April 05
Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt
The memory of this Saint is celebrated on April 1, where her life is recorded. Since the end of the holy Forty Days is drawing nigh, it has been appointed for this day also, so that if we think it hard to practice a little abstinence forty days, we might be roused by the heroism of her who fasted in the wilderness forty-seven years; and also that the great loving-kindness of God, and His readiness to receive the repentant, might be demonstrated in very deed.
We are still in a period of tremendous restriction, all for the sake of the health of our fellow citizens and our own health as well. My hope is that we will seize the opportunity that is literally being forced upon us, to become more altruistic, more compassionate toward others, more patient, and indeed more faithful.
Members of the Executive Committee of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America have reached a consensus concerning Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Pascha (Easter).
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and the Office of Ionian Village regretfully announce today the cancellation of all Ionian Village Summer 2020 programming due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic across the globe. This includes IV Next as well as both sessions of the Archdiocese’s annual summer camp in Greece.
On Tuesday, March 31, 2020, the Holy Eparchial Synod convened via teleconference, in order to be informed and to discuss significant matters that affect the Archdiocese of America, and unanimously decided the following.
His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America announced today the postponement of the Apostolic Visit of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to the United States due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.
The Orthodox Church understands the human person as having been created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26). To be made in God’s image is to be made for free and conscious communion and union with God in Jesus Christ, inasmuch as we are formed in, through, and for him (Colossians 1:16).
We offer hymns of thanks to the God of love as once again we enter Holy and Great Lent, the arena of ascetic struggle, fasting and abstinence, of vigilance and spiritual awareness, of guarding our senses and prayer, of humility and self-knowledge. We are commencing a new and blessed pilgrimage toward Holy Pascha, which has “opened for us the gates of paradise.” In Church and as Church, as we behold the Risen Lord of glory, we all journey together along the way of deification by grace that leads to the heavenly goods “prepared by God for those who love Him” (1 Cor. 2:9).
Faith can achieve its mission and fulfill its role of cohesion and sustainability through dialogue and witness to the world. Throughout our almost three decades of Patriarchal ministry, we have striven for the promotion of dialogue, which we consider to be the most effective means for addressing problems. Dialogue is a gesture and source of solidarity; it leads to the overcoming of prejudices and mistrust; it promotes mutual familiarization and appreciation; and it builds respect for otherness.