GREEK REPUBLIC
CHURCH of the G.O.C. of GREECE
HOLY SYNOD
KANINGOS 32 (3rd floor)
106 82 ΑΘΗΝΑΙ
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ΕΛΛΑΣ - GREECE
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Protocol no. γ-1861

ENCYCLICAL

To all the clergy and the people of the Holy Metropolis of America:

Most Reverend Fathers, most honorable Parish Council Members and all the blessed Christians of the Holy Metropolis of America who hold fast to the sacred traditions: Grace and peace be unto you from God, and prayer and blessing from us.

Your shepherd, Metropolitan Pavlos of America emeritus, having resigned due to the unfavorable condition of his health, both His Beatitude Archbishop Kallinikos of Athens and the Most Reverend and God-loving Hierarchs who comprise the Holy Synod of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece, worthily have provided for the election and restoration of a fitting and worthy Hierarch, for the undertaking of the safeguarding of the hierarchy and of the Bishop's Staff of the Metropolis of America.

Therefore taking regular votes on the morning of the 6th of February of the present year, at the Church “The Unfading Rose” Piraeus, after the celebration of the Divine Liturgy by His Grace, Bishop Photios of Marathon and invocation of the grace of the Holy Spirit, our beloved in Christ brother Demetrius, until now Bishop of Boston was elected, who is a modest and venerable man, well versed in divine matters, adorned with both ecclesiastical and worldly knowledge, governed with prudence and ability, possessing divine zeal along with experience as a shepherd, and for this reason capable to contribute to the good government of all as well as to their guidance and steadfastness. Who also having been elected was raised to a genuine and canonical Bishop of the Holy Metropolis of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of America.

Therefore, along with our present Synodal epistle also making this known to all of you blessed Christians of this eparchy and whole-heartedly rejoicing with you, we pray and send our paternal blessing and we make the ecclesiastical request that the above mentioned Most God-Beloved Metropolitan of America, our beloved brother in Christ and co-celebrant Demetrius, now coming with the blessings of the Holy Synod, with all the honor fitting his title as hierarch and shepherd, be received by you as your genuine and lawful Hierarch and spiritual father and shepherd, and that you commemorate his canonical name as is fit, in all the sacred ceremonies and services, submitting yourselves and being obedient to his holy instructions and counsels as pertaining to the benefit of your souls and your salvation and to the undeviating guarding of the patristic dogmas and traditions, and collaborating with His God-lovingness in mutual love and unity of spirit and, in general, piously contributing toward the progress and the success of the parochial and all other ecclesiastical matters of your Holy Metropolis. For it is written: “He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.” (Luke 10:16) and “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” (Heb 13:17).

In this regard, bestowing the prayers and blessings of our Holy Synod upon you all, we pray that the Giver of every good thing always provide you with rich gifts and His grace. May His grace and infinite mercy be with you all.

THE HOLY SYNOD

In the year of salvation MMXIV the 6th/19th of February

The Archbishop

† KALLINIKOS of Athens