October 1, 2009
INVITATION FROM HIS EMINENCE METROPOLITAN ALEXIOS
September 29, 2009

Reverend Clergy and the Faithful of the Holy Metropolis of Atlanta

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

“Let us all renew our commitment to work together
and bring about the changes we pray for…”
His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, with a heart filled with love and joy as I bring you the wonderful news that His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, is once more coming to visit our Holy and God-protected Metropolis of Atlanta. It is both an honor and a privilege to be able to welcome our spiritual father and leader, to receive His blessing, as His All-Holiness participates in an important environmental symposium.

His All Holiness will lead the 8th Environmental Symposium titled “The Great Mississippi River: Restoring Balance.” His All Holiness is the patron of this series of environmental symposia on various water bodies around the world and he is internationally known for his many efforts for environmental awareness and the well-deserved title “Green Patriarch.” The Environmental Symposia are organized by “Religion, Science and the Environment,” a movement originally conceived in 1988 on the Aegean Isle of Patmos, at a meeting of environmental and religious leaders, out of concern for the water environment of the planet.

So it is my honor and privilege to invite you and your parish families to join with us in welcoming His All-Holiness to Atlanta on Thursday, October 29, 2009, at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation, 2500 Clairmont Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30329. We will gather to welcome His All-Holiness at an “Ecumenical Gathering of Peace” from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., with a reception to follow at the Cathedral. All clergy and the Faithful of the Metropolis of Atlanta, as well our brothers and sisters in other Orthodox jurisdictions, are cordially invited to attend. Clergy should wear your rassa and crosses, if appropriate, and make plans to arrive by 5:00 p.m. I would also ask that clergy please contact Mrs. Cindy Stanton, cstanton@atlmetropolis.org, 404-634-9345, ex. 11, if you will be able to join us. She will inform you regarding the special seating for clergy.

With this visit, I pray that we will draw strength and inspiration from His All-Holiness, the living symbol of our historic faith, enabling us to serve the Lord with renewed joy and gladness and to bring the healing message of Christ to our broken world.

In this kind of spirit, we give thanksgiving and glory to Almighty God, beseeching Him for His All-Holiness’ health and well-being for many years, that He may bless our Patriarch with His wisdom and strength to inspire us and guide us in the True Faith. I remain,

Paternally yours with love in Christ,

ALEXIOS
Metropolitan of Atlanta