GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA ARCHEPISCOPAL ENCYCLICAL

Prot. No. 303/2023

Archepiscopal Encyclical for the Feast of the

Holy Unmercenaries, Saints Cosmas and Damian

October 29, 2023

Unto the Most Reverend and Right Reverend Hierarchs, Pious Priests and Deacons, Monks and Nuns, Presidents and Members of the Parish Councils, Honorable Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Members of Leadership 100, Day and Afternoon Schools, Philoptochos Societies, Youth, Greek Orthodox Organizations, and entirety of the Christ-loving Plenitude of the Sacred Archdiocese of America:

Therefore, be merciful, as your Father is also merciful. (Luke 6:36)

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ,

Our National Philoptochos honors the glorious memory and fame of the Holy Unmercenaries, Cosmas and Damian, on their Feastday of November 1, by dedicating the resources to the benevolent and philanthropic ministries of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

Philoptochos practices our Orthodox Faith in the way our Lord exhorts in the Gospel. They know what it is to be merciful, to be compassionate, and to acknowledge and relieve the suffering of others. The members of Philoptochos, who are the physical and spiritual mothers of our Church, imitate our Heavenly Father in His goodness and love. And their devotion to the Mother Church of Constantinople manifests a transformational love, because the charities of our Ecumenical Patriarchate are for the benefit of every member of the Church.

Therefore, I commend this Sunday of October 29, when we observe the Feast of the Holy Anargyroi, to every parish and parishioner, that they may support with generous hearts and hands the works of our Philoptochos Societies. There is still much to be done in the restoration of the Balikli Hospital, which serves so many of our brothers and sisters in the Queen of Cities, and indeed the other philanthropic ministries of the Ecumenical Throne. Through the intercessions of the Holy Unmercenaries and Wonder-Workers, Cosmas and Damian, may we all be counted merciful, even as our Heavenly Father is merciful. Amen!

With paternal love in Christ,

† ELPIDOPHOROS

Archbishop of America

 

Note: To be read in all the parishes of America on Sunday, October 29, 2023.