President Obama Speaks on the Shooting in Connecticut

This afternoon, President Obama made a statement from the Briefing Room on the shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut.
We’ve endured too many of these tragedies in the past few years.  And each time I learn the news I react not as a President, but as anybody else would -- as a parent.  And that was especially true today.  I know there’s not a parent in America who doesn’t feel the same overwhelming grief that I do.
The majority of those who died today were children -- beautiful little kids between the ages of 5 and 10 years old.  They had their entire lives ahead of them -- birthdays, graduations, weddings, kids of their own.  Among the fallen were also teachers -- men and women who devoted their lives to helping our children fulfill their dreams.

So our hearts are broken today -- for the parents and grandparents, sisters and brothers of these little children, and for the families of the adults who were lost.  Our hearts are broken for the parents of the survivors as well, for as blessed as they are to have their children home tonight, they know that their children’s innocence has been torn away from them too early, and there are no words that will ease their pain.
As a country, we have been through this too many times.  Whether it’s an elementary school in Newtown, or a shopping mall in Oregon, or a temple in Wisconsin, or a movie theater in Aurora, or a street corner in Chicago -- these neighborhoods are our neighborhoods, and these children are our children.  And we're going to have to come together and take meaningful action to prevent more tragedies like this, regardless of the politics.
This evening, Michelle and I will do what I know every parent in America will do, which is hug our children a little tighter and we’ll tell them that we love them, and we’ll remind each other how deeply we love one another.  But there are families in Connecticut who cannot do that tonight.  And they need all of us right now.  In the hard days to come, that community needs us to be at our best as Americans.  And I will do everything in my power as President to help.
Read the full remarks here.
The President also issued a proclamation honoring the victims of the tragedy, ordering U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff until sunset on December 18.

Archbishop Demetrios calls for Prayers for the Victims of the Massacre in Newtown, Conn.

NEW YORK – Upon hearing the horrible news of the monstrous mass shooting in the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut,  which caused the tragic death of 26 people, most of which are reportedly children,  His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America immediately contacted Fr. Peter Karloutsos, the priest of the nearby Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption in Danbury, Connecticut. He expressed to him his deep pain and great concern about this terrible incident and its devastating effects on the local community,  and offered any support on behalf of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
 
The Archbishop said that this is a crime whose magnitude and nature is impossible to believe, an abominable act of the kind that our society should work hard to prevent.  He called upon the orthodox faithful across the country to pray fervently for support and healing from God to the many families and individuals affected by this violent act and for the repose of the souls of the innocent victims of this enormous tragedy.
 
A scheduled visit of the Archbishop to the Greek Orthodox Church of the Archangels in Stamford, Conn. this coming Sunday Dec. 16, has been postponed; instead the Archbishop will visit the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption in Danbury, in order to offer pastoral support and guidance to the people of the area and pray with them in a Divine Liturgy which will begin at 10:00 a.m.

Archbishop Demetrios holds prayer service at St. Nicholas Site, World Trade Center

NEW YORK – The memory and the feast of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was honored and celebrated by Orthodox Christians yesterday Dec. 6, in churches across the country and the world.  His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, as he has done for the last 11 years, led the annual prayer and memorial service in the area of the World Trade Center near the site where the small historic church of St. Nicholas stood for more than 80 years before it was completely destroyed on September 11, 2001.
 
The prayer service was held amid the ongoing construction, in front of the new location at the corner of Liberty and Greenwich streets, where St. Nicholas will be resurrected as an Orthodox witness of faith and a prominent and permanent part of the new World Trade Center.
 
Archbishop Demetrios prayed for the repose of the souls of those who perished that tragic day in 2001 and asked for the intercessions of Saint Nicholas to God for continued strength and guidance as the Church in America takes on the task of rebuilding the historic church. His Eminence spoke of the long road of faith and persistence through the years that led to the agreement to secure the new plot and rebuild. He also outlined the high visibility the Church will have in a site where tens of thousands of people will be visiting the area every day.
 
Present among the many faithful of the old St. Nicholas Parish who attended the service was the Director for the WTC construction, Steven Plate, who welcomed the Archbishop and the congregation, showed the future St. Nicholas site to all, and said that the necessary underground construction seemed to be ahead of schedule. Also present at the service were the Consul General of Greece in New York Georgios Iliopoulos, the Consul General of Cyprus Koula Sofianou, the Consul of Greece Evangelos Kyriakopoulos, Frs John Romas, Gerasimos Makris and Luben Agapitos Chunov and assisting the Archbishop Archdeacon Panteleimon Papadopoulos and Deacon Arisitidis Garinis.
 
Earlier in the day, Archbishop Demetrios presided at the Hierarchal Divine Liturgy for the feast of Saint Nicholas at the Greek Orthodox Shrine Church of St. Nicholas in Flushing, NY, one of the largest Greek Orthodox parishes in America. In his homily to the hundreds of faithful in attendance, the Archbishop spoke about Saint Nicholas and said that the model of a man  in Christianity is that of a Saint, a model which encompasses the old models of the righteous and the hero and is a man who fully accepts the truth of God, purifies himself and projects truth, purity and love.

The New York Times reports on 'Orthodox Leader Deepens Progressive Stance on Environment'

The New York Times published an article on the environmental work of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, entitled, 'Orthodox Leader Deepens Progressive Stance on Environment,' written by Marlise Simons.  The article can be read in its entirety below.

Orthodox Leader Deepens Progressive Stance on Environment


by Marlise Simons
Read this article on the website of The New York Times

At a conference near Istanbul last June, the chimpanzee expert Jane Goodall spoke about the endangered habitat of what she called "our closest relatives." Underlining the evolutionary link, she described her encounter with a senior male ape who had a "beautiful white beard."
With a smile, she turned to the 72-year-old man in the front row and added, "Very much like yours."



The man with the long white beard was Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians. Fortunately, he is known for his easy, affable manner, and he joined the laughter that followed.

But his commitment to environmental activism is deeply serious, earning him the nickname the Green Patriarch. He has preached that caring for the environment is a religious imperative, and for more than a decade, he has made a point of bringing together theologians and scientists like Dr. Goodall for debates and briefings.



This year's reports of record melting of the earth's ice sheets and extreme droughts have given a new urgency to Bartholomew's messages about the degrading natural world. While economists and politicians prescribe more growth and consumption to overcome economic crises, the patriarch insists that the real crisis is cultural and spiritual, and can be overcome only by moving away from rampant materialism.



All human beings, he has said, should draw a distinction "between what we want and what we need."



In September, he published a strongly worded encyclical calling on all Orthodox Christians to repent "for our sinfulness" in not doing enough to protect the planet. Biodiversity, "the work of divine wisdom," was not granted to humanity to abuse it, he wrote; human dominion over the earth does not mean the right to greedily acquire and destroy its resources. He singled out "the powerful of this world," saying they need a new mind-set to stop destroying the planet for profit or short-term interest.



Other religious leaders, including Pope Benedict XVI, the Dalai Lama and the archbishop of Canterbury, have also called for responsible stewardship of the environment. But Bartholomew has gone further than most; some theologians call his stance revolutionary.



"Traditionally in Christianity, sin was what you did to other humans," said Kallistos Ware, a prominent Orthodox theologian based in Britain, "but Bartholomew insisted that what you do to the animals, the air, the water, the land can be sinful, not just folly, and that was quite a change."



Aides say that Bartholomew's embrace of environmental issues is part of his agenda to modernize a deeply conservative church that can seem distant and insular, with its focus on long Byzantine rituals and mysticism. Speaking in defense of nature as a creation of God fits church teachings, and perhaps just as crucial, his aides say, it can also transcend the rivalries and nationalist rifts of the Eastern Orthodox Church. As a federation of 15 independent national churches, it lacks the central authority of, say, the Vatican.



Still, Bartholomew's seat, established 1,700 years ago, holds primacy among the world's 300 million Orthodox Christians. As "first among equals" in the church, he acts as convener and can set the agenda for discussion.



Not all church prelates are inspired by his efforts to enlighten the faithful on the environment. "The patriarch is going against the current in much of Orthodoxy," said the Rev. John Chryssavgis, an archdeacon of the church and adviser on environmental issues. "He has to preach and promote this constantly."



Aboard a ferry steaming toward Istanbul, Father Chryssavgis pointed out a sprawling church-owned building perched atop of the island of Buyukada. A former orphanage, it was seized by the Turkish government but returned to the church recently. Now empty and in disrepair, it will become an interfaith study center for the environment if Bartholomew has his way.



"He wants a permanent institution," Father Chryssavgis said. "When he passes on, there may not be the same concern for the environment."



The impact of the patriarch's many sermons and conferences is difficult to gauge. There has been wide interest in a new book, "Greening the Orthodox Parish," said Frederick Krueger, its American editor. Subtitled "A Handbook for Christian Ecological Practice" and with a preface by Bartholomew, it covers theology, special liturgies and prayers as well as science papers and practical advice.



Numerous Orthodox monasteries and churches in Eastern Europe and the United States have switched to solar energy in recent years.



Among them is the Chrysopegi monastery on the Greek island of Crete, where the nuns use the environmental texts of the patriarch and other theologians in their teachings.

"

More and more young people are coming to our courses," Mother Theocheni, the abbess of the monastery, said at the conference at Halki, near Istanbul. "They come to find meaning. Many seem to find inspiration in ecology. It's been growing fast for the last 10 years."

15th Annual Christmas Musicfest under the Byzantine Dome - "Rejoice !"

Saint Sophia Cathedral's 15th Annual Christmas Musicfest under the Byzantine Dome - "Rejoice !" will be held on Sunday, December 9, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.
The program will include Orthodox Christmas hymns and chants, several selections from the oratorio Messiah by George F. Handel, and traditional carols of the holiday season.
The concert will feature three chanters: Carole Choucair Oueijan, Dimitri Liogris and Michael Kontaxis along with Nicole French, Suzanne Gilman, Eleni Pantages, Michele Patzakis Prappas, Dalia Rodriguez, Karen Sarames, Estelle Skouras, Kathy Spilos and Christopher Yokas as soloists, the Saint Sophia Cathedral Choir and Chamber Ensemble under the direction of Jim H. Kollias, and the Harmonies of Saint Thomas all Girlsʼ Choir, under the direction of Antonio Espinal.
Freewill offering. Reception immediately following the concert in the Maniatakos Fellowship Hall and the Maria Maniatakos Pavilion.
We rejoice in the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and we rejoice in the first Christmas celebrated in the new Huffington Center at Saint Sophia! To learn more about Saint Sophia Cathedral or the concert, visit http://stsophia.org/events/christmas/.

Fox News Reporting: Countdown to Doomsday

Archdiocese offers additional assistance to families in Greece

With her pension and healthcare benefits severely reduced, this elderly Athens woman joins millions of other impoverished Greeks turning to free medical clinics for much needed health care.  Through a generous grant from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America,  IOCC will help provide emergency assistance to Greece’s most vulnerable families and elderly. (CREDIT: MDM-Greece)

NEW YORK – The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America announced today a grant of $150,000 to International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) to assist in providing emergency assistance for the people of Greece who are especially vulnerable as a result of the continuing economic crisis, austerity measures and a collapsing health system. The $150,000 grant to IOCC, will be directed at efforts to assist the elderly, children and large families with basic necessities for living as the economic situation deteriorates and winter approaches. The support comes from funds already collected by the Archdiocese Relief Fund for the People of Greece.
“Even as we reach out to assist to the best of our ability those who have been affected by Hurricane Sandy here in the United States, we remain mindful of the continued needs in Greece and elsewhere” said Archbishop Demetrios. “These funds which had been collected this past year for the relief effort in Greece represent a further expression of the love and concern of the faithful of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America for the suffering of our brothers and sisters in that country.”
Previously, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America together with the National Philoptochos Society has provided assistance of almost a million dollars to aid the people adversely affected by the economic crisis in Greece. Specifically, Archbishop Demetrios presented a check in the amount of $500,000 (April 10, 2012) from the Archdiocese Relief Fund for the People of Greece to His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece for the special assistance programs of the Archdiocese of Athens. Additionally, $190,000 were disbursed (June 16, 2012) from the same fund to assist the Holy Metropolises of Crete and the Holy Metropolises of the Dodecanese. Specifically, the total amount of $130,000 was sent to the Holy Archdiocese of Crete and to the eight Metropolises of the Orthodox Church in Crete and the total amount of $60,000 was sent to the five Metropolises of the Dodecanese and the Holy Monastery of Patmos.
The National Philoptochos Society, the philanthropic arm of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, granted the total amount of $160,000 (June 28, 2012) to five entities in Greece, which were collected following the National Philoptochos Appeal for assistance to those in need. Specifically, $50,000 was sent to “Apostoli,” the non-governmental, philanthropic organization of the Archdiocese of Athens; $50,000 was sent to the Holy Metropolis of Thessaloniki, $25,000 was sent to the Holy Archdiocese of Crete; $10,000 was sent to “Kivotos tou Kosmou,” an organization devoted to the care of children;  and $25,000 to the “Theotokos Foundation,” an organization for children, adults and families with learning and other developmental disabilities.  These amounts were in addition to the $25,000 the Philopotchos had initially expedited from their Emergency Fund through IOCC (International Orthodox Christian Charities) that provided medical supplies and food staples.

Archdiocese assessing damages following Hurricane Sandy

Archbishop affirms prayers and assistance
NEW YORK – In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America has expressed the concern, prayers and care of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America for the life, safety and well being of the millions of people in the affected areas of the northeastern United States.
The Archbishop, through his chancellor, has been in contact with clergy of the Direct Archdiocesan District to assess and determine the extent of damages on our faithful and parishes in the areas ravaged by the storm. He also spoke yesterday, October 31, with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and thanked him for all that he is doing for New York City during this unprecedented crisis.  He pledged the support and assistance of the Archdiocese in the efforts of recovery and reconstruction, an offering for which the Mayor thanked him. In addition, the Archbishop spoke with Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey, who informed him about the damages to the churches and communities of the Metropolis of New Jersey.
In the days to come, Archbishop Demetrios will be working with key people in the Archdiocese and with the Philoptochos Society to offer specific assistance to those impacted by the hurricane.
In response to this historic natural disaster for this area of the United States, His Eminence asks the faithful throughout the nation to offer prayers of remembrance for those who lost their lives and prayers of consolation for the thousands who have suffered the loss of property and face weeks and months of recovery.  He also asks for prayers for the safety of the many rescue personnel and others who are working to save lives and bring solace to those who have been afflicted by this storm.  He stated, “Through these sacrificial acts and through the outpouring of our love and generosity may those in need know the presence of the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort (II Corinthians 1:4), the God who will give them strength, healing, and peace.”

Signing of Final Agreement on St. Nicholas Church

NYS Governor Andrew Cuomo announces the Signing of Final Agreement on St. Nicholas Church at Archdiocesan Council Meeting

NEW YORK – The Governor of the State of New York Andrew Cuomo, announced yesterday at the Archdiocesan Council meeting, that the final agreement on the rebuilding of St. Nicholas was signed the day before, Oct. 18, 2012 and that the Port Authority would begin construction immediately hoping to complete the foundation in a year and then turn the site over to the Church.

Governor Cuomo made the announcement during the joint luncheon of the Archdiocesan Council of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and the National Philoptochos Board, which had both convened for their first meeting of the 2012-2014 term in the New York Hilton.

His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America welcomed Governor Cuomo and thanked him for being "instrumental" in the process and for "helping St. Nicholas Church be resurrected."  The Archbishop talked about the transformation of the World Trade Center and said that "when St. Nicholas Church is completed it will be a place of praying, a place of comfort, openness and reconciliation where the relatives of the almost three thousand victims of 9/11 can come and light a candle." The Archbishop offered to the Governor a symbolic gift, a sterling silver hand-made cross, as "a symbol of sacrifice and love, of loss and gain, of death and resurrection."

Governor Cuomo accepted the symbolic gift on behalf of all the people of the State of New York and after the announcement praised the perseverance of the Greek Orthodox Church and community and said: Let me say this on the Church of St. Nicholas though, I applaud you for what you did – the Archbishop has been very kind, (but) I am only doing what I am supposed to be doing. I am doing my job and what I was elected to do. But the fight that you waged for St. Nicholas Church, that went over a decade is remarkable. You faced every obstacle you were told "no", time after time, after time. You fought the bureaucracy numerous governors, numerous heads of the Port Authority and you wouldn't take "no" for an answer and you kept coming back and kept coming back... and it is such a beautiful story of the Greek community. Organizing, mobilizing, refusing to give up, refusing to loose. And, what was most beautiful, it wasn't for you, it wasn't about a monetary gain, it wasn't because someone was going to be advanced, it was the fundamental belief of the Greek community, which is about community and faith and philanthropy.

For photos visit the Gallery: http://photos.goarch.org/main.php?g2_itemId=7340

IOCC AID reaches Syria's Youngest Refugees

September 24, 2012 (Baltimore, MD) Hiba, 5, clings fearfully to her mother's dress round the clock, and wakes up screaming in the middle of the night. Ever since Sami, 4, and his brother Rana, 2, fled Homs with their mother, loud sounds elicit screams and send them diving for cover under tables and beds. The violence that has engulfed Syria is taking a heavy toll on its children. They make up more than half of the 260,000 Syrian refugees pouring into neighboring countries such as Jordan and Lebanon, according to United Nations estimates. Many arrive with nothing, not even the most basic belongings. International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) is attending to the immediate needs of these young refugees and their families with the distribution of emergency relief items such as health kits, infant supplies and bedding.

IOCC Jordan is working with local churches and relief partners to provide basic necessities like diapers, baby blankets and infant clothing to Syrian mothers seeking shelter at Za'atri refugee camp, where 60 percent of the 28,000 refugees are small children and infants. For older children like Sana'a, who was only three weeks away from graduating, the disruption of fleeing their homes as well as leaving behind school and friends has been especially traumatic. IOCC is assessing the education needs of the school-aged refugee children and working with partner agencies to help improve enrollment into local schools for refugee students.

IOCC has also delivered bedding sets and essential personal care kits to more than 1,600 refugee families scattered in urban settlements across five Jordanian cities. In Lebanon's Bekaa region, almost 1,700 refugee families with small children received basic necessities like diapers, baby quilts and pajamas, as well as kits filled with essential hygiene items to help keep children less susceptible to illness from exposure to crowded or unsanitary surroundings. While many of the Syrian refugees are living with host families in Lebanon, a growing number are moving into collective shelters where common facilities are used by large groups of people.

Inside Syria there are some 2.5 million people in need of support because of the conflict and 1.2 million internally displaced, according to the UN Regional Humanitarian Relief Coordinator. Families who remain in the most heated conflict areas are facing the greatest struggle to survive with no jobs or source of income to pay for food or medical care. Working in partnership with the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, IOCC continues to deliver humanitarian relief to those families still living inside Syria.

How You Can Help
You can help the victims of poverty and conflicts around the world, like those in Syria, by making a financial gift to the International Emergency Response Fund which will provide immediate relief as well as long-term support through the provision of emergency aid, recovery assistance and other support to help those in need.

To make a gift, please visit www.iocc.org or call toll free at 1-877-803-IOCC (4622), or mail a check or money order payable to IOCC, P.O. Box 17398, Baltimore, MD 21297.

About International Orthodox Christian Charities
IOCC is the official humanitarian aid agency of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in North and Central America. Since its inception in 1992, IOCC has delivered more than $400 million in relief and development programs to families and communities in 50 countries.

Media contact: Rada K. Tierney, IOCC Media Relations, 443-823-3489, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.