On Tuesday March 25, 2008 several news organizations reported a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in New York by the "Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Foundation" against Bear Stearns. Some headlines also misrepresented the lawsuit with the title "Greek Orthodox Archdiocese sues Bear Stearns".

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America would like to clarify that the "Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Foundation" of Vaduz, Liechtenstein is not associated with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America or any of its Parishes and affiliated Endowments or Institutions. At present the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has no information on who or what this Foundation represents.

We regret any confusion this may have caused to individuals or organizations associated with our Archdiocese and have asked for a retraction from certain news organizations regarding their reporting of the case.

Contact: Nikki Stephanopoulos
Tel.: 212-774-0244
Email: communications@goarch.org

Protocol 31/08

March 27, 2008

Three-Year Memorial Encyclical
Upon the Falling Asleep in the Lord of Archbishop Iakovos
Former Archbishop of North and South America
 
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 behalf of our Holy Eparchial Synod, I write to you on the third year anniversary of the passing away of our deeply beloved and respected Archbishop Iakovos of North and South America. Our memory of Archbishop Iakovos remains alive after three years since his falling asleep in the Lord. We remember him for his tireless efforts and intense passion for promoting the truth of the Gospel. He had been a visionary who championed civil liberties and the growth of Christian unity, and a great ecclesiastical leader of our Church and Omogenia for decades.
 
In honor of his life and in honor of his leadership to our Church and our Nation, all parishes of our Holy Archdiocese are hereby directed to conduct a memorial service at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, April 6, 2008.  As we pray for the repose of the soul of our deeply beloved and respected Archbishop Iakovos of blessed memory, let us keep him in our minds and hearts as a source of strength, particularly during this season of Holy Lent, and let us strive toward that standard of virtue that he set as a stalwart servant of Christ and His Holy Church.
 
May his memory be eternal.
 
With paternal love in Christ,
 
+DEMETRIOS
Archbishop of America