The Sunday of All Saints
Honouring the friends of God with much reverence, the Prophet-King David says, "But to me, exceedingly honourable are Thy friends, O Lord" (Ps. 138:16). And the divine Apostle, recounting the achievements of the Saints, and setting forth their memorial as an example that we might turn away from earthly things and from sin, and emulate their patience and courage in the struggles for virtue, says, "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every burden, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us" (Heb. 12:1).
This commemoration began as the Sunday (Synaxis) of All Martyrs; to them were added all the ranks of Saints who bore witness (the meaning of "Martyr" in Greek) to Christ in manifold ways, even if occasion did not require the shedding of their blood.
Therefore, guided by the teaching of the Divine Scriptures and Apostolic Tradition, we the pious honour all the Saints, the friends of God, for they are keepers of God's commandments, shining examples of virtue, and benefactors of mankind. Of course, we honour the known Saints especially on their own day of the year, as is evident in the Menologion. But since many Saints are unknown, and their number has increased with time, and will continue to increase until the end of time, the Church has appointed that once a year a common commemoration be made of all the Saints. This is the feast that we celebrate today. It is the harvest of the coming of the Holy Spirit into the world; it is the "much fruit" brought forth by that "Grain of wheat that fell into the earth and died" (John 12:24); it is the glorification of the Saints as "the foundation of the Church, the perfection of the Gospel, they who fulfilled in deed the sayings of the Saviour" (Sunday of All Saints, Doxasticon of Vespers).
In this celebration, then, we reverently honour and call blessed all the Righteous, the Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, Confessors, Shepherds, Teachers, and Holy Monastics, both men and women alike, known and unknown, who have been added to the choirs of the Saints and shall be added, from the time of Adam until the end of the world, who have been perfected in piety and have glorified God by their holy lives. All these, as well as the orders of the Angels, and especially our most holy Lady and Queen, the Ever-virgin Theotokos Mary, do we honour today, setting their life before us as an example of virtue, and entreating them to intercede in our behalf with God, Whose grace and boundless mercy be with us all. Amen.
This week’s “How-to” Green Your Parish episode features Hieromonk Michael on “Creation and Monasticism.”
Panelists will offer their personal and professional lessons learned in a discussion of what healthy independence might look like in families with disabilities, including: the importance of helping each person grow more independent, with attention to their unique gifts and developmental trajectory, advice for keeping expectations for independence realistic and hopeful, and suggestions for practical communication and physical supports.
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The St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival held the Archdiocese Festival, June 11-12, 2021. It was a virtual Festival hosted from the Archdiocese Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New York City. Nine Junior Division Speakers and nine Senior Division Speakers, representing their Metropolises delivered their speeches on-line to Archbishop Elpidophoros, the panel of judges, the National Chairperson, Mrs. Katherine Orfanakos Demacopolous, Archimandrite Anton Vrame, Director of the Department of Religious Education of the Archdiocese of America, which creates and sponsors the annual festival. In addition, because of the live-streaming of the Festival, the program was broadcast to all who follow the Festival.
In this week’s Epistle reading, Saint Paul reminds members of the Church how important it is to serve others in communion with one another.
On Friday, June 25, 2021, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America joined the clergy of the Northern Region of the Metropolis of New Jersey for an afternoon of fellowship during their annual boat excursion in Toms River.
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America in partnership with In Defense of Christians will co-host an Ecumenical Prayer Service lamenting the reconversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque one year ago. The Ecumenical Prayer Service will take place on July 14th, 2021, at 6:30 pm EDT at Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral located at 2815 36th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007.
Presvytera Melanie speaks with His Eminence Metropolitan Savas of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh on theological "whys" of disability, the need for all of us to learn an etiquette regarding disability, and his exhilarating experience on an OCF Real Break mission trip when visiting "The Four Homes of Mercy," a group home for persons with disabilities.
The “How-to” Green Your Parish series is an initiative of the Department of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations. New episodes will be released weekly featuring ideas and ways to introduce creation care and sustainability in your parish and home. Ranging from practical to theological, each three-minute video offers a unique perspective on environmental stewardship through the knowledge and expertise of Orthodox Christians across the United States.
It's time to Soak Up the Son! This week we learn all about St. Macrina the Elder and her legacy of saints.
