Fourth Encyclical of Metropolitan Archbishop Sortirios
6 Απριλίου 2020
Ευλαβεστάτους Ιερατικώς Προϊσταμένους, Εντιμοτάτους Προέδρους και Αξιότιμα Μέλη των Δ.Σ., Φιλοπτώχους Αδελφότητες, Διδασκάλους, Διδασκάλισσες, Μαθητές και Μαθήτριες, Νεολαία των Κοινοτήτων και άπαν το ευλαβές πλήρωμα της Ελληνικής Ορθοδόξου Αρχιεπισκοπής Καναδά
ΘΕΜΑ: ΤΙ ΠΡΕΠΕΙ ΝΑ ΓΙΝΕΙ ΤΗΝ Μ. ΕΒΔΟΜΑΔΑ ΚΑΙ ΤΟ ΠΑΣΧΑ
Αγαπητοί εν Κυρίω,
Σε όλες τις προηγούμενες εγκυκλίους μου, αναφορικά με το πρόβλημα που δημιουργήθηκε με τον κορωνοϊό, έγραφα: «Η Ιερά Αρχιεπισκοπή μας και οι Κοινότητές της θ' ακολουθήσουμε επακριβώς τις εντολές και τις οδηγίες των κυβερνήσεων του Καναδά».
Αυτό θα συνεχίσουμε να κάνουμε και τώρα. Την Μ. Εβδομάδα και το Πάσχα πρέπει να γίνουν οι Ι. Ακολουθίες και οι Θ. Λειτουργίες κανονικά και σύμφωνα με το Τυπικό της Εκκλησίας. Τούτο θα γίνεται, διότι όπως πάλι έγραφα:
α) Να υμνολογείται και να δοξολογείται ο Τρισάγιος Θεός και
β) οι Ιερές Ακολουθίες και οι Θείες Λειτουργίες να μεταδίδονται διά μέσω των κοινωνικών μέσων δικτύωσης, ώστε οι ευλαβείς χριστιανοί να δύνανται να τις παρακολουθούν και να προσεύχονται.
Οι Ιερές Ακολουθίες και Θ. Λειτουργίες θα γίνονται κεκλεισμένων των θυρών των Ι. Ναών και μόνο με τον ιερέα, τον ιεροψάλτη και τον νεωκόρο. Ουδείς άλλος επιτρέπεται να είναι μέσα στην εκκλησία. Δυστυχώς, δεν θα μπορεί να δοθεί Θ. Κοινωνία, ούτε τα βαΐα των φοινίκων, ούτε Ευχέλαιο, ούτε τα άνθη του Επιταφίου, αλλά, ούτε και το Φως της Ανάστασης. Σύμφωνα με τις κυβερνητικές εντολές και οδηγίες, δεν επιτρέπεται να υπάρχει επαφή μεταξύ των ανθρώπων, αλλά, ούτε και συγκέντρωση άνω των τριών ατόμων.
Παρακαλώ όλους σας να τηρείτε την τάξη αυτή επακριβώς. Λυπάμαι, διότι είμαστε αναγκασμένοι να πάρουμε τα μέτρα αυτά, αλλά ο Θεός γνωρίζει και καταλαβαίνει περισσότερο και καλύτερα από εμάς.Προσεύχομαι και παρακαλώ και σεις προσεύχεσθε με πίστη, με μετάνοια, με ειλικρίνεια, ώστε ο Θεός να μας αξιώσει να βγούμε από την δοκιμασία αυτή το γρηγορότερο δυνατό. Εύχομαι και προσεύχομαι να διέλθουμε όλοι την περίοδο της Μ. Εβδομάδας και του Πάσχα στην «κατ' οίκον μας εκκλησία» με υγεία και με πνευματική ανάταση. Να νιώσουμε τα Πάθη του Χριστού μας, στην ψυχή μας και στην καρδιά μας. Να ζήσουμε τον πόνο Του και το άγχος Του. Να νιώσουμε τη συντροφιά Του. Να τον παρακαλέσουμε, όπως ο ληστής, να συγχωρήσει τις αμαρτίες μας και ενδόμυχα να ακούσουμε τη φωνή Του που θα μας λέγει: «Παιδί μου, είμαι μαζί σου, σε αγαπώ και σε συγχωρώ. Μαζί θα περπατήσουμε τον δύσκολο δρόμο. Θα ανεβούμε τον ανήφορο. Θα φθάσουμε στην κορυφή».
ΚΑΛΗ ΑΝΑΣΤΑΣΗ!
Με πατρική αγάπη και θερμές ευχές
Ο ΑΡΧΙΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΟΣ
Ο ΚΑΝΑΔΑ ΣΩΤΗΡΙΟΣ
April 6, 2020
Reverend Fathers, Honourable Presidents and Esteemed Members of the Boards of Directors, Members of the Philoptochos Societies, Teachers, Students and Youth Members of the Communities, and to the Entire Plenitude of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada
IN RELATION TO HOLY WEEK AND EASTER
Beloved in the Lord,
In all my previous encyclicals regarding the problems caused by the coronavirus, I unequivocally affirmed that: "Our Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and its Communities will precisely observe the directives and instructions of the Canadian government authorities." We will continue to do this even now. For Holy Week and Pascha, Church Services and Divine Liturgies must be normally conducted and in conformity to the order prescribed by the Typikon of the Church. As I previously explained, this must happen:
a) In order to praise and glorify the Thrice-Holy God; and
b) For Church Services and Divine Liturgies to be streamed online through social media so that pious Christians can follow and pray along.
Church Services and Divine Liturgies will be conducted in Church behind closed doors by the priest, the chanter and the sexton. No one else is allowed to be in Church. Unfortunately, the faithful will not be able to receive Holy Communion, or even Holy Oil, branches of palm trees, flowers from the Epitaphion or the light of the Resurrection. According to the authorities' directives and instructions, contact between people is prohibited, as well as any gathering of more than three persons. I ask that you all precisely follow these instructions. I am sorry that we are forced to take these measures, but God knows and understands much more and much better than we do.
I pray and ask that you also pray with faith, repentance and sincerity so that God may help us get through this ordeal as soon as possible. I hope and pray that we all can experience the period of Holy Week and Easter in "our Church at home" with health and in a spiritual uplifting manner. To feel the Passion of our Christ in our heart and soul. To live His agony and His sorrow. To sense His companionship. Let us ask Him, like the thief, to forgive our sins and to hear His voice within us: "My child, I am with you, I love you and I forgive you. Together we will walk the difficult path. We will climb the steep hill together. And we will reach the top."
WISHING ALL OF YOU A BLESSED RESURRECTION IN THE LORD!
With fatherly love and blessings,
ARCHBISHOP SOTIRIOS
GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF CANADA
Welcome to our Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church and Community of Belleville & Vicinity. We look forward to your support and welcoming you with open arms to our Community.
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
70 Harder Drive, Belleville, ON K8P1H2
Father Demetrios Mouselimis
(613) 968-3327
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Belleville Ontario
Light a Candle During Holy Week Services for You and Your Family
April 13, 2020
Dear Faithful Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
Despite our physical separation, we may still journey Holy Week together with the Lord who is the Bridegroom of the Church through our home churches. Although all Divine Services are currently only being celebrated by the priest, the chanter and the sexton, we can enter more fully into Holy Week by the following means:
Through a financial donation to our local parish to have a candle lit on behalf of you and your family during Holy Week services.
By completing the daily readings listed on your Church Calendars or found at https://www.goarch.org/chapel/calendar
By watching a live stream of Divine Services accessed through our Metropolis at https://www.gometropolis.org/multimedia/live-broadcast/
We humbly ask that you continue to remember everyone in your prayers and for your ongoing generous financial support. All donations can be made electronically by e-transfer to donate.htbelleville@gmail.com or by cheque through the mail.
We would once again like to thank everyone for their generous donations this past month and especially for their prayerful support during this challenging time.
Thank you,
Council – Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church Belleville
Access your PayPal Account and choose donate.htbelleville@gmail.com as the email and tell us the type of donation under notes.
If you don't have a PayPal choose the create account option on the PayPal page
Intercession for Coronavirus
On behalf of our Community, the Church Council wishes to extend their thanks to everyone supporting us in their donations and prayers
Urgent Appeal for Prayer and Help
March 25, 2020
Dear Faithful Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
Due to the COVID-19 quarantine our Church is suffering and in need of our support and prayers. Financial support is very low to non-existent because so much of our revenue comes through the generosity of parishioners in our collection trays, sacraments, and general donations. While this has virtually ceased with the severe restrictions now in place, many of our operating expenses are unchanging and still continue. The operation of the Church will be now more important than ever in ministering to the sick and the suffering and for common prayers to end this pandemic.
We humbly ask that you keep the well-being of the Church, clergy and victims of this pandemic in your heart, and in your prayers. We appeal to everyone in this time of great need to please consider making a charitable donation of any amount from your home in order to help keep the Church operating during this crisis.
Donations can be made by cheque through the mail or completed electronically by e-transfer to
donate.htbelleville@gmail.com.
Thank you for your prayerful support
Council – Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church Belleville