September 14, 2007
Encyclical of Archbishop Demetrios for the Universal Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross
Protocol 117/07

The Universal Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross

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

Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

On this glorious feast of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross we are guided through the worship of our Holy Orthodox Church to contemplate the great victory accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ, "the pioneer and perfecter of our Faith", as He is described in the twelfth chapter of the Epistle to Hebrews. The opening verses of this chapter present to us, in very applicable ways for our modern life, a set of distinct visual images that describe the endurance and victory of Christ and its meaning for our salvation.

As we face the challenges of life, for example, we are exhorted "to run with perseverance the race that is set before us" (12:1). We are encouraged to "lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us…"(12:1). We are called to consider the One who experienced tremendous hostility through His suffering and through the Cross, so that we do not "become weary and discouraged in our souls" (12:3). Through the endurance of Christ on the Cross we can find strength for living and hope for salvation.

The endurance of our faith in God and our commitment to His will are essential in a world that is filled with obstacles, hindrances, and threats to life and truth. Many people today are weighted down with the cares and burdens of this life, with spiritual, physical and emotional challenges that may seem insurmountable. Many face temptations and are ensnared by sin and unhealthy addictions that keep them from knowing a deeper experience and understanding of God’s blessings and presence. In the face of this we can look to the endurance of Jesus Christ and be reminded of His triumph when we gaze upon the Precious and Life-Giving Cross. By the power of His Cross, we can be assured of the protection, peace, and victory that will come to us through our faith in Him.

When we speak of this feast of our Church and of endurance, we particularly remember those who have answered the call to priestly service in the kingdom of God. It is our tradition on this day to offer our prayers and support for our seminarians at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts, in recognition of the commitment they have made to the path of ministry. This is the path of the Cross, a path that requires great endurance through the challenges that come with the care of souls and pastoral leadership of communities of faith in our contemporary age. Let us offer on this day our prayers and our contributions of support to our seminary, that those who have answered the sacred calling of the Lord to follow Him will have continued strength and endurance to keep their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus during their time of preparation. As they look to Him and carry the Cross of service, may they be assured that victory will come through the transformation of lives and the salvation of souls.

My beloved, as we gather in commemoration of the Cross and in worship of our victorious Lord and Savior who offered Himself for us, may we find strength in one another and hope from those who have finished the race and gone before us. Their examples of faith and endurance affirm the power of the Cross to lead us to victory and to an eternity of life and peace with God.

With paternal love in Christ,


+DEMETRIOS
Archbishop of America

September 10, 2007
Archpastoral Reflections of Archbishop Demetrios for September 2007
Archpastoral Reflections
September 2007

Over the past few months we have given attention to the topic of “security” as it is understood within our Orthodox faith. From our rich spiritual heritage and the beautiful liturgical life of the Church, we have affirmed the role of the Theotokos, the Saints, and the Angels as agents of divine aid and protection. In doing so we acknowledge that the ultimate source of providence and enduring security is God. It is the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Who is our refuge and our help in time of need.

In the book of Psalms we find numerous hymns that express the deepest levels of human anxiety and fear, juxtaposed with the eternal truth of God’s presence and protection. One of these hymns is Psalm 22, the first verse of which was quoted by Jesus Himself on the Cross:

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (1) …All those who see me ridicule me (7)…My heart is like wax; it has melted within me…(14) … The congregation of the wicked has enclosed me." (16)
These are cries of great struggle, suffering, and pain that could come from any number of afflictions or tragedies that are a part of our life in this world. They reflect the loneliness, alienation, and lack of security that one can feel when the circumstances around us become so challenging and oppressive.

In considering these cries, serious questions arise within our hearts and minds: Who can help me? Where can I find peace and healing? Where can I find strength to endure? In answer to these questions the Psalmist once again turns to God. The opening verses of Psalm 18 are illustrative:
"I will love You O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies." (1-3)
This presents an affirmation of the constant and loving presence of God in our lives. It offers also a clear indication that our souls and our lives are forever secure with Him, and at the same time a recognition of our need to cry out to Him in love and in faith. The Lord God is the one who can help, who will come to our aid, who will deliver us from destruction and death. Through His presence, our trust in His divine help, and our praise of Him, we are led away from despair into the confidence and joy of salvation and victory. Once again, consider the manner by which this was plainly evident for the Psalmist as expressed in the verses of Psalm 34:

"I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth…(1) I sought the Lord and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears…(4) This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles…"(6)

God’s presence and the security that we find in Him lead us to praise Him and to offer a witness of His salvation. This is a witness both to other believers who are united with us in the Church and to all of humankind, a testimony of faith in God, of what is true, of what will stand forever. It is a proclamation of confidence and trust in God that rests upon promises of life more powerful than anything in the universe. Experiencing this security in God changes our lives, and gives hope to others in our world who are longing for the sense of security that the Psalmist so eloquently articulated in his 23rd Psalm, likening the Lord’s pastoral care and guidance to that of a good shepherd:

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." (4-6)

What has God done? What will He uphold until we are secured eternally in heaven? He has delivered us. He has placed us upon the rock of faith. He has given us a refuge of peace. He has built around us an impenetrable wall of holiness that repels evil and even death itself. He leads us to still waters. He has sacrificed himself so that we might be free to enter into the marvelous life and light of his glory. He offers us constant peace and assurance in the midst of a very complex and challenging world.

May the words of the Psalmist become your words. When you find yourself in despair, turn in faith to the One who loves you and who will save you. God loves you, and His Kingdom is at hand. He will deliver you and come to your aid. In Him you will find peace, security, and the assurance that comes from knowing that He is offering you life, forever.

+ DEMETRIOS
Archbishop of America

September 5, 2007
Encyclical of SCOBA for College Student Sunday
"Educate your children in the way in which they
should go, and when they are grown, they will
not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)

College Student Sunday
September 16, 2007

The Hierarchs of the Standing Conference
of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas

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

Dearly Beloved in Christ Jesus:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

We, the Hierarchs of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas, greet you in this new ecclesiastical year with the love and faith of Jesus Christ. Fully understanding our great responsibility to care for and sustain our young college students, we have designated the first Sunday after the Feast of the Exaltation of the Most Precious Cross as College Student Sunday. On this day we ask all of you to join with us in prayer for these important members of our Church family as they progress in their Christian formation.

Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF), a ministry and official Agency of SCOBA is making a united and concerted effort to serve our Orthodox College Community. With chapters on 240 campuses across the United States and Canada, OCF serves as a spiritual lifeline for students. Through its national and local programs, OCF assists in personal formation and provides spiritual sustenance to young Christians on campus.

In addition to class work, our Orthodox College Students are in a constant state of developing their professional and personal identities. Career paths become clearer, and interpersonal relationships grow in dramatic ways. Sometimes, the attention spent on these aspects of life pushes spiritual growth and development to the side, even to the point of disconnecting from the life of the Church. Many of us hold to the false notion that our College Students will reconnect to the Church after graduation. However, studies show that six out of ten young people who were active in their church communities in their teens do not return to their church in their twenties. Of equal concern is the condition of those who do return. College years present great challenges to belief that require a more intense effort to keep nourished in the pastures and watered by the well-springs of the Faith.

The clergy and lay campus coordinators of OCF are blessed with the spiritual gifts and the ability to share such gifts with college students. However, each of us, the faithful members of the Body of Christ, share a responsibility to care for our young people. Through generosity of heart we can come together to provide adequate financial resources that can significantly benefit the young people of our Orthodox Church.

Consequently, with this letter we are asking our clergy to take up a collection from every parish to support this vital ministry. Additionally, we ask our clergy to provide OCF members in their parishes the opportunity to speak about their experiences with the Orthodox Christian Fellowship. In this way all Orthodox Christian parishioners will better understand the work of the OCF and participate actively in its ministry.

With thanksgiving to God and to those who support the important OCF ministry, it is our prayer that our young college students may progress on the path that leads them to Christ-like lives, and ultimately to the Kingdom of God.

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