Message from Metropolitan Alexios
My Beloved Ones,
Χριστὸς ἀνέστη!
Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!
I give thanks to our Lord, for having allowed us to celebrate Mid-Pentecost this past Wednesday, as we continue to observe our Lord’s Resurrection, while looking ahead to our Lord’s Ascension, and the coming of the Holy Spirit. This week’s Gospel tells of a unique event in the life of our Lord, which is His meeting with the Samaritan Woman.
For us to understand the importance of this event, we must first know the difference between Jews and Samaritans during Christ’s ministry. Each group thought about and worshipped God in different ways. Jews, of course, did so in the Temple, but the Samaritans worshipped Him on Mount Gerizrim. It is for this reason, and many others, that the Jews and Samaritans considered each an anathema. This is why the Parable of the Good Samaritan makes such a strong point; Jesus uses the Levite, the Priest, as examples of Jewish people who fail to demonstrate God’s mercy. Instead, it is a stranger—and not only a stranger, but an enemy—who shows us how to act towards our brothers and sisters in need.
Jesus demonstrates this openness again when, sitting alone at midday near a Samaritan well, he greets a passing woman, by asking her for a drink. Knowing only that He is a Jewish stranger, she answers, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” (John 4:9) Jesus responds with a beautiful figure of speech, that He is the living water, and “…whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:13-14)
Now, thinking as a tired person, she asks, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.” (John 4:15) He reveals His knowledge of her life as a sinner, but speaks His Word to her compassionately, “The hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such the Father seeks to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:21; 23-24).
Here we have a woman, who, like the Myrrh Bearers and so many saints throughout the ages, believes in our Lord, and testifies to the Truth of the Divine Law, rather than the earthly Law. She returns to her home, and to her village, enthusiastically preaching His Gospel. The people were so moved and amazed, that they forget about her sinful life, and instead came to Him. Here we are shown yet another group of people, strangers and outcasts, who are brought together as one by the Word of God.
I hope and pray that this message serves as an example that we as believers, also have an obligation to share the Good News with others; and not only our non-Orthodox brothers and sisters, but even our Orthodox friends who need understanding and support as well. I greet you once again with Χριστὸς ἀνέστη! wishing you the best during this, the happiest time of our Ecclesiastical year! Χριστὸς ἀνέστη! Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!
+ALEXIOS
Metropolitan of Atlanta
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.
- Sep 07, 2019 - St. George, Hollywood, 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.
Shop with Amazon, donate to the DRC
Amazon Smile is a program that allows for 0.5% of your eligible Amazon purchase to be donated to the Diakonia Retreat Center (No Added Cost To You). To find our Amazon Smile page, visit https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-2187047.