His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to receive the 2012 Four Freedom Award, May 12

On May 12, 2012 His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, primus inter pares of the entire Orthodox Church, is going to receive the prestigious 'Four Freedom Award'. The Four Freedoms Medals are presented to men and women whose achievements have demonstrated a commitment to those principles which President Roosevelt proclaimed in his historic speech to Congress on January 6, 1941, as essential to democracy: freedom of speech and expression, freedom of worship, freedom from want, freedom from fear.

In order to keep the legacy of President Franklin Roosevelt alive, the Roosevelt Institute honors outstanding citizens who have demonstrated a lifelong commitment to these ideals every year. The impressive ceremonies that mark the awarding of the Four Freedoms medals are held alternately in Hyde Park, New York and Middelburg, the Netherlands, where the Roosevelt Stichting, a private foundation, is responsible for organising the ceremony in the even-numbered years.

Roosevelt's great-grandfather, James Roosevelt, was of Dutch ancestry, from the area of Middelburg, near the Belgian border.

Her Majesty Queen Beatrix and Prime-minister Mark Rutte intend to be present at the Four Freedoms Awards ceremony on May 12, 2012, 11.00 a.m. in the Nieuwe Kerk in Middelburg.

The following are brief descriptions of the accomplishments of each laureate; complete biographies for each are attached.

Freedom of Worship Medal
His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I is nominated for his extraordinary efforts on behalf of religious freedom and his dedication to a dialogue of reconciliation among Christians, Muslims and Jews, which he started together with His All Holiness Pope John Paul II. Bartholomew's lifetime commitment to secure basic religious freedom, not only for the people in his native Turkey, but also for the peoples of central and Eastern Europe, has identified him as one of the outstanding figures on the international scene who is truly dedicated to the meaning and accomplishment of the Four Freedoms. Patriarch Bartholomew I, also known as the "green Patriarch" gained worldwide respect for his efforts for the environment. See: www.patriarchate.org

International Four Freedoms Award
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Union representative and President of Brazil from 2003-2010, is honored for his extraordinary work on behalf of the people of Brazil. Lula has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to social and economic justice and worked to help foster a climate of peace and reconciliation among the nations of the world. Lula's rise from abject poverty to the Presidency of Brazil, and his determination to rid Brazil of the extreme poverty and social injustice that for too long has plagued the less fortunate of his countrymen, has been an inspiration to the world community.

Freedom of Speech and Expression Medal
Al Jazeera receives the award for its steadfast commitment to freedom of the press and its longstanding efforts to provide independent, impartial news for an international audience and to offer a voice to a diversity of perspectives from under-reported regions. Al Jazeera's dedication to this most fundamental human right--the right to the free expression and reportage of issues and ideas--exemplifies the meaning and accomplishment of the Four Freedoms.

Al Jazeera Satellite Channel started on November 1, 1996 after the BBC closed down its Arabian television station. Al Jazeera English started broadcasting in 2006. Throughout its 15-year existence Al Jazeera's reporters have met resistance; not intimidated by vehement opposition, legal trials, or death threats, they continue reporting the world news with integrity. H.E. Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani will accept the award on behalf of Al Jazeera.

Freedom from Want Medal
Ela Ramesh Bhatt is nominated for her extraordinary efforts on behalf of some of the poorest and most oppressed women in India. Bhatt's sheer determination and lifetime commitment to secure that most basic of human rights --freedom from want-- which led her, the "gentle revolutionary," to found the Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA) and the Cooperative Bank of SEWA. SEWA has placed Bhatt at the forefront of those working to help women in India lift themselves out of poverty by creating chances for women to be self-employed, work under justifiable circumstances and therefore enjoy financial independance and self-respect.

Freedom from Fear Medal
This year's Freedom from Fear medal is awarded to Hussain al-Shahristani, Deputy Prime Minister of Energy in the Iraqi government, for his lifelong commitment to democratic values, and his extraordinary efforts to help transform his beloved nation of Iraq into a free, prosperous and stable democracy. After 11 years imprisonment in Abu Ghraib, for his refusal to cooperate in building nuclear weapons and his involvement in "religious activities", al-Shahristani escaped via Iran to Canada. Al-Shahristani's commitment to secure basic political and religious freedoms for all Iraqis under the rule of law, has not only endeared him to his fellow countrymen, but has also earned him the respect of the international community.

Thanks to his steadfast adherence to these fundamental values he gained widespread recognition.

HIS ALL-HOLINESS ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW

His All-Holiness BARTHOLOMEW, Archbishop of Constantinople, the New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch is the 270th successor of the 2,000 year-old Christian Church founded by St. Andrew the Apostle, which he serves since 1991, and the spiritual leader of over 250 million faithful worldwide. As a citizen of Turkey, Patriarch Bartholomew's personal experience provides him a unique perspective on the continuing dialogue among the Christian, Islamic and Jewish worlds. He has worked to advance reconciliation among Catholic, Muslim and Orthodox communities in former Yugoslavia and has been supportive of peace-building measures to diffuse global conflict in the Balkans and the Middle East.

His All-Holiness has worked to advance reconciliation with the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion and other confessions through theological dialogue, while also serving on the Executive and Central Committees and Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches. He also presided over the historic restoration of the Autocephalous Church of Albania and the Autonomous Church of Estonia, while providing spiritual support to many traditional Orthodox countries emerging from decades of wide-scale religious persecution behind the Iron Curtain. He has co-sponsored international peace conferences, as well as meetings on racism and fundamentalism, bringing together Christians, Muslims and Jews for the purpose of generating greater cooperation and mutual understanding.

As the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew occupies the First Throne of the Orthodox Christian Church, presiding in a fraternal spirit among Orthodox Primates. The Ecumenical Patriarch has the historical and theological responsibility of initiating and coordinating activities among the Churches of Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, Russia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Georgia, Cyprus, Greece, Poland, Albania, the Czech Land and Slovakia, Finland, Estonia, and numerous archdioceses in the old and new worlds.

This includes the convening of councils or meetings, facilitating inter-church and inter-faith dialogues and serving as the primary facilitator and spokesman of Orthodox Church unity. As Ecumenical Patriarch he transcends every national and ethnic group on a global level and has on five occasions convened the leaders of all self-governing Orthodox Churches around the globe, challenging them vigorously to pursue solutions to the challenges of the new millennium, for example, by categorically condemning nationalism and fanaticism.

From 1994-1998, he organized five ecological summer seminars at Halki on Religious Education (1994), Ethics (1995), Communications (1996), Justice (1997), and Poverty (1998). From 1995-2009, he convened eight international, inter-disciplinary, and inter-religious symposia, bringing together scientists, environmentalists, policy-makers and religious leaders and drawing world attention to the degradation of the Aegean Sea, Black Sea, Danube River, Adriatic Sea, Baltic Sea, Amazon River, Arctic Ocean, and Mississippi River, thereby earning title "Green Patriarch" and receiving such environmental awards as the Scenic Hudson Visionary Award (2000) and the international Sophie Prize (2002).

His efforts to promote religious freedom and human rights, his initiatives to advance religious tolerance among the world's religions, together with his work toward international peace and environmental protection have justly placed him at the forefront of global visionaries as an apostle of love, peace and reconciliation. In 1997, he was awarded the Gold Medal of the United States Congress. His English-language publications include:

Encountering the Mystery, Doubleday 2008
In the World, Yet Not of the World, Fordham 2009
Speaking the Truth in Love, Fordham 2010
On Earth as in Heaven, Fordham 2011

[Source: Press Office of the Orthodox Archdiocese of Belgium]

CBS 60 Minutes to air "Christians of the Holy Land," April 22 at 7pm 

The story about the shrinking population of the Palestinian Christians in the Holy Land will be broadcast tonight, Sunday, April 22 at 7pm EST, on CBS's 60 Minutes. The segment is produced by Harry A. Radliffe II.

Bob Simon, who reported two years earlier on the plight of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul and Halki Seminary, now reports on the slow exodus from the Holy Land of Palestinian Christians, who say life in the middle of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has become too difficult. His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem is prominently featured in the story.

For those who do not have access to CBS News in your area, you can watch the story on: www.60minutes.com. The story will be posted on Sunday evening after it airs on TV. There will also be an added feature on 60 Minutes Overtime at: www.60minutes.com/60minutesovertime

Stand Up For Religious Freedom - Write a Letter to Reopen Halki Seminary

Christos Anesti! Christ is Risen!
For over 40 years, the Orthodox Theological School of Halki has been unable to operate because the government of Turkey has refused to recognize the religious rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
We need 5,000 letters in order for President Obama and our Congress to take this situation seriously. There are only two weeks to get these letters in the mail so please distribute this link to as many as possible:
http://hellenicleaders.com/OpenHalki
Send this letter to the President and ask that he trust, but verify when it comes to Turkey's lip service about religious freedom!

The Sanctificiation of the Holy Myrrh at the Ecumenical Patriarchate

CONSTANTINOPLE – The Sanctification of the Holy Myrrh (the Chrism Oil used in the Orthodox Church for the Sacrament of Confirmation) took place this Holy Week at the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in the Phanar, with His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew presiding and the participation of approximately 55 Orthodox Hierarchs from around the world, including representatives from the Senior Patriarchates of Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem, the Patriarchate of Serbia, the Autocephalous Churches of Cyprus, Greece, Poland, Albania and the Czech Lands and Slovakia. It was an auspicious celebration that takes place approximately once every ten years, when the reserve of Holy Myrrh nears depletion. This was the third time Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has presided over the sanctification celebrations. His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America traveled to Constantinople and participated in the events.
Holy Myrrh is sanctified to be used in the celebration of the Sacrament of Holy Chrism (Confirmation), one of the Seven Sacraments. It is a visible means of the bestowing of the gifts of the Holy Spirit upon those who are baptized. The Ecumenical Patriarchate distributes the Holy Myrrh to the Orthodox Churches throughout the world.
The process that led to the sanctification of the Holy Myrrh began well in advance of Holy Week when the Ecumenical Patriarch informed the Primates of Orthodox Churches throughout the world and extended to them, and other Hierarchs, an invitation to attend and participate. A request was also made to many of them asking for a specific offering of a precious oil or element, which is found in their Eparchy and is mandated for inclusion in the preparation of the Holy Myrrh.
On Palm Sunday, upon the completion of the Doxology, the Ecumenical Patriarch blessed the Archon Perfumer George Savits (Archon Myrepsos) and his Deans (Myrepsoi) charging them with the responsibility for the chafing of the Holy Myrrh, They put on full length white coats and the Patriarch then placed upon the Archon Perfumer a silk apron. And a cross on all of them.
On Holy Monday, at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy of the Pre-sanctified Gifts, the Patriarch approached the adorned “Kouvouklion” (ceremonial canopy) which is adjacent to the Patriarchal Church of Saint George. This is where the cauldrons for the chafing of the Holy Myrrh were placed. His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew blessed the beginning of the series of sacred services for the sanctification of Holy Myrrh by holding the service of Aghiasmos (the ritual for Holy Water.) He then sprinkled the materials which had been prepared, the utensils to be used, and the cauldrons, with the Holy Water. Holding the triple archieratical lit candles, he ignited pieces of old holy icons mixed with kindling which had been placed under each cauldron. Continuing, the Patriarch read certain chapters from the Holy Gospels. The reading of these passages from the New Testament continued by other Hierarchs present, the Clergy of the Patriarchal Court, and other clergy. This order of readings continued all day throughout Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday and Holy Wednesday.
On Holy Tuesday, at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, the Patriarch entered the holy Kouvouklion again as the Lesser Supplication to the Theotokos was chanted, He commemorated all who either with materials, with monetary gifts, or with their labor have contributed for the preparation of Holy Myrrh.
On Holy Wednesday, at the conclusion of the Presanctified Divine Liturgy, His All Holiness once again entered the holy Kouvouklion and after a brief prayer service poured rose oil, musk and the remainder of the fragrant oils into the cauldrons. By the end of the day the chafing of the Holy Myrrh had been completed and it was transferred by the Perfumers to large silver vases and small chrismatories.
The Holy Myrrh is prepared from fifty seven ingredients; olive oil and a variety of fragrant oils, essences and aromatics according to an official register of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. These symbolize the diverse gifts of the Holy Spirit which are received by the Christian who is being anointed. The most ancient particular references, concerning the materials for the myrrh, and for the preparation and chafing of the ingredients to be used, date from the 8th Century. This is the earliest description we have, and it has been preserved to this day.
On Holy Thursday, after the dismissal of the Service of Orthros, conducted in the Chapel of Saint Andrew the Apostle and the vesting of the Patriarch and the Hierarchs, they descended from the Patriarchal Manse to the Patriarchal Church of St. George proceeding in litany with the ringing of the bells. His All Holiness was holding a small silver chrismatory (vial for Myrrh) and the most senior of the Hierarchs was holding a global vase of alabaster containing Pre-sanctified Myrrh, from the previous sanctification in 2002, while the second Hierarch in seniority carried one with new not as yet sanctified Myrrh. The remainder of the Hierarchs bore small silver vessels containing Myrrh prepared for sanctification. Twenty four Archimandrites, followed the procession in pairs, holding on either side, twelve great silver urns containing Myrrh to be sanctified.
Toward the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great and as the congregation knelt down in prayer, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew sanctified the Holy Myrrh according to the prescribed order. Following the Divine Liturgy, a procession identical in order to the earlier one was formed. The Hierarchs, the representatives of the Autocephalous Churches and the Ecumenical Patriarch in the center, lined for a photograph followed by the dismissal of the Divine Liturgy. The alabaster global vases and the other silver vessels containing Holy Myrrh were deposited in the Patriarchal Repository of Holy Myrrh (Myrofylakion).
This year the following Metropolitans of the Ecumenical Throne and lay people were assigned to comprise the body of those responsible for all the appropriate preparations: Metropolitan Athanasios of the Senior See of Chalcedon was appointed to preside. Metropolitan Cyril of Imvros and Tenedos, Metropolitan Dimitrios of Sevasteia, Metropolitan Theoliptos of Iconium and the Grand Archimandrite Athenagoras as secretary, were the ranking clergy appointed. The lay people appointed were Stefanos Bairamoglou, George Savits (Archon Myrepsos), Joseph Constantinides, Christos Hamhougias, Theodore Messinas, Aris Tsokonas, Constantine Agiannides, and Catherine Malita.
The sanctification of Holy Myrrh is celebrated only by bishops, never by presbyters. This tradition in the Church is steadfast and unanimous. With the passing of time however, whereas this tradition concerning the presbyters remains firm, it becomes modified for bishops. This common right of all bishops gradually devolved to the bishops of certain established Churches; to the Patriarchs, and finally only to the Ecumenical Patriarch. In other words, whereas each and every bishop has the hierarchical right to sanctify Holy Myrrh, canon law does not permit him. It appears there are three principal reasons which contributed to this curtailing of the right of bishops to sanctify Holy Myrrh. To begin with, it was given to the Primates of each ecclesiastical jurisdiction and then ultimately given to the Ecumenical Patriarch.
The first of these reasons is the rarity of the elements involved and the difficulty for each bishop to procure them for the preparation of the Holy Myrrh. Second, is the constantly increasing exaltation of the First, or Primate of the broader ecclesiastical jurisdictions. Third, is the prominent place, with the passing of centuries, which the Ecumenical Patriarchate received form the Patriarchates of the East, and the maternal bond of the Church of Constantinople with the Churches whose people received the Christian faith from its missionaries.
In reality, the concentration of this right to sanctify Holy Myrrh given to the Ecumenical Patriarchate is not to be understood as a dependency or subordination of the other churches, but rather as a tangible and visible sign of the unity and the bond of the various Patriarchates and Autocephalous Churches toward the Ecumenical Patriarchate. This is a necessary point, not for the exaltation of the position of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Orthodoxy, but for the existence of a perceptible indication of the unity of the totality of the local Orthodox Churches. That notwithstanding, today in the Orthodox Church the Patriarchates of Moscow, Belgrade, and Bucharest sanctify Holy Myrrh in addition to the Ecumenical Patriarchate and perhaps even some other Orthodox Churches.
As was mentioned in the beginning, Holy Myrrh is mainly and primarily used in the celebration of the Sacrament of Chrism which is immediately administered upon Baptism. It constitutes however a particular and distinct sacrament apart from Baptism.
Holy Myrrh is also used for the reception of converts into the Orthodox Church and for those who have fallen away; for the dedication of Churches; the consecration of holy Altars; the consecration of holy Antimensions; and for certain other instances of ritual. In the past it was also used to anoint Orthodox Emperors during their coronation.
For photos from the events of the sanctification of the Holy Myrrh visit: http://photos.goarch.org/main.php?g2_itemId=5346
Parts of the information above, were taken from the publication of the Ecumenical Patriarchate Holy Myrrh in the Orthodox Church, © Ecumenical Patriarchate, Istanbul, 2012.

Preserving & Protecting the Unwaning Light of the Phanar

A message from the National Commander for Pascha 2012

As we Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter with family and friends, sharing the Paschal light and hearing the joyful pealing of the Paschal bells, let us not forget to pray for the Mother Church of Constantinople, the spiritual source of these sacred traditions, and His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, our worldwide spiritual father.
The Order of Saint Andrew, the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in America and Defenders of the Faith, with the blessings of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios and the Holy Synod, will continue to raise the resurrection banner of religious freedom for the Apostolic See of Saint Andrew so that the unwaning light of the Phanar may forever enlighten God's oikoumene and the bells of Saint George Patriarchal Cathedral may ring joyously with the good news that the Great Church of Christ is free... finally free at last to proclaim to all...
Anthony J. Limberakis, MD
National Commander, Archon Aktouarios

An Expression of Love - $500,000 check

ARCHBISHOP DEMETRIOS PRESENTS A CHECK OF $500,000 AS AN EXPRESSION OF LOVE AND SUPPORT TO THE PEOPLE OF GREECE
 
ATHENS – His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America visited yesterday, Holy Tuesday, April 10, 2012, His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece and presented to him a check of $500,000, as a tangible expression of support and solidarity of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and the Omogeneia to the suffering people in Greece. This amount comes from the Relief Fund for the People of Greece, which the Archdiocese established Feb. 15, 2012.
 
Archbishop Demetrios in a letter accompanying the check writes that it is the first offering to the special programs of the Archdiocese of Athens and the Church of Greece, programs created for the relief of those of our brethren suffering due to the severe economic crisis. He says that these programs address the areas of need for food, clothing, shelter, medical and pharmaceutical supplies. “This amount is the product of care and love of our parishes and of individuals who responded to our call for solidarity and support of the Greek people during this difficult period,” he ads.
 
Following the 45-minute meeting at the Archdiocese of Athens, His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos in a statement to the Press, expressed his gratitude and said: “It is a very touching day, during Holy Week, during this crisis for our country, for the Archdiocese of Athens and for a large segment of the Greek people. And during this crisis of poverty, unemployment and insecurity we are grateful to have the personification of love from our Sister Church, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America with the presence of Archbishop Demetrios. I want to say a great ‘thank you’ to the Archbishop, to his co-workers and to the whole Omogeneia, who are so moved to help in this special way. We received a substantial and respectable amount for this ministry of alleviating poverty and we will use it in the best possible way, so as many people as possible can benefit from this expression of love.”
 
“We are here today in a visit of love and respect for a people who suffer a great ordeal. I am very moved to convey the love and at the same time the economic support of the faithful of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America,” said His Eminence and also conveyed the heartfelt greetings and blessings of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. “Our faithful of the Omogeneia, fully understand that we are supporting people who have a sense of dignity and nobility despite the tough times, and they retain their dignity in all levels,” said the Archbishop.
 
Following the visit at the Archdiocese, Archbishop Demetrios visited the offices of the NGO of the Archdiocese of Athens Apostoli where he met with the director Constantine Dimstas and his staff. Mr. Dimtsas made a presentation with reports, photos and video on the programs of Apostoli  and answered His Eminence’s questions. Mr. Dimtsas said that Apostoli is operating in a transparent and accountable manner and is open to any kind of audit.
 
The evening of Holy Tuesday, the Archbishop officiated at the services of the Bridegroom at the church of St. Dionysius, the Aeropagite in Athens, with more than 500 people in attendance. Just before the chanting of the Hymn of St. Kassiane, the Archbishop in his sermon spoke about the relevance of Holy Week and the passion of Christ in our world today and the certainty of the Resurrection. Following his short visit in Athens the Archbishop traveled to the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople for the Sanctification of the Holy Myrrh.

Photos: http://photos.goarch.org/main.php?g2_itemId=5961

April 15, 2012 - Holy Pascha - The Feast of Feasts

 Come, on this auspicious day of the Resurrection,
let us partake of the new fruit of the vine
of divine gladness and of the Kingdom of Christ,
praising Him as God unto the ages.
(Hymn of the Canon of Holy Pascha)
                                                                      
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,
 
Χριστός Ἀνέστη! Christ is Risen!
 
As we gather to celebrate this great Feasts of Feasts, and together we experience the supreme joy of Holy Pascha, we offer our praise to God for His abundant grace and for the triumph of our Savior Jesus Christ over the power of sin and death.  In a magnificent revelation of His invincible might, our Risen Lord has defeated all that corrupts and destroys our human existence.  Through His compassionate sacrifice and Holy Resurrection, He has reconciled us to our Creator.  By trampling down death by death and dispelling its darkness with the light of true life, He leads us to salvation and eternal communion with God.
 
On this day and in the celebration of Holy Pascha, we are blessed in so many ways.  We are called by the hymnological canon of the feast to “partake of the new fruit of the vine of divine gladness and of the Kingdom of Christ.”  The Holy Resurrection of our Lord affirms that as the True Vine, He is the source of life.  He has made it possible and now guides us in being connected to His presence and the power of His Resurrection through faith.
 
The Resurrection of Christ has also blessed us with the light of the absolute truth.  The bondage to falsehood and error has been vanquished by the power of the Gospel of truth.  False ideologies, wrong philosophies, and evil machinations have been discredited and dispelled by the brilliance of divine wisdom.  The deceptions of this world of sin and corruption have been exposed in all their evilness thanks to the illumination of our minds with the sacred, holy, and eternal truth revealed by Christ.
 
These blessings, this fruit of Pascha that is produced in our lives as the Risen Lord is in our midst, are not for us alone.  They are a witness of the grace and power of God through our worship, and they are blessings we are called to share with all of humanity.  In the joy and light of this day, our hearts are so filled with gladness that we cannot but speak of things we have seen and heard.  Our attitudes, words, and actions, our response to the needs of others reveal a source of strength, love and peace.  Our lives are a witness of Pascha, guiding all around us to encounter a Risen and Redeeming Christ.  
 
On this most sacred of days, this Feast of Great and Holy Pascha, I wish you and your families the fullness of the joy and blessings that are offered to us by God through our Risen Lord Jesus Christ.  May this fullness of joy fill your hearts and may the light of grace and truth shine through your lives offering to all a witness of the transforming power of Christ’s Resurrection.   
 
With paternal love in the Risen Lord,
 
†DEMETRIOS
Archbishop of America

Patriarchal Encyclical For Holy Pascha

BARTHOLOMEW
By the Mercy of God
Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome
and Ecumenical Patriarch
To the Plenitude of the Church
Grace, Peace and Mercy from the Savior Christ, Risen in Glory
*   *   *
He became the first-born among the dead. (Easter Apolytikion, 3rd tone)

     Beloved children in the Lord,

     If Christ’s Resurrection referred to Himself, then its significance for us would be negligible.  The Church proclaims, however, that, the Lord did not arise alone. Together with Himself, He also resurrected all people. This is how our predecessor, St. John Chrysostom, proclaims this great truth in thunderous language: “Christ is risen, and none are left dead in the grave; for in being raised from the dead, he became the first-fruits of all who were asleep.” This means that Christ became the first-fruits of the resurrection of all who have fallen asleep and who will fall asleep in the future, as well as of their transition from death to life. The message is a joyful one for us all because, with His Resurrection Christ abolished the power of death. Those who believe in Him await the resurrection of the dead and are accordingly baptized in His death, rise with Him and live on in life eternal.

     The world that is alienated from Christ endeavors to amass material goods because it bases its hopes for survival on them. It unwisely imagines that it will escape death through wealth. Deceived in this way to amass wealth, supposedly to extend their present life, human beings disperse death among others, too. They deny others the financial possibility of survival, often even violently depriving others of life, in the hope of preserving their own life.

     How tragic! What a huge deception. For life is only acquired through faith in Christ and incorporation in His body.

     The experience of the Orthodox Church assures us that those united with Christ live even after death, coexist with the living, are in dialogue with them, can hear them and are often even capable of miraculously fulfilling their requests.

     This means that it is no longer necessary to search for the “fountain of immortality.” Immortality exists in Christ and is offered by Him to all.

     There is no need for some nations to be destroyed in order for other nations to survive. Nor is there any need to destroy defenseless human lives so that other human beings may live in greater comfort. Christ offers life to all people, on earth as in heaven. He is risen, and all those who so desire life may follow Him on the way of Resurrection. By contrast, all those who bring about death, whether indirectly or directly, believing that in this way they are prolonging or enhancing their own life, condemn themselves to eternal death.

     Our Risen Lord Jesus Christ came into the world in order that all people “may have life and life in abundance” (John 10:10). We deceive ourselves if we believe that prosperity in the world can come from destroying one another. Christ raises the dead and invalidates their killing. Christ has the power to transcend death. Moreover, the fact that he conquered death confirms His contempt of death. Christ leads to life; He re-bestows life, which happens to be interrupted, because He is “our life and our resurrection.” This is why we, the faithful, do not fear death. Our strength lies not in the invulnerability of our existence but in its possibility for resurrection.

     Christ is Risen! We, too, shall arise!

     Therefore, beloved brethren and children in the Lord, let us follow the Risen Christ in all His works. Let us come to the assistance of those deprived of the means for survival so that their life may be preserved. Let us proclaim to all those who are ignorant of Christ’s Resurrection that, through this, death was abolished and, as a result, they too may share in His Resurrection by believing  in Him and following His way. Our own resurrection is only possible when it is offered for the resurrection of others, of our brothers and sisters. Then alone will the triumphant proclamation that “Christ is Risen!” refer to the salvation for all of humanity. Let it be so!

Holy Pascha 2012
 Bartholomew of Constantinople
Your fervent supplicant for all

Interview with Bishop Matthias

The latest interview as part of our series of "Conversations with our Bishops" is now available for you to hear online or download. Bishop Matthias of the Orthodox Church In America offers his reflections on the Assembly.

"Conversations With Our Bishops" is a series of audio interviews of the Assembly's fifty-three member hierarchs by Archpriest Josiah Trenham (proïstamenos of St Andrew Church in Riverside, CA and director of "Patristic Nectar Publications") for the purpose of providing a broad swath of perspectives to the Church-at-large on the significance and work of the Assembly.

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Patriarchal Encyclical - Holy Services of the Akathist Hymn

To be read in Church during the Holy Services of the Akathist Hymn, on Friday March 30th, 2012.

PATRIARCHAL ENCYCLICAL
Prot. No. 217
 
+ BARTHOLOMEW
BY THE MERCY OF GOD
ARCHBISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE-NEW ROME
AND ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH
TO THE HOLY CLERGY AND THE PIOUS PLENITUDE
OF THE ARCHDIOCESES
AND METROPOLISES OF OUR MOST HOLY APOSTOLIC AND PATRIARCHAL ECUMENICAL THRONE
 
Beloved children in the Lord,
 
Each person, created in the image and likeness of God, is a temple of the Lord. Much more so, those of us who have been baptized in Christ and chrismated with Holy Myrrh, grafted into the good olive tree of the Orthodox Church, are temples of the Holy Spirit that is within us, despite our various sins, both voluntary and involuntary, which alienate us from the Lord. “If we are faithless, yet He remains faithful. He cannot deny Himself.” (2 Tim. 2.13)
This grace is bestowed on us through the Holy Myrrh because, as St. Dionysios the Areopagite states, the service of myrrh perfects divine knowledge and understanding, whereby in a sacred manner our ascent to and blessed communion with the divinity is accomplished. The Myrrh grants the sanctification of the Spirit and is offered to the faithful as spiritual chrismation, a royal gift that sanctifies the soul and body.
Through the Myrrh we receive the pledge of the Spirit, from whom every good and perfect gift derive. Our God, who granted the Holy Spirit both in the law and to His Apostles, sanctifies all those who are anointed with holy myrrh and ranks them among the choir of those saved by grace, if only they preserve their garment of incorruption spotless from all defilement and struggle not to disappoint the Holy Spirit, which they received through Holy Chrism. For the myrrh renders the pious faithful familiar to and genuine servants of God; and when we are sealed with myrrh, we are known by the holy angels and by all heavenly powers, being conformed to these.
When we have holiness as the purpose of our existence in this life, we keep the commandments of God in order that the Holy Spirit, the good Comforter, may remain with us all and that we may inherit the heavenly Kingdom of God in accordance with the words: “Be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1.16)
Therefore, inasmuch as the periodical sanctification of the Holy Myrrh is a venerated institution of our Mother Church, our Modesty has, together with the Holy and Sacred Synod, decided that its consecration will be performed this year during the Holy and Great Week of our Lord’s Passion and will take place this coming Holy Thursday. The event will be preceded by the boiling of the Holy Myrrh from Holy Monday to Holy Wednesday, when we shall commemorate the sinful woman who anointed the Lord with precious fragrance and who was ultimately shown to be purer than everyone as a result of her great desire for Christ.
The sanctification of Holy Myrrh announced with this Patriarchal Encyclical constitutes a particular blessing for those of us performing, but also for all those who will attend and participate in this service. The Holy Myrrh will be distributed to other Orthodox Churches throughout the world, thereby becoming an unceasing source of sanctification, “a garment of incorruption and perfecting seal, marking those who receive the sacrament of Baptism with the sacred name of the Father and the only-begotten Son and the Holy Spirit.”
We ask you, then, beloved children and brothers in the Lord, not to overlook this historical event of the Sanctification of the Holy Myrrh at our Sacred Center and to do your utmost to participate in prayer and spirit, contributing in any way but especially by your presence at the most holy Patriarchal Church from Holy Monday to Holy Thursday, when the inspiring services of the Sanctification will conclude, so that we may all receive the blessing and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ as well as taste the benefits and gifts of the Holy Spirit.
May His divine grace and boundless mercy be with you all.
 
March 16, 2012
 
† BARTHOLOMEW of Constantinople
Fervent supplicant for all before God