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Protocol Number 118/99
August 20, 1999
To the Reverend Clergy
The Esteemed Councils of our Communities
The Philoptochos Sisterhoods
The Youth Organizations
And the Christ-loved Faithful of the
Holy Archdiocese of America
Beloved Greek Orthodox Christian Sisters and Brothers,
Yesterday, Thursday, August 19, the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
met under the presidency of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
and elected Metropolitan Demetrios of Vresthena as the new Archbishop
of America. Today, Friday, August 20, the liturgical service of the Mega
Minima (Acceptance) and expressions of thanksgiving by the new Archbishop
took place.
The new Archbishop has assigned my humble person the duties of the Archiepiscopal
Vicar. Faithful to the directive of the Ecumenical Patriarchate I am forwarding
the Patriarchal Encyclical which proclaims the joyous news of the election
of Archbishop Demetrios, and I earnestly request that it be read from
the pulpit at the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, August 22, 1999.
Also, effective today the clergy of the Archdiocesan District of New York
will commemorate Archbishop Demetrios by name, whereas the clergy of the
three Dioceses, namely of New Jersey, Atlanta, and Detroit will commemorate
Archbishop Demetrios by name as well as the name of their respective diocesan
Bishop.
Conveying the good wishes and blessings of Archbishop Demetrios, I remain,
With paternal blessings,
<signed>
+ Bishop George of New Jersey
Archiepiscopal Vicar
Enc.
PATRIARCHAL ENCYCLICAL TO BE READ FROM THE PULPIT FOLLOWS:
TRANSLATION FROM THE ORIGINAL GREEK TEXT
To the Most Reverend and beloved of God Hierarchs of the Most Sacred Dioceses
of the Holy Archdiocese of America, dearest Brothers in Christ and co-celebrants,
the honorable Presbyters, and all the faithful who are beloved of Christ
of the Holy Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, most beloved in the
Lord children of our Modesty: Grace and peace from God.
With much love, prayer, and concern we have followed the affairs of the
Holy Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and with a view to its benefit,
peace, good order and spiritual progress, we have been led together with
our Holy and Sacred Synod to the decision to transfer the present Archbishop
of America Spyridon to the Holy Metropolis of Chaldia, with the view of
assigning him to other duties in the future.
In the newly vacated position of the Archbishop of America, we have elected
His Excellency Metropolitan Demetrios of Vresthena, who has received widespread
acceptance and acclaim.
The warmest blessings and prayers of the Mother Church accompany him,
so that with care and wisdom and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit he
may steer the vessel of the Holy Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
to a peaceful harbor in a safe and godly manner.
We paternally exhort you from the depths of our heart, our most beloved
and Christ-loved Omogeneia, to be united around him as with one soul and
one heart, to accompany him in his difficult task, forgiving and committing
to oblivion anything in the past which may have upset or dismayed or separated
any members of the Archdiocese from one another, and extending the right
hand of cooperation for the common good of all the sisters and brothers
of the Omogeneia, irrespective of their past differences and preferences.
Accordingly may God be your help, and may His Divine Grace and great mercy
be your protector and saviour. Amen.
August 22, 1999
Your beloved brother in Christ,
<signed>
BARTHOLOMEW
Archbishop of Constantinople and
Ecumenical Patriarch
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