Message from Metropolitan Alexios
My Beloved Ones,
This Sunday we shall arrive at the very middle of Great Lent, which our Forefathers have very wisely dedicated to the Holy Cross. Different groups in our society have different reactions to this profound symbol of our Faith. As St. Paul says, “…we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 23-24). Throughout the ages, the Holy Fathers have used the symbol of the Cross to perform, not only miracles, but to encourage all in imitation of Christ’s Passion—out of love for the humble manner in which our Creator gave His life for us.
For this Sunday’s Gospel, we read a passage taken from the Gospel according to St. Mark, in which our Lord delivers the prescription for any person who wishes to call themselves a Christian. Though His statement is an emphatic commandment, I ask that we take notice of how it begins, “If any man would come after me…” (Mark 8:34). In this way, we are meant to have no doubt that this statement comes from our Creator and Master, who respects the freedom He has given to us. This freedom is a gift that is often too easily forgotten in our own lives. Think of our work, or our families, where we might tend to take for granted or devalue the things our coworkers or loved ones have to offer. Parents, for example, may begin to impart lessons by making demands, rather than using God’s gift of freewill to show their children by example.
Christ Himself led by example, and after offering His children the opportunity to follow Him, He gives us a “job description” of how we might accomplish this goal. We are told that a person must “…let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34). Here, we encounter our first difficulty: if my self is my being, how can I forget myself?
In truth, our being exists in two parts, one that is finite, and one that is immortal. Though we can visibly see ourselves and characterize others in the flesh, this part of our being will remain with us only for the length of our earthly lives. Within this finite frame resides our inner being, our soul, which, because of its immortality, we know to be the more important of the two parts, and this is the “self” to which our Lord refers. The soul of an individual expresses a person’s being in different ways: whether we are dealing with our loved ones, with society, or indeed, with God.
The means by which we communicate with others, is what scientists refer to as the ego. This is why, although the Fathers of the Church did not have science to explain the function of the ego, they referred to that part of our being from the very beginning of Christianity. Our Spiritual Fathers advise us to be very careful in how we choose to demonstrate our gift of free will: not to satisfy ourselves, but for the benefit our brothers and sisters.
When we focus on others, rather than ourselves, we, in one way or another, recognize that the pleasures of this life are only temporary. However, recognizing this reality is perhaps the root of our greatest struggles on earth. Fighting against these passions that would bring us temporary pleasure involves a great deal of struggle and agony—that is, taking up our own Cross, and following Him.
As difficult as this may be, Bishop Theophan the Recluse explains that, “The Golgotha of [our] cross is our heart: it is being lifted or implanted through a zealous determination to live according to the Spirit of God. Just as salvation of the world is by the Cross of God, so our salvation is by our crucifixion on our own cross.” Ultimately, denying ourselves proves that we are friends of our immortal souls, rather than our slaves to our finite bodies.
We are blessed that this Sunday of the Holy Cross gives us the opportunity to take up this struggle during the remainder of the Lenten Fast, reaching beyond negative impulses, and instead toward the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Even by taking small steps to practice self-restraint, we shall have the greater tools to avoid spiritually deadly emotions like indolence, and instead cultivate a spirit full of love and zeal.
+ALEXIOS
Metropolitan of Atlanta
From the Chancellor's Desk
As we proceed through Great and Holy Lent, I invite you to reflect on how to make this period a spiritually fruitful time that will lead you to the ecstasy of a resurrected life. I thank Fr. Chris Foustoukos for sharing this beautiful reflection.
- Surrender your hands to Christ. Make them the hands of His Love. Write a letter this week to a friend long ignored. Tell that person how much you appreciate him/her.
- Surrender your tongue to Christ. Make it the tongue of His love. Telephone two or three people you have intended to phone but have not. Tell them what they mean to you or to say thank you or sorry.
- Surrender your deeds to Christ. Make them the deeds of His love. Take something you have made or bought to someone who means a great deal to you, but for whom you rarely express your love – a fresh loaf of bread – a small remembrance that has your love as a wrapping.
- Surrender your feet to Christ. Make them the feet of His love. Visit someone who is shut-in, lonely, or an absentee church member. Nothing can take the place of a personal visit in the home, nursing home or hospital. Don’t expect to be rewarded. Make it a gift.
- Surrender your heart to Christ. Make it the heart of His love. Make a list of at least 10 people – friends and enemies – for whom you will pray daily. Forgive them if they have wronged you. Ask for forgiveness if you have wronged them.
- Pray daily at home. Use a devotional aid such as Daily Lenten Meditations for Orthodox Christians by Presbytera Emily Harakas.
- Bring the proceeds of your Lenten fast (the money you saved by eating more simply and eating less) to church as your Lenten almsgiving or put it in your Orthodox Christian Mission Center Bank available in the Narthex for our use during Great Lent.
- Practice metanoia, repentance. Just as a clean engine always delivers power, so a life cleansed through repentance and forgiveness allows the power of God to flow through, enabling us to live truly resurrected lives.
- Watch less TV, or not at all, during Lent to devote more time to prayer and spiritual reading.
- Worship every Sunday. Attend special church services offered during weekdays.
- Lead your family in prayer and Scripture reading. Use the Lenten family practices recommended in the book Making God Real in the Orthodox Christian Home, by the Rev. Anthony Coniaris.
- Read through the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Meditate on one verse each day.
It is by practicing the askesis or discipline of the above that you will be able to say with Saint Gregory the Theologian at Pascha: “Yesterday, I was crucified with Him; today, I am glorified with Him. Yesterday, I died with Him; today, I am alive with Him. Yesterday, I was buried with Him; today, I rise with Him.
+Fr. George Tsahakis
Chancellor
Youth, Education & Hellenic Culture
St. Stephen’s Summer Camp 2019 Summer 2019 Dates are:
Week 1: June 23 -June 29
Week 2: June 30 - July 6
Week 3: July 7 - July 13
Week 4: July 14 - July 20
Week 5: July 21 - July 27
For more news, activities, and upcoming events, please click this link!
2019 OCAMPR Conference
"The Orthodox Christian Association of Medicine, Psychology and Religion, an international, pan-Orthodox organization endorsed by the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America, welcomes presentations of Workshops and Papers at its Annual Conference, " Isolation. Violence. Hope and Communion" which will be held November 7 -9 at Saints Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church in Glenview, IL (Chicago area).
The Annual Conference offers a unique opportunity for Orthodox clergy, theologians, and healthcare professionals to come together for fellowship and to engage in interdisciplinary dialogue. OCAMPR requests that proposals for presentations reflect professional, academic discussion on critical issues regarding the helping professions and pastoral care, specifically as it relates to our Orthodox Christian faith."
For more submission infornation please click here.
Family Life Ministry
A growing branch of Family Life Ministry and generously powered by Leadership 100, Engage Orthodoxy is a place for anyone to find Orthodox Christian Content curated by a thoughtful and intentional administrative team.
“Engage Orthodoxy” is not only the name of this new site, but it is also the name of a movement away from division and towards unity. Engage Orthodoxy is a movement towards community, involvement, Orthodox friendships, and relationships. EO seeks to bring the the faithful, the curious, the lost, and the searching TOWARDS their faith and Christ and in turn, towards each other. Engage Orthodoxy is a movement forward into the future of the faith. Join us as we move toward Christ, toward each other, and toward the church.
For more information, or to order “Woven: An Interactive Book for the Modern Teenage Girl on Orthodox Christianity” please visit, woveninhislove.org
We also share with you helpful links from the OCN and the Family Life Ministry of the Metropolis of Atlanta.
Journey of Marriage (Pre-Marital Seminar)
All couples marrying in the Metropolis must attend a Metropolis-sponsored Journey of Marriage seminar prior to their wedding. The couple will present their certificate of completion to their parish priest after the seminar.
- May 4, 2019 - St. Andrew - Kendall, FL
To see the full list of seminars in Florida and in our entire Metropolis please visit: http://www.familylifeministry.atlanta.goarch.org/upcoming-events-2/
Registration is online. Materials costs are included in the registration.
The Strategic Plan
Clergy-Laity Workshops (6/27 & 6/28/19)
Want to learn the latest best practices on how to grow your parish?
How about learning to create a plan for the future of your parish?
How do I fund the essential ministries of my parish and become less dependent on fund raisers?
Have I covered all the significant risks to my parish and what risks go beyond insurance coverage?
Are my religious education programs covering all that they should and are they effective? Is leadership training important to my role in the parish?
If you and your fellow parishioners have ever discussed these topics and you want to learn more, then …
PLAN TO PARTICIPATE AT THIS YEAR'S METROPOLIS CLERGY-LAITY ASSEMBLY, THURSDAY JUNE 27 and FRIDAY JUNE 28.
MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW - Click here for the online portal.
Visit Click here to view a list of the completed goals.
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