ΙΕΡΑ ΑΡΧΙΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΗ

ΑΜΕΡΙΚΗΣ

                                                                                    January 2006

The Reverend Clergy

Esteemed Members of the Parish Councils, Philoptochos Societies,

Faculty & Students of the Catechetical and Greek Afternoon Schools,

Directors and Participants of all Youth Organizations, and all devout Orthodox Christians

of the Greek Orthodox Communities of our Holy Metropolis of New Jersey

My Beloved in the Lord,       HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice.”

On this the first day of the New Year 2006, I greet all of you with the salutation of St. Paul to the Philippians, and again I say, rejoice. As the dawning of the New Year is indeed a time to rejoice it is also the time to offer thanks to Almighty God for bestowing upon us His abundant blessings, for safeguarding us through the past year and granting to us every good thing from above. Furthermore, it is the time to thank Him for preparing us for the challenges of the New Year.

As we enter into the New Year of our Lord, it is time to look towards the future, however it is also the time reflect upon the past.  Most of us, during this past year had set various goals which we strived to fulfill.  Many have been, while others have not.  First, let us thank Him for the most precious gift He could have offered to us, His Only Begotten Son who took on human flesh and who was born into the world so that we may receive from Him and through His Teachings the divine message of love, compassion and sacrifice. Second, let us thank Almighty God for blessing us with every good thing and the realization of every noble dream and goal.

 My beloved, a goal set yet not realized should never be forgotten, set aside nor should it be placed in the past. With God on our side, all things are possible. If it didn’t happen today, it may happen tomorrow or even the day after and maybe next year or even later. Be assured however, that if our heart is filled with the Spirit of God, then every noble and sacred dream will become reality.  Let us once again be reminded of St. Paul’s words: “be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6-7)

Our steadfast faith in Christ our Lord and Savior, and our ceaseless prayer to the One, Holy and Triune God assures us of the necessary strength to overcome any challenges that the New Year may bring to us and our families. Simultaneously, our thanksgiving and humility before our Master, Creator and God, will enable us to realize and be grateful for the many wonderful blessings that we shall receive in the New Year 2006, whether on a personal or professional level. It is my fervent prayer that this coming year will be a year of spiritual rejuvenation and recommitment to the Sacred work of Christ and His Church, all of which will lead to the realization of our holy dreams and sacred goals.

Finally, my beloved children in the Lord, as we begin this 2006 journey together, let us all take heed to the words of St. Basil the Great whose Feast and memory we also celebrate today, “that the one who begins well isn’t perfect. It is the one who ends well whom God approves of.” (Letter 42)

Bestowing upon all of you my Archpastoral Blessings for a most blessed and peaceful New Year 2006, I remain

With Love in the Lord and paternal blessings,

 †E V A N G E L O S

Metropolitan of New Jersey

To be read from the pulpit on Sunday, January 1^st  

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