Protocol Number 125/99
October 30, 1999
To the Most Reverend Hierarchs, the Reverend Priests and Deacons,
the Monks and Nuns, the Presidents and Members of the Parish Councils,
the Philoptochos Sisterhoods, the Day and Afternoon Schools, the Youth,
the Hellenic Organizations, and all devout Christians of the Holy
Archdiocese of America
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice."
(Philippians 4:4)
I greet you with paternal love and with fervent prayer for your peace,
welfare, and unity on the occasion of the completion of my first month
as your Archbishop. As I begin, by the grace and the will of God,
my sacred ministry among you, entrusted to me by our Ecumenical Patriarchate,
I call to mind the words of the Apostle Paul, who commends us at all
times to the evangelical calling to rejoice. His two-fold injunction—"Rejoice
in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice"—defines the
life of faith that we now live by the grace of the Son of God, a life
of blessings multiplied through the fellowship with God and our fellow
man that we experience in Christ.
These apostolic words, "Rejoice in the Lord," are an immediate
reality for me, moreover, because of the overwhelming reception that
you gave me upon my arrival as your new Archbishop. In truth, I was
deeply impressed by the kindness that you demonstrated. Your cards
and letters and embraces, your loving words and deeds have moved me
deeply, so that I cannot find words to express my gratitude. Glory
be to God for the joy and grace He constantly bestows on us! As I
assume the weighty responsibility of this diakonia in your midst,
I am constantly encouraged by your positive disposition, your willingness
to be of assistance, and your spirit of Christian charity and reconciliation.
May the Lord our God richly reward you for your kindness towards me
and towards one another.
This inaugural month of my pastoral ministry has been occupied with
many important matters of administration. At all times, though, it
is necessary to carry out the work of the Church with a view to the
future—not just to the coming month or year, but to the new millenium
that lies ahead. For it is not enough to think about our plans and
aspirations only in terms of the immediate future, because everything
we do has consequences that extend unto time unknown. We must be mindful
of the great potential that we have—with every deed and word—to
affect the lives of those who come after us.
Our capacity to influence the future is neither limited nor predetermined.
At this critical juncture in human history, we daily hear various
kinds of forecasts about the future. Some predict doom, while others
project a bright future full of promise. The fact of the matter, however,
is that our destiny is a book waiting to be written. Each day that
lies ahead is like a blank sheet, one whose contents depend on the
quality of our works, our prayer, and our willingness to receive the
grace of Almighty God. Let us then put aside all unprofitable prognostication
about the future and commit ourselves to the labor of the Gospel.
Let me repeat my plea to all of you to strive for the further cultivation
and growth of our Orthodox faith and for the preservation of our precious
cultural heritage, to extend the range of our love for our fellow
human beings, and earnestly to maintain our God-given unity in the
body of Christ, which is the Church. Joined together by the threefold
cord of faith, philanthropy, and fidelity to the One Holy Church,
we shall never be separated from the God Who has called us to bear
the sacred name of "Orthodox Christians."
Marching forward together in this dynamic faith, unlimited love, and
unbreakable unity, we cannot help but chant hymns of praise and adoration
to the Triune God, Whose grace has saved us and blessed us so richly.
Thus shall we fulfill the Apostle's saying, rejoicing in the Lord
and again rejoicing evermore, until the day that we join the song
of the angelic throngs (Rev. 7:12), saying: Blessing and glory and
wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God
for ever and ever. Amen.
With paternal love in Christ,
DEMETRIOS
Archbishop of America
