Metropolitan Message Archives - Metropolis of Atlanta Philoptochos

God Gave His Son

December 4, 2015 By admin Leave a Comment

My dear sisters in Christ,

My beloved ones, the ladies of the Philoptochos in the Metropolis of Atlanta, Greetings in the Name of our Incarnate Lord and Blessed Savior Jesus Christ! At this joyous and blessed time of year when we receive the Divine Gift of our Savior, I send you greetings and best wishes with all of my heart.

I believe that the Mother of all Greek Orthodox Christians is our Church. In the Church, there are many events that take place in the course of the year, all because of the birth of our Lord and Savior. St. John Chrysostom said that if we do not celebrate Christmas, there would be no Easter to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, nor Epiphany to celebrate His baptism. For this reason, Christmas is a very important celebration for us as human beings. As we celebrate the birth of our Savior, I would like to share the true meaning of life that God has created for us, and the spirit we should focus on having this Christmas.

In today’s society it seems like we are doing things so fast, that we are not taking the time to understand the precious gifts that God has given us. Because we are running in the society in which we are living, we are missing the beauty of nature, relationships, and the understanding of what life is all about. As a wonderful figure used to say, “We have lost the light of the world, and we have found ourselves in the deepest darkness.”

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

As we approach the magnificent celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God, we should think about God’s Gift of our Savior. According to Saint Paul, He gave His only and Begotten Son out of love for mankind so that we can enjoy the beauty in the world He created. And eventually, His Only and Begotten Son gave his own life out of love and for our salvation. God has built us a palace, and we have to appreciate its beauty. We have to find this light in the world again in order to maintain the beauty God has created for us human beings in the universe in which we are living.

Jesus said of Himself that He was the Light of the World. In the Holy Scriptures, in Isaiah, we see many references to Christ as light. We have been called by Him out of the darkness and into the light of His Holy Nativity, so that the light of Christ may shine out of our own hearts and lives.

The wonderful ladies of the Philoptochos Society of our Metropolis, I share these thoughts with you because, you the ladies, have given your life to the Church and have shown constant understanding of God’s gifts and this important message. You have shown understanding through your selfless acts, your kindness, and doing all that is possible to bring peace and harmony to the people who face society’s hardships. I pray that you ladies always find the strength to be lifted from the light that is coming from the star that guides the wise people to the life of Jesus Christ; His birth and the Christian way.

As we approach the Nativity, once again, I wanted to send you my Christmas greetings and best wishes. Praying that God will bless you and your loved ones with the gift of His grace, the peace of His presence, and the joy of His love, I remain,

Paternally yours with love in our Incarnate Lord,

+ Metropolitan Alexios
+ ALEXIOS Metropolitan of Atlanta

God Is Love

October 9, 2015 By admin Leave a Comment

My dearly beloved in Christ,

I greet you with joy and love in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as we begin a new Ecclesiastical Year! I would like to thank the Philoptochos President, Mrs. Dee Nicolaou, for allowing me to address myself to the ladies of the Philoptochos Society, and all the Faithful who give time to this beautiful publication.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8

Since it is the beginning of the new Ecclesiastical Year, I would like to share with you the importance of love. Number one, love means our God and God is love. If we are born of God, then we should feel love in our hearts for not only Him, but those created by Him. Love is a virtue that we all need to receive and give so that we can feel God’s true gift, and the meaning of our existence.

The first epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians chapter 13 gives excellent insight to the meaning of love in our Faith:

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.”

Love is above our expectations and power, and only with the Grace of God, we can practice it. Whenever in life we feel criticism and negativity from other human beings, we should remember the words St. Paul shares with us and the importance of love, even with our enemies. It is easy to react to criticism, especially criticism that is unjustifiable, but if we hold our breath and remember to be kind to our neighbors no matter whom they may be, then we are practicing love.

Speaking of love, I feel endless gratitude in my heart for the ladies of the Philoptochos Society for the great amount of dedication they so selflessly give to our Church each and every day. The Ladies of this beautiful Society have been given the honor to express love to others in a way that is so obvious, and in a way that everyone in our Faith is so thankful for.

With this, I wish all of you a happy Ecclesiastical Year, and I ask that you continue working to express your Christian Faith by sharing love with others. Share and receive love without any fear or condemnation, while remembering always that we are all God’s creation. God bless you all, and God be with us always.

Paternally yours, I remain,

+ Metropolitan Alexios
+ ALEXIOS Metropolitan of Atlanta

I Am Here To Serve You

September 4, 2015 By admin Leave a Comment

My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

It gives me a great pleasure as I have the opportunity to address myself to all of the faithful in the Metropolis of Atlanta that belong to our Philoptochos Society. I would like to congratulate you on the successful gatherings and meeting that took place during the Clergy Laity Assembly in Columbia, South Carolina. I am very pleased with what you have planned for the upcoming years. God certainly has a lot in store for our beautiful Metropolis, and that is all because of your devotion to the Church and Him.

Having gifts… according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if service in our serving; he who teaches in teaching; he who exhorts in his exhortation; he who contributes, in liberality; he who gives aid, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12: 8

As you know, we have a lot to be excited about as we start moving in a very positive direction, especially because of the development of the Strategic Plan. I am very proud as I look back at what was discussed on that Thursday about the Strategic Planning of our Metropolis and for the Philoptochos.

There has also been a wonderful group of ladies that have been appointed, and remain on the board for the next two years. I anticipate seeing many wonderful and fruitful projects that are going to help, not only the needs of our Metropolis and the rest of the board, but also the Philoptochos and the Diakonia Retreat Center.

“…I would like you to know that I have given myself to the Church, and I am always here as your Spiritual Father to serve you, and provide each and every one of your spiritual needs.”

Finally, I would like you to know that I have given myself to the Church, and I am always here as your Spiritual Father to serve you, and provide each and every one of your spiritual needs. Please never hesitate to ask for my guidance, and approach me in any way possible. With this, I wish a bright future for the Philoptochos of our Metropolis, as well as valuable products that will help assist and provide the means for our endeavors. May all of your tomorrows be filled with God’s blessings, and may He grant you joy and success in all that is to come. I remain,

God bless you, and God be with us always,

+ Metropolitan Alexios
+ ALEXIOS Metropolitan of Atlanta

Καλὸ Πάσχα! Kalo Pascha!

April 12, 2015 By admin Leave a Comment

My dear Ladies of Philoptochos and sisters in Christ,

With great joy in my heart, I join you in prayerful anticipation of our Lord’s Passion and glorious Resurrection and extend my paternal blessings and love, with best wishes for a joyous and blessed Holy Pascha.

The heart of our Faith is the truth revealed to us on Great and Holy Pascha: our salvation has been secured. Let us rejoice together and be glad because this holy day of Resurrection is the day of victory, as our faith and hope are renewed. Christ has indeed destroyed death and the power of the devil, and granted us life everlasting.

We were put to death together with Him, that we might be cleansed; we rose again with Him because we were put to death with Him; we were glorified with Him, because we rose again with Him. St. Gregory the Theologian

Today I give thanks to God for all His abundant blessings, but especially the friendship and faithful support of our beloved Ladies of Philoptochos. With compassion and commitment, you exemplify the virtues of Christian philanthropia, love of humanity and generosity of spirit, as you follow your sacred mission to serve the Lord and those in need.

May the blessings of the Lord be with you always and may you walk in peace and love in the new light of His Resurrection! Wishing you and your loved ones Καλὸ Πάσχα, I prayerfully remain,

With paternal blessings and with much love in our Risen Lord,

+ Metropolitan Alexios
+ ALEXIOS Metropolitan of Atlanta

Entering Great And Holy Lent

February 23, 2015 By admin Leave a Comment

Beloved in the Lord,

I greet you with love in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Now that we have entered into this special and blessed time in our lives, Great and Holy Lent, I give thanks to the Almighty for this opportunity to strive for grace again, to find our way to salvation.

Today we enter into a different way of life: of prayer, worship, fasting, and acts of charity, observing ourselves honestly. Of course, our Holy Church always calls us to this way of life, but especially now, during Great Lent, we are encouraged to make a greater effort. We all know that prayer and fasting are two of the basic Christian spiritual practices. Knowing this, during Lent, we strive to pray more often, fast as fully as possible, and give unselfishly to those in need.

I believe that this holy season is a blessing from God, so that we can focus on practicing the things that are necessary for growing closer to Him and to our fellow man. Our spiritual efforts are directed towards the real goal of Lent: to cultivate a deeper love for God and for each other. This means changing our way of thinking, turning our minds toward God, and changing the way we live.

Naturally it is up to us as individuals how involved we will be in using the tools of prayer, fasting, confession, worship services, study of Scripture and almsgiving in our personal lives. Indeed, life in Christ is not an easy task, but it is a worthy one. It requires patience and perseverance.

“Let us Begin with Joy! Let us enter the Fast with joy, O faithful…”

Our Lenten struggle is real, but if we see it as a penance or a burden, and not a God-given opportunity to grow spiritually, then we don’t understand and will not make any progress. As Metropolitan Kallistos of Diokleia reminds us, “We fast…so as to make ourselves aware that it is, indeed, a gift – so as to purify our eating and drinking and to make them no longer a concession to greed, but a sacrament and a means of communion with the Giver.”

Of course, this year I ask you to join me in praying from our hearts for the great task that we are undertaking to build a Chapel at our beloved Diakonia Retreat Center, for us today and for future generations tomorrow. At the Groundbreaking Celebration, I shared with you that the Chapel will be dedicated to the Panagia, and the main altar, left to right, to the Holy Cross and St. Andrew the First-Called. We ask for illumination, inspiration, forgiveness and guidance that this place will become the pulpit from which the Word of God will spread to all the Orthodox Faithful and visitors. Through the Holy Cross, may we receive the power that will help us overcome all obstacles, and sail peacefully through life, giving praise and thanksgiving to Almighty God.

I pray that the Lord will make us worthy to enter into the joy of the angels and celebrate His Resurrection on Great and Holy Pascha. With my paternal blessings and love, I prayerfully wish you a blessed and spiritually uplifting Great Lent, as together we seek forgiveness and salvation. I remain,

With love in His service and wishing you a Καλή Τεσσαρακοστή,

+ Metropolitan Alexios
+ ALEXIOS Metropolitan of Atlanta

A Christmas Message From His Eminence

December 23, 2014 By admin Leave a Comment

I greet you with joy and love in the Name of our Incarnate Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! My beloved ones, today joy comes to us once more. I send greetings and best wishes to all of you, as your spiritual father and Hierarch, with all my paternal love and prayers.

For two thousand years Christians throughout the world have celebrated this holy day: the Nativity of our Lord. And today as on that first Christmas morning, the joyous message of the angels is again proclaimed to all mankind: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and good will towards men.” (St. Luke 2:14)

“We behold now a great and wondrous mystery,” a mystery of Divine Love. Today, the infinite God has been born in the flesh, taking upon Himself our very humanity and becoming one with us, taking on “our flesh to make us holy.”

Therefore, as we celebrate this holy gift, let kindness, compassion, forgiveness and love be our gifts to one another. Let us pray for one another, that we may truly love our neighbor as ourselves, and join together in worshipping the One who came from the highest heaven to dwell with us on earth, to lift us from this world into the Kingdom of God.

“Come, then, let us observe the Feast. Truly wondrous is the whole chronicle of the Nativity. For this day the ancient slavery is ended, the devil confounded, the demons take to flight, the power of death is broken, paradise is unlocked, the curse is taken away, sin is removed from us, error driven out, truth has been brought back, the speech of kindliness diffused, and spreads on every side, a heavenly way of life has been ‘in planted on the earth, angels communicate with men without fear, and men now hold speech with angels.”
-St. John Chrysostom Homily on Christmas Morning

My beloved ones, my prayer for you this Christmas is that this Christmas season may truly be a time of real peace and joy for you all!

To all my brothers and sisters in Christ, both near and faraway, the clergy, laity and monastics, may you be blessed with the peace of Christmas which “passes all understanding,” the joy of Christmas which is hope that does not disappoint and the heart of Christmas which is the love of God. I remain,

With paternal blessings and with much love in our Incarnate Lord,

+ Metropolitan Alexios
+ ALEXIOS Metropolitan of Atlanta

A Thanksgiving Message From His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios

November 27, 2014 By admin Leave a Comment

November 27, 2014

We look forward to the opportunity on Thanksgiving to take time from our busy lives to be grateful, to offer thanks to Almighty God for all the blessings He has bestowed upon us. For us as Orthodox Christians, this is not simply one day to gather with friends and family to eat – is an essential part of our life in Christ. As St. Paul exhorts us: “In everything give thanks.” (I Thessalonians 5:18).

You should continually and unceasingly call to mind all the blessings which God in His love has bestowed on you in the past, and still bestows for the salvation of your soul.
St. Mark the Ascetic

Breaking bread together, blessing the meal, sharing food, gathering together at the table as a family are all an important part of our common Christian life. In giving thanks, we affirm that the ordinary is sacred. We recognize that both food and fellowship, and the opportunity to share these things together are truly a gift from God. Thus Thanksgiving Day is more than a holiday of feasting with friends and family. It’s a holiday of praise and thanksgiving, as we recognize and are grateful for the source of all our blessings, including our life itself.

God’s will is for to live abundant lives filled with joy and thanksgiving. Indeed if we can nurture an “attitude of gratitude, “it will bring us such joy and peace, as we grow ever closer to Him. The beautiful holiday of Thanksgiving is a wonderful reminder to us to thank God for all the blessings that we take for granted.

Glory to Thee, giving us light
Glory to Thee, loving us with love so deep, divine and infinite
Glory to Thee, blessing us with light, and with the host of angels and saints
Glory to Thee, Father all-holy, promising us a share in Thy Kingdom
Glory to Thee, Holy Spirit, life-giving Sun of the world to come
Glory to Thee for all things, Holy and most merciful Trinity
Glory to Thee, O God, from age to age!

-Akathist of Thanksgiving

As we prepare ourselves to celebrate Thanksgiving, I pray that God’s goodness will fill our lives and hearts. During this time of enduring hope and gratitude, may you enjoy all the blessings of health, peace and happiness on Thanksgiving with friends and loved ones. Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving overflowing with God’s blessings, I remain,

+ Metropolitan Alexios
+ ALEXIOS Metropolitan of Atlanta

An Ecclesiastical Message From His Eminence

September 8, 2014 By admin

Ladies of Philoptochos of the Holy and God-protected Metropolis of Atlanta

My dearly beloved daughters in Christ,

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As we continue through a new Ecclesiastical Year, I pray that you will be blessed with health, joy and peace of mind and heart.

This year, as you know, we have begun a new project in our Holy and God-protected Metropolis of Atlanta: the Phanouropita to help support and assist our youth and education programs and activities in our Metropolis. It is similar to the Vasilopita celebration, except that it is be held in the fall. Some parishes have already held the event, which have been very successful, while others are planning theirs. I believe that this will be an excellent project, since we already have the experience and know-how to organize successful events like this. Also September has traditionally been the beginning of the academic year as well, though of course, many school systems now begin in late August. So this is the appropriate time to focus on education and programs for our children and young people, such as workshops, retreats, trips etc.

Try always to find out what is pleasing to God.
Ephesians 5:10

Of course, proceeds from this luncheon or other event will be dedicated to our youth and educational programs, and will bear much good fruit, especially in the transformed hearts and lives of our young people. Besides helping our young people in a very real and practical way, we can involve many more people in the ministries of our Metropolis. As the mothers, godmothers, aunts and grandmothers of these children, and as sisters of Philoptochos, you already know that, through acts of love and generosity, as we help others, God also gives us opportunities to receive His blessings and experience His love and grace.

May this new Ecclesiastical Year be filled with the joy of our Lord and every blessing from Above. I remain,

With paternal blessings and with much love in our Lord,

+Metropolitan Alexios
+ALEXIOS Metropolitan of Atlanta

Now All Things Have Been Filled With Light

June 20, 2014 By admin Leave a Comment

I greet you with love in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. What joy fills our hearts, when we hear those beautiful words:

“Χριστός ἀνέστη!” – “Christ is Risen!”

We give thanks to Almighty God for this great victory over death, of light over darkness, of good over evil, of truth over lies and deception, of hope over despair.

As we sing the Paschal Canon, “Now all things have been filled with light,” we receive the precious gift of light–and life– from Jesus Christ, the light of the world. In the black night of sin and death, the light of Christ illumines our darkness and makes us whole. “I am the light of the world,” Jesus says to us on this glorious day: “Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:6

At this holy and blessed season, it seems particularly appropriate to remember your faithful service, and to thank you for all your generosity and dedication to works that are pleasing to God. I am grateful for all your hard work and commitment to the “least of these.” I pray for many more years of faithful service to your philanthropic mission.

From my heart overflowing with gratitude, love and gladness, I wanted to thank you for all your efforts in the service of our Lord and His Holy Church. I pray that the new Light of His Resurrection will fill your heart with joy, and bless all your days with grace and peace. Wishing you and your loved ones Καλὸ Πάσχα, I prayerfully remain,

With paternal love and blessings in our Risen Lord,

† Metropolitan Alexios
† ALEXIOS Metropolitan of Atlanta

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