COVID-19

We, the Members of the Holy Eparchial Synod of Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, under the presidency of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, write to you in the power of the Holy Spirt in these anguished days when the Great Church of Christ, the Patriarchal Cathedral of Holy Wisdom, Ἁγία Σοφία, institutionalized for the past ninety years as a museum and world cultural monument, has been re-converted into a mosque. This egregious and unnecessary action has gravely wounded all Orthodox Christians, indeed all Christians around the world and all people of faith and good will.
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As your Archbishop of America, it is truly a joy to celebrate with you the Fourth of July, the day when all Americans and indeed the whole world commemorate our Independence Day. Even though this Declaration was made on July 4, 1776 in Philadelphia, the fight for liberty commenced much earlier, on April 19, 1775, in Lexington and Concord.
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On behalf of the entire family of the Holy Archdiocese of America, I extend the warmest greetings and congratulations to all the esteemed and beloved members of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association on the occasion of the annual observance of AHEPA Sunday.
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In this time of darkness: through the most difficult Lent in memory, through a radical reduction of our lives and livelihood, through the threat of sickness on an unprecedented scale, and the through the grievous loss of family, friends, and neighbors taken from us too soon, we have finally arrived at the dawn.
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Freedom of movement and freedom of association are being reasonably restricted, as we seek to slow the spread and preserve the health of our communities. Thus, we must remember that our most precious liberty is that of conscience, our God-given right to think and believe freely. This freedom of the inner person can never be taken away by any external conditions.
Read MoreAboutArchbishop’s Encyclical for the Feast of the Annunciation and the Day of Greek Independence (2020) »

The appearance of the Covid-19 Pandemic (Coronavirus) throughout the world and in the United States has created fear, anxiety, and genuine concern. All of these need to be taken seriously and no one’s fears should be dismissed out of hand. Already, religious bodies are responding in similar ways, but ways that are not necessarily consistent.
Read MoreAboutEncyclical of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America and the Eparchial Synod on the Covid-19 Pandemic (Coronavirus) »

Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Today we commence our journey of the Great Lent that leads us inexorably to the Holy Passion of the Lord and the Pascha of unending joy. It is a time of determination and concentration, one in which we are encouraged to abstain from certain foods and drink, to practice more active charity and philanthropy, and to look within at the values and principles by which we live our lives.
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Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, As we celebrate Saint Photios the Great, Patriarch of Constantinople, throughout our Archdiocese, we also remember our first National Shrine, named in his honor. The Saint Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine, founded by Archbishop Iakovos of blessed memory, commemorates the first known Greeks who came to America in the 18th century, long before their distant cousins would begin arriving nearly one hundred years later.
Read MoreAboutArchiepiscopal Encyclical for the Feast of St. Photios and the Saint Photios National Shrine (02/06/2020) »

This spirit of equality is the way of Christ. It is the life of the Holy Trinity. It is the everlasting glory of the Three Holy Hierarchs and Ecumenical Teachers. Through their intercessions, may Christ our God bless us with the same spirit of humble brotherhood that inspired their holy festival.
Read MoreAboutArchiepiscopal Encyclical for the Feast of the Three Hierarchs (2020) »

Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, On this first day of the year of our Lord 2020, I greet you in His love with a heart filled with joy and peace. Our Incarnate Savior is with us, guiding us in His divine will, granting us wisdom, filling our hearts with hope in His eternal promises, and leading us in our sacred ministry to share the Gospel of salvation.
Read MoreAboutArchiepiscopal Encyclical for the feast of Saint Basil and the New Year »

We rejoice in the Lord on this blessed Feast of the Nativity, for we proclaim in the hymns of the feast, “Heaven and earth are united today, for Christ is born!” (Great Compline) In a divine and wondrous act of His abundant grace, God has bowed the heavens until they touched the earth.
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Φθάσαντες τήν μεγάλην ἑορτήν τῶν Χριστουγέννων, δοξολογοῦμεν ἐν ὕμνοις καἰ ᾠδαῖς πνευματικαῖς τόν δι᾿ ἡμᾶς τούς ἀνθρώπους κενώσαντα ἑαυτόν καί τήν ἡμετέραν σάρκα ἀναλαβόντα Κύριον, ἵνα λυτρώσηται ἡμᾶς ἐκ τῆς «δουλείας τοῦ ἀλλοτρίου» καί ἀνοίξῃ τῷ γένει τῶν ἀνθρώπων Παραδείσου τάς πύλας. Ἀγάλλεται ἡ Ἐκκλησία τοῦ Χριστοῦ, βιοῦσα λειτουργικῶς τό ὅλον μυστήριον τῆς Θείας Οἰκονομίας, προγευομένη τῆς δόξης τῆς ἐσχατολογικῆς Βασιλείας καί δίδουσα χριστοπρεπῶς τήν καλήν μαρτυρίαν τῆς πίστεως, τῆς ἐλπίδος καί τῆς ἀγάπης ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ.
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The name of Saint Nicholas brings joy to people around the world as nearly a synonym for love and generosity. Even more does his name evoke reverence and delight among Orthodox Christians, who know the wondrous deeds God worked through His servant. By the power of Christ within, Saint Nicholas fought injustice, raised the dead, healed the sick, and supplied the needs of the flock under his care. In these wonders we rejoice.
Read MoreAboutArchiepiscopal Encyclical for the Feast of St. Nicholas »

Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, As Orthodox Christians the act of thanksgiving is an expression of our faith that is deeply rooted in our communion with God. We come together in worship as His people to offer a public proclamation of thanksgiving to Him as our Creator and Savior. We celebrate the Holy Eucharist, the holy mystery of thanksgiving in which we receive the Body and Blood of Christ. We give thanks in remembrance of what our Lord has done for our salvation, and we give thanks for the power of His grace through the sacrament.
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Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, On this blessed feast of the Holy Archangels, we commemorate the servants and messengers of God who dwell in His presence, know and do His divine will, and worship Him around His glorious throne. We offer our veneration to angels for this divine work they do in holiness and service to the Almighty. We also recognize the witness and power of the angelic nature.
Read MoreAboutArchiepiscopal Encyclical for the Feast of the Synaxis of the Holy Archangels »

n our sacred calling to ministry, these words of our Lord speak to us in many ways. On this day when we commemorate the Holy Unmercenaries, Saints Cosmas and Damian, we reflect on the needs around us and how these two holy men offered their lives and their skills so that God might be glorified.
Read MoreAboutArchiepiscopal Encyclical for the feast of the Holy Unmercenaries Saints Cosmas and Damian »

Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, On this day as we celebrate the valiant stand against the Axis forces who demanded the surrender of Greece, we sing a beautiful hymn to the Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary affirming the holy protection she offers to the people of God.
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Since its founding by Archbishop Iakovos of Blessed Memory, Leadership 100 members have been motivated by the abundance of God’s grace though Jesus Christ that has transformed their own lives. This has led to a steadfast faith, generosity and perseverance in supporting the National Ministries and the institutions of our Church so that others might know the abundant life in Jesus Christ.
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As we commemorate this most blessed Feast of the Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross, we sing as an exclamation of faith and a witness of the Gospel to all the world, “The Cross is raised on high, and urges all the creation to sing the praises of the undefiled Passion of Him who was lifted high upon it.” (Hymn of Vespers) Today, as Orthodox Christians we raise high the Cross as an emblem of victory and an invincible shield. We raise high the Cross of Christ our Lord, proclaiming the salvation that has come through Him. We raise high the Cross, affirming that God’s love for us is greater than the power of death. And in raising high the Cross, we raise up Christ so that all the world may see our Resurrected Lord and believe.
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Thirty years ago, the Ecumenical Patriarchate issued an appeal to Orthodox Christians, urging prayer and care for God’s creation. Since 1989, each year on September 1st, at the inspiration of His All-Holiness Demetrios, the Ecumenical Patriarchate has opened the liturgical year with prayers for all God’s creation. Since 1992, at the exhortation of His All-Holiness Bartholomew, all Orthodox Churches have implemented the same tradition.
Read MoreAboutEncyclical for the Ecclesiastical New Year and the Day for the Protection of our Natural Environment (09/01/2019) »