Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, We all have learned of the devastating fires in Attica, Greece that have claimed the lives of dozens of people, injured many others, and destroyed countless homes and properties. We are filled with agony and pain as we watch the horrifying images and hear the tragic stories coming from Greece.
Read MoreAboutArchiepiscopal Encyclical for the recent fires in Greece »

In recognition of this and many related tragic events of that era, I ask the parishes of our Holy Archdiocese to have special observances and memorial services on Sunday, September 18. Together, let us remember our forbearers who perished and commemorate the valor shown by those who survived. Let us honor the memory and sacrifice of those who suffered. As we are confronted by the crises in our contemporary world, let us find strength and guidance in our Orthodox faith, just as many did in those dark days, placing their hope for deliverance and salvation in Almighty God.
Read MoreAboutEncyclical of Archbishop Demetrios for the Commemoration of the Asia Minor Catastrophe (09/18/2016) »

We are confronted on a daily basis with the tragedy of conflict in our world, the struggles and suffering of refugees, and the violence and death associated with terrorism and genocide. We see and hear reports of the tremendous challenges faced by people who are being expelled from their homes and countries, who are seeking basic provisions and security, and who are in need of hope and comfort.
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On behalf of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, I greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, bringing to your attention the dreadful devastation produced by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines on November 8th and asking for your prayers and assistance at these difficult times for millions of people.
Read MoreAboutEncyclical Calling for Prayers and Support for the Victims of the Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines (11/15/2013) »

It is through this grace that we are led to respond to the needs of others, and on behalf of the Holy Eparchial Synod of our Holy Archdiocese in America, I am writing to you concerning our brothers and sisters in Cyprus. Just as our hearts have been burdened by the struggles of the people of Greece, and you the faithful of the Church in America have responded in generosity and love, we now see the economic and physical hardships that recently emerged and plague Cyprus. From our shared heritage and faith, from the many familial and community ties among our community in America, from our love of these lands and their people, but most importantly, from our faith in our Lord and in response to His grace, we are called to offer from our abundance so that those in need may find relief, comfort, and renewed hope.
Read MoreAboutEncyclical for the Support of the People of Cyprus »

Our first response to this disaster has been fervent prayer to Almighty God, Who is our rock and our fortress, and our deliverer in times of great distress and need (Psalm 18:2-4). We continue these prayers, and we ask all the faithful throughout the Church in America to pray fervently for comfort from above. We offer prayers of remembrance for those who perished and of solace for those who lost family members. We pray for the many who have lost their homes, and for those who are facing uncertainty regarding their jobs and livelihood. We continue our prayers for the rescue personnel and many others who are saving lives and offering comfort to those in need.
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On this occasion we do this in our commemoration of the Asia Minor Holocaust. This Sunday has been chosen because the month of September in the year 1922 was the peak of years of massacres and forced expulsions. During this month of 1922, the Greeks of Smyrna were brutally attacked, their homes, businesses, and churches burned, and thousands were forced to flee with limited hopes of escape.
Read MoreAboutEncyclical for the Commemoration of the Asia Minor Holocaust (09/23/2012) »

On behalf of the Holy Eparchial Synod of our Holy Archdiocese of America, I am writing to you, the faithful members of our Holy Orthodox Church here in the United States, this heartfelt appeal for our brothers and sisters in Greece.
Read MoreAboutEncyclical for support to the People of Greece »

His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America delivers a Pastoral Message on the occasion of the 10th Anniversary of September 11, 2001.
Read MoreAboutPastoral Message on the occasion of the 10th Anniversary of September 11 »

On this Sunday, the tenth anniversary of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, we address you in the faith, love and hope that we share in our Lord Jesus Christ. As we gather in our places of worship on this day, we cannot help but call to mind the dreadful acts of terrorism and the tremendous destruction that shocked the entire world and burdened every heart with pain and sorrow.
Read MoreAboutEncyclical for the Ten Year Anniversary of September 11 (09/11/2011) »

Our hearts are filled with sadness and compassion as we have seen the apocalyptic images of mass destruction and suffering following the earthquake and tsunami which struck Japan last Friday. In response to this historic tragedy, we may be rendered speechless, seeing the extent of the devastation and the plight of so many. However, our faith in our gracious God leads us to respond to human need both in prayer and in action to sustain life and offer solace in a time of great loss.
Read MoreAboutEncyclical for Prayers and Aid for Japan »

Today, Sunday September 19, has been designated by the Holy Eparchial Synod as a day of commemoration of the Asia Minor Holocaust, a great catastrophe of incalculable proportions which was tragically forced upon the Greek populations of Turkey in the years following the World War I. Over a period of a few years, over one and a half million Greeks, families and communities that had been in Asia Minor for millennia, were expelled or killed.
Read MoreAboutEncyclical for the Commemoration of the Asia Minor Holocaust »

In response to this tragedy, I ask first and foremost of the faithful of the Greek Orthodox Church in America to offer their fervent prayers for the people of Haiti.
Read MoreAboutEncyclical For Assistance And Prayers To Haiti »

On behalf of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, I write to you to convey the heartfelt prayers and support of our Holy Archdiocese for all those who are grieving in the aftermath of the devastating fires that have taken place in southern California. This tragedy has affected hundreds of thousands of people in the region who were under orders of evacuation in the face of danger and uncertainty. Many people lost their homes and must now begin the painful process of rebuilding what was destroyed by this unpredictable calamity, while others were injured by these fires, and some lost their lives as a result of this disaster. Among the victims of the fires are also members of our own Orthodox Church, of our beloved Holy Metropolis of San Francisco.
Read MoreAboutSpecial Encyclical for The California Wildfire Victims »

I am writing to you on behalf of the Eparchial Synod of the Holy Archdiocese of America concerning a tragic event. Over the past few days we have shared great concern and sorrow with the people of Greece and the leaders of the Hellenic Republic regarding the devastating fires that continue to threaten people and homes. This tragedy has already taken dozens of lives and destroyed communities in the areas of Peloponnesos and Evia and has received international attention and offers of assistance. As Greek Orthodox faithful in America we must continue to offer fervent prayers for the victims and surviving families of this catastrophe with the hope that favorable conditions for life and peace will be restored soon.
Read MoreAboutSpecial Encyclical For Prayers And Relief Aid For The Victims And Survivors Of The Tragic Fires In Greece »

I write this letter on behalf of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America in the wake of the fatalities, heavy damage, and trauma caused by Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. This natural disaster has affected entire communities throughout these States, and today many thousands of people are mourning the painful loss of their loved ones, their homes, and their businesses as a result of the violent storm.
Read MoreAboutSpecial Encyclical for the Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief Fund »

During this joyous holiday season when we have been blessed with so much cheer and an abundance of gifts, who of us has not been truly shaken and deeply moved by the enormous catastrophes and the nightmarish loss of lives in Asia. In the blink of an eye, a natural disaster of unimaginable proportions has left devastation and unbearable pain in its wake for countless people. Well over 130,000 individuals have lost the most precious of all gifts, their lives. In it all, we are reminded of the fragility of life, and we acknowledge that every day is indeed a gift from God.
Read MoreAboutEncyclical - An Appeal for Help in the Wake of the Asian Catastrophes »

I write this letter in the wake of the fatalities, heavy damage, and trauma caused by Hurricane Charley in Florida. This natural disaster has affected entire communities throughout the state of Florida. Even more tragic, some families are mourning the painful loss of loved ones as a result of the violent storm.
Read MoreAboutEncyclical for the Florida Hurricane Victims »

On this day we reach the two-year anniversary of the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Certainly, the memory of what happened, of our experiences, and of the images of that day will always be with us as individuals and as a nation. This is due first and foremost to our prayerful remembrance of those who lost their lives—the innocent victims and those who offered their lives attempting to save others. As people of faith and hope, we continue to remember them, offering our prayers, love, and ministry for their families.
Read MoreAboutEncyclical for September 11 (09/11/2003) »

I am writing to you on this tragic day after having expressed to our President George W. Bush my deepest condolences, to call all of our faithful to prayer and remembrance as you gather this Sunday for the Divine Liturgy. On Saturday, February 1, the astronauts aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia died tragically as they were making their return from a 16-day science mission in space.
Read MoreAboutEncyclical Following the Columbia Disaster »