The Holy Synod of
the Church of the G.O.C. of Greece
To the Reverend
Clergy of our Most Holy Church and Pious Genuine Orthodox Christians
Encyclical No. 2.
In Athens, on January 14/27, 1950
Beloved children in the Lord,
Grace to you and peace from God, and from us prayer and
blessing.
Giving glory to our God in
Trinity, we thank Him for His infinite mercy and His rich gifts toward us.
Previously, beloved children in
the Lord, we celebrated, rejoicing in the Lord, over the joyful event of the
union of the two factions of the G.O.C. of Greece, which had been divided, as
they ought not to have been, and of the cooperation with us of our Brother and
Concelebrant in Christ, His Eminence the Bishop of the Cyclades, Mr. Germanos,
an event which had been our longing and prayer for many years. Now another joy
has overtaken this joy of ours, over the joyful event of the union with us of
the Greek Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians in New York, America, which
is shepherded by His Eminence the Archbishop of Brooklyn, Mr. Arsenios,
recognized by the President of the United States by an act of State as the Head
of this Church.
This union was preceded by a
written communication from His Eminence of Brooklyn to our Holy Synod, through
which he made known to us his desire, and that of his clergy and flock, for
union, and he entreated us to accept this union and cooperation of the two
Churches of the G.O.C.
Following this letter, we
recognized him, His Eminence Archbishop Arsenios of Brooklyn, as a [non-voting] member of
our Holy Synod, and the Church under him as united with ours.
Therefore, let us glorify the
All-Good God, and let us take care to prove worthy of His great gifts toward
us; and, for His glory, let us increase our faith and our love toward our
Mother, Orthodoxy. May her flame be kindled within our breasts, and may she
regain the strength and splendor of 1935, so that, on the basis of what was
then proclaimed by us, we may reorganize ourselves and, united, proceed toward
Victory, which is not far from us, God willing.
United, all of us, Clergy and
People, let us reorganize ourselves beneath the banner of Orthodoxy, setting
aside egotisms, personal interests, and human weaknesses; and let us all set as
the sole aim of our life the triumph and glory of Orthodoxy.
We pray from the depths of our
heart that the grace of our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ may strengthen us
all and enlighten us unto what is Good, that we may be deemed worthy and prove
to be faithful strugglers and defenders of the Traditions, by good work and by
word of Confession, to His glory alone; may His grace and mercy be with you
all.
Praying to the Lord,
THE HOLY SYNOD
THE PRESIDENT
† The Former Metropolitan of Florina, CHRYSOSTOMOS
THE MEMBERS
† Germanos of the Cyclades
† Christophoros of Christianoupolis
† Polykarpos of Diavleia
Source: Voice of Orthodoxy,
No. 79, January 30, 1950, p. 3.
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