January 1, 2008
Encyclical of Archbishop Demetrios of America for the Feast of Saint Basil and the New Year
Protocol 01/08

January 1, 2008
Feast of Saint Basil and the New Year

To the Most Reverend Hierarchs, the Reverend Priests and Deacons, the Monks and Nuns, the Presidents and Members of the Parish Councils of the Greek Orthodox Communities, the Distinguished Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Day, Afternoon, and Church Schools, the Philoptochos Sisterhoods, the Youth, the Hellenic Organizations, and the entire Greek Orthodox Family in America

My Beloved Christians,

On the first day of the New Year we commemorate the life and legacy of Saint Basil the Great, the ecumenical Hierarch and Teacher of our Church who is renowned for a brilliant intellectual and spiritual legacy that continues to shine universally. Saint Basil was not only a figure of towering intellectual prowess; he was equally renowned for his vigorous pursuits and tangible successes in establishing charitable institutions, orphanages, and hospitals outside the ancient city of Caesarea in Cappadocia, where he served as bishop. Appropriately, the complex of these institutions bore his name, "the Basileias." Today, the "Basileias" remains a considerable achievement in the field of philanthropy that attracts the attention and study not only of Church historians, but also more generally of sociologists and other professionals in related fields such as public health. This reality serves to remind us that many people today are looking to history and specifically to our Orthodox Christian legacy for blueprints upon which they can build comprehensive institutions of care for contemporary times and needs.

This legacy of Saint Basil provides us with wonderful challenges and examples of service to incorporate in our lives as Greek Orthodox Christians, and it is fitting that we begin the New Year by considering ways and means by which we can respond within our communities to the rich legacy bequeathed to us by Saint Basil the Great. One example of this rich legacy finds concrete expression in the work of our own Saint Basil Academy in Garrison, New York, appropriately named for Saint Basil the Great. For over fifty years, Saint Basil Academy has provided a home to children and young people from across our country, many of whom come from troubled family situations and are in need of healing and attention. The Academy provides them with a comprehensive environment of care, including educational, recreational, and health-related support. Moreover, it is a place where they can experience the peace and the love of Jesus Christ.

As is appropriate at the beginning of the New Year, we are led by our National Ladies Philoptochos Society and the many local Philoptochos chapters in parishes throughout our nation in collecting funds for this important ministry. This effort continues to be a vital source of support for the Academy, which relies upon the donations of the faithful to continue its important work of care unto others. Thus, as we begin the New Year, and as we distribute pieces of the traditional "Vasilopeta" named in honor of Saint Basil to our loved ones, I ask that you consider making a special contribution to Saint Basil Academy. Through your prayers and your contributions, you will be supporting the aims of this important ministry, benefiting the children and young people who call the Academy their home and the diligent staff who oversee the daily operations of this sacred institution of our Holy Archdiocese.

Through the intercessions of Saint Basil the Great, may we continue to be inspired to do works of charity and philanthropy throughout this New Year 2008. I pray that the love and peace of Jesus Christ may be with you, your families, all those who live at Saint Basil Academy, and the officers and board members who serve the Academy. May the light and joy of Christ permeate your hearts, and may you be marked by prosperity, abundance, health, and joy every day of this New Year.

With paternal love in Christ,

+ DEMETRIOS
Archbishop of America

January 20, 2008
Encyclical of SCOBA for Share the Light Sunday
Share the Light Sunday

20 January 2008

To the Most Reverend Clergy, Venerable Monastics and
The Devout Faithful of the Holy Orthodox Churches in the Americas

Dearly Beloved in the Lord,

We, the Hierarchs of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas, greet you in this new calendar year with the love and hope that is in our Lord Jesus Christ. As Orthodox Christians, we have been richly blessed with the sacred repository of the fullness of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. With such a blessing, there come both the responsibility to offer our Orthodox Faith to the world around us and the challenge to find means that are consistent with the our Divine Message of love and forgiveness and suited for contemporary society.

Therefore, on this "Share the Light" Sunday, we ask that you take time to learn about and support the Orthodox Christian Network (OCN), a ministry of SCOBA. OCN was formed to assist our parishes to meet the challenges and responsibilities of sharing the Everlasting Gospel of our Lord. OCN offers to our parishes both means and ways to enhance the outreach of the local Church. The great benefit of such outreach is that as we shine the light of Christ brighter and brighter for our non-Orthodox and un-churched neighbors, we also find that we are bringing the light of Christ to many of our own baptized Faithful who, for many reasons, have wandered away from the Church into spiritual obscurity and even darkness. But we know that "the Light shines on in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it" (St. John 1:5). The Lord Jesus Christ is the Light, "the true Light Who enlightens every person who comes into the world" (St. John 1:9).

We can use the OCN to keep that light shining throughout the year. We commend to you the Orthodox Christian Network and its programs that are available on the radio and on its Web site, myocn.net. May we all be blessed to share the light of Christ in a world which is in desperate need of His illumination.

With paternal blessings and love in Christ,


+Archbishop DEMETRIOS, Chairman
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

+Metropolitan PHILIP, Vice Chairman
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America

+Metropolitan CHRISTOPHER, Secretary
Serbian Orthodox Church in the USA and Canada

+Metropolitan NICHOLAS of Amissos, Treasurer
American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese in the USA

+Metropolitan HERMAN
Orthodox Church in America

+Archbishop NICOLAE
Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America and Canada

+Metropolitan JOSEPH
Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church

+Metropolitan CONSTANTINE
Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA

+Bishop ILIA of Philomelion
Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America