His Eminence’s, the Archbishop Venedictos, message to the most reverend Fathers on the occasion of the Great and Holy Lent

Date:

Tue, 2010-02-02

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ

Before we start the Great and Holy Lent, I would like to send you this message to celebrate with you this new season and Holy Lent, asking God and His only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, to overflow you with their love and indulge you with the grace of God.

My beloved Spiritual Son …
I ask our loving God to help you with all the prayers that take place during this holy season, like the Presanctified Liturgy, Akathis Service and the Great Compline Service. Our Christian believers are all eager to participate in these prayers, so let us keep up with their standards so that they can find what they came looking for.

Let us also give them the true image of the Orthodox priest, and I know for certain that you love your Church and the service so let us try to work together to increase the beliefs of our children spiritually, especially in this sacred period and I am with you and will give you what I can to help and assist in all matters and in whatever you feel is appropriate, because all I care for is the interest of our Christian believers.

I ask God Almighty to be with you throughout your journey, and to give you strength, goodness and blessings to complete the annunciation of His Beloved Son and may our Holy Mother of God be there with you also.

Note:
The Great Vesper Service will be held every Sunday at six o’clock in the evening during the whole period of the Great Lent at the Church of Ascension/ Khalda, hoping that you will be there on every service, with all my love and respect.

Yours in the name of Jesus Christ
His Eminence, the Archbishop Venedictos
Metropolitan of Philadelphia