Herman

Published by the Orthodox Church in America, January 2005

Metropolitan Herman Leads Hundreds of Orthodox Christians in Annual March for Life

His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman, His Eminence, Archbishop Job of Chicago and the Midwest and nearly 500 Orthodox Christians participate in the 32nd annual March for Life, Washington, DC.

WASHINGTON, DC [Fr. John Kowalczyk] – On Monday, January 24, 2005, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman, Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, once again led Orthodox Christians in the annual March for Life in Washington, DC.

Despite the crippling snowstorm that covered the east coast on the eve of the March, Metropolitan Herman, His Eminence, Archbishop Job of Chicago and the Midwest, and nearly 500 Orthodox Christians braved the elements to join in the annual public demonstration in support of the sanctity of life.

At the pre-March rally, the Metropolitan Herman addressed an estimated 100,000 pro-lifers who filled the Ellipse. He offered words of encouragement and spoke of the sanctity of human life and the need to protect the rights of unborn, created in the image and likeness of God. He also called for a victory march in the years ahead, predicting the day when the infamous 1973 Supreme Court Roe v. Wade decision will be overturned. In his closing comments, he publicly thanked US President George W. Bush for his leadership and pro-life position.

The Orthodox marchers, who came from as far away as Chicago, proudly displayed a new banner bearing an icon of Christ blessings the children. Designed by Archdeacon Alexei Klimitchev and constructed by Mr. Martin Paluch, the banner was a gift from Metropolitan Herman.

After the rally, Metropolitan Herman, Archbishop Job, and the Orthodox marchers joined the procession which made its way along Constitution Avenue to the US Supreme Court. On the steps of the court, a Service of Intercession and a Memorial were celebrated by Metropolitan Herman and the Orthodox marchers.

“As Metropolitan Herman intoned ‘Memory Eternal’, it began to snow again,” said the Very Rev. John Kowalczyk, who has accompanied Metropolitan Herman to the March for some two decades. “Each snow flake, unique and different, was symbolic of one of the millions of children who had been aborted – each one unique, different, and loved by God.”



Volume 7 Number 5 - Tuesday, February 1st, 2005	A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY