Prot. No. 134/2022

Archepiscopal Encyclical for Father’s Day

Sunday of All Saints

June 19, 2022

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

My Beloved Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

This Father’s Day, I ask for our entire Archdiocese to remember the “fathers” of our communities across the nation — that is, our very own clergy, who serve everyone so selflessly. This is our second year of recognizing the parish clergy of the Church on this special occasion. And the fact that it coincides with the feast of All Saints gives it even greater force, as we ourselves are all “called to be saints” as well (Romans 1:7).

We observe this day for our priestly “fathers in Christ” by asking for special collections to be made for the Clergy Pension Fund. Your generosity will help secure this fund for future generations of clergy, who sacrifice so much for the life of our communities. Such donations can be made either individually — with voluntary, charitable giving — or through parishes, which support this effort by their participation in the Clergy Benefits Program. Either way, every gift has a tremendous impact on the health of the fund, by bringing it to its full potential.

And so, I express to each and every member of our Sacred Archdiocese my profound gratitude for the support — both material and spiritual — that they offer to our priests. Your dedication to the life of our parishes through your sustaining love for the clergy is vital to our progress as a Church. Therefore, as we fulfill the injunction to ‘honor our fathers,’ let us make of this Father’s Day a very special opportunity for true philanthropy and support the Clergy Pension Fund.

With paternal blessings and love in Christ,

† ELPIDOPHOROS

Archbishop of America