My Beloved Ones,
In this week’s Gospel reading, taking from Matthew the Evangelist’s account of our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount, Christ offers us some important words on the need to live a life of moderation & temperance, or ἐγκρατεία.
“No one can serve two masters,” says the Lord, “…You cannot serve God and wealth. Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” (Matthew 6:24-25). Blessed as we are, to live in a country of plenty, where most of our needs are met, we must try to remember the time and place our Lord first spoke these words. His Disciples, the women who followed Him, are these who gathered to hear Him preach near the Sea of Galilee—these were not wealthy or educated people. They were laborers in the fields, streams, and cities, who had children and families to feed. Perhaps some in the crowd did not feel Jesus was taking their needs seriously when He told them, “…do not worry about…what you will eat or what you will drink...” However, I am sure that after hearing the beautiful poetic truths He spoke, they understood.
“Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:26:33).
After such a beautiful passage, it would not seem that there is much to explain: But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” However, for the past several weeks I have thought much on the Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle’s writings on the great virtues. From his Nicomachean Ethics we have 11 virtues, but I wish to discuss the one that applies most to this Sunday’s reading.
You see, in Aristotle’s philosophy, he developed what he called the Golden Mean, which is that perfect kind of moderate behavior. Taking our Lord’s instructions as a starting point, we can find in Aristotle’s view, that the excessive worship of money and earthly matters like food and clothing, leads to self-indulgence. Therefore, the Golden Mean concerning money is temperance: “The temperate man… takes no pleasure at all in the things that the profligate enjoys most… But such pleasures as conduce to health and fitness he will try to obtain in a moderate and right degree; as also other pleasures so far as they are not detrimental to health and fitness, and not ignoble, nor beyond his means. The man who exceeds these limits cares more for such pleasures than they are worth. Not so the temperate man; he only cares for them as right principle enjoins.”
My beloved, in this esteemed philosopher who lived centuries before Christ’s Incarnation, we can see a true understanding of what is meant to strive after the Kingdom: to keep our bodies and souls healthy and well, living according to a proper sense of moderation and balance. Though our Lord’s words were meant to direct and comfort a people who were hungry and poor, they apply just as much to us who live in a land of plenty. We, who can order our clothing, and even our food with simply one click of a button must remember that life “…[is] more than food, and the body more than clothing…” From Aristotle’s list of virtues we can see that courage, generosity, friendliness, truthfulness, and a thirst for justice are but some of the steps to guide us on a path to theosis.
Knowing this, we also should know that what our Lord says concerning our Father is true: if we live by these right principles, He will not fail to provide for faithful servants, both in this life, and in the next.
+ALEXIOS
Metropolitan of Atlanta
Give Today to the Support Surfside Fund
The collapse of the Champlain Tower in Surfside, Florida, is a tragedy that has saddened a nation, and the world, but nowhere more so than the community of Miami, Florida. As of this writing, upwards of 50 individuals lost their lives in the collapse, with well over a hundred men, women, and children still unaccounted for.
In the midst of such a shocking event, the country has also witnessed those brave volunteers who came together to search for survivors. His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta commends our own Fr. Aristidis Arizi, of St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church in Miami. On Thursday June 24th, at 5 AM, Father Aristidis was notified of the collapse, and immediately joined his fellow Miami-Dade Police Department Chaplains in responding to the call of duty. In the following two weeks, Father Aristidis has worked 12-to-15-hour days with the Psychological Service Department, the MDPD Chaplains and Victim’s Advocates, offering grief counseling, prayers, and support to not only the friends and family of those who have been lost, but also the first responders who continue to face this tragedy amidst the recovery process.
One example of Father’s service acts is his ministering to the family of one of these fallen souls, Andres Giannitsopoulos, a 21-year-old Greek American, who was visiting his Godfather (Nouno) at the time of the building collapsed. Father Aristidis was able to help comfort this Greek Orthodox family, and to pull together resources from the South Florida Greek Orthodox Churches to provide some financial assistance.
His Eminence and our entire Metropolis family is grateful to Fr. Aristidis for exhibiting such spiritual strength as he dedicates himself not only to his parish, but also supporting these grieving families and individuals through his work with the MDPD Chaplains; and for this we thank him, as a credit to his parish, our Metropolis, and our Archdiocese.
To show our loving concern for the families of the Champlain Tower collapse, as well as our unwavering support for Father Aristidis, His Eminence uplifts the community of St. Andrew, which has pledged to match all donations up to $2,000 for the Support Surfside Fund, which was created to provide immediate cash support to families and victims to cover their personal expenses and provide monetary relief as they struggle through this difficult time. To donate, please visit: www.standrewfl.com/surfside-donation
In the face of such an unthinkable tragedy, God has given us an opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of those who have been changed forever by this terrible event. Let us not only continue to pray for God’s mercy and comfort but let us demonstrate true Christian love by supporting others in their time of need.
Thank you and may God continue to bless you and your families.
Important Metropolis Events
The Department of Religious Education of the Metropolis of Atlanta is proud to present a 5-week virtual study of the Gospel of John with Fr. Steve Dalber, Pastor Emeritus of St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church, every Thursday, July 1 to July 29, 2021, from 7 to 8 PM. To gain the most from this interactive study, it would be helpful to read the Gospel of John by the first session. Join via Zoom using the Meeting ID: 833 4602 6682 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83346026682
A Concert commemorating the bicentennial anniversary of Cyprus in the Greek War of Independence, performed by New York based artists Demetris Michael (tenor) & Phyto Stratis (Artistic and Musical Director) with special guests. The program includes a premier of a song composed by Stratis to mark the occasion, with text from the prologue of the dramatic poem “July 9th” by celebrated Cypriot poet, Vassilis Michaelides. The program was Saturday, June 26th 2021, at Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church in Marietta, Georgia. You may view the program at: https://youtu.be/WDNkYND47W8
A week of intensive instruction in Iconography under the guidance of Fr. Anthony Salzman, priest and iconographer from Athens, GA. Students spend 5-6 hours in the classroom workshop each day. Daily prayers, meals, and evening activities round out the week. AUGUST 22 - 28, 2021 Diakonia Retreat Center Salem, South Carolina For more details, see our new website at www.theliturgicalarts.org.
Youth, Education and Hellenic Culture
For information on Policies for the Safety of Youth and Children, please click https://atlmetropolis.org/policies-for-the-safety-of-youth-and-children!
Please remember that all parishes must comply and sign their parish contracts to host any youth ministry programs or events on the parish level (Sunday School) or to participate on a District or Metropolis Level Events (Retreats, WYR & HDF).
Ukrainian Autocephaly - A Resource Guide
At the request of Protopresbyter Andreas Vithoulkas, Chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, we are glad to provide an exceptional study and resource regarding the matter of the granting of Autocephaly of the Church of Ukraine by the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the refusal of the Russian Church to recognize the Autocephalous Church of Ukraine, effectively creating an ecclesiastical schism, which undermines the rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
The study produced by the Holy Monastery of Pantokrator, at Mount Athos, has now been translated in English and posted on the Orthodox Observer. To make it easily accessible and useful, the Orthodox Observer team has created two more documents: an overview and a summary of the main points.
I urge you to take the time to read the overview, the main points, and the study as well, and forward to your parishioners via your parish email listerv, Facebook and appropriate distribution methods.
Together we can inform our faithful and clarify this misunderstood issue.
RESOURCES
Main Points of the Report: The Whole Truth About the Ukrainian Church Issue, Mount Athos, 2020
bit.ly/UkraineBulletPoints
Overview of the Report: The Whole Truth About the Ukrainian Church Issue, Mount Athos, 2020
bit.ly/UkraineOverview
Full Report: The Whole Truth About the Ukrainian Church Issue, Mount Athos, 2020
bit.ly/UkraineFullReport
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.
To see the full list of seminars in Florida and in our entire Metropolis for 2021 and beyond, and to register, please visit: https://atlmetropolis.org/pre-marital-seminars-journey-of-marriage
Registration is online. Materials costs are included in the registration. The seminars are currently being conducted by Zoom meeting.
M
Summer Camps throughout the Archdiocese have begun their programs both in person and online. Every Metropolis as well as Ionian Village are gearing up for a summer full of faith, friendships and FUN!
Humans of Ancient Faith is a series of mini-interviews designed to introduce you to the many wonderful human beings who make this ministry possible. We asked the same 5 questions in each interview, and let the interviewee choose a sixth question. Today’s guest is author and podcaster Rev. Dr. Alexander Goussetis.
Grateful to Bishop Dean E. Wolfe Rector of St. Bartholomew ST. BART'S-New York City, for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy in honor of the patronal feast of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. Ecumenical dialogue and collaborations are vital witnesses to Christ's teaching and ministry.
His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America is traveling to Germany to take part in the ordination of Bishop-elect Ambrosios of Argyroupolis on Saturday, July 3, 2021 at the Church of St. Andrew the Apostle in Düsseldorf.
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.
This week we learn about our lifeguards, Saints Cosmas and Damian, the unmercenary physicians! To download the full family activity guide visit: https://www.goarch.org/-/soak-up-the-son-go-forth
On Saturday, June 26, 2021, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America elevated Mr. Georgios Theodoridis, Master Chanter of Saint Sophia Cathedral in Washington, DC, to the rank of Archon Mousikodidaskalos (Music Instructor) of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America in recognition of his efforts and contributions toward the teaching and promotion of Byzantine Music in Washington, DC, over the past decade. Together with this special honor, His Eminence appointed Archon Georgios Theodoridis as the new Director of the Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music, which he previously served in the capacity of music instructor.
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.