http://www.goarch.org Encyclicals from Archbishop Demetrios of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. daily 1 2008-05-30T11:03:17Z http://www.goarch.org/news/archbishopsahepaencyclical51913-en On AHEPA Sunday, I ask all of our parishes to honor AHEPA’s bright legacy of service and to recognize the members of its organizations. Also may we offer thanks to the members of AHEPA for their contribution to our Church in America and our Greek American community, and for their offering to so many educational, philanthropic, and cultural endeavors. No publisher nmorrow release encyclical 2013-05-15T19:37:11Z Article http://www.goarch.org/news/archbishopsholypascha2013encyclical-en Through the power of our Lord’s Resurrection and the revelation of Him as the Source of true and eternal life, all of creation has been filled with the presence of God’s grace. The light of the Resurrection infuses all things, and no darkness remains. Nothing remains hidden—the consequences of sin are exposed, and the victory of the Cross is revealed. No publisher nmorrow release encyclical 2013-05-01T07:23:58Z Article http://www.goarch.org/news/patriarcal_encyclical_pascha2013 n our time, the proclamation of the Resurrection is again considered delirious by rationalists. Nonetheless, we faithful not only believe in but also experience the Resurrection as a profoundly truthful fact. Indeed, if necessary, we seal our testimony with self-sacrifice because in the risen Christ we transcend death and are liberated from its fear. Our hearts are filled with joy when we repeat: The Lord has risen. Our saints, who have died according to the world, continue to live among us, responding to our petitions. The world that follows death is truer than the world that precedes death. Christ has risen and dwells among us. He has promised to be with us to the end of the world. And so He is – as our friend, brother, healer, who bestows all good things. No publisher spapagermanos release encyclical 2013-04-29T08:15:00Z Article http://www.goarch.org/news/palmsundayencyclical042813-en It is through this grace that we are led to respond to the needs of others, and on behalf of the Holy Eparchial Synod of our Holy Archdiocese in America, I am writing to you concerning our brothers and sisters in Cyprus. Just as our hearts have been burdened by the struggles of the people of Greece, and you the faithful of the Church in America have responded in generosity and love, we now see the economic and physical hardships that recently emerged and plague Cyprus. From our shared heritage and faith, from the many familial and community ties among our community in America, from our love of these lands and their people, but most importantly, from our faith in our Lord and in response to His grace, we are called to offer from our abundance so that those in need may find relief, comfort, and renewed hope. No publisher nmorrow release encyclical 2013-04-26T19:45:00Z Article http://www.goarch.org/news/independencedayencyclical032713-en Our parade is a unique witness of both our faith and our Hellenic heritage. As we march together, we will commemorate the struggle of our forefathers and ancestors who made great sacrifices in order to establish freedom in our country after four centuries under foreign occupation. Faith in God, commitment to His will, and awareness of His great power and wisdom inspired our ancestors to stand for liberty, justice, human dignity, and life. No publisher nmorrow release encyclical 2013-03-27T20:38:24Z Article http://www.goarch.org/news/encyclicalannunciation2013 On this blessed and glorious Feast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, our hearts are filled with joy and amazement as we see the abundant love and divine wisdom of God. We worship Him in joy, for through the Annunciation and the Incarnation of our Lord salvation has come. We are astounded as we encounter the revelation of His grace in a manner beyond human comprehension. No publisher nmorrow release encyclical 2013-03-19T14:30:00Z Article http://www.goarch.org/news/lentenencyclical031113-en Among the Saints are a group of holy people who were called by God to preach repentance, justice, and mercy - the Prophets. During this season of Great Lent, we encounter the message of the Prophets through readings and commemorations, and especially in their role of preaching the restoration and salvation that would come through the Incarnation and Passion of Christ. At the Vespers of the Sunday of Orthodoxy, the first Sunday of Great Lent, we sing: "The divinely inspired Prophets preached You in word and honored You in works.... They renounced the whole world for the Gospel's sake, and in their suffering they were conformed to Your Passion which they had foretold." No publisher nmorrow release encyclical lentpascha 2013-03-11T19:59:17Z Article http://www.goarch.org/news/lentenpatriarchalencyclical031113-en The holy fathers, who arranged everything in an orderly manner, instituted a period of ascetic discipline and spiritual purification for forty days prior to the great feast of the Lord's resurrection. No publisher spapagermanos release encyclical lentpascha 2013-03-11T18:05:06Z Article http://www.goarch.org/news/stphotiosencyclical2013 This heritage is the foundation for the growth and strength of our Church in America today, and it is a heritage that has been preserved and promoted in a special way by our beloved Saint Photios National Shrine in St. Augustine, Florida. For three decades, this institution of our Holy Archdiocese has connected us to the earliest Greek immigrants to America along with offering a witness of the strength of our faith in God and the unique character of our Greek American presence in this country. No publisher nmorrow release encyclical 2013-02-04T20:49:51Z Article http://www.goarch.org/news/adencyclical3hierarchs-01252013 No publisher spapagermanos release encyclical 2013-01-25T16:55:02Z Article http://www.goarch.org/news/jan1encyclical2013 As we come to the beginning of a new calendar year, we are very familiar with the atmosphere of expectations and hopes for new beginnings that pervades our modern world. With the changing of a number and the turning of a calendar page, many people seek to leave behind experiences and challenges of the past year and look forward to a new year and the possibility of new opportunities and better circumstances in life. Others are thankful for the events and memories of the year that has passed, and greet the new year with anticipation of greater things to come. No publisher nmorrow release encyclical 2012-12-28T16:12:35Z Article http://www.goarch.org/news/2012nativityencyclical Our celebration of the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is filled with joyful proclamations of the fulfillment of His promises for redemption and new life. “Today the Virgin gives birth to Him who is above all being.” “Today God has come upon the earth, and man gone up to heaven.” “Today He who knows no beginning now begins to be, and the Word is made flesh.” No publisher nmorrow release encyclical 2012-12-17T19:48:01Z Article http://www.goarch.org/news/encyclicalthanksgiving2012 The vibrant tradition of the Thanksgiving holiday in this country is a special opportunity for the Church to offer a witness of the priority of thankfulness in our relationship with God and as a foundation for our lives in this world. As Orthodox Christians we bring an offering of thanksgiving to God when we gather for worship, praising and honoring Him as Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer. We commune with Him and express our faith in His grace and power through our participation in the Holy Eucharist, an act of thanksgiving for His mercy and salvation. No publisher nmorrow release encyclical 2012-11-15T19:15:00Z Article http://www.goarch.org/news/hurricanesandy-encyclical Our first response to this disaster has been fervent prayer to Almighty God, Who is our rock and our fortress, and our deliverer in times of great distress and need (Psalm 18:2-4). We continue these prayers, and we ask all the faithful throughout the Church in America to pray fervently for comfort from above. We offer prayers of remembrance for those who perished and of solace for those who lost family members. We pray for the many who have lost their homes, and for those who are facing uncertainty regarding their jobs and livelihood. We continue our prayers for the rescue personnel and many others who are saving lives and offering comfort to those in need. No publisher nmorrow release encyclical 2012-11-06T16:25:00Z Article http://www.goarch.org/news/2012-cosmas-damian The Feast of the Holy Unmercenaries, Saints Cosmas and Damian, commemorates the Apostolic ministry of these two champions of faith and love and calls each of us to follow the exhortation of Christ in our service to others. No publisher jamil release encyclical 2012-11-01T21:26:11Z Article