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Published by the
Greek Orthodox
Archdiocese of America, August 31,
2005
ORTHODOX
CHURCHES RESPOND IN AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE
KATRINA |
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August 31,
2005
New York, NY - Following the devastating
landfall of Hurricane Katrina on the shores of
the Gulf Coast, Orthodox Churches throughout the
United States and the world are responding to
assist with the relief effort. The powerful
storm hit portions of Louisiana, Mississippi,
and Alabama on Monday. Reports are stating that
80% of the city of New Orleans is flooded, and
power and communications systems are not
functioning throughout the region.
In response to the disaster, His Eminence
Archbishop Demetrios of America called on all
Orthodox faithful to offer their prayers and
resources to meet the needs of hundreds of
thousands who have lost property and
livelihoods. In a special encyclical he stated:
I write this letter on behalf of the Holy
Eparchial Synod of the Greek Orthodox
Archdiocese of America in the wake of the
fatalities, heavy damage, and trauma caused by
Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana, Mississippi, and
Alabama. This natural disaster has affected
entire communities throughout these States, and
today many thousands of people are mourning the
painful loss of their loved ones, their homes,
and their businesses as a result of the violent
storm. As an Orthodox Christian community, our
first and foremost response must be a call to
prayer for the eternal rest of those who lost
their lives and for comfort and strength to be
granted by the merciful God to those left
behind. Our prayers, however, must also be
joined by a tangible expression of material
assistance, so that those affected by this
tragedy may receive the help that they need to
recover from this overwhelming catastrophe.
His Eminence called on all of the parishes of
the Archdiocese to take special relief
collections on either Sunday, September 4 or
Sunday, September 11, to be sent to the
Archdiocese for the Hurricane Katrina Disaster
Relief Fund.
Relief efforts are also being coordinated by
International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC),
the humanitarian aid agency of the Standing
Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in
the Americas (SCOBA). IOCC already has response
teams working with parishes in the Gulf Coast
area, as well as coordinating the Orthodox
relief efforts with other private and government
relief agencies like Church World Services. More
information on the relief efforts and needs of
IOCC can be found at www.iocc.org.
Donations are being steadily received through
the web site of the Archdiocese. A special
donation site has been established to allow
individuals to contribute directly to the
Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief Fund.
Donations to this fund will be used to address
the needs of the Greek Orthodox communities, as
well as for assisting the general relief effort.
Donations can be made at www.goarch.org/hurricanerelief/.
Further assistance is being coordinated through
the efforts of Orthodox parishes in the region.
The Annunciation Cathedral in Houston, Texas is
working with IOCC to determine immediate needs.
The school of the Cathedral will be working with
Houston area schools to assist with the
educational needs of students who may be
displaced through the end of the year. The Saint
George Church in Shreveport, Louisiana is also
working with IOCC and is coordinating an
emergency hotline to help persons in the area
locate family members. At the present time, the
status of the Holy Trinity Cathedral in New
Orleans is not known, but the area where it is
located has experienced heavy flooding.
As more information on the relief effort becomes
available, it will be posted on the Archdiocese
web site at www.goarch.org.
Contact: Dept. of Communications
Email: communications@goarch.org
Marissa Costidis - 732-522-1637 (cell)
Fr. Nektarios Morrow - 212-774-0506
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