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,
On this day when we commemorate the Holy Unmercenaries Cosmas and
Damian, we are reminded by the lives and deeds of these two saints
of the beautiful parable of our Lord concerning the Good Samaritan.
In the Gospel of Luke we read of the compassion of the Samaritan
who tended the wounds of the injured traveler and arranged for his
care until he was healed. In addition, the Samaritan showed his
attentiveness to the needs of the man who had fell among robbers by
stating to the innkeeper, "Take care of him; and when I come back,
I will repay you whatever more you spend" (Luke 10:35). This
genuine concern for one in need extended beyond an initial offering
of assistance to the assurance that everything needed for healing
would be provided.
The ministry of healing that offers a true witness of the
compassion and grace of Christ is characterized by a commitment of
time, attentiveness to the real needs of a person, and a
willingness to offer what is necessary to ensure restoration of
body and soul. This is the kind of ministry that is offered both
by our beloved Ecumenical Patriarchate and our National Ladies
Philoptochos Society. The philanthropic work of the Ecumenical
Patriarchate provides vital care and meets critical needs in the
Greek Orthodox Community of the Archdiocese of Constantinople.
Through the Baloukli Hospital and elder center, together with other
institutions and associations for orphans and the poor, the
Ecumenical Patriarchate offers an environment of care and faith
that is attentive to the physical and spiritual wounds of those in
need.
This philanthropic work has been assisted by the efforts of our
National Ladies Philoptochos Society in their ongoing ministry of
healing. Dedicated to offering time and resources for physical and
spiritual healing, the members of the Philoptochos Society of our
Holy Archdiocese have brought glory to God by their willingness to
ensure the viability of quality health care, educational, and
charitable programs. As a part of this sacred work, they have led
us in collecting offerings for the philanthropic ministries of the
Ecumenical Patriarchate, and in support of this effort, I ask all
of our parishes to take a special collection on Sunday, November 1,
the Feast day of Saints Cosmas and Damian, for the National Ladies
Philoptochos Ecumenical Patriarchate Fund. This is an opportunity
for all of us, in the spirit and example of the Good Samaritan, to
ensure the quality and attentiveness of the care offered to those
in need.
May we continue to offer our prayers and support for the work of
the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and for the faithful of the
Archdiocese of Constantinople and the Metropolises of Turkey. May
we also heed the words of our Lord and be the people who show
mercy. In a world filled with haste and neglect, we must offer the
time, compassion, and resources that will reveal the love of God
and restore bodies and souls to life.
With paternal love in Christ,
† DEMETRIOS
Archbishop of America
