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Published by the Greek
Orthodox Archdiocese of America,
September 1, 2005
ENCYCLICAL OF
ARCHBISHOP DEMETRIOS FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE
ECCLESIASTICAL YEAR |
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Protocol 87/05
For thus says the Lord, Who created the heavens,
Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it,
Who did not create it in vain, Who formed it to
be inhabited:
“I am the Lord, and there is no other.”
(Isaiah 45:18)
September 1, 2005
Beginning of the Ecclesiastical Year
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 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,
It is very appropriate as we enter the new
Ecclesiastical Year on September 1 to remember
the words of the Lord, as recounted here by the
prophet Isaiah. The passage is a clear
expression of the uniqueness, supremacy and
omnipotence of God. It also communicates the
indisputable truth that God alone created our
world with the specific purpose that it be
inhabited by us, whom He created out of His
love. Indeed, there is no other God.
Today, at the beginning of a new Ecclesiastical
Year, our Holy Orthodox Church continues to
remind us of the uniqueness, supremacy, and
omnipotence of God through its rich and vibrant
liturgical life. Through the sacraments, hymns,
prayers, and petitions of the divine services,
we praise and honor the Triune God who has
created the universe, given order to the entire
cosmos, and fashioned each one of us in His
image, giving us a life of communion with Him.
On Sundays, special feast days, and throughout
the entire year, we acknowledge the Divine work
of God, and His plan for our salvation. We
remember the eternal significance of His
only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, and His
continued presence and work through His Body,
the Church.
Our life within the Church, and specifically
within the liturgical cycle of the year, is
guided by the celebration and commemoration of
what God has and will continue to do in our
world and within our souls as He leads us toward
our redemption. Thus, our participation in the
services and ministry of the Church is very
critical in a world that may seem chaotic.
Through our worship and prayer God affirms that
our lives and this world were not created in
vain, but that all of His creation has a divine
purpose. This purpose is to know and experience
the love of God. This is not a love that results
in chaos or disorder we may see around us. It is
a love that transforms lives that are lost,
confused, and suffering. It is a love that
renews our awareness of God’s redemptive plan.
It is a love that gives our lives meaning,
direction, and purpose; for without the love of
God, everything we do is done in vain.
As we call to mind the beauty and purpose of
God’s creation on this day of September 1, it is
also appropriate that we honor the declarations
of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch
Bartholomew referring to the designation of
September 1 as the Day for the Protection of our
Natural Environment. It is through love that God
has called us to be the stewards of creation.
All too often, the problems of our world are the
result of environmental abuse and improper
management of the natural resources that have
been created by God. Unbridled consumption and
exploitation for the sake of wealth do not
affirm the purpose that God has given to
creation, but instead are symptoms of the
futility of sin and an unholy striving for what
leads to destruction and death. All of this is a
clear indication of a spiritual void and an
ignorance of the divine order and purpose of
God. Thus, we must offer our voice and our
efforts for the sake of God’s creation, knowing
that our spiritual lives and our future
salvation are intertwined with all that God has
made and loves.
My Beloved Brothers and Sisters,
At the inception of the Ecclesiastical Year, I
ask each one of you to deepen your commitment to
the liturgical life of our Orthodox Church. I
ask this, knowing that the purpose and order you
seek in your life will be found in strong
communion with God and in tender care for His
creation. I also ask this because we must be
witnesses of righteousness, truth, and of a
divine order that will lead people to salvation.
Through our faith and our life within the
Church, our lives and the lives of others will
be constantly transformed and will become hymns
of glory to God the Creator and Lord.
With paternal love in Christ,
+DEMETRIOS
Archbishop of America
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