Archiepiscopal Encyclical for the recent fires in Greece
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.
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Encyclical of Archbishop Demetrios for the Commemoration of the Asia Minor Catastrophe (09/18/2016)
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.
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Encyclical for the Commemoration of the Asia Minor Catastrophe
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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Encyclical Calling for Prayers and Support for the Victims of the Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines (11/15/2013)
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.
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Encyclical for the Support of the People of Cyprus
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.
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Special Encyclical for Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund
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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Encyclical for the Commemoration of the Asia Minor Holocaust (09/23/2012)
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.
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Encyclical for support to the People of Greece
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.
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Pastoral Message on the occasion of the 10th Anniversary of September 11
His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America delivers a Pastoral Message on
the occasion of the 10th Anniversary of September 11, 2001.
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Encyclical for the Ten Year Anniversary of September 11 (09/11/2011)
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.
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Encyclical for Prayers and Aid for Japan
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.
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Encyclical for the Commemoration of the Asia Minor Holocaust
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.
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Encyclical For Assistance And Prayers To Haiti
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.
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Special Encyclical for The California Wildfire Victims
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.
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Special Encyclical For Prayers And Relief Aid For The Victims And Survivors Of The Tragic Fires In Greece
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.
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Special Encyclical for the Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief Fund
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.
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Encyclical - An Appeal for Help in the Wake of the Asian Catastrophes
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.
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Encyclical for the Florida Hurricane Victims
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.
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Encyclical for September 11 (09/11/2003)
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.
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Encyclical Following the Columbia Disaster
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.
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