find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12). These words of the Gospel take on a totally different meaning when we read what Paul writes to the Christians of Philippi regarding the Son of God who emptied Himself and became man. He writes, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself by taking the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:2-7). Read more...
Once again Thanksgiving Day approaches, giving us the opportunity to spread festive joy in our homes, experience the happiness that appears when family members come together for the holiday dinner, and exchange good wishes and warm embraces with loved ones. Read more...
The beginning of the new Ecclesiastical Year coincides this year with the Labor Day holiday. We all observe Labor Day as a celebration of the last days of our summer activities. Today let us celebrate the first day of the new Ecclesiastical Year, adopting as our motto the following quotation from the Gospel according to St. John: “But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God.” (John 3:21). Read more...
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Saints, Feasts, and Readings for 11/7/2009
Saturday of the 7th Week
St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 5:1-10
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