In commemoration of Black History Month, throughout the month of February, the Department of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations will release a weekly video presented by Rev. Samuel Davis, acting rector of St. Simon of Cyrene Orthodox Mission in New Brunswick NJ of the Orthodox Church in America. Each episode will highlight one important leader of the Orthodox Church in the history of its presence in the country, a presence who broke through racial tensions and redefined Orthodox missionary work. This project proposes to share a message of hope and healing towards reconciliation. It was made possible by the generosity of The Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Fund Inc. 

The second video in this series highlights Metropolitan Leonty of the North American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church, who spoke openly about racial tensions in the Church. He called on his fellow Orthodox Christians to serve “people of every nationality and race…” His leadership contributed to the development of a missionary vision in North America.  

Watch the episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQAOzef21YE 

The series is also available on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese YouTube channel.