AHEPA Sunday

To the Most Reverend Hierarchs, 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 America

My Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I write to you in the joy of the Risen Lord Jesus Christ to commend to you the good work of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), an organization which since 1922 has enriched the lives of Greek Americans and society at large through the promotion of education, civic responsibility, and philanthropic initiatives. Today, the AHEPA continues to offer its services in our nation as its members set new goals in order to meet the contemporary challenges of society.

As Greek Orthodox Christians our sacred responsibility is to love God with all our heart and to love our neighbor, and one of the manifold ways in which we express our love to God and to our neighbor is through our own dedication as a community of faith to the promotion of education, service to others, and care for those in need. It is in this regard that we are appreciative of the work of the AHEPA, since it serves in its capacity the same laudable goals.

Therefore, in recognition of the work of the AHEPA, I am pleased to designate this Sunday, May 20, 2007, as AHEPA Sunday. I kindly ask that you offer your prayers and your support for the local chapters of the AHEPA in your communities, and for the national organization, as we grow in our love for God and for one another in the joy of our Risen Lord.

With paternal love in the Risen Christ,

+DEMETRIOS
Archbishop of America