Archbishop’s Encyclical for the Feast of the Annunciation and the Day of Greek Independence (2020)
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.
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Encyclical of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America and the Eparchial Synod on the Covid-19 Pandemic (Coronavirus)
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.
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Encyclical of Archbishop Elpidophoros for Holy and Great Lent 2020
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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Archiepiscopal Encyclical for the Feast of St. Photios and the Saint Photios National Shrine (02/06/2020)
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.
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Archiepiscopal Encyclical for the Feast of the Three Hierarchs (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.
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Archiepiscopal Encyclical for the feast of Saint Basil and the New Year
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.
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Archiepiscopal Christmas 2019 Encyclical
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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Patriarchal Proclamation for Christmas 2019
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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Archiepiscopal Encyclical for the Feast of St. Nicholas
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.
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Archiepiscopal Encyclical for Thanksgiving Day 2019
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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Archiepiscopal Encyclical for the Feast of the Synaxis of the Holy Archangels
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.
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Archiepiscopal Encyclical for the feast of the Holy Unmercenaries Saints Cosmas and Damian
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.
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Archiepiscopal Encyclical for the Commemoration of OXI Day
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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Archiepiscopal Encyclical for National Leadership 100 Sunday
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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Archiepiscopal Encyclical for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
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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Encyclical for the Ecclesiastical New Year and the Day for the Protection of our Natural Environment (09/01/2019)
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.
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Encyclical of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for the Feast of Indiction and the First Day of the Ecclesiastical Year and the Day of Environmental Protection
The ecological activities of the Ecumenical Patriarchate served as the inspiration for theology to advance prominently the truth of Christian anthropology and cosmology, the Eucharistic worldview and treatment of creation, along with the spirit of Orthodox asceticism as the basis for understanding the reason for and response to the ecological crisis.
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Archiepiscopal Encyclical for the 45th Anniversary of the Invasion of Cyprus
As so many of you know, today marks a very significant event in the history of the Greek people and the Omogeneia. The invasion of Cyprus by the Turkish army forty-five years ago, the displacement of its citizens who became refugees in their own country, and the forced division of the island remain a grievous injustice to this day.
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Archiepiscopal Encyclical for Holy Pascha 2019
The angel said to the women, Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. (Matthew 28:7) These are the words that filled their hearts with joy. These are the words they took to the disciples with rejoicing. These are the words, He is risen, that we proclaim today in our joyful celebration of Holy Pascha and the Resurrection of Christ.
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Archbishop’s Encyclical for the Feast of the Annunciation and the Day of Greek Independence (2019)
It is the Feast of the Annunciation, and we celebrate God’s revelation of His grace to the Virgin Mary. It is a new day as the Archangel Gabriel announced the Incarnation of Christ, saying to the Theotokos, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. (Luke 1:31) Today we commemorate a sacred event, when the love and divine will of God was made known to humankind.
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