Metropolitan Alexios' Message
My Beloved Ones,
This past Thursday, we were blessed to experience our Lord’s glorious Ascension into Heaven, with His beautiful promise that, “…I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). While this appears to be the conclusion of a story which began with our Lord’s Nativity & Ministry, and continued with His Passion & Resurrection, the Ascension is not and ending, but a new beginning: The Apostolic Age.
However, before we can celebrate the coming of Holy Spirit at Pentecost, this Sunday, the Church has seen fit to honor the Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council of 325. These holy and great men were so determined to defend the Union of the Son of God with the Father, that they created a statement of belief which is common to all Christians who believe in the Holy Trinity: the Nicene Creed.
Arius was an Egyptian Bishop, and the heresy he preached—that Christ was not the preexisting Son and Logos, but an ordinary human being “adopted” by God—created great conflict in the Church. Therefore, St. Constantine called the first Ecumenical Council, in the city of Nicaea. The clergy who gathered denounced Arius, by declaring their belief:
“…in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, begotten of the Father
Light of Light, true God of true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father
By whom all things were made…”
This Creed is familiar to all of us, but did you know that the Creed of 325 ended with this statement? “But those who say: 'There was a time when he was not;' and 'He was not before he was made;' and 'He was made out of nothing,' or 'He is of another substance' or 'essence,' or 'The Son of God is created,' or 'changeable,' or 'alterable' — they are condemned by the holy catholic and apostolic Church.”
My beloved ones, this Sunday, may we offer our heartfelt prayers to these Holy Fathers who were not swayed and stood firm in the understanding of what they had been taught from the Apostles. Our Church remains grateful that these wise teachers remained focused on the Truth, and so should we thank them, for teaching us by their examples.
+ALEXIOS
Metropolitan of Atlanta
Youth, Education and Hellenic Culture
St. Stephen's Summer Camp has a rich tradition, dating back to the 1980's, and is grounded on the principals of living a true Orthodox lifestyle. There are liturgical services twice a day, opportunities for reflection, team building activities, community living and meals, athletics, arts & crafts, and nightly social activities.
Summer 2022
Week 1: June 26 - July 2
Week 2: July 3 - July 9
Week 3: July 10 - July 16
Week 4: July 17 - July 23
Week 5: July 24 - July 30
Camper Registration will open Tuesday, April 12 at 12:00 p.m. ET
Camper Registration Cost is $450.00 per camper.
$200.00 deposit upon registration and the remainder will be due by June 15, 2022.
Amazon Wishlist
We have put together an Amazon Wish List of items to assist in making St. Stephen's Summer Camp the best week of the year. Please take a moment and see if you can help in any way. All items will be shipped directly to the Metropolis in Atlanta.
If you do give us a gift, please let us know who you are so we can Thank You! Click Here!
On Youth Safety Protocols
From Father George Tsahakis, Chancellor: On behalf of His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios and Monica Gjerde, our Metropolis Youth Coordinator, I commend you for working to achieve the ongoing safety and protection of our youth. Please review the following:
Login in to Armatus Administration to see your Parish Summary Now!*
https://armatus2.praesidiuminc.com/armatusUser/login
In closing, we understand this effort requires 100 percent compliance. The parish I serve, St. Christopher Church is 100 percent compliant with the above protocol. If your parish is at 100 percent, email me so I can add you to the listing for His Eminence's review. He is both supportive and has completed his background check, the 2-part Youth Safety and 1-part youth worker regulations online training. This is an ongoing responsibility for all our clergy and their youth workers... we support your efforts to guide your parish to 100 percent compliance. Thank you.
*If you misplaced your password, contact your Parish Youth Safety Admin to get it.
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).
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 2022 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.