His Eminence Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey issues Memorial Day Encyclical
His Eminence Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey has issued his Memorial Day 2020 Encyclical 2020.
The Encyclical reads:
Memorial Day 2020
The Very Reverend and Reverend Clergy
Esteemed Members of the Metropolitan Council, Esteemed Members of the Parish Councils, Philoptochos Sisterhood, Faculty and Students of the Catechetical and Greek Afternoon Schools, Directors and Participants of all Youth Organizations, and all devout Orthodox Christians of the Communities of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Jersey
My Beloved in the Lord,
Χριστὸς Ἀνέστη! Christ is Risen!
For over 150 years our nation has set aside a day to commemorate the brave men and women who served this country and gave their lives in defense of our great nation. Their sacrifice, described by Abraham Lincoln as their last full measure of devotion, was not motivated out of ego or self-glorification, but it was motivated out of their desire to ensure that our nation remains free for all generations and that the principles which we hold so dear remain inviolate. It was through their courage that this nation was transformed from thirteen colonies into a nation of self-determination as they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to its establishment. It was through their resolve that they preserved the union of this country as brother fought against brother. It was through their bravery that they traversed the seas to liberate Europe when the powers of fascism threatened the world.
Their sacrifice has preserved time-honored principles such as freedom, equality, and justice of which we are all beneficiaries. Their service to our nation paved the way for this country to ascend the heights of greatness as it has become a shining beacon of liberty and hope for the entire world. Freedom and all of its benefits, however, come at a great cost. This cost was paid in the lives of hundreds of thousands of courageous men and women throughout the life of our nation. They waged war so that we might know peace. No amount of thanks can ever be rendered to them for their selfless service and the sum of our praise can never repay the debt of the nobility of their deeds.
As we pay tribute to these valiant men and women, let us honor their sacrifices through personal reflection and prayerful remembrance. Moreover, I ask that our Parishes hold a Trisagion service on Sunday, May 24, 2020 for the repose of the souls of all deceased veterans and for our deceased brethren. May our prayers for and our commemoration of these brave souls remain within our hearts so that we may more fully honor their sacrifice, never forgetting their courage and valor. Praying that God grants them eternal rest and praying that He guards and protects all members of our armed forces, law enforcement, and civil authorities, I remain,
With Paternal Love and Blessings in the Risen Lord,
† E V A N G E L O S
Metropolitan of New Jersey
H αναδημοσίευση του παραπάνω άρθρου ή μέρους του επιτρέπεται μόνο αν αναφέρεται ως πηγή το ORTHODOXIANEWSAGENCY.GR με ενεργό σύνδεσμο στην εν λόγω καταχώρηση.
Ακολούθησε το ORTHODOXIANEWSAGENCY.gr στο Google News και μάθε πρώτος όλες τις ειδήσεις.
