ARCHIEPISCOPAL ENCYCLICAL

Protocol No. 35/18

March 1, 2018

To the Reverend Priests and Deacons, the Monks and Nuns, the Presidents and Members of the Parish Councils of the Greek Orthodox Communities, the Distinguished Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Day, Afternoon, and Church Schools, the Philoptochos Sisterhoods, the Youth, the Hellenic Organizations, and the entire Greek Orthodox Family in the Direct Archdiocesan District and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese at large.

Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I invite you to mobilize and join me in the rally organized by the Pan-Macedonian Association of the USA, the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York and the Hellenic Congress of America, on Sunday, March 18, 2018, 12:00 to 3:00 p.m., in the park next to the United Nations Plaza in New York City (Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, 245 E 47th St), to proclaim to the leadership and people of the United States as well as to all nation members of the UN that Macedonia is Greek. Let us express in a peaceful yet decisive way our opposition to the unacceptable use of the name of Macedonia by FYROM, the usurpation of Macedonia’s history, culture and symbols, and the expressions of irredentism.

For this reason, it is advisable for those parishes whose Divine Liturgy schedule or other Sunday scheduled events coincide with the rally, to re-schedule so that participation in the Rally may be the greatest possible.

I look forward in seeing you all there.

 

With paternal blessings and love in Christ,

 

† DEMETRIOS
Archbishop of America