Protocol 106/08
November 8, 2008
Feast of the Synaxis of
The Holy Archangels
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,
I communicate to you with joy on the festive occasion of the Feast of the Synaxis of the Holy Archangels, which our Holy Orthodox Church celebrates on November 8 of each year. This day is one for all of us to be conscious of the very real and active presence that God’s holy angels have in our lives. The Epistle to the Hebrews describes the holy angels as “ministering spirits sent forth to serve for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation” (1:14). Our Holy Tradition, following this understanding of Scripture, teaches that each of us is assigned a guardian angel at the moment of our baptism to protect and watch over us throughout our life on earth.
In keeping with this understanding of the protection that the holy angels provide to all of us throughout life, our Holy Archdiocese has made it a priority to provide for the physical, psychological, and spiritual care of our senior Greek Orthodox faithful who are in need. This is made possible through the important ministry that is offered by Saint Michael's Home, our senior adult home in New York, which is appropriately named after the Archangel Michael, whom we commemorate on this day. This year, as we celebrate this Feast, we are doubly blessed to celebrate the 50th year anniversary of Saint Michael’s Home. This auspicious occasion allows us to reflect upon the tremendous accomplishments that Saint Michael’s has achieved since its founding, and the great opportunities that lie ahead for the Home as it works to expand its capacity and its level of care for its residents.
Over the past 50 years, people have come to reside at Saint Michael’s Home from places far and wide. Though most of its residents traditionally hail from the New York Tri-State region (NY, NJ, and CT), Saint Michael’s Home has provided a place of comfort to Greek Orthodox Christians from faraway states and even from other countries. Presently, the Home is staffed with capabilities to provide for assisted living to its nearly 60 residents. In its expansion plans, the Home hopes to be able to offer care to those who have greater medical needs. Perhaps what is most extraordinary about Saint Michael’s Home is that throughout its half-century existence, its operating expenses have been largely covered by the generous donations from you, the faithful of our Archdiocese.
In view of its 50th year anniversary and expansion plans, and with my warm expressions of thanks for your past and consistent generosity, I invite you all to consider giving to the Home generously this year so that Saint Michael’s Home can continue to function as a very special and sacred institution of our Archdiocese. Your contributions may be made payable to Saint Michael’s Home and sent to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. In contributing to the Home, you will be significantly aiding our Church in providing care to the elders of our community whom we love deeply, and who are continuously being protected by the myriad of angelic beings of God.
On this Feast of the Synaxis of the Holy Archangels, I ask that you keep all the residents of the Home in your prayers, along with their families, and the directors, board, staff, and volunteers of Saint Michael’s Home, all of whom make the Home a place of dignity and one that affirms the importance of community in Christ. May the divine protection of the Holy Archangels be with us always, and may they inspire us to grow in our commitment to minister unto others who are in need of the love and saving grace of Almighty God.
With paternal love in Christ,
† DEMETRIOS
Archbishop of America
GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA
8-10 East 79th St. New York, NY 10075-0106
Tel: (212) 570-3556 Fax: (212) 774-0237
Web: http://www.goarch.org
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