June 18, 2009
HIS EMINENCE METROPOLITAN ALEXIOS` MESSAGE FOR FATHER`S DAY
My beloved ones,

This Sunday we have the opportunity to celebrate Father’s Day, to recognize and honor the fathers in our lives. Based on our faith and our family experiences, we don’t need studies to tell us that a father`s involvement with his child`s upbringing can have a significant impact on his or her academic achievements and behavior. However we know and there is statistical proof that the closer the father-child relationship, the better the child does in life. Studies show that a father`s example is the most powerful influence to help children learn about work, cooperation and responsibility. There is more to being a parent than simply providing food, shelter, and clothing for your children.

Christ challenges us to love one another, and that challenge becomes even more difficult but also more important and compelling within our own families. Even in the best of families, there are hard times, problems and difficulties. That is why fathers are so important.

When a father takes responsibility for his own life and spirituality by being active and involved in the ecclesiastical and liturgical life of our Church, using the tools of prayer, worship, fasting and the study of Holy Scripture, he receives the respect of his family. As he grows in his own spiritual life, he is able to be an example of Christian leadership, compassion and love as a father. Although this may seem impossible for anyone accomplish by themselves, we know that with God’s help, we can do all things.

The most important gift that a father can give his children is a loving spiritual and moral foundation. If he fails to pass on this precious gift to his children, they will almost certainly suffer and lose their way in our challenging and difficult world. This is why it is so important to make every effort to lay a spiritual foundation for our children. The spiritual practices of fasting, prayer, Lenten disciplines, Confession and attending services should not only be discussed, but should be practiced as a family. If we are not sharing the love of God with our children, if we are not growing in our own spiritual lives, if we are not bringing them to the Divine Liturgy, then we are failing as fathers and also as disciples of Christ, because encouraging our children to have contact with God’s spiritual grace in prayer and worship, in the Divine Liturgy, is the greatest blessing that they can receive.


June 18, 2009
HIS EMINENCE METROPOLITAN ALEXIOS` REFLECTIONS ON THE 2009 CLERGY-LAITY ASSEMBLY
Reverend Clergy, Presidents & Parish Council members and the Faithful of the Holy and God-protected Metropolis of Atlanta

My beloved in the Lord,

Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As I returned to my office, I remembered with joy and thanksgiving the many blessings we all received at our biennial Clergy-Laity Assembly & Philoptochos Conference. I was delighted to see all of you again and to have the opportunity of joining you as we shared our ideas, hopes and dreams for the future and gathered as one family of faith in prayer, worship and fellowship. It is always my fervent prayer and my sincere hope that every Parish community will make it a priority to attend this important meeting, surrounded by faithful servants of our Lord and His Holy Church, both clergy and lay, who believe in our common mission and are willing to devote their time, talent, knowledge, energy and resources in order to support it. Indeed this kind of gathering is a blessing from God, as we strive to let His will prevail in everything we see, hear and do.

At our meetings, we gathered to open a dialogue about what we can do to strengthen and support those institutions of marriage and the family, so critical to our society. Specifically how can we minister to our children and young people and help them to understand that this is their Church and their home, and that they belong to it, just as we do? How can we educate our children and teach them about their family inheritance, that they are the heirs of this wonderful Faith? How can we teach the youth that this is their family of faith, and this is where they belong? These are momentous and important issues and we should all be involved in the discussions and decisions. That is why I was so pleased to see so many of our clergy and lay representatives from our parish communities, and that is why I am discouraged when other parish communities do not make participation in our Clergy-Laity Assembly a priority. If we don’t make it a priority for our clergy and laity to participate in these educational and spiritual gatherings, 1) we will not know what is going on in our Metropolis, 2) we will not be able to update our knowledge and the result will be that we disassociate ourselves from the life of our Metropolis. That is why I urge all of you to begin now planning to attend our next Clergy-Laity Assembly.

Attached you will find a copy of my keynote address and the Executive Summary. Please take the time to study the summary and present it for discussion in your Parish Council meetings. If you have any ideas, questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to send them to Mrs. Karen Powers, email:kpowers@atlmetropolis.org.

In closing, I give thanks and praise to our Almighty God, with the Chancellor, V. Rev. Fr. George Tsahakis and our Metropolis staff, and extend my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to Father James Rousakis, Father Petros Andronache, the Parish Council president and Parish Council members, the Philoptochos President and the Philoptochos sisters, and all the Holy Trinity family for their warm welcome and delightful hospitality. I also congratulate Dr. Theodore Vlahos, the chairman and his team, Mrs. Jeannie Demas and the Ladies of Philoptochos and all the organizers of this blessed event for the generous and unselfish offering of their time, energy and resources in the service of our Lord and His Holy Church. I know how much hard work and commitment are required to organize an event like this, and I commend you for your tireless efforts and dedication. With prayers and good wishes for a happy and blessed summer, I remain

Paternally yours,

ALEXIOS
Metropolitan of Atlanta